Tiger Newspaper March 2022

Empowering students to think critically and creatively since 1913

VOLUME 108 ISSUE 6 MARCH 15, 2022

IN THE NEWS

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

SPHS COLLEGE NIGHT

COMMISSION ELECTIONS

CALL-TO-ACTION PICNIC

Junior families can attend an info session in the auditorium on Wednesday, March 16 at 6:15 p.m.

The Commission Elections Assembly will take place on Friday, March 18 in the auditorium, followed by online voting.

BLM mural proponents invite the community to Garfield Park on March 18 at 6 p.m. for the event.

STUDENTS CONTINUE MASKING DESPITE MANDATE LIFT

STORY KAHLEN MIAO PHOTO ERIN LEE SPUSD lifted the indoor mask mandate for students and staff at all schools on Monday, March 14, moving guidance on face coverings from required to strongly recommended.

Some students embraced the opportunity to ditch masks in classrooms, while the majority remained steadfast in their continued use of them.

“I’m really happy that they lifted the mandate,” senior Andrew Kowal said. “I think [it’s] a good time. Most people are vaccinated and [coronavirus] cases are really low. I know in my case I’ve gotten three shots, so I didn’t think it was very necessary[….] I definitely see why some people want to wear them, but at this point, I’m very comfortable without one.”

Many students opted to wear their mask to prioritize individual and collective health.

“I don’t want to be embarrassed by not wearing my mask, and it just seems like a very poor idea [to not wear masks] because I have family members who could die and I know other people who have family members who could die,” junior Abigail Greene said. “The decision was kind of sudden; they didn’t ask anybody about anything and then just said that [the lifted requirement] was going to happen.”

Some SPHS staff, like computer science teacher Garrett Shorr, criticized the district for neglecting medically-vulnerable individuals when choosing to lift the mask mandate.

“If it sounds like I’m angry, it’s because I am, and why aren’t all of you?” Shorr said in a public comment at the Tuesday, March 8 school board meeting. “Is relieving some

people of the mild discomfort of wearing a mask truly worth endangering the lives of the medically vulnerable in this community? Including the unvaccinated children under five? Show us that the district’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is more than just words on a website. Keep the mask mandate.”

A fellow SPHS teacher, who asked to remain anonymous, echoed Shorr’s safety concerns.

“I have personal fears because of health reasons, my own personal health reasons, but also in my family. [The virus] seems to be pretty random, like a tornado. It’ll destroy one house but maybe not another one,” the teacher said. “We just don’t know a lot about it and the [Omicron variant] fortunately is weaker but also more contagious. Some of us have little kids at home that aren’t vaccinated or we have medically fragile people who can’t get vaccinated, and that’s scary to me” The teacher also expressed that updating policy should have been more collaborative.

“I hope that we have more collaboration and we get valuable input not just from the teachers but also from the kids and see how they feel,” the teacher said. “I don’t know if that happened. I know from my standpoint we didn’t have that. I think as a whole we’ve gone through a lot and I think we all need to look out for each other.”

This decision, in effect for the foreseeable future, follows 19 reported coronavirus cases at SPHS in February and one so far in March. In his email to SPUSD families, superintendent Dr. Geoff Yantz noted that the L.A. County Department of Public Health (LACDPH) will likely recommend additional changes in the coming weeks. Students will receive rapid tests before spring break and should take them prior to school on Monday, April 4.

SPHS WATER BOTTLE THEFT

BELA SALAZAR AND THE LINDA LINDAS

TRACK PREPARED FOR CIF SUCCESS

What does the stealing of water bottles say about the cafeteria and the student body? Tiger tackles the cafeteria’s removal of water bottles in response to rampant theft.

Musician and SPHS senior Bela Salazar reflects on her life-long interest in and passion for fashion and the recent success of her all-girl punk band, The Linda Lindas.

Filled with a roster of talented varsity underclassmen, track is expected to continue a legacy of winning league and setting new records this season.

Page 7

Page 10

Page 15

TIGERNEWSPAPER.COM

2

TIGER MARCH 15, 2022

NEWS

Women’s Club diversifies events and attracts new demographics STORY CHARLOTTE DEKLE PHOTO SAMANTHA SHIROISHI The South Pasadena Women’s Club embarked on a new chapter of its 123-year history by doubling down on its commitment to empowering women by educating South Pasadena’s residents on topics pertinent to women and girls. Most recently, it held a webinar on teen dating violence and an in-person presentation in honor of the 50th anniversary of landmark gender equality legislation Title IX. Historically, women involved in the club skew older and retired. As a result, activities occurred primarily in the afternoons or mornings, during working hours. Firstyear president Claire Collins attempted to change that by recruiting younger and working women, subsequently shifting programming to the evening, and covering topics more relevant to the new demographics.

This adjusted direction was marked by the Women’s Club partnership with non-profit Peace Over Violence (POV) to host a webinar to raise awareness and provide strategies to combat violence in teenage relationships.

Ten participants attended the presentation, leaving with expanded knowledge on the warning signs and ways to combat teen dating violence.

Administration to replace history and LOTE textbooks Student advocacy for more inclusive materials sparked the decision.

STORY HANNA BAE ILLUSTRATION PENNY ABOUD

However, students have expressed that this is not the case.

S

“Not having the time or opportunity in the curriculum to dissect every aspect of U.S. history warrants having a textbook that truly depicts what happened,” senior and textbook replacement advocate Asha Bahroos said. “Our current version of The American Pageant paints an airy picture of the harm and pain caused by slavery, demanding the need for a more comprehensive explanation to ensure that students have a more explicit and honest understanding.”

PHS is solidifying plans to replace the U.S. and World history textbooks and the Language Other Than English (LOTE) textbooks for the 2022-2023 school year after criticism from students and teachers.

Concerns regarding The American Pageant textbook used in AP U.S. History (APUSH) classes first emerged in 2014. Students and teachers argued the textbook excluded BIPOC, female, and LGBTQ+ perspectives and experiences, and framed historical events in a sexist, racist, and homophobic manner. In 2017, at the scheduled time for adopting new history textbooks, the district gave teachers the choice between new books or chromebooks, and the department decided on the latter.

Four years later, during the 2020-2021 school year, five APUSH students compiled evidence of the problematic nature of The American Pageant and researched College Board-approved alternatives before meeting with administration to catalyze the replacement process.

APUSH teacher Oliver Valcorza expressed skepticism about the students’ proposals.

“When[….] I [read] the books suggested by the students, all of the ‘hurtful terminology’ is present in every single one of the textbooks and so I asked, ‘Why is it ok for those textbooks to use all of this hurtful terminology, but not The American Pageant?’” Valcorza said. “The textbook is not the be all, end all, shaper of the curriculum[….] I think students come out much more historically aware, much more intelligent, and as critical thinkers.”

The LOTE classes are also in talks with administration to replace their textbooks. Both the French and Spanish classes adopted their current textbooks more than 20 years ago. Even with recently integrated online copies, the hard copies — which are predominantly used — remain culturally and technologically outdated. However, some teachers are satisfied with the existing textbooks.

“The current books are fundamentally effective, in my view,” Spanish teacher Joshua Whitney said. “There are some advantages to replacing the current texts, but I don’t think that changing textbooks is any sort of panacea.”

The LOTE textbooks will be switched out in a staggered fashion: the level one books first during the 2022-2023 school year and the level two books the following year.

SPHS Assistant Principal of Curriculum, Instruction, and Guidance Janet Wichman did not respond to a request for comment. Replacement textbooks are currently awaiting School Board approval.

“I think that every [teenager] should be taught about dating violence because it happens and we need to know how to protect ourselves and how to reach out for help,” freshman attendee Shelby Collins said.

To commemorate Women’s History Month, the Women’s Club honored the 50th anniversary of Title IX with an in-person forum on the subject. Women’s Club member and Title IX event coordinator Lauren Black connected the club with University of Southern California Title IX Associate Linda Hoos, who previously investigated sexual harassment and served as a Title IX representative in the California State University system.

Hoos highlighted Title IX’s status as a landmark piece of legislation that advanced equality of the sexes in the educational system. Hoos also described that Title IX applies to sexual assault in the workplace and consent, among other important issues.

“The Title IX event was a fantastic way to launch Women’s History Month. We are glad we had the opportunity to bring in a respected expert to share her knowledge with a multi-generational group of women,” Black said, “We look forward to finding new ways to engage women of all ages. We want the Women’s Club to be an accessible and relevant community resource.”

The Women’s Club will continue to increase diversity in their outreach, and is currently creating a 4th of July float celebrating 50 years of Title IX.

Elementary Ed inspires high schoolers STORY ANAYAH MEHDI PHOTO ERIN LEE Students at SPHS have the opportunity to pursue their passions for education in a real-world setting through the Principles of Education class, better known as ‘Elementary Ed,’ where high schoolers serve as teacher’s assistants in local elementary schools.

Elementary Ed is designed as a two-year pathway beginning with Principles of Education I. The first year of the elective dedicates a quarter to teaching students education strategies through lessons on child development and classroom management. In an effort to help high schoolers better relate to the children they work with, teacher Cathy Mason assigns nostalgic projects like drawing a family picture.

a student teacher for a third grade class, the pandemic started when they were in the first grade. The students were taught the basics like reading and writing virtually which means each student is at a very different level.”

Beyond aiding elementary schoolers, the program leaves high school participants with valuable life skills and a potential career path.

“I think it’s unique because they actually get some experience working with children,” Mason said.

“Whether they go into teaching or not, that doesn’t matter, a lot of different fields complement teaching.”

The remaining three quarters of the first year and full second year allow students to apply their knowledge directly in classrooms at Monterey Hills, Marengo, and Arroyo Vista elementary schools, where they are paired with a teacher, often one they’ve had before. Their responsibilities range from facilitating small group activities like arts and crafts to working one-on-one with students, providing much-needed support to teachers.

“My kids work with the little ones that are needing oneon-one aids, or falling behind in certain grades, or certain subjects,” Mason said. “If [a student] has been out for a long time because of an absence, or if a kid comes in new, a lot of times they will assign them to my students.”

USC TITLE IX ASSOCIATE LINDA HOOS expanded community knowledge on the legislation’s monumental impact through a presentation to Women’s Club members.

The pandemic-induced learning loss, especially acute at the elementary school level, provides a unique challenge for high school educators this year.

“I’ve learned how much the pandemic has affected elementary school students,” senior Sofia Nava said. “I’m

WORKING ONE-ON-ONE WITH ELEMENTARY STUDENTS has furthered senior Julia Shadmon’s passion for education.

TIGER MARCH 15, 2022

NEWS

3 3

City Council halts progress of BLM mural Supporters of the mural pointed to its anti-racist content as the likely reason for the Council's decision.

STORY ALISON WANG PHOTO COURTESY OF ZACH BROWN A more in-depth version of this article is available online at tigernewspaper.com.

T

he City Council unanimously voted at its meeting on Wednesday, March 2 to delay a decision on the Anti-Bias Club’s Black Lives Matter (BLM) mural at Orange Grove Park until a public art policy is created.

The postponement of the anti-racist artwork—which had already received approval from the Public Art and Parks and Recreation Commissions—was decided after 43 community members made public comments, both written and spoken, urging the Council to greenlight the painting of the BLM mural while it develops new public art policy. One public commenter opposed the project.­ The Anti-Bias Club first presented the concept of a BLM mural to the Public Art Commission in July 2020, and hired local artist Zach Brown to create a design in November 2020. The mural's design features prominent historical Black figures like Marsha P. Johnson, Ida B. Wells, and Angela Davis, in addition to local BLM protestors London Lang and Fahren James. The design also includes sunrays, meant to symbolize South Pasadena’s history as a sundown town, when BIPOC people had to leave the city before dark. A blank space on the right of the design is intended to invite community members to stand with the artwork, an attempt to signify that everyone has a role in the anti-racism movement.

The City Council gave conditional approval for the project to be painted at City Hall in October 2020, pending approval from the Public Arts Commission for the design. However, the City then reversed its course eight months later citing liability issues as the reason the club must choose a new location.

As a result, the students chose Orange Grove Park and received approval from the Parks and Recreation Commission for the wall and from the Public Art Commission for the updated design in September 2021.

After being agendized and then postponed for three consecutive City Council meetings in December 2021 and January 2022, the BLM mural was added to the March 2 council meeting as a discussion item.

A week prior to the meeting, creators of the mural met with city staff, when they were notified for the first time

BOTH PROMINENT HISTORICAL BLACK FIGURES AND LOCAL BLM PROTESTORS are depicted in the Anti-Bias Club's proposed mural design. that a public art policy needed to be developed before the City could move forward with the BLM mural. The City Council had directed city staff to draft a public art policy at its Wednesday, Feb. 16 meeting due to the high volume and complexity of submissions for art installations using the City’s Civic Center Art Gallery funds. However, city commissioners and residents alike took issue with the application of the development of the new policy to postpone a decision on the BLM mural, after the project had received all preliminary approvals.

“I have never heard of a city that has stopped production of art or any city operation on the basis of developing organizing policy,” Public Art Commision Chair Phung Huynh said. “All of the public art that has been created in South Pasadena such as the utility boxes, artwork for the k-rails on Mission, and the mural on Orange Grove Park that would neighbor the future BLM mural did not require the passage of a public art policy. The only thing necessary was a contract with the common goal to produce meaningful public art. [Many other cities’

policies] function more like a vision or mission statement, but do not hinder or stop the production of public art.”

At the City Council meeting, supporters of the BLM mural pointed to its anti-racist content and depiction solely of Black people as the likely reason for the city’s introduction of the need for a public art policy on this particular project and not previous ones. A clip was played during a public comment revealing the South Pasadena Police Department’s opposition to the BLM mural, voiced in a meeting with City Council members in October 2020. The City did not respond to a request for comment on the matter.

The Anti-Bias Club is exploring walls on private property in South Pasadena for the BLM mural to be painted on while the City develops a public art policy. Students are also hosting a call-to-action picnic on Friday, March 18 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Garfield Park to educate and gain support from community members for the BLM mural.

4

TIGER MARCH 15, 2022

NEWS

FARMERS’ MARKET

STORY CHARLOTTE DEKLE & LEXIE DOIG PHOTOS SOPHIE YEUNG PAGE DESIGN CHARLOTTE COHEN & TERRY SONG

The South Pasadena Farmers’ Market is an integral element of local cuisine. Every Thursday the market offers a plethora of food, produce, and other goods. In this spread, Tiger reviews the staples, desserts, and hidden gems the market has to offer.

The secret spots of the Farmers’ Market While some stands are certainly popular for a reason, every visitor should swing by one of the many hidden gems of the Farmers’ Market. Not only do these places have mouth-wateringly appetizing food, but the lines are generally shorter.

History Every Thursday, the Farmers’ Market assembles next to the Metro station. The collection of tents boasts a wide variety of products, from the farm-fresh produce to the food stalls emitting an enticing aroma of tasty treats.

The Farmers’ Market began in 1999, but the South Pasadena Chamber of Commerce took control in 2004. The market hosts vendors from all across Southern California, offering its shoppers quality, fresh, and local food options.

The weekly market is a popular shopping location for many in the community, even attracting non-locals who ride the nearby Gold Line from other areas in Los Angeles. Surrounding restaurants like Bistro De La Gare also use the market as an opportunity for business, staying open later to benefit from the increased foot traffic. The market is open from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the winter and until 8 p.m. in the summer.

Foods to try to get the full experience Entering El Centro Street on a Thursday and turning left leads one to the Bill’s Bees stall and van. Bill, his bees, their honey, and his van first made an appearance at the Farmers’ Market 23 years ag0 — at the market’s inception.

Now, he sells his honey assortments to hundreds of adoring Farmers’ Market visitors. Bill does not just vend plain golden honey; his company diversifies with varieties of honey samplings.

The honey sold ranges from buckwheat to wildflower-flavored, but all provide a smooth and saccharine taste. Bill’s Bees boasts its 100 percent raw honey alongside honey-flavored soaps, sticks, and plain old jars. Its famous honey sticks, priced at eight sticks for $2, feature a wealth of flavors including cherry, chocolate, and sage blossom.

Continuing south down El Centro Street is McFarlin Family Farms produce and the free samples of fruits they offer in Tupperware containers.

Skewering one with a toothpick could yield a multitude of flavors and textures, including a firm blood orange that oozes a sultry purple juice.

Biting into it, the juice gushes and the face contorts in reaction. The produce averages $4 per pound.

Trekking west across the market, the aroma of delicious spam musubi fills the air. Mama Musubi frequently has a line stretching past the neighboring booths, and the market staple products include spicy tuna mayo, chicken curry, and spicy kelp musubis, all variations on the fried spam enveloped in a rectangle of rice ribboned with seaweed.

“The business is good, and it’s a nice guaranteed crowd because the farmers provide such great produce for everyone to enjoy,” Mama Musubi vendor Vice Cole said. “We really like to provide something really fun and exciting for the community.”

Along with Mama Musubi, Deisy’s Tasty Food and its famous Salvadoran pupusas emanate a warm feeling throughout the market. In addition to delicious, fluffy pupusas, the truck’s products include sweet watermelon, sour regular, tart mango, and strawberry lemonade.

“I used to get pupusas with my mother and it was a bonding experience.

Every Thursday we would hang out and eat together and it was nice that it was a special routine every week,” sophomore Sophie Mertzel said.

California Corn is one such spot. Offering roasted corn-on-the-cob, baked potatoes, and a variety of complimentary toppings, this stand offers flavorful street food perfect to eat while browsing the market. However, the corn becomes more difficult to transport and consume for those who enjoy loading up their corn with cheese, sauces, and meats. Thankfully, this makes the food ideal to eat while sitting on a bench and watching the bustle of the market.

The Happy Inka is yet another noteworthy option to stop for food at the Farmers’ Market. Their stand is hard to miss with life-like models of the variety of Peruvian cuisine including beef, fish, and chicken, they offer.

Market-goers can find satisfaction from the authentic wood-fired pizzas sold by Tre Amici’s Pizza. A newer addition to the market, Tres Amici’s menu boasts Italian classics like diavola, margherita, and bianca pizzas. Their made-to-order personal pizzas offer an explosive combination of cheese, sauce, and crust. Young people can take advantage of the $12 student special which includes the choice of a pepperoni or cheese pizza, a drink, and a cookie.

Easily spotted from the main drag of the Farmer’s Market is the bright red truck of The Chicken Guys. Owner and self-proclaimed ‘Chicken Guy’ John Phillips greets customers enthusiastically, taking orders of rotisserie chicken and potatoes. Waiting in line, it is easy to fall into a trance while watching the spinning rows of chicken drip their flavorful juices onto the heaps of rosemary garlic potatoes.

Treats to satisfy your sweet tooth Alongside the classics, the Farmers’ Market boasts an impressive array of sweet treats. Further leftward on El Centro stands pastry shops including Frogs Organic Bakery.

Frogs is a French bakery with fluffy croissants, french country bread, ciabatta, and brioche. Their flavorful products range from $5 to $10, and provide a satisfying and indulgent bite. Not only that, the bakery sells gluten-free options.

Cairn’s Cookies and its unorthodox takes on classic cookies have taken the Farmers’ Market by storm since it set their stand up in August 2021.

In a twist on the classic chocolate chip, its brown butter chocolate chip cookies are a denser-packed version of the quintessential cookie.

Additionally, its white chocolate macadamia nut and oatmeal raisin cookies are brilliant.

Its opus, however, is the honeycomb toffee brownie cookie.

Richly decadent chocolate brownies with caramelized honeycomb toffee chunks make this cookie the pinnacle of their menu. Cairn also offers a recommendation of the perfect beverage complement for their cookies, such as chai latte with their oatmeal raisin and strong black coffee with their white chocolate macadamia nut.

The Farmers’ Market also houses a delicious crepe cart. Coming in both sweet and savory flavors, these stuffed crepes can be found on Meridian.

The stand’s three savory crepe options include combinations of ham, mozzarella, tomatoes, and pesto.

For the patrons with a hankering sweet tooth, syrupy crepes topped with a combination of strawberries, bananas, Nutella, or Hershey’s chocolate offer a sugary fix. Each crepe costs around $10.

“The strawberry, nutella crepe is so good. I’ve never been to Paris but it feels like I am an honorary Parisian,” sophomore CC Chang said.

While the totality of the Farmers’ Market warrants a visit, the deliciously diverse treat selection satisfies even the most dogged chocolate fanatics.

TIGER MARCH 15, 2022

THEESTABLISHED TIGER 1913 CSPA SILVER CROWN 2021 CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2019 CSPA SILVER CROWN 2018 CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2017 CSPA CROWN AWARD 2016 CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2015 CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2014 CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2013 CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2011

5

OPINION

STAFF EDITORIAL

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF NOAH KUHN MANAGING EDITORS QUINN MANZO, Print AMBER CHEN, Online NEWS SOFIA ALVA, Editor ANAYAH MEHDI, Associate OPINION SAM GROTENSTEIN, Editor HANNA BAE, Associate FEATURE GEORGIA PARSONS, Editor CHARLOTTE DEKLE, Associate SPORTS ZOE SCHLAAK, Editor BENJAMIN REGAN, Associate MICHAEL MAYEMURA, Associate DESIGN CHARLOTTE COHEN, Editor TERRY SONG, Editor MARTIN WALSH, Associate ALLISON LEE, Associate PHOTOGRAPHY SOPHIE YEUNG, Editor MICHELLE SHADMON, Associate COPY ELLIE CAMPBELL, Editor CLOE MAURER, Editor STAFF WRITERS LEXIE DOIG KAHLEN MIAO RALUCA TUDUSCIUC ALISON WANG ELSIE WATERS SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER SARAH LEE PHOTOGRAPHERS ERIN LEE SAMANTHA SHIROISHI ILLUSTRATORS ISOLE KIM ETHAN LYONS GRAPHIC DESIGNER PENNY ABOUD BUSINESS AND ADS MANAGER ANIKA EBBERT WEBMASTER LILIAN ZHU FACULTY ADVISOR KAREN HAMES VOL. 108 NO. 6 DISTRIBUTED ON MARCH 15, 2022.

SPHS needs financial literacy As economic straits become dire, financial literacy skills are imperative.

Y

oung graduates heading down the path of college and/or employment often find themselves unprepared to deal with the living costs and other financial pressures of being an adult. Most are uninformed of vital financial understandings necessary to build financial stability. This is largely due to a lack of education. By implementing mandatory high school courses, students can gain familiarity with the monetary choices that will affect them for a lifetime.

Financial literacy, a term coined by financier Lou Harvey, is loosely defined as the knowledge of key financial concepts and their application to tasks such as opening a bank account, and the ability to apply said concepts to day-to-day life, like money management or long-term financial planning. However, most of Gen Z currently lack this skill and face mounting debt in our current economic climate. A 2021 study by Experian found that the average consumer debt has risen 6 percent, and student loan debt has grown 12 percent since 2019. Gen Z’s debt has grown by 67.2 percent, in part because they are becoming adults. As debt rises and unemployment grows, younger generations find themselves less financially literate and lacking necessary skills.

Financial literacy is particularly low amongst younger generations. A survey released by the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association asked questions about basic financial concepts like debt and retirement savings. Two-thirds of the Gen Z respondents could answer only 50 percent or less of the questions correctly. 62 percent of the respondents from the Silent Generation were able to answer 50 percent to all of the questions correctly. This disparity in financial literacy only makes it more important that these topics be included in public high school curriculum.

However, only a handful states currently have a mandatory financial literacy course in high school. Since California is not one of them, there is no financial literacy course available at South Pasadena High School. Our general economics course

and AP Economics courses are designed to focus on business finances and their impact on industry, rather than the personal finance that will directly impact students’ futures.

Instead, the current compulsory health class could be expanded to two semesters to cover material like budgeting, investment accounts, and insurance which could increase financial literacy for students. Aiding students with financial difficulties can prove helpful for their futures.

School is meant to prepare students to enter the world, and teaching students to understand basic financial literacy should be a requirement. Unlike AP and regular economics, Health can be expanded to two semesters. The course should address skills like opening and managing bank accounts and credit cards, budgeting, financial risk and debt assessment, asset diversification, savings, investments, and financial identity theft, among other essential topics.

In states with personal finance coursework, MoneyRates.com found that average credit card balances and bankruptcy rates were mixed. In states that hold obligatory financial literacy courses, average credit card debt is $194 less than states where it is not, which is crucial to struggling students. Although results for bankruptcy are less consistent, this should push schools to critically examine gaps in education. As students are thrown into a world of increasing economic turbulence, the need for an education that prepares them for this reality is more dire than ever.

Cultivating capitalist ideals in young adults may seem dystopian, but they are subject to late-stage capitalism and should be equipped to deal with coming times — as college gets more and more expensive, students are increasingly going to be forced into this reality directly out of high school. South Pasadena must implement a financial literacy course to prepare students for a rapidly changing world.

DISTRIBUTION: 1200 STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY; 1200 COPIES PRINTED. DISTRIBUTED BY TIGER STAFF FREE OF CHARGE.

Boos & Bravos

TIGER IS PRODUCED BY THE TIGER NEWSPAPER CLASS AT SOUTH PASADENA HIGH SCHOOL, 1401 FREMONT AVE, SOUTH PASADENA, CA 91030.

SIGNED ARTICLES APPEARING IN TIGER REPRESENT THE WRITERS’ OPINIONS AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE STAFF, STUDENT BODY, FACULTY, OR ADMINISTRATION OF SPHS. CONTACT TIGER’S BUSINESS & ADS MANAGER, ANIKA EBBERT, AT MSEBBERT@ICLOUD.COM FOR ADVERTISING RATES AND SUBSCRIPTIONS. TIGER WELCOMES ARTICLES, LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, AND OP-EDS FOR PUBLICATION IN THE PRINT AND ONLINE EDITIONS. ALL LETTERS MUST BE SIGNED AND VERIFIABLE, BUT NAMES WILL BE WITHHELD UPON REQUEST. INFORMATION ON HOW TO SUBMIT CONTENT TO TIGER IS AVAILABLE ONLINE AT TIGERNEWSPAPER.COM TIGER’S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE A RELIABLE NEWS OUTLET FOR SPHS AND THE LOCAL SOUTH PASADENA COMMUNITY. THROUGH A DIVERSE ARRAY OF COVERAGE, TIGER EMPOWERS 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 CAN BE FOUND ONLINE AT TIGERNEWSPAPER.COM, INCLUDING THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST, CORRECTIONS, AND SOCIAL MEDIA.

Tiger’s cheers and jeers for the month of March BOOS BOO to the Batman. Too much sexy, not enough orphan.

BOO to when a wall outlet is a “gripper.” Please just let go now.

BRAVOS BRAVO to the cafeteria brunch rush. Getting stepped on builds character.

BRAVO to Bear. Shoutout Bear best dog ever go Bear!

BOO to all the people running for commissioner positions following seniors on Instagram. What am I supposed to do? Care?

BRAVO to the increasingly complicated plots of my college related dreams. I didn’t know my subconscious cared so much about UCSB.

BOO to misogynist diaries disguised as English curriculum must-reads. I’m talking to you, Orwell.

BRAVO to Pete Davidson for being a big boy. Maybe block him?

BOO to the military industrial complex. Pull ups are really cool tho.

BRAVO to people who have stopped wearing masks.

Breathe in that freedom air!

BOO to babyproofing. Let them learn.

BRAVO to life. It is the ultimate extreme sport.

6

TIGER MARCH 15, 2022

OPINION

SPEX worsens academic competition

The Spotlight on Excellence assembly is both a symptom and a perpetuation of SPHS’ s longstanding overly-competitive academic environment, reducing students’ high school experiences numbers.

STORY LEXIE DOIG ILLUSTRATION ISOLE KIM

T

he SPEX assembly is a long-held tradition at SPHS, typically taking place in the auditorium in March or April. Instead of promoting an upcoming dance or game, students file into the theater to watch the names of every student with a 4.0 GPA scroll past a screen, followed by students with a GPA of 3.5-3.99. Another video lists students’ names and their community service hours.

The SPEX assembly is intended to reward high-achieving students for their accomplishments. In reality, it fosters an environment of academic comparison and judgment.

SPHS is notorious for its competitive academic driven environment, and this public display of GPAs only serves to reinforce that. SPHS’ history of destructive academic comparison and its prevalence on campus is well-documented, and has been a subject of many past Tiger articles. Perhaps our school’s high rankings – SPHS is ranked the 58th best school in California and the 434th nationally — inadvertently creates a need for administration to continue this culture.

Additionally, there is a natural competitiveness among the student body, many of whom have attended a South Pasadena schools for their entire academic career.

Though it is important to reward academic achievement, it should not come at the cost of the rest of the student body. The SPEX assembly is one of the many symbols of a toxic academic culture at SPHS that prioritizes the grades students earn over the students themselves.

While removing the event would be a symbolic gesture and by no means a fix-all solution, it is an important gesture nonetheless.

Instead of the SPEX assembly, the time could be used to show appreciation for teachers and staff, or a spirit day could be held to raise student morale and inspire them to push through the final portion of the year.

Alternatively, Teachers could host an in-class discussion or bonding activity to determine how to best support students. If abolishing the SPEX assembly entirely is out of the question, replacing or altering it to include and celebrate all students would resolve its current exclusionary nature.

The event could instead focus on promoting positive studying habits, tutoring opportunities on campus, and mental health resources, perhaps by inviting relevant speakers and experts on the topics.

ASB Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion officer Kaya Clemons also offered some alternatives to the assembly: “I propose we have emails that are sent to parents, encouraging them to celebrate their child and their achievements.

The email could have a certificate attached, because many appreciate the visual evidence showing they accomplished something.”

The SPEX assembly is a remnant of a lingering culture promoting toxic academic comparisons at SPHS. School administration should take serious consideration to altering the assembly —or eradicating it entirely— for the good of the student body. By expanding it in this way, the achievements of all students can be celebrated instead of continuing a judgemental and overwhelmingly competitive environment.

Resale culture has counterproductive implications STORY ELSIE WATERS ILLUSTRATION ISOLE KIM Thrifting was once looked down upon as a shameful indication of one’s socioeconomic status, but its reputation has turned a massive 180. Now wearers take immense pride in displaying their thrifted clothing and rare finds. In contrast to the dominating effects of the fast fashion industry, exploitative to the planet and workers alike, thrifting presents a myriad of helpful environmental benefits.

The popularity of thrifting is closely linked with the prevalence of resale culture. Resale culture presents a complex issue by taking thrifting and morphing it into a way to make money, and therefore inherently impedes upon the benefits of thrifting. Participation in resale culture effectively reduces the amount of items that can be reclaimed and reused by limiting purchases that could otherwise be done at low-cost thrift stores, opting instead for a few, high-price items.

Places such as The Silverlake Flea Market perfectly illustrate this fact. Walking through the parking lot turned-clothing sale, passing by the aesthetic booths and their well-dressed sellers, it looks fun to participate in the haggling and purchasing. However, those that go to flea markets will see, be told, or overhear some outrageous prices for items that, subjectively, are not at all worth it.

Quinnie’s Opinnies QUINN MANZO

Living on autopilot “Senioritis” is real. There’s been a lot of recent debate about it, and despite those who insist it does not truly exist, I feel the strong effects of this very real thing on a daily basis. I debated spending my column space writing about this imaginary illness; compared to other issues, I thought discussing senioritis would be an egregious waste of space. Nonetheless, senioritis has tormented me lately, and where else to place my energetically squishedtogether nonsense but in a space of words I get to call my own column?

To be clear, senioritis is not carelessness. It would be an unfair oversimplification to say that, all of a sudden, us seniors no longer care about the way we spend our time here. In fact, I would love nothing more than to not care about my final semester of high school.

The complexity of this issue makes it difficult to present and apply a pragmatic solution. On one hand, these resellers are just making a career and if demand exists for their business, it makes sense that they resell items that they have meticulously curated at whatever cost they deem appropriate.

On the other hand, there is good reason behind holding them responsible for encouraging a culture that prompts consumers to pay an arm and a leg for some graphic tees that could be found for a fraction of the price at a local thrift store. Blame can be assigned to those who participate in every facet of resale culture, both the buyers and the sellers.

This is not a call for condemnation upon these people, but rather a wake-up call to the dangers present in resale culture. Do not be distracted by the aesthetic creations. Realize that at the end of the day, resellers are just ordinary individuals, people who are good at, or at least enjoy, shopping.

Resale shopping is being done second hand, so moderation is oftentimes lost on those who turn to thrift stores and flea markets for apparel. Seeing as the products are supposedly reduced in price, it prompts people to buy masses of clothing.

While this is a more ethical alternative to fast fashion, this still displays the hyper-consumerist nature of our society. In a world that already has too much clothing When I was an underclassmen, I had this dreamy vision of my last semester of high school. I was absolutely sure that all of the impossible standards I set for myself, all the self-induced stress that engulfed me like L.A. smog, and all the ceaseless commitments and responsibilities, would vanish. I would be a free woman. I was really kidding myself when I believed that the end of high school would mean an end to my working compulsions. Rather, senioritis is a lack of motivation. I am completely aware of what I’m supposed to do to maintain my grades and stay engaged in my extracurriculars. I am also aware of how much all of these things mean to me, and the emotional consequences that will no doubt ensue if I do not deliver. And yet, I just sort of… sit there. I can recall the many moments in the past months where I have sat in front of work, pencil in hand, fingers poised on the keys, and all I do is look in the general direction of the instructions, vision completely blurred. Not focused at all (double meaning, nice).

I took computer science in sixth grade, and the teacher had us code turtles. I would type the script, press “enter,” and watch the turtle do donuts on my screen. Senioritis feels like being that turtle, only with a faulty script. My brain presses enter, but my body does not move. No donuts. Here’s my theory. Senioritis is not just about knowing you only have a couple months of work until you enter a new phase of life with an empowered sense of personal agency, though that is part of it. We will soon be relishing in a kind of autonomy we

than needed, shopping to this extent, even when done second-hand, further fuels the cycle of purchase and immediate discard that is taxing on the environment.

Thrifting is a great alternative to fast-fashion, however its benefits could be severely diluted when consumers fail to analyze the purchases they make with a critical eye, assessing not only whether or not their purchase is worth it —but if it is necessary. In a society that largely prioritizes profit over pragmatic thinking, it is crucial that customers prioritize moderation on an individual scale, even if they are shopping second-hand. have never experienced before. Senioritis is more so about experiencing the culmination of 13 years of your life. Yes, technically, if you choose to go to college your education will continue, but it will not be grouped into the rest of your experiences the way elementary, middle, and high school are. It’s truly the end of an era.

Senioritis is not a lack of care or consideration. It is the state of being overwhelmed by care and consideration.

So many thoughts about the uncertain future, compacted by the still stressful present, is enough to send any senior into mental paralysis. We feel a lack of motivation, but oftentimes the work miraculously ends up done because our autopilot that we honed long ago kicks in. As a result, we merely watch ourselves live week after week, getting things done but somehow not recalling doing them.

I should be excited about this “autopilot.” In theory, it is the perfect setup: all the work gets done without me really thinking about it. In reality, it’s excruciating. It is wholly unfulfilling to float through a routine where I’m half asleep for most of the time. I’d much rather be anxious about these things, to fully engage in what I’m doing. I want to remember the entirety of these last months, freak-outs and all. Otherwise, I am left feeling unaccomplished — not doing less, but feeling less of what I’m doing. The only cure to senioritis is a messily-scribbled prescription for selfawareness that hopefully transforms into self-forgiveness.

TIGER MARCH 15, 2022

OPINION

7

Cafeteria responds poorly to water theft A recent spike in water bottle theft highlights a larger administrative issue and a lack of resources.

STORY HANNA BAE ILLUSTRATION MARTIN WALSH

T

he SPHS cafeteria decided to halt the sales of water bottles in the Grab’n’Go line during brunch and lunch, citing that due to excessive water theft, it would be more beneficial to no longer offer water there. Many students have expressed their frustration with the new short-term solution for water bottle theft. However, the cafeteria’s isn’t solely to blame. Their response to the excessive amount of water theft is reflective of how they do not receive enough support and the massive domino effect food and water theft has on the student body and quality of student life on campus.

Theft has been an issue in the cafeteria before, but it has never grown to the extent that it has after the implementation of the free meal program. In response to the sudden increase in water theft, administration came to the conclusion to not offer water bottles in certain lines, citing that even if water bottles are moved below the tables and registers, students steal other food and drink items.

“We removed them to start, but now we have kind of brought them back. One of the registers had them a couple of days ago, but we can not even put them down below because if we bend down to get something, [students] steal the snacks that are on the register,” Director of Food and Nutrition Michelle Curry said. “We have been put in a very defensive position where we are literally on a day-to-day basis having kids try to be dishonest and disrespectful of the program.”

Although frustrating for students, the alterations were accurate reflections of the cafeteria’s necessities. The cafeteria faces direct consequences from increases in food and drink thefts. California pays the free meal program, but the SPHS cafeteria is not fully supported by the state. The revenue that is made from student food sales contributes to staff income, food delivery fees, and general housekeeping bills. Cafeterias lose funding due to food and drink theft which forces the district to pay the bills. The more that is stolen from the lunch lines, the more money the district has to pay. In the event of continuous theft, the cafeteria would raise prices of items in order to properly indemnify staff and delivery fees.

“We do not get any money from the school. All the money that pays for all of my staff, the trucks, the food, the equipment, everything, is made internally. So we

will raise prices in the event that the losses affect our bottom line,” Curry said. “If we lose money, if we were to become financially dependent on the district, then the district has to pay our bills. If the district pays our bills, that means, potentially, teachers are not getting hired, programs get cut.”

Many students have expressed their exasperation towards the situation, reasoning that they are forced to spend more time looking for water, and bringing water is sometimes not a viable option.

But, there does not seem to be a fool-proof solution that will solve all issues that have arisen in the cafeteria.

“I understand a lot of people are angry about this issue; it is not as simple as just bringing water… I did not know that, but we definitely should not blame the cafeteria for it. It is a bigger problem that might not even be able to be solved,” sophomore Sophie Mertzel said. “Maybe explaining that to the student body would [help]… It is

not an easy solution. We, as students, are not as informed on how the cafeteria works.”

Curry expressed that the removal of water bottles was a temporary accommodation. Water bottles are now found, along with other drinks, in all cafeteria lines. One student worker also expressed her possible solution.

“I believe if the problem is theft right now, then the other drinks we sell can be stolen just as easily as the waters,” junior Tia Guang said. “I think if we also include water near the cashier, I can get their water right away and it would solve the issue.”

It is difficult to identify the root cause of a sudden increase in water theft. The cafeteria’s response to increases in water theft are reflective of the lack of support the cafeteria receives. Although an immediate solution to all water theft is not feasible, approaches to educate the student body on school functions and funding for the free meal program and cafeteria are.

Moving to the music: consumerism as spiritualism STORY CHARLOTTE DEKLE ILLUSTRATION PENNY ABOUD In the small town of Asheville, North Carolina lies the Asheville Movement Collective, a group of dancing new-wave spiritual individualists. Actually, dance is a strong term.

It would be more accurate to say that everyone moves spontaneously in accordance with the music. In their mission statement, the Asheville Movement Collective say that they “envision a world that moves in harmony where all are free to be their authentic selves within a loving community.”

Like the Asheville Movement Collective, modern spirituality focused on the sense of self brings religiosity into a new communal era where anyone can worship anything to find meaning. In the process, religion is democratized. The single fastest-growing religious organization is not Christianity or any Christ-based doctrine, nor does it end in an -ism—it is the rise of the ‘nones.’ Record numbers of Americans identify as religiously unaffiliated, occupying a gray area between religiosity and atheism, worshipping their bodies like a deity.

Science and religion have been at an ancient battle for the core of human belief.

Although many people reconcile these dichotomous forces by accepting both within their lives, some infuse scientific or holistic methodologies into their worship to break new mutiny. Whether or not they are legitimate science is irrelevant. For example, horoscopes and astrology have been proven to have no bearing in astronomy or any other scientific mode of study. But that will not stop people from turning to the stars for advice about relationships or the future. This allows for people to have a feeling of individualism to provide meaning to a chaotic world.

While finding meaning is a net positive, French sociologist Émile Durkheim coined the term ‘cult of the individual’ referring to the concept of the individual becoming the focus of responsibility, rather than the collective spirit. While this may carry negative connotations — for a pluralist society can only function with collectivism — this is not necessarily the case. Even though this modern spiritualism is a beneficial experience, as with any modern trend, spiritualism and self-worship have become commodified. However, this is not necessarily the fault of the concept as much as the basic corporatization of every aspect of society.

Anthropologist David A. Palmer delineates that “thus, as a consumer, the consumer is god, and you have the total freedom to pick and choose what you wish.” Therein lies the point of modern spirituality, the ability to pick and choose which aspects you find enjoyable and not having to prescribe to an outdated belief system.

Consumption of models of worship (e.g purchasing crystals) assists in the definition of the individual and their relationship with spirituality. While individual worship can be interpreted as selfish, selfish spiritualism is the next logical step in ‘the consumer is God’ mentality because altruism and excessive consumption do not coexist.

Worshiping on your own terms, whether that be through alpha men or horoscopes is a positive experience. Thus, the community of worship stays intact but the individual can thrive with their own belief system. Until everyone can spontaneously move to their own music and maybe join the Asheville Movement Collective.

8

TIGER MARCH 15, 2022

TIGER MARCH 15, 2022

CENTER

9

TIGER : FOR STUDENTS, BY STUDENTS STORY TIGER EDITORIAL STAFF

PAGE DESIGN CHARLOTTE COHEN & TERRY SONG

Journalism is constantly evolving

ILLUSTRATION TERRY SONG

Tiger must remain student-led

STORY QUINN MANZO & TIGER EDITORIAL STAFF Behind the clicking cabinet doors, hidden along the nolonger-in-use corners of the dark room, lie stacks and books of Tiger issue archives. The books, where our oldest archives lie, contain months of jumbled news and commentary turned mustard yellow by age, some issues so old that they crumble with a gentle turn of the pages.

I sat on the floor in the Tiger room next to my peers and excitedly flipped through each archive. We laughed at the outlandish headlines of the past and stared blankly at the supposedly comedic comics, assuring ourselves that they must have been funny at their time of print. I tracked the Boos and Bravos, one of my favorite Tiger traditions, and they made me realize that our lighthearted rivalry with the Copa de Oro dates back decades.

It would have taken too long to read every issue released since our founding in 1913, so we chose to look at years that hold historical significance to us: wars, the Great Depression, the Civil Rights movement, and the era following 9/11. It was interesting to see how the world wars and Vietnam War depicted in the archives differed from our own perceptions. We tend to view these wars as unceasing sequences of drastic change and violence because years of conflict are compacted into weeklong history lesson plans that try to pick out the most important events. In the archives, however, wars were only briefly mentioned in the news section, with articles that barely exceeded two paragraphs. They advertised war bonds, posted articles in memoriam of an alumnus who had passed in combat, and alerted the student body that, during one particular year, summer school would be canceled because the SPHS football field would be used as an army camp. Wars are certainly talked about differently when one is living through it. Looking through past issues puts world and national issues into a realistic, day-by-day perspective.

Far more interesting than the war coverage in our paper was the long list of issues Tiger did not cover. Not a single article spoke of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., the Japanese Internment Camps, or even the story

specific to South Pasadena in which nine-year-old Susan McClain was denied entry into the Municipal Plunge at Orange Grove Park because she was Black. The omission of these issues came as no surprise to me and the rest of the Tiger team. We are well aware of the history of racism that plagues this community. South Pasadena used to be a sundown town, there is a physical barrier between our city and El Sereno, and records of a 1940s initiative dedicated to preventing people of color from moving here “as a means of preserving value by maintaining the present racial character of the population” are detailed in the Dec. 26, 1941 issue of the South Pasadena Review. This is to say that Tiger Newspaper was not always so progressive.

Yet the overtly racist culture that engulfed SPHS in the past is the same culture that we see glimpses of when people put up posters with white supremacist dog whistles on the walls of campus buildings, or when South Pasadena City Council members delay the painting of a positive Black Lives Matter mural indefinitely.

It is this culture that no doubt influenced the lack of critical journalism we noticed in the archives. However, it is these faults in our past print issues that make us so proud to be part of a student-led publication, in which it is inherent that the paper changes as we do. We now cover important issues regarding race, sexuality, gender identity, and economic disparity.

Tiger Newspaper being a student-led publication will always hold value because it paints a clear timeline of the way the opinions and values in this community have developed. This paper criticizes the malicious standards of exclusion we have

STORY QUINN MANZO, CLOE MAURER, & TIGER EDITORIAL STAFF in this community despite perpetuating those exact standards in the past. The only way for to continue to thrive is if it remains a collection of uninhibited student voices, driven by social responsibility and a thirst for progress.

More than tradition, the heart and soul of Tiger is change.

In front of the entire Tiger staff last Wednesday, Tiger’s advisor (legally on file as Tiger’s teacher) projected a Google Slides presentation about her vision of Tiger.

Before she began, she set some ground rules, which included some unsettling directions to contain our emotions and listen

respectfully to avoid the consequence of receiving a grade reduction or eventually being sent to the main office, if such a warning to be respectful were to be ignored.

The grade reduction would be taken from a proposed addition to our grading rubric called the “cooperation” grade, worth 20 points, and solely determined by her.

That presentation, combined with numerous grievances this school year, have prompted the editorial team to speak out against what we believe is a series of changes that are threatening the integrity and quality of Tiger as a school and community publication.

In a broader democratic context, newspapers are watchdogs. They are integrated into the relationship between the people and the government to uphold truth and necessary outside perspectives into the public bloodstream, no matter how disruptive they may be. School newspapers serve this same vital function.

To extend the metaphor, the administration is the government and the student body is the American public.

Tiger is a community voice that speaks to the student perspective. We can bring the actions or decisions of administration into a public forum where high schoolers are empowered to examine the systems in place critically. For this symbiosis of information and critical thinking to continue, it is crucial that the power of a newspaper remain separate from the authority of the body in question — the government, or school administration — that it reports on.

This journalistic autonomy remains largely true in terms of American democracy. The government can intervene by way of suing publications for publishing libel or slander because that is a violation of the First Amendment.

However, the government cannot sue

The New York Times for publishing information smuggled from the apartment of a Defense Department analyst because it was neither libel nor slander, as exemplified by the Pentagon Papers in the case of New York Times Co. v United States.

Within the SPHS ecosystem, the newspaper-administration relationship is more intertwined. Ideally, in adherence to professional journalistic standards, the administration and our advisor should only intervene with the operation of Tiger when we are at risk of committing a violation of our First Amendment rights by publishing something libelous, slanderous, or obscene that puts the school at risk of being sued.

Our former advisor left his position at the end of the 2019-2020 school year due to unforeseen circumstances, and after a quarter of a year with an interim advisor, our current advisor, Karen Hames filled his role. Throughout this school year, the editorial staff has been at odds with the transformation of the advisor role unfolding before us.

We have found ourselves in a situation where a new advisor has, in no uncertain terms, been hired by administration explicitly to be more involved. “Involved” is a broad word with complicated implications that we, as an editorial staff, along with Ms. Hames, have had a difficult time defining. Specifically, we have had trouble reconciling more “involvement” with ensuring that Tiger remains a truly student-run publication.

Tiger has historically had a contentious relationship with school administration, so it does make sense that, when given the opportunity, administration would choose to hire a more “involved” advisor. Multiple times Tiger has covered the administration’s Title IX violations, white supremacy scandals on campus, the suspicious involvement of school resource officers on campus, and numerous events in which the administration has mishandled a situation of sexual misconduct between faculty and students.

10

TIGER MARCH 15, 2022

FEATURE

Hey, put that down!

CLOE MAURER For me, the past month has felt creatively tapped out. The arts and culture sections of most publications feel very tiny and tired next to the news. Streaming services cannot seem to stop inundating the gaping media void with reality shows tangled up in increasingly abstract and emotionally complicated premises. Everything is a six part series. My watchlist is congested with “important movies” (Taxi Driver?), but I always fall asleep an hour in. The last movie I was truly entertained by was Don Jon (Joseph Gordon Levitt is a gym bro sex addict with a thick New Jersey accent), so that’s bleak.

I think a lot of this is because I’m feeling unusually nostalgic right now and also sort of frustrated.

Usually, I approach media consumption pseudoeducationally like it’s research, like I am an archaeologist who deals in underrated (sometimes for good reason) Hulu series and Fellini films in half hour increments. Now, I find myself looking for something new, but familiar, old, but applicable, comfortable, but not unchallenging. I have created a dumb paradox for myself that makes everything from movies to music slightly less enjoyable.

Bela Salazar: A musical legend in the making Salazar channels her creativity into her punk band, The Linda Lindas.

STORY ELSIE WATERS PHOTO ERIN LEE

“

I don’t have a lot of time for school. I’m always exhausted,” senior Bela Salazar said. “But, I wouldn’t have it any other way, honestly. You go to high school to get a career, right, to get a job, and I already have that. I’m already working and doing something I love.”

Salazar is a rockstar, meaning that while the majority of SPHS seniors are anxiously awaiting their college acceptance letters, she prioritizes her position as a guitarist and vocalist in the up and coming all-girl punk band, The Linda Lindas.

After their performance of their song, “Racist, Sexist Boy,” at the Los Angeles Public Library went viral, The Linda Lindas became overnight sensations. The song, which was written as a way to express a band member’s frustrations after a racist encounter with a classmate, garnered over one million views on YouTube and praise from fans and celebrities alike. Bela was in class when the video blew up. “​​I got in trouble because my phone was buzzing, buzzing, buzzing and just going off too much, and then I looked at my Instagram, and our whole feed was just the video of us at the library,” she said in an interview with i-D Magazine.

Since then, The Linda Lindas have been properly thrust into the spotlight, having made appearances on The Jimmy Kimmel Show, The Late Late Show with James Corden, and even Amy Poehler’s Moxie. Despite her success, Salazar remains refreshingly grounded. While her classmates often question her about her burgeoning career, she casually denies her fame altogether. More often than not, she can be seen sauntering down the hallways with her earbuds and a fabulous outfit.

Music is not Salazar’s only outlet of creative expression. In early March, she launched her first complete collection

Also, I have been unable to make a good playlist, which is usually a pretty good indicator of where the creativity meter is at (trivial, yes, I know). A lot of personal myth and imaginary conditions surround my playlist making. They have to come to me in a sort of feverish flash of inspiration. The goal is not to make something I will want to listen to forever, but something that can capture that exact moment in time.

in her clothing line, La Rosa De La Esquina. While she takes inspiration from big-names in the fashion industry such as Vivienne Westwood and Rick Owens, Salazar is equally influenced by the dominating styles of the past. She particularly draws inspiration from the 70s, describing her style as “modern hippie,” accentuated with funky patterns.

In 2006, Spin magazine published “The Last Temptation of Jenny Lewis,” a profile of the lead singer of 2000s indie outfit Rilo Kiley. The profile ends with a quote. “I think my life is characterized by a series of crushes.” The writer, Chuck Klosterman replies wryly, “This may very well be true. But crushes work both ways, and Lewis seems to understand this all too well.” I reread the profile last weekend. Then, I made a playlist.

Salazar will hit the road alongside her band The Linda Lindas for the entirety of April on what she describes as a “mini tour.” The tour will offer the young group a taste of the travel required of a musician, and hopefully what is to come further down the road in their career. After six days in Los Angeles, they will stop to perform at the MoMA in San Francisco and later spend five nights in New York.

I started with Sun Kil Moon’s jangly, ambling “Ben’s My Friend.” It is a song about Mark Kozelek’s mid life crisis and how weird he feels at a Death Cab for Cutie show when he sees his younger friend Ben (Gibbard) performing to a big crowd. I added “Goodbye” by The Sundays and “Is This What You Wanted” by Leonard Cohen and the demo version of “Hannah and Gabi”

by The Lemonheads.

The band will feature their upcoming debut album, Growing Up, on the tour. Though they are punk in every sense of the word, The Linda Lindas meld pop into their debut album, and Salazar specifically focuses on incorporating her Latin roots into their music. The girls began creating their album at the end of Salazar’s junior year, recording their songs at the start of last summer, and finishing a week before the next school year started.

All of the songs were ones I had not listened to in a long time. I don’t know what jogged them from my memory and I don’t know why I reread the Jenny Lewis profile. The playlist didn’t capture precisely how I was feeling at the moment. Rather, it was a loose anthology of familiar feelings or feelings I want to have again. This deviation does seem only appropriate and so does my creative block and bout of media dispassion.

“We were in the studio everyday for three months,” Salazar said. “It was so much fun because these are the first songs we’ve written [ourselves] because we were a cover band before. And these are the songs we’re ready to put out into the world. It’s really exciting.”

I am, like a lot of people I know, at the edge of something new. I am not sure how I will feel when I know what is next and I am currently in the strange process of deciding what I might want to take with me into whatever is next. So, yes, thanks to Jenny Lewis, a moody Mark Kozelek, and an even moodier Evan Dando, I am moving through my creative slump with all the nostalgia I’ve stored over the years in music, TV shows, and movies. When the future is so uncertain, it is not so bad to look to the past, even if it is just the parts of the past you remember most fondly.

At just 17, Salazar has carved out her own space in the punk-rock scene, and it’s clear that this is just the start of her journey. Salazar creates music that conveys her passion for guitar and her deep appreciation for her culture. Alongside her band, she will continue to produce songs that deliver strong and relevant messages, while expanding on other creative projects.

TIGER MARCH 15, 2022

FEATURE

11

Fresh Prince reenvisioned for a modern audience STORY MICHAEL MAYEMURA ILLUSTRATION ETHAN LYONS

W

hen the original Fresh Prince of Bel-Air premiered in 1990, it was practically begging for a gritty retelling with its theme song’s incongruously bright tune coupled with fraught tales of gang violence in its lyrics.

Bel-Air delivers that with an enlivened Fresh Prince.

Director and film writer Morgan Cooper’s take on the 90s classic mixes the beloved characters of the original show with a plot fit for teens and young adults through its modern references, captivating cinematography, and grippingly mature atmosphere.

his upbringing, Smith found himself through his love of basketball, a love that would ultimately drive him out of his Philly home. Bailed out by his wealthy Uncle Phillip after being arrested during a basketball altercation, Smith was forced to move across the country to live behind the golden gates of Bel-Air — a hasty decision by Smith’s mother to protect him from the gang that was now after him.

Bel-Air stays true to major plot points from the original show — Will Smith moving from West Philadelphia to Bel-Air, and Smith’s struggle to adapt to life in the upperclass — yet, Cooper’s show provides viewers a uniquely 2022 take on the 90s classic.

Part of Bel-Air’s success lies in the fact that its writers appeal to the show’s modern audience, tackling issues like anxiety, drug use, and the disillusioned millennial stereotype. Hilary Banks, Will’s older cousin (played

by Coco Jones) is at constant odds with her mother as a result of her “unrealistic” life choices, like pursuing a career in social media. It challenges the notion that millennials are disconnected from reality by demonstrating how some adults have grown out of touch with the changing times.

In Cooper’s rendition, the viewer follows Will through the streets of West Philly, depicting the vulgarity, violence, and adversity that plagues his neighborhood. In spite of

Bel-Air does not shy away from drug use either, depicting characters using it as a coping mechanism for the trauma and mental health issues they face, again bringing to light

a serious issue that plagues the youth of today. With all this, the show’s writers manage to craft a captivatingly dramatic yet life-like story that teens and young adults can relate to.

Bel-Air, much like the original, is centered around its African American characters, only now it hones in on the racial adversities they face in America. The new show plays on a unique dynamic between the experience of the wealthy Banks family and the impoverished Smiths; a cause of tension between the two throughout the show.

The retelling highlights the controversial usage of the N-word, illustrates the socioeconomic differences among African Americans, and portrays the corporate whitewashing of Black culture. Yet, tackling these issues does not alienate the audience as they appeal to the cultural zeitgeist of the 21st century — ­ one dedicated to racial justice and led by the younger generations.

The beautiful cinematography works with the complex plotline, but never distracts from it. Throughout the show, camera zoom-ins paired with muted music amplify Carlton Banks’ (Olly Sholotan) character arc by intensifying his feelings of anxiety and isolation from his family and the world he knew upon his cousin Smith’s arrival.

The thoughtful storyline and tactful camera-work compliment one another, bringing each character’s struggles and emotions to life. Jabari Banks, who portrays Will Smith, captures the character’s charm, wit, and stubbornness that viewers loved from the original show, only now mixing in more mature aspects of the teen’s life ─ his struggle to fit-in in Bel-Air, being stereotyped as a thug by his classmates, and his race to escape his dangerous mistake in Philly.

All of this is brilliantly captured through crisp camerawork that accentuates his confidence and swagger as well as moments of vulnerability. The tension between Carlton and Will is illustrated through the body-language, the tonality, and the realism the actors bring, while being honed in by juxtaposed shots of the glamorous Will and dethroned Carlton.

On the surface, Bel-Air offers a standard, gritty dramatization of a 90s classic. Yet, as one dives deeper into the series they uncover just how uniquely fresh BelAir is. Blending entrancingly mature writing with riveting cinematography, Cooper’s Bel-Air brilliant remixes the Fresh Prince for the 21st century.

L.A.’s performative punk scene curbs The Smell’s potential STORY ELSIE WATERS ILLUSTRATION MICHELLE SHADMON In a pitch-black alleyway lined with the shards of broken beer-bottles, cigarette butts, and emptied spray paint cans, lies Downtown L.A’s The Smell. The all-ages, punk rock-specialized music venue has been a local favorite since its establishment in 1998. It is a self-proclaimed D.I.Y driven art and music space that has been sustained over the past twenty-four years through volunteers. The venue itself is resourceful and original, yet its potential is hampered by the performative crowd it attracts.

After navigating to the small cut-out entrance, individuals pay $5 for their admission into The Smell. The space itself is simple, with brick walls and high, industrial ceilings. It is the art that brings the venue to life. From intricatelyillustrated statement walls to the graffiti-painted bathrooms —The Smell bleeds artistic intention.

The venue extends welcoming invitations to both attendees and performers alike with affordable entrance fees and an open stage. In theory, it should emanate a sense of community, especially as a volunteer-run venue.

While this is not completely lost on its audience, it has certainly been obscured. Ironically, this can be attributed to the audience itself.

Despite being an all-ages club, The Smell attracts two very different demographics. The first is made up of individuals in their late 20s, those who would otherwise be able to attend a conventional club. The second is composed of teenagers, who find appeal in the fact that

they are permitted on the premises. The groups are incompatible not only physically, but socially, ultimately producing an awkward environment for the shows to take place. While the younger attendees declare a narrow sliver in front of the stage for themselves, the older patrons are forced to the back of the area with no choice but to watch the makeshift, largely dysfunctional moshpit directly in front of the stage.

The average moshpit is aggressive but ultimately aligned with the spirit of the music. The mosphit at The Smell seems more like an outlet for teenage angst. The music plays little to no role in the mosphit scene, as teenagers shove one another — it appears as if they are merely releasing their pent up teenage belligerence in this hostile display of movement. Those not partaking in the moshpit have no choice but to observe this display, watching in discomfort as a sea of bodies covered in spike-studded tops and various shades of neon-dyed hair create a tumultuous scene.

It would be incorrect to assume the groups never intersect. Teenagers reluctant to join the physically draining and mentally unnerving scene are pushed back alongside the adults. Characteristically, these individuals have their phones out in order to document their “wild

night” at The Smell, whether or not they are actually participating in the crowd.

The Smell has immense potential in its location and appearance. Its emphasis on unfettered art and expression speaks to local culture. Unfortunately, this culture is severely diluted by the performative upper middle class crowd of teenagers it attracts, who place style over substance. It appears as if these individuals are attempting to escape the suburban lives that they are so deeply ashamed of, in search of a grittier lifestyle—or at least one that appears as such—that further distinguishes them from the privilege they have been raised in.

This scene is ultimately meaningless, and contradicts their very goal to separate themselves from their true social status. By adopting these seemingly “grungier” personas for a few hours at The Smell, their privilege is only reinforced, as they return to their true lives the minute they step off the train, entering back into the comfortable embrace of their suburban lives.

The incoherence of the crowd–specifically the youth participants contribute to the disconnect from the inegreal culture that The Smell has the power to offer, and the disingenuous appearance it currently exudes.

12

TIGER MARCH 15, 2022

FEATURE

Tiger’s 2022 Oscar Predictions Since the conclusion of the BAFTA awards on Sunday, March 13, the 94th Academy Awards are quickly approaching on Sunday, March 27th. Tiger analyzes seven major categories with our predictions.

STORY HANNA BAE, CHARLOTTE DEKLE, KAHLEN MIAO, & BENJAMIN REGAN

PAGE DESIGN ALLISON LEE & MARTIN WALSH

Best

Best

International Feature

Original Screenplay

The Japanese masterpiece Drive My Car is an Oscar win waiting to happen.

The film’s well-deserved nominations in multiple categories are long overdue, as Japanese cinematography has been long underappreciated by western audiences. Director Ryusuke Hamaguchi beautifully steers the film’s three hour runtime with its superb acting, entrancing minimalistic cinematography, and intimate direction. Based on a short story by Haruki Murakami, the film quietly helms the complexities of loss, love, and acceptance as it follows the offbeat relationship between a widowed, aging actor, and a young girl who he hires as a chauffeur. Hamaguchi’s guidance of the film proves to be a stunning Academy debut.

Director Kenneth Branagh’s film Belfast, which details a working class family amidst the bedlam of 1960s Northern Ireland, is considered by many to be the favorite for Best Screenplay. Having already taken home Best Screenplay at the 2022 Golden Globes and being crowned the the People’s Choice Award at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival, the film couples a strong acting core and expert cinematography with an enthralling storyline. Belfast captures the tension of nine year-old Buddy (Judy Hill) coming of age in the late 1960s with the Northern Ireland Conflict brewing.

Belfast is a critically acclaimed work that has received praise for Branagh’s direction and writing. On March 27th, it will look to add to a long list of accomplishments.

Best

Best

Actor

Actress Jessica Chastain delivered a dynamic performance in The Eyes of Tammy Faye.

Despite the film’s inability to match with her performance, Chastain breathes life into LGBTQ+ ally and televangelist Tammy Faye. This year’s Best Actress race will be especially tight between Chastain and 2019 Oscar-winner Olivia Colman, who embodies the haunting role of Leda in The Last Daughter with poise and subtlety. However, Chastain’s ability to highlight Faye’s eccentric and over-the-top personality on and off the small screen is a performance worthy of an Oscar and lends itself as a refreshing take for the biopic genre.

Will Smith’s commanding portrayal of Richard Williams, the domineering father of tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams, in King Richard will garner the win. In the hands of a lesser actor, this role could have fallen into typical biopic fodder, but Smith is fully immersed in his character. Smith has not yet procured an Oscar after three nominations, so this could be the role he needs to catapult him onto the stage come awards night. Smith would beat Andrew Garfield’s astounding portrayal as the late composer Jonathan Larson in tick, tick…

Boom, among others.

Best

Best

Original Score

Director Three-time Oscar winning director Steven Spielberg is poised to collect his fourth statuette for his sublime direction of the West Side Story remake. Although this year yielded excellent work from veteran directors Paul Thomas Anderson, Kenneth Branagh, and Ryusuke Hamaguchi, as well as Jane Campion returning from a decades long hiatus, Spielberg will likely cinch this win. He is perfectly adept at both the technicolor musical numbers and the intimate dramatic moments. For example, the contrast between the song “America” and “Somewhere” is worth reflecting on. “America” is a buoyant number depicting both the benefits and drawbacks of living in the US. In this scene, Spielberg’s camera sweeps through the colorful New York City streets as the dancers careen their way into a busy intersection. Compare that with “Somewhere,” an intimate number about hope for the future amid uncertainty. In “Somewhere,” Spielberg holds back and lets the performer shine in its intimacy. Spielberg knows when to let the actors inform the direction and vice versa. In a storied career with many unforgettable films, West Side Story is undoubtedly Spielberg at his best, a master perfectly in tune with his craft.

Best

Picture This year’s Best Picture race is packed with stellar films.

Although other productions may be better all-around films, Jane Campion’s The Power Of The Dog will most likely secure the top prize due to its typical Oscar-winning gravitas. The plot of the film is virtually nonexistent, it is more a series of Western landscapes intercut with footage of actors emoting despair. But the kind of meandering storyline with famous actors in meaty roles is exactly what the Academy looks for. An authoritative Benedict Cumberbatch stars in a deconstruction of toxic masculinity from the perspective of a cow hand in 1920s Montana. Campion’s sweeping direction is a welcome return since her last Oscar-winning film, The Piano. Additionally, the supporting performances of newcomer Kodi Smit-McPhee and real-life spouse duo Jesse Plemons and Kirsten Dunst are solid enough to anchor this meandering film.

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s work on the Encanto soundtrack is truly like no other. The score consists of the Spanish-style guitar, the guaracha, and samba beats, enchanting viewers with Miranda’s singular style. The use of maracas and shakers in many of the songs encorporate Colombian culture with the rest of the film. The modern spin on traditional styles accompany the heartfelt plotline marvelously and the songs are incredibly catchy and chart-topping. “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” and “Surface Pressure” represented the characters perfectly and also took TikTok by storm. Four of the songs on the hit soundtrack are nestled in Billboard’s Hot 100 for their seventh week. Hans Zimmer’s score for Dune and Nicholas Britell’s work in Don’t Look Up are also strong contenders. The eerie soundtrack and dramatic nature of both scores are paired in a stylish way with the breathtaking aesthetics, but fall short to Encanto. Miranda’s musical brilliance sets the film apart from the other nominees. As a musical work, the stunning score is a strong contender to sweep the category.

TIGER MARCH 15, 2022

FEATURE

13

TAAGLAA: Arlington Garden TIGER’S AWESOME ADVENTURES IN THE GREATER LOS ANGELES AREA

STORY ALISON WANG PHOTOS SAMANTHA SHIROISHI

T

ucked in between the 134 and 110 Freeways, Arlington Garden in Pasadena is an idyllic community-run garden on the eponymous Arlington Drive. It has attracted locals who want a breath of fresh air and avid gardeners alike since the early 2000s.

Boasting at least 300 different cultivars, the garden is divided by plant types, most native to Southern California’s uniquely dry climate.

feathers shimmered iridescently with the movement of their wings, carrying them nectary to nectary. All the while, dry-skinned lizards darted in and out of the bushes, scuttling at the sound of our footsteps. The garden’s littlest creatures rustling through chaparral was calming background noise as we gazed up at the taller trees. The placid grandeur of Arlington Garden is soothing, and gives respite from the hubbub of city life, even with its proximity to a freeway.

The garden sits on a 2.5-acre section of the former Durand House, an extravagant mansion that was destroyed in 1964. Before the Garden was planted, CalTrans took possession of the property in preparation for the construction of the 710 Freeway. Community opposition eventually halted the project, leaving the lot empty.

Arlington Garden is also paradigm for environmental sustainability through its use of climate-appropriate plants and little supplemental irrigation. The dirt is covered in dried leaves and twigs, left to feed wildlife and create natural mulch. The garden also seeks to educate people on urban gardening and conservation with their frequent in-person events, including bird walks and seminars with wildlife educators.

In 2002, Pasadena Council member Steve Maddison solicited community advice about the future of the plot and asked for recommendations from fellow council member Charles “Kicker” McKenney and his wife Betty.

With efforts from the couple, former City Manager Cynthia Kurtz, and designer Mayita Dinos, the garden was formed in 2005.

We decided to rest on worn metal chairs provided in the Oak Grove, tucked into the back of the garden, and eased into conversation as the breeze blew gusts of dry leaves about. We were surrounded by another group picnicking, a cherub fountain, and a marble statue of a saint. Time felt liquid as we gazed at the flora around us, chatting and eating fruit for hours.

Remnants of the Durand House still remain in the garden. The Peruvian pepper tree is over a century old and is part of the original property. The garden’s Washington navel orange grove is half a block away from South Orange Grove Boulevard, where Pasadena’s orange groves were situated over a century ago.

After satiating our hunger, we ambled to the garden’s labyrinth, a stone-lined spiral in a clearing shaded by a grove of swaying Peruvian pepper trees. Weeds emerged from in between the stones, and as we walked through the turns, we made sure not to disturb their alignment.

The oranges are picked by local Girl Scouts and volunteers, then made into marmalade by E. Waldo Ward and Son, a local condiment company founded in 1891. All proceeds go to the garden, since it is not funded by taxpayer money — only by volunteers and donations.

As Kahlen, Samantha, and I wandered through the Garden, a few bees gently buzzed nearby as they dutifully gathered pollen from each plant in bloom. Multi-colored hummingbirds flitted playfully around, maintaining a careful distance from us humans as their sequin-like

The people around us were all engrossed in their own lives: a father playing with his daughter, someone talking on the phone about self-love, a person reading in the shade, a budding artist sitting on the floor sketching the vegetation. Meanwhile, music playing from the adjacent Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden seeped into the Arlington Garden.

The energy of the people and the well-kept fauna around helped to create the muted, tranquil atmosphere.

The garden provides a natural version of urbanized Southern California.

OFFERING A BRIEF REPOSE FROM THE COMMOTION OF CITY LIFE, Arlington Garden, founded in 2005, is situated in Pasadena.

14

TIGER MARCH 15, 2022

SPORTS

Multi-sport phenom impressively making history before school, and would be waking up at five. That was just a really exhausting time [for me],” Errington said. “I love both sports and I think it was fun to just do both, but it was really exhausting, so now that I’m not doing [both], I really want to focus on track.”

STORY ANAYAH MEHDI PHOTOS MICHELLE SHADMON

F

reshman Abigail Errington is a multifaceted star when it comes to athletics. Taking part in a wide range of sports including volleyball, cross country, track and field, and swimming, Errington has learned how to navigate many athletic activities. Having already competed on numerous SPHS varsity teams, Errington has discovered that her ultimate passion is running, and is zeroing in her attention to track and cross country.

Errington cross-trains for running by swimming competitively on the Alhambra Dolphins, where she is also completing lifeguard certification training. Similar to volleyball, she has decided that her aquatic pursuits will take a back seat to track and cross country, incredibly demanding sports in their own right.

Errington began her athletic career playing at San Gabriel Elite volleyball club for several years and running during middle school with friends. However, she never took competing in the latter discipline seriously until a track meet at the end of eighth grade. Then, midway through the summer before high school, she joined cross country and quickly earned a spot on the varsity roster after traveling with an elite squad to an altitude training camp in the Sequoias.

“This is the first time I’ve done [track] and practices are pretty crazy. But when it comes to track, you can decide how much time you want to spend with it, so you can choose if you want to leave after the workout or stay and do weight training. I tend to be there from about three to six every day of the week,” Errington said. “It is a lot of time, but I think it’s well spent.”

Errington appreciated the contrasting social dynamics of volleyball and running pushing her in different ways.

With raw talent at just 15 years old, Errington managed to become the consistent second fastest runner on girls cross country team this year, with a personal record (PR) of 18:35 for the three mile course. She helped the girls team advance to the CIF State Championships for the first time in history and earned a top-10 finish while there. In track, she holds the fastest girls 800m time so far this season at 2:21.19, and has already proven to be a strong member of the varsity girls 4 by 400m relay team with a PR split of 62.5 seconds. Her 1600m PR of 5:23 is the second-fastest on girls track team, and she has run that event one time so far in an uncontested league meet.

This dominance in track stemmed from a fall cross country season in which Errington was simultaneously participating in JV volleyball. While she did manage practicing and competing in both sports, the sacrifice motivated Errington to specialize in only one for her future seasons.

“I would have practices in the afternoon for volleyball, and for cross country, I would do the workout in the morning

“I was trying volleyball because it’s such a big team sport and you depend on everyone and it’s just really nice to have a team supporting you,” Errington said. “And then for track, it’s like a break from that. [Track and field] is a team sport in a way, but obviously it’s [also] a very individual sport, so… you have control of the results.”

With three more years still left at SPHS, Errington has ample time to grow.

“I just want to focus on improving myself athletically and just seeing how far I can go if I work really hard, because I’ve been putting in a lot of hours, and I just want to see what’s going to come of that,” Errington said.

FRESHMAN ABIGAIL ERRINGTON is poised to be the fastest runner on the girls cross country team next year.

Errington is eager to apply the same competitive mindset and passion for sports to other aspects of her life, especially after high school. She hopes to be recruited to run cross country and track in college, but for now has her attention on the unfolding track season.

The MLB Lockout: from frustration to optimism STORY BENJAMIN REGAN ILLUSTRATION ETHAN LYONS For 99 days, passionate fanbases of all 30 Major League Baseball (MLB) teams could not see their favorite players take to the field due to a lockout.

On Thursday, March 10, the conflict was resolved. The Players Union (representing all players in the MLB) and owners came to an agreement over the future of the sport, fueled by fans’ urgent demands for games. In a fierce dispute between the Players Union and the owners controlling the sport, the two sides finally came to a consensus on the direction of the game.

“We can’t undo the last three months, in which the sport’s typically unpredictable, compelling offseason was overtaken by a soul-sucking labor battle,” writer for The Athletic Zack Meisel said. “But spring is here, and better late than never. I’m just glad, at last, we have sunshine, the sound of a bat smacking a baseball and a full slate of 162 games to look forward to.”

The MLB’s Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) is a document that details all rules and salary information for the sport, and applies for the designated period of time that the two sides agree on. The CBA expired on December 2, 2021, with the Players Union and owners failing to come to an agreement over key rule changes and free agency regulations. Players were locked out of their Spring Training facilities and games until the resolution.

The Players Union and owners were at a crossroads in areas including expanded playoffs, the universal designated hitter, shortened season, manipulation of minor league players, and service time before becoming a free agent. The union recognizes the disadvantaged pay and conditions minor leaguers must endure, and how teams will hold players in the minor leagues for extra months in order to have control over the player for an extra year. However, this area was not widely addressed in the resolution.

The Players Union is fiercely opposed to the control that owners hold over minor leaguers and the manipulative nature of the minor-to-major league transition. As they demand this rule be abolished, the union and owners quarreled over the time elapsed before becoming a free agent. The Players Union, which wants the stars of the

game to sign the contract they deserve as soon into their career as possible, is arguing for free agency to come five years into the player’s career, not the six that currently stands. The owners, who were starkly opposed, got their wish to maintain the six years.

In addition to salary disagreements, the two sides discussed rule changes that could steer the future of the sport. These included the universal designated hitter (DH), which allows teams to substitute their subpar pitcher for a far stronger option at the plate.

Since 1973 only the American League has had a DH, and the union lobbied for this luxury to be extended to the National League, which succeeded. The DH is heading to the National League.

Another paramount issue is expanded playoffs which were implemented in a shortened, atypical 2020 season.

MLB has the longest and most grueling regular season

of any sport, 162 games stretched across six months, yet only ten of the 30 teams make the playoffs with an opportunity to compete for the crowning achievement.

The Players Union won this battle with the owners, succeeding in expanding the playoffs to 12 teams, which is up from 10. While this may seem insignificant, it gives hope to numerous teams in the middle of the standings who could sneak into the playoffs and go on a blazing run.

With an altered postseason format, a National League DH, and further discussion regarding minor leaguers, the start of Spring Training on March 17 will look different than preseasons of prior.

The regular season will start on April 7, only two weeks after the expected opening day, and an entire 162 game season is in store. Fans are hoping that the business side of the sport at the core of the lockout will be put to rest, and the home runs, diving catches, and pitching duels return – and return soon.

TIGER MARCH 15, 2022

SPORTS

15

Track excels early on, prepares for CIF success STORY MICHAEL MAYEMURA PHOTOS SARAH LEE

specializes in the 800m race, with a PR of 2:01.02 at the Mustang Roundup.

T

Senior hurdler Henry Thompson completes the front runners on the boys side and he swept the competition of the 300m hurdles at the first Rio Hondo League meet in 44.51 seconds.

his year, both the boys and girls track and field teams have each laid the foundation for earning a second CIF title in the past 10 years and continuing a legacy of league domination. With a powerfully dynamic mix of under and upperclassmen, the program is prepared to triumph for years to come.

In June of last year, the boys track team conquered the Division 3 Southern Section Championships, winning the team its second CIF title in school history. Returning senior shot putters UCSB commit Noah Leider and UC Berkeley commit Nik Iwankiw placed first in 54 feet 6 inches and sixth in 49 feet 11.5 inches, respectively, in CIF last summer, and are poised to carry on the success of the past season.

This field prowess is combined with strength on the distance side, helmed by senior Brady Nakamura, who boasts a 1600m personal record (PR) of 4:31.29 and a 3200m PR of 9:38.59. Rounding out the top performances in the distance events is senior Liam de Villa, who

Girls varsity can count on returning seniors like UC Berkeley commit Sydney Morrow, who ran a 5:03.94 1600m at League Finals last year and a 11:16.17 3200m at the Mustang Roundup in February 2022. Senior shot putter Violet Main excels in the ring, holding a 32 feet 11.75 inch PR, first place in the Rio Hondo League.

Talent is not lacking among the girls team’s varsity underclassmen. Sophomore Mia Holden rises to the top in the 100m hurdles, 300m hurdles, and triple jump, and has already qualified for the Arcadia Invitational, the most distinguished high school track meet in the nation, in those three events. Sophomore Lyla Keller holds the second fastest time in SPHS girls history for the 100m, with a 12.31 PR. Distance track enjoys the benefit of training during cross country, which already shattered records this past fall.

Both teams secured a spot in the CIF State Championships, the first time ever for the girls team who got 10th and the fourth time for the boys. The historic season was an accumulation of hard work and determination that will likely pass over into the spring track season.

“Making CIF was an amazing experience because we struggled at the start of our season. But, we worked hard to make it to state, that made it feel so much better,” de Villa Bourke said. “I’m so proud to be making an impact on the future team and history of SPHS track. This season, we changed our workouts to emphasize weight room, taking us the extra mile. The only way for the team to continue to improve is by believing in ourselves.”

WITH A THIRD OF THE SEASON COMPLETED, the track team is already demonstrating its multi-faceted prowess. talent combined with the quality track coaching staff we have[...] really is the combo for success here.”

Richards is confident that the future of the program is in safe hands. Praising the dedication and hard work the sophomores and freshman have already put into this season, he aims to build a legacy of domination.

In addition to the distance team’s strength, head coach CB Richards, attributes the team’s success to the integration of the school’s strongest athletes into one program.

“[For the underclassmen] we look very strong on both the girls and boys side of all events on the track. We are building and teaching them on the frosh-soph teams and they continue to improve,” Richards said. “The coaches and I are very excited about this group of underclassmen and expect good things to come for the years ahead.”

“We have XC runners, girls volleyball players, soccer and football players, water polo, tennis, and basketball. With a team composed of all these talented SPHS athletes we can work to bring out their best,” Richards said. “That

The track team plans to go beyond league victories and has its eyes set on podiuming many athletes in CIF. For now, the Tigers are preparing for a home league meet against Temple City and San Marino today at 3:15 pm.

#

1

Residential Realtor In South Pasadena for 8 Consecutive Years

Per MLS Production Reports 2014 to 2021

Proud Supporter of SPHS Tigers

Michele Downing Executive Director, Estates Division 626.523.6939 michele.downing@compass.com DRE 01046965

TIGER MARCH 15, 2022

16

SPORTS

Normal or Tangent LILIAN ZHU

The rise of weightlifting culture

An INTJ in customer service Like any INTJ1, I believed it was illogical to perform in any way but succesfully in customer service since I already possess or am capable of quickly learning the abilities required. Not that I assumed being a server or any role in this industry would be easy, but I approached it with a lens of infallibility if I simply persevered. As I charged in, my confidence has remained unwavering, but my tolerance for this job has diminished.

STORY RALUCA TUDUSCIUC ILLUSTRATION PENNY ABOUD

W

eightlifting is taking over the fitness world as more and more people pick up the sport, jumping on the social media-fueled bandwagon. With influencers popularizing weightlifting, the sport has reached audiences of all backgrounds, especially healthconscious teenagers. Numerous SPHS students regularly visit a gym and use these sessions as a unique source of exercise and coping mechanism for stress.

For many, weightlifting holds a special kind of appeal; it allows one to zero in on attaining targeted goals solely through repetition, and with no external distractions.

Most sports incorporate a variety of skills like agility, hand-eye coordination, and power into one, prioritizing a multi-faceted athlete. However, lifting weights emphasizes concentrated dedication to only one specific quality — strength — a level of depth that is comforting to all of its participants.

“There are many different appeals to working out and weight lifting, I think one of the biggest ones being the mental ‘get away’ a lot of gym-goers experience,” senior Aurelia Olguin said. “For me, I also know that it is one of the greatest forms of working out for your overall health, and that makes me feel really good. It’s also empowering to be strong, especially as a girl in our society.”

Benefits of weight lifting include increased muscle mass, boosted wellbeing, and improved joint and bone health by targeting specific fracture-prone sites in the body.

Despite all its positive physical impacts, the media generates a level of toxicity surrounding weightlifting

that is especially harmful to youth. It exposes younger weightlifters to photos posted by influencers where they flaunt bodies that are artificially enhanced or achieved with steroids. This perpetuates a largely unattainable image and encourages unhealthy comparisons for many of its viewers.

When the coronavirus pandemic struck, many avid lifters found their routines disrupted as gyms across the nation shut down. This led to a massive increase in the production of at-home gym content, be it instructional videos or equipment. These platforms are more accessible to teenagers and have encouraged many to start lifting, including those at SPHS. “I think weightlifting is becoming popular now because of social media influencers and content creators. I think it’s a good thing overall because it gets lots of younger kids to start lifting early on and become healthy,” senior and UC Berkeley shot put commit Nik Iwankiw said.

Similarly to Iwankiw, other students who follow a regular weightlifting regimen turned to DIY solutions to the shutdown and were compelled to reflect on lifting routines and techniques.

“The pandemic definitely gave me a different point of view on exercise, where I was doing it by myself for the first time and not being told to by a coach. It also gave me the time to try a bunch of different things to figure out what I really loved,” Olguin said.

SPHS’s recently-renovated weight room is stocked with state-of-the-art equipment and facilities for athletes.

Local gyms like the YMCA offer alternative resources for student weightlifters.

There are a few key differences between this job and Papa’s Pizzeria on CoolMathGames.com. The major one I identified is my lack of control. Because servers aren’t systematically assigned to tables, I am left with an extremely limited perspective of my surroundings. I’m unaware of most guests’ status — from ordering and receiving food, to delivering checks and receiving payment — and merely complete those individual tasks for random tables aimlessly. If I lack context behind a problem with a customer, I have to rely on a co-worker.

And although I trust their judgment, I’m unable to oversee everything leaves me with an intense feeling of unease and yearning to understand what has happened, which is impossible in a full house.

I’m surprised that I do not mind putting on a fake persona and customer service voice before each shift.

If anything, it’s almost a comforting facade, where I can shut off my overthinking and simply deliver the same routine of lines like, “Hello welcome! What can I get for you today?” or “Here’s your check. Whenever you’re ready!” I became numb to all pleasantries that I previously viewed as annoyance… which I suppose is a good thing since I am now more acquainted with societal norms. My innate introversion also doesn’t pose as much difficulty as I initially thought. I’ve found that immersion in an environment outside of school, with new co-workers and objectives, aids in the balance and compartmentalization of my life.

A few good things did come out of my experience, however. I have met amazing co-workers, ones to hang out with outside of shifts and to play games with. I now understand the inner workings behind a restaurant and how inevitable problems like broken receipt machines and miscommunication with kitchen staff arise which are blind to diners impatiently waiting. But most importantly, my fiveyear-old dreams of being a server are now being fulfilled each time I swipe a credit card (or tap-to-pay now), use the POS system, or grab money from the cash register.

1 Myers-Briggs personality type for Introverted, Intuitive, Thinking, and Judging

Boys tennis crushes Monrovia 18-0 in league opener STORY KAHLEN MIAO PHOTO SAMANTHA SHIROISHI Boys tennis shut out the Monrovia Wildcats with a score of 18-0 in a league game on Friday, March 11. This puts the Tigers at a 6-1-1 record overall, and a 1-0 record in the Rio Hondo League.

The singles squad breezed past their opponents, and secured easy wins with only one Wildcat reaching three points in the set.

Singles one, junior Finn McMillan dominated, winning his sets in scores of 6-1, 6-1, and 6-0. In similar fashion, singles two senior captain Leyton Ramos-Platt eased past the Wildcats players to win with scores of 6-2, 6-1, and 6-1.

The doubles squad had some competition but pulled through trouble-free in the end. Doubles one, sophomore Christopher Wong and junior Winston Chan set the tone for the doubles teams, dominating their sets in scores of 6-2, 6-1, and 6-0.

Doubles two, junior Matthew Ou and freshman Emilio Lois struggled in their first set but swept their remaining games with a score of 6-4, 6-0, and 6-0. Similarly, doubles three, juniors Joshua Ou and Justin Albert faced a stronger pair of Wildcats in the initial set and had to adapt, but eventually won 6-3, and completed the last two sets with a 6-0 score. “[The team and I] are pretty happy with the strong start of the season,” J. Ou said. “It was pretty fun to ace some of the guys while also cheering on my teammates. This game was pretty similar to most of our games, we tried our best to win and it definitely paid off. Hopefully if we keep this up we can make it to CIF.” After a successful preseason run, South Pas is poised to do well in league matchups this spring. In past games, the Tigers towered over opponents, winning 18-0 against Duarte and 16-2 against Marshall, which proves they are a force to be reckoned with this season.

The Tigers look to conquer the Monrovia Wildcats once again at an away game on Tuesday, March 15.

BUT WAIT!

CHECK OUT MORE COVERAGE ON

There’s more...

JUNIOR FINN MCMILLAN showcased the Tigers’ talent in the singles squad.

TWITTER

YOUTUBE

@SPHStiger

@SPHSTigerNewspaper

ONLINE

FACEBOOK

INSTAGRAM

tigernewspaper.com

tiger.newspaper

@tigernewspaper