Tiger Newspaper Homecoming 2019 by Tiger Newspaper

Empowering students to think critically and creatively since 1913

VOLUME 106 ISSUE 3 NOVEMBER 7, 2019

IN THE NEWS

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

CIF Football

Veteran’s Day

Fall Play

Football will face off against Fillmore in its first CIF game on Friday, Nov. 8.

SPUSD schools and offices will be closed on Monday, Nov. 11, in observance of Veteran’s Day.

This year’s Fall Play, Metamorphosis, will make its debut on Nov. 15 at 7 p.m.

HOMECOMING 2019

STORY SOFIA ALVA PHOTOS JAYDEN EDEN & ELLA JAYASEKERA

tudents celebrated Tiger tradition with the annual Homecoming day, football game, and dance on Friday, Nov. 1. The week consisted of class spirit days, poster making, and ticket sales and finished with the announcement of the Royal Tigers, the annual Homecoming picnic, football’s 40-10 victory against La Cañada and Saturday’s semi-formal and dance at the Molina Mansion. This year, ASB held the annual Homecoming dance offsite with the theme of “A Night In The Floating City” on Saturday, Nov. 2. Although in previous years homecoming dances were advertised as a casual dance and held in the main gym, junior class treasurer Erin Soohoo believes that there was a greater demand for a more formal homecoming dance from the student body. “We wanted a semi-formal, off site homecoming because that was [what] everyone else wanted. Throughout the two years the juniors have been here, those have been the biggest complaints,” Soohoo said. “We looked high and low online for a location, and finally we contacted the Molina, who agreed to hold the event.”

ASB also coordinated Friday’s events, with Commissioner of Assemblies Evan Kowal leading the Homecoming assembly. Student band Peraspera opened the assembly with their original song “Doing Fine.” California assemblyman Chris Holden presented a scholastic award to Principal Janet Anderson, citing SPHS’ academic success and 622nd ranking nationwide in public high schools by the U.S. World News report. During the annual picnic, clubs offered a variety of food and drink options for students to enjoy. Clubs like Urban Sustainability and Latinx sold pudding dirt cups and Portos baked goods. Several SPHS musicians also performed on the Tiger Patio during the picnic. Later that evening, the Tigers beat the La Cañada Spartans, 40-10. Band and color guard performed at halftime with their performance of “Firebird”. Royal Tiger nominees freshman Isu Park, sophomore Blake Sanchez, junior Jaiden McThomas, and seniors Sam Clark, Jeremy Park, were introduced in front of the Roosevelt Field crowd and senior Jewel Nguyen was announced as the winning senior Royal Tiger. “I was honored that I was elected by my peers to uphold the traits of school spirit, scholarship, leadership, willingness to serve, and a friend to all for SPHS,” Nguyen said. “I was very shocked that I was chosen, but grateful that I got to be part of the face of the Royal Court.”

POLITICS

EATALY

This month’s staff editorial argues that classrooms should be safe spaces for political discussion in order to promote youth civic engagement. Page 5

Authenticity, quality, and sustainability are on full display at Eataly, where tradition meets austerity in a culinary tour de force. Page 10

TIGERNEWSPAPER.COM

FALL MVP

Junior Lindsey Hirano has led the girls volleyball team to a historic Division IV CIF run with her extraordinary talent and positive energy. Page 14

TIGER NOVEMBER 7, 2019

NEWS

SPUSD prepares to begin new athletics facility construction interfere with some school sports, classes, and extracurriculars.

Veteran mathematics teacher announces her retirement STORY MIKE HOGAN PHOTO COURTESY OF TIFFANY MAI

“I think that [the construction] is going to be inconvenient for everybody. I think it’s best not to dismiss how inconvenient it’s going to be for boys tennis,” former athletic director Gregorio Luna said.

Mathematics teacher Ruth Moonesinghe announced her retirement to her classes, effective November 8. Her plan to retire at this time coincides with the opening of her son’s new pop-up restaurant in Washington, D.C. She told her students that the name of the restaurant will be “Ammi, “ which is a Sri Lankan word meaning “Mom.” Moonesinghe has taught for 30 years, the last 17 of them teaching calculus at SPHS.

The boys tennis team will commute to an off-campus location to practice and host games on SPHS’ tennis courts during construction. Other schools athletics teams, such as boys volleyball, boys and girls basketball and co-ed badminton will be unable to use the locker rooms and both gyms due to its upcoming demolition.

“What I always tried to instill in my students was integrity, hard work and service,” Moonesinghe said. “I was fortunate to have students who believed in those same values and will carry on my work. As an immigrant, those three values have helped me succeed and do well in the US. I would hope that everyone would try to do the same. It isn’t about intelligence. You can do anything through hard work and dedication. Service to others will help you to be happy.”

SPUSD plans to host athletic competitions at the middle school and team practices until construction is complete. The P.E. department has shifted its focus into getting students dressed in the bungalows and utilizing their time in the gym before the Nov. 18 construction date.

Principal Janet Anderson expressed the high school’s appreciation for Moonesinghe. “We are so grateful for the years Moonesinghe has influenced our mathematics department and the SPHS culture of giving back. She has inspired many students to carry on philanthropic endeavors. She continues do to the same in her own private life. We wish her well in the next phase of her life, that includes a foray into the Sri Lankan restaurant business with her son.” Senior Jamilah Hah has been Ms Moonesinghe’s student and TA. “I had always heard about the rigor and challenges of her class but after experiencing it firsthand, I know that it has changed me for the better. Ms Moonesinghe is a teacher unlike any other; she is filled with passion and care for her students. She pushed me to my limits and accompanied me through all of my challenges. I learned to see the world as more than just school, and studying. Without her, I wouldn’t be who I am today,” Hah said. Calculus for a Cause and the annual holiday Sock Drive were both born from Moonesinghe’s love for giving back to the community, and her legacy of giving will continue through these two projects. In addition to managing a restaurant, Moonesinghe plans to tutor students in math and travel to London and Sri Lanka.

SPUSD’S CONSTRUCTION PLAN will close off the main gym, courts, and locker rooms until its completion next year. STORY ELLIE CAMPBELL PHOTO COURTESY OF SPUSD

PUSD approved construction for the new SPHS athletics unit during a SPUSD board meeting, scheduling the beginning of remodeling for Nov. 18 of this year. SPUSD’s construction effort aims to update the SPHS main gym floors, paint job, and indoor bleachers, in addition to the construction of new basketball and tennis courts. The main gym will be the primary focus of the SPUSD construction effort, with plans to replace its bleachers and locker rooms as part of the floor’s renovations. Other gym

Outside of the gym construction, the ticket booth and the new outdoor basketball, tennis and handball courts will be remodeled. A new exterior building will house the athletic trainer and a film room for team use. SPUSD also plans on replacing the Roosevelt Field visitors’ bleachers and adding a new field house near the baseball field. The project is expected to take about 10 months, with a goal of completion by mid-August of 2020. With the inconvenience of the construction starting close to the middle of the school year, the demolition will

“To me, what is important is that the gym is used by sports as well as activities, like the farewell assembly and how that’s going to be transformed into something different because of this,” Luna said. Activities such as Tiger Bingo have already been relocated to the SPMS gym. The Booster Club is planning on moving Bingo back to the high school gym once the construction on at SPHS has concluded. The athletics project is expected to be completed in time for the 2020-21 school year.

SPUSD places fifth in the state for CAASPP testing SPUSD outperformed nearly 1,000 school districts in the assessment STORY NOAH KUHN GRAPHICS CHARLOTTE COHEN South Pasadena Unified School District placed fifth in the state on the Smarter Balanced Test (CAASPP), in 2019. The district upheld its rank from previous years, with 84 percent of students meeting or exceeding standards in English and 79 percent in Math. Both San Marino and La Cañada outperformed South Pasadena, earning first and second respectively, followed by Piedmont City and Palo Alto school districts, which attained third and fourth. The assessment, which students in grades 3 through 8 and high school juniors took in May, consists of English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics. Both subjects include a performance task to simulate real-world scenarios, and an adaptive section which changes question difficulty depending on the accuracy of student responses. Students fall into four achievement levels: standard exceeded, met, nearly met, and not met.

MOONESINGHE AND HER STUDENTS junior Kate Buckley, sophomore Abby Garner and junior Lena Lutz congratulate Moonesinghe on her retirement during her final day teaching mathematics at South Pasadena High School.

additions include the creation of new team rooms, along with remodeled locker rooms and bathrooms.

Since the online assessment’s debut in 2015, California as a whole has improved by 7 percent in both ELA and Math for students who meet or exceed the standards. The 2019 results show only 51 percent and 40 percent of test takers reached this benchmark, in English and Math respectively.

DISTRICT

ENGLISH

MATH

TOTAL

1. San Marino Uniﬁed

2619.9

2632.1

5252.0

2. La Cañada Uniﬁed

2616.1

2628.9

5245.0

3. Piedmont City Uniﬁed

2604.7

2623.3

5228.0

4. Palo Alto Uniﬁed

2597.3

2621.3

5218.4

5. South Pasadena Uniﬁed

2602.9

2612.6

5215.5

6. Manhattan Beach Uniﬁed

2597.3

2598.3

5195.6

Source: California Department of Education (CDE)

Ethnicity

English (standard met Math (standard met or exceeded) 2019 or exceeded) 2019

African American

67%

45%

Asian

90%

91%

Hispanic

71%

62%

White

84%

77%

Source: California Department of Education (CDE)

This struggle to meet state standards is most prevalent within students of color. “Disparities between students of color and their white and Asian peers continue from year to year and demonstrate the importance of our priority initiative of closing the achievement gap,” state superintendent Tony Thurmond said. “Education equity should mean equity for all students, and right now we are not there.” In South Pasadena, African American and Hispanic students meet or exceed standards at a lower

rate than white and Asian test takers. The gap has remained mostly constant over the past five years, with the most inequality in Math. SPUSD scores have become stagnant this past year, after strong increases from 2015-2017. The number of students who met or exceeded standards decreased by 0.48 percent for ELA and 0.16 percent for Math. In contrast, San Marino continued to improve in both sections: 2.08 percent for ELA and 0.61 percent for Math. Current SPUSD students will take the CAASPP test in May 2020.

TIGER NOVEMBER 7, 2019

NEWS

California mandates later school start times California high schools will be required to start no earlier than 8:30 a.m. by July 2022 STORY AMBER CHEN PHOTOS COURTESY OF RICHARD GOMEZ & CALIFORNIA STATE PORTAL

alifornia Governor Gavin Newsom signed a mandate for minimum health and welfare standards for all traditional public and charter schools into law on Oct. 13, including a requirement for all California high schools to start no earlier than 8:30 a.m. The new health standard, targeting teensâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; lack of sleep, will take effect at the beginning of the 2021-22 school year. The new law only applies to traditional public and charter schools â&#x20AC;&#x201D; schools that receive government funding. All California schools will be given a three year compliance period in order to give districts time to implement the change by July 2022. The bill only sets a minimum time standard, giving schools leeway to start later than 8:30 a.m. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As a student, I feel like this is a great law to pass. Even though itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s [under the assumption of 30 minutes only] not an insane amount of time, it makes a huge difference for students getting ready in the morning,â&#x20AC;? sophomore Lulu Talesnick said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really hard to start the morning off at school at eight, so if we get more sleep and are able to go to school a bit later, then we will be able to focus on our studies more when we arrive at school.â&#x20AC;? Others, however, are concerned about the consequences of later start times. Senior Kenneth Schultz believes that later school times is not a beneficial idea, worrying it will have a negative impact on studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; personal lives and schedules. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It restricts the time that extracurriculars have to have their

practices,â&#x20AC;? Schultz said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m at school until 9 p.m. on a lot of nights and I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t afford to be here for another half an hour. I already donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get to finish my work a lot of the time, because Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m too tired.â&#x20AC;? The bill, which follows up on recommendations by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Center for Disease Control, was first introduced by Senator Anthony Portantino three years ago with hopes to improve teenage health and academic performance. In order to support the bill, Portantino gathered a coalition composed of the California PTA and a letter signed by numerous medical professionals and researchers. However, the bill took three years to receive a signature, after former Governor Jerry Brown vetoed it last year. â&#x20AC;&#x153;What I try to do with the opposition is I just try to walk them through the factual, three decades of peer reviewed science behind this issue,â&#x20AC;? Portantino said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Now there are some adults out there who are just resistant to change, and there are some adults out there who donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to believe in the science, and so thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nothing you can say to people.â&#x20AC;? Portantino is excited to see the bill in action, hoping that California student performance will improve after seeing the benefits of sleep with his own daughter. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I live in La CaĂąada, and La CaĂąada switched [to a later start time] three years ago. My relationship with my teenage daughter improved significantly after [receiving more] sleep, I saw it first hand,â&#x20AC;? Portantino said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I just want to make sure that all parents have the same ability to see our kids excel based off science and research and whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s good for them.â&#x20AC;?

SENATOR ANTHONY PORTANTINO proposed the bill three years ago, believing in its potential to improve student performance and health.

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TIGER

4 NOVEMBER 7, 2019

NEWS

Students vs. Stress STORY HAELEE KIM, NOAH KUHN, CLOE MAURER, & LILIAN ZHU

PAGE DESIGN TALULLA CHOW & MADDIE YOO

ince 2013, the American Psychological Association (APA) reported higher stress levels for students compared to that of adults, as well as “worse mental health and higher levels of anxiety and depression than all other age groups.” This stress culminates in high school as

GRAPHICS DAVID SOHN

students are assailed by pressure for college and the expectations to grow into successful young adults. With National Stress Awareness Day on Nov. 6, Tiger shares the personal stories of SPHS students and explores how they manage both school and personal stress.

Amber Senior Amber Gonzalez-Pacheco faces an endless cycle of stress between her job and its interference with cross country. The extreme time crunch between the activities she takes on increases her stress, whether it be sleep deprivation, college applications, or extracurriculars. Taking three AP classes, high school has become more demanding than previous years for GonzalezPacheco. On top of this, she works over 10 hours a week and dedicates much of her time as captain of girls cross country team. With constant use of her energy, Gonzalez-Pacheco finds herself physically exhausted both at home.

Sophomore Nikita Mankad has been dancing for most of her life. She used to enjoy it as a way to embrace her culture, but now it has turned into another burden in her be an option. Mankad feels pressured to continue dancing throughout high school until she graduates. This commitment is necessary both for her own self fulfillment, and to show dedication to colleges, which is becoming increasingly hard in this era of uber-competition. homework, or numerous extracurriculars, Mankad, like so many others in this day and age, is trapped in an online vortex — social media. All of the notifications, tweets, stories, snaps, and posts have taken a toll on her life.

Bini

“I’m physically exhausted when I come home and instead of doing my work energized, I feel like taking a nap whenever I do my homework and it postpones doing my work till later,” GonzalezPacheco said. “It's an ongoing feedback loop of never

direct impact on Pacheco’s grades and job. GonzalezPacheco’s conflicting schedules with her job and sport also cause her to have to choose one activity over another, creating even more pressure from her coaches and manager.

Nikita anxiety and depression for so long, and a lot of it’s FOMO (fear of missing out),” Mankad said. “When I was in Argentina, I had extreme FOMO because all of my friends were going out and I was on the other hemisphere thinking, ‘What was I doing? Why am I not there? What am I missing?’” However, Mankad has tried to manage her stress in a productive way by using it to motivate her to work harder. “I try to use [stress] as an advantage,” Mankad said. “Just this past week, when I was up at three a.m., I was doing my math homework. And the next day in class when we of them right. It’s the adrenaline and stress.”

Senior Quyen (Bini) Ballagh uses her position on Peer Mediators to deal with her numerous life stressors. She has found a way to manage a 15-houra-week job, club soccer, school, and college apps, all with a positive, jubilant personality.

“When I’m feeling overwhelmed I’ll clear off everything and set an alarm for however long I want and just sit there and focus on my breathing. Or, I’ll lie down on my bed and listen to music for ten minutes just to get back in the moment. Then I’ll return to whatever it is that I was doing,” Ballagh said.

The stress of work, extracurriculars, and academics strikes at the heart of Ballagh’s social life. However over time, she has learned that trying to power through work is actually counterproductive, finding it more beneficial to step back and refocus. Ballagh manages her stress by using techniques such as listening to music and 60 seconds, a brief de-stressing exercise, to relax herself and help her focus before beginning work.

Ballagh also benefits greatly from the safe and comforting space that is Peer Mediators. “Whenever I talk to any of my friends in peer mediators, they’re trained in how to respond and make people feel validated,” Ballagh said. “So, every time I walk into that class, I know that people are going to be emotionally conscious and that it’s a safe space for me to talk about my stressors.”

Jason Junior Jason Kim has a lot on his plate. He is the mellophone section leader, on the varsity Virtual Business plan team, the chapter president of FBLA, and has taken on a rigorous junior-year course load. The constant pressure to do more is one that he puts on himself. “Personally, my parents never really pressured me to get good grades, so instead I’ve had to push myself,” Kim said. “At this point, I’m keeping up my grades, but I just feel that constant pressure especially because I have a higher GPA … and if I don’t do well, then I beat myself up for it and that’s way harsher than my parents pushing me.” Junior year has brought with it a new set of hoops to jump through. Jason has started SAT and SAT subject test prep. Band practices run twice a week for upwards of three hours with a game every Friday during football season and, in the fall, all day competitions on most Saturdays. He has FBLA

and Virtual Business deadlines to meet and tasks to delegate. “Now that I am an upperclassman and have taken leadership roles, I’m expected to set a good example for others in both FBLA and band, which can be stressful,” Kim said. “I have to look like I know exactly what I am doing even though I don’t sometimes, and keeping up that facade can be stressful.” Kim has also noticed an unhealthy stress culture at SPHS. “There’s definitely a lot of that, especially from people that do a lot of things. They try to one up each other by saying things like ‘Oh, I don’t get enough sleep’ or post on their Instagrams about their SAT scores. It’s kind of toxic,” Kim said.

TIGER NOVEMBER 7, 2019

THE TIGER ESTABLISHED 1913

CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2019 CSPA CROWN AWARD 2018 CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2017 CSPA CROWN AWARD 2016 CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2015 CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2014

STA F F ED IT OR IA L

OPINION

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF PRESTON SHARKEY MANAGING EDITORS CAROLINE KIMBEL, Print DOMINIC MARZIALI, Online NEWS ADAM KWOH, Editor NOAH KUHN, Associate OPINION CAT FLORES, Editor NICOLAS LIU, Editor HAELEE KIM, Associate FEATURE LUYANG ZHANG, Editor CLOE MAURER, Associate SPORTS MATTHEW TSAI, Editor ELLIE CAMPELL, Associate DESIGN TALULLA CHOW, Editor MADDIE YOO, Editor DAVID SOHN, Associate PHOTOGRAPHY OSCAR WALSH, Editor ELLA JAYASEKERA, Associate COPY CHRISTINE MAO, Editor PETER WANG, Editor STAFF WRITERS SOFIA ALVA, AMBER CHEN, AUDREY ERNST, KATHARINE FLORENCE, KIMBERLY HSUEH, ZOE SCHLAAK, AANJI SIN, LILIAN ZHU PHOTOGRAPHERS JAYDEN EDEN, KATELYN HERNANDEZ, SEAN JIN, SARAH LEE ILLUSTRATORS NICHOLAS FORMAN, ALICIA ZHANG GRAPHIC DESIGNER CHARLOTTE COHEN BUSINESS & ADS HYUN KIM, Business Manager JOSEPH LEE, Ads Manager WEBMASTER & VIDEOGRAPHER ALEX PARRA FACULTY ADVISOR MIKE HOGAN VOL. 106 NO. 3 DISTRIBUTED ON NOVEMBER 7 2019. DISTRIBUTION: 1429 STUDENTS; 70 COMMUNITY. 1600 COPIES PRINTED. DISTRIBUTED BY TIGER STAFF FREE OF CHARGE.

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Politics should have a place in the classroom Teachers should no longer refrain from providing students with an educational environment that tolerates and welcomes political discussion The word ‘politics’ is one that teachers cautiously stumble around for fear of imposing their own opinions on students. Current events and important social issues are often intentionally glossed over in order to keep the classroom “bias-free.” However, this exclusion of content leads to the deterioration of youth interest and involvement in government. Politics have a place in schools, and teachers have a duty to lead students in thorough discussions about real-world problems.

Teachers can take steps to combat the polarization that causes youth disinterest in politics. They should introduce current events in class to spur healthy discussion about real-world problems. Teaching these topics in an unbiased manner would emphasize facts, encourage students to think critically, and question societal injustices. As a result, young people would feel more motivated to learn about current events and vote when they can.

Education is the remedy to today’s polarization, where people abandon the opportunity for compromise, choosing instead to stubbornly hold fast to the beliefs of a political party. Biased news breeds a culture of distrust and anger, with media outlets from opposite ends of the political spectrum reporting very different stories. Discussions in school could prevent shouting matches where people suppress their peers’ voices.

It is important for teachers to act as facilitators in these class discussions and provide impartial evidence on topics. They should still remove their personal opinions to an appropriate extent, but it is critical for these discussions to take place. It is far worse to not have the discussions at all than to face temporary discomfort when talking about politics.

Teachers veer away from covering topics that are the slightest bit controversial to avoid being seen as too opinionated. Without talking in class about hot-button problems in the United States such as immigration or abortion, students are informed on news through unreliable mediums. These sources, including friends, parents, and social media, are often opinion-based and lead to the spread of misinformation and further polarization. In addition, students exposed to news in such explosive and concerning manners are discouraged by the government and, consequently, are less likely to actively participate in solving those problems. This has very damaging effects on the future of the United States democracy because it depletes youth civic participation and political activism. The voter turnout rate among 18 to 29-year-olds was only 36 percent in the 2018 midterm election, compared to a national average of 53 percent. The divisive rhetoric of politicians today continues to repel young voices.

These in-class conversations are also a more consistent alternative to students being sporadically exposed to news content from unreliable sources. When young people are taught politics in a thoughtful and engaging manner, they are more likely to actively participate in the democratic process with an unbiased mindset. Discussions also allow students to better cultivate their own worldviews by listening to different people’s perspectives. This broadens mindsets beyond what parents feed their kids from a young age, encouraging them to think critically and not digest information blindly. Questioning society is a useful tool that students can apply to identify and work towards resolving injustices around the world. Schools have the job of equipping young people with skills that they need in life, and encouraging civic engagement is definitely a part of that responsibility. Teachers need to lead students in healthy, fact-based discussions centered around current events.

Boos & Bravos Tiger ’s cheers and jeers for the month of November. BOOS

BRAVOS

BOO to my parents for not donating to SPEF. I want a yard sign.

BRAVO to not having boba at the HoCo Picnic. We’ve had enough Tpumps for a lifetime.

BOO to daylight savings, I can’t take my edgy golden hour selfies when the sun sets before school gets out.

BRAVO to all of our heroes who managed to escape HoCo Picnic. Send us postcards from the other side, comrades.

BOO to the limited distribution of Cuckoo for Ku T-shirts. Now I want one.

BRAVO to Mr. McGough for proving during HoCo that he is the single greatest conqueror of adolescent peasants since Alexander the Great.

TIGER

6 NOVEMBER 7, 2019

OPINION

Queer education belongs in school curriculum The lack of LGBTQ+ education in South Pas schools is detrimental to society and should be amended STORY CAT FLORES ILLUSTRATION NICHOLAS FORMAN

arginalized communities have long been subject to ignorance and whitewashing by the public education system. The LGBTQ+ community has been especially ostracized from this conversation, with only four U.S. states mandating LGBTQ+ history. Eight years ago, California was the first state to make changes to this system by passing the FAIR Act, which mandated the inclusion of LGBTQ+ and disabled individuals in the list of people that must be represented in social sciences. Still, many districts have struggled to introduce comprehensive LGBTQ+ education into high school curriculum. Queer history at SPHS is often glossed over or simply ignored due to the crammed history program. A survey conducted by students in the Planned Parenthood Peer Advocates program found that out of over 100 SPHS students surveyed, all received little to no instruction on queer history in any class. SPHS needs to rectify this blatant erasure. In AP U.S. History (APUSH), queer history is piggbacked onto the counter-culture movement of the 1960s. The class only has about three weeks to go over the time period of 1945-1980, 12 chapters in total. The counterculture movement is an aspect of one chapter that encompasses the 1960s, and queer history is treated as an even smaller subtopic within that.

Queer history cannot be treated as just a small subtopic, because it has implications far beyond just learning about what people did in the past. South Pas prides itself on being an inclusive and liberal community, especially concerning the LGBTQ+ community. Teachers need to prioritize the needs of marginalized students in the community in order to uphold the values the City’s citizens preach. If SPHS implemented LGBTQ+ elements into literature or history, kids would be more accepting towards their queer peers. They would learn about the historical struggles of the queer community and how this impacts many other aspects of history and even parts of their own lives. When people are educated on past injustices, they can utilize the information to address today’s problems. This representation in curriculum could also improve queer students’ participation in classes, sports, and extracurriculars. When kids see representations of their identities, they feel a stronger sense of belonging and acceptance in their communities. As a result, they are more inclined to become active members of their communities. This additional queer representation in schools could be implemented through more than just in-class curiculum: queer speakers and pride days that focus on queer history. There are also numerous ways to implement queer history into SPUSD classrooms — but SPUSD administrators must first commit to a concrete plan.

Devaluing grades does not help students STORY KATHARINE FLORENCE ILLUSTRATION ALICIA ZHANG The “grades don’t matter” mantra has been projected to students throughout high school as an attempt to subdue the pressure that students undergo in the American education system. While teachers are not responsible for these pressures, they are keenly aware of them and therefore have a moral and professional obligation to support their students’ ambitions. However, wellmeaning teachers, under the guise of being encouraging, may deliver a message that is not entirely accurate. Grades may not define students, but they still matter. Teachers need to acknowledge this concept and work with students instead of questioning them. The stress of being admitted to a prestigious college with high scholastic standards weighs heavily on academically driven students throughout high school. According to college admissions officers, the most stressed aspect of an application is a student’s GPA. Students’ GPAs allow these officers to see that students have applied themselves and have been successful in doing so. As such, students and teachers should properly respond to the reality that a GPA means more to a student’s academic future than currently conveyed. Frustration arises from teachers’ responses to this dilemma. Going to a teacher with the hope of improving a grade typically ends

with a lecture on being satisfied with said grade rather than receiving help. This gives students misguided understandings about their own academic expectations, which leads to significant detriment towards one's own scholastic experience by insinuating that minimal effort can still produce optimal results. Teachers need to collaborate with their students, whether that means reviewing learned content or being more open to discussion in general. The conversation about settling for a lower grade should come after all options are exhausted, not as a first attempt at smoothing things over. Whether they’re unwilling to spend the time needed to boost a grade or are trying to comfort us, teachers are indirectly telling students to settle with a lesser grade. Teachers’ efforts to assuage anxiety are appreciated but disingenuous, especially since teachers witness students undergo the college application process firsthand and are aware of how much weight grades have in the process. It is important to stress how grades are a significant part of students’ lives that can and will influence their futures. The feel-good response that teachers give merely undermines students’ academic journeys. Rather than discrediting students' feelings and aiming to settle the matter, teachers need to acknowledge the situation they know students are in, the pressure they face and deal with it accordingly.

OPPOSITE OVER HYPOTENUSE | AANJI SIN

Seventeen and single isn’t a big deal I feel as though I didn’t have the classic American high school experience. Focusing on my schoolwork and extracurriculars often took precedence over participating in many typical teenage experiences, like going to parties, staying out late every weekend, or genuinely enjoying school spirit. But perhaps one of the most integral aspects of youth that I feel I missed out on is dating. We are surrounded by a culture that tells us it’s a part of the ideal high school experience to date. The movies and television shows we watch, from Clueless to Glee, romanticize the carefree, lovesick feelings that a high school relationship brings, as if sixteen year olds have the time to party on a Tuesday afternoon, practice choreo to “Don’t Stop

Believing,” take AP classes and be in a relationship. We cry and get serious FOMO over those Instagram accounts like @relationships.usa, despite how downright corny they are. But even though teenagers are surrounded by pressures to enter a high school relationship, it’s not as important as they believe. Having a significant other in high school has become a measure of someone’s “cool” factor; after all, the high school rom-com movie doesn’t have a happy ending until the nerdy guy gets the hot popular girl to fall in love with him and achieves instant happiness. Teenagers seem to think that on top of knowing what career they want to pursue, they have to know how to handle a relationship; it’s like a competition for whoever can grow up the fastest. But high

school doesn’t have to be a time of “gaining experience” before entering the next phase of adulthood. There should be more important aspects of high school that are stressed, such as work ethic and academic achievement. I’m aware that this all reads like a justification as to why I’m still single, and don’t get me wrong, it definitely is. But it’s a validation as much as it is a justification: people who don’t date in high school aren’t at any disadvantage. After ten years, people will look back on their high school careers and measure their success in academic accomplishments, not the number of dates they went on. So to anyone who’s never gotten a promposal or been sent a dozen red roses: relax and focus on what’s important. You’ll get all of that someday.

TIGER NOVEMBER 7, 2019

OPINION

Emphasis on STEM harms the humanities The overvaluation of STEM education leads to humanities courses suffering STORY CLOE MAURER ILLUSTRATION ALICIA ZHANG

cience, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education was officially added to the American vernacular in 2001. Since then, public high schools across America have decided that STEM education is the secret ingredient needed to churn out children equipped with the tools to propel the U.S into the future. However, this pursuit to expand and perfect STEM education has left other subjects like the humanities neglected. It remains the responsibility of school districts in the United States to maintain the humanities at the forefront of the national education model, even while adapting to a tech-oriented future. Elementary school is where inherently misguided attitudes towards math and English are first bred. At this age, SPUSD students take a math placement test that essentially decides if they have futures in STEM. Those who happen to perform well on this exam are placed on an “accelerated” math track that lasts throughout the remainder of their education. If a student performs well, it doesn’t mean that they are particularly passionate about STEM, but that they happen to have a natural aptitude for math. As such, the district sustains a system that prioritizes abilities instead of interest, which is detrimental to the development of students’ interests beyond what is academically defined for them. SPHS’ failure to provide an equal number of academic opportunities for kids without an interest in STEM

is a reflection of a nationwide disregard for the value of humanities in the modern workforce. The school offers every mainstream STEM AP, including chemistry, physics, and biology, but doesn’t offer other humanitiesbased APs, such as psychology, human geography, seminar, and world history. This gives way to an even larger, generational dilemma. The U.S.’ test score rankings with regards to mathematics and science are historically unremarkable, and even with an aggressive emphasis on STEM, the country is still stuck somewhere in the middle of the pack. Still, what does set the U.S. education system apart is its unique ability to develop critical thinkers. To fully take advantage of this ability, resources can no longer be expended to bolster already lackluster assessment performance, and a more comprehensive and abstract approach to high school curriculum should be utilized in order to best optimize the talents and interests of the entire student population. There is nothing essentially disagreeable about pursuing an education and future career in the STEM field. However, the current academic climate seems to skew in favor of these areas of study, which jeopardizes the caliber and growth of the subjects left behind. The quality of future education in the United States will not be decided by the development of STEM courses and fields alone, rather it will only be enhanced if a more holistic and inclusive environment is made available for students to pursue whatever subjects they would like in school, STEM or not.

When memes aren’t funny anymore STORY AUDREY ERNST ILLUSTRATION NICHOLAS FORMAN Humor has risen from the shadows into the limelight in today’s political environment, with the encouragement of multiple kinds of humor enabling many diverse ideas to spread. However, this becomes an issue when people and ideas that would have once been considered too problematic to broadcast now receive an open forum to profess their beliefs. Though it is a way of attracting attention — both positive and negative — onto its subject, humor doesn’t give arguments truthfulness. The spread of memes turns humorous trivializations into tangible conflicts, thus lending validity to unacceptable beliefs. Humor is a way of attracting attention or praise, and many people use it to support their often questionable or troublesome views. Those who use this kind of humor to their advantage are often given platforms to express and even force their unfavorable ideas onto others. When damaging ideas are the focus of this humor, it spreads fast. These jokes are often excused as funny, but in actuality they’re detrimental to real societal progress. SPHS tends to accept offensive and outrageous

statements because they are humorous, despite being located in a considerably liberal city. There is a serious disconnect between the morals of South Pasadena and what some perceive as funny, such as students who make remarks about the Holocaust or 9/11 for shock value. This way of thinking is actually harmful, as it lends people a platform to spread their offensive beliefs, undermining what most students stand for. The stakes are much higher on a national scale. For example, President Donald Trump wasn’t taken seriously during his campaign and early presidency. In fact, his proposal to build a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico appeared so abstract and outrageous that it cemented his status as a meme in popular culture. Not acknowledging the wall as a legitimate idea ironically allowed it to gain traction in media and manifest into a tangible construction project. This is only one example of how the same trivializing behavior associated with meme culture can carry significant implications. Ironically, these consequences directly align with those made light of by the same culture. The only solution to this issue is to acknowledge potentially dangerous ideas as real issues, instead of making memes out of them. This way, students can prevent the kind of trivialization that causes these practical jokes to escalate into considerable threats to society.

Animal testing is necessary and justifiable STORY SOFIA ALVA ILLUSTRATION DAVID SOHN Animal testing is often frowned upon because of ethical reasons, but many essential everyday products would not be available to consumers without it. Although cosmetic companies are beginning to offer “cruelty free” products, animal testing is still needed for research relating to medicine such as cancer and infertility. Animal testing is a necessary evil that must be destigmatized because it is crucial to the development of safe products for consumers. Using animals is the best possible way to test products before they are released to the public. Scientists have begun researching animal testing alternatives but these plans are simply not feasible. In Sept. 2019, the Environmental Protection Agency announced that they will begin moving away from requring animal testing on potentially harmful chemicals. This decision was praised by animal rights activists, but members of the scientific community were skeptical of the plan’s feasibility. Instead of using animals, “cruelty free” products are tested on small individual cells or tissue samples. These cell samples however are not reliable and can not simulate human life.

Animal rights activists commonly argue that it is cruel and inhumane to use animals to study the harmfulness of chemicals and medicinal products. However, animal experimentation is highly regulated by the United States government. For example, the Animal Welfare Act of 1966, which is still set in place, establishes minimum standards of care and treatment for these animals. These regulations are heavily enforced by the Animal Care division of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the United States Department of Agriculture to prevent potential animal abuse and mistreatment. Researchers conducting experiments involving animals are required to not only consult with a veterinarian for any procedure that may cause pain or distress to the animals, but also submit a written description of what they will be doing. Additionally, researchers search for alternatives to using animals and submit these documentations to the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science. The de-stigmatization of animal testing is necessary because it is the safest way to ensure products are safe to use. Until alternate ways of testing medicine and chemicals are developed, animal testing is still needed. Risking the lives of human consumers is not worth the “cruelty free” logo.

TIGER NOVEMBER 7, 2019

SCHOOL HISTORY

Constructing SPHS ILLUSTRATIONS NICHOLAS FORMAN

San Marino and South Pasadena once

SOURCE SPHS

his November, the South Pasadena Unified School District (SPUSD) will begin yet another round of construction to improve the ever-changing SPHS campus. The renovations on the athletic facilities mark the second major project in less than a year. From the development of the auditorium in 1933 to the newly completed STEM building last winter, virtually every part of campus has evolved since its genesis in 1907. More than 100 years later, Tiger takes a look back at the campus’ significant developments throughout its history.

1904 In 1906, SPUSD purchased a six-acre property nestled between the streets of Fremont, Diamond, Bank, and Rollin Streets for $15,000. The campus, built on the same ground where the majority of today’s academic buildings stand, was established to serve 32 high school-aged kids in the district. Students slowly trickled into the high school

in 1921, but in 1951 the Los Angeles began to study the problems of the shared campus and recommended that voters approve a two million dollar bond for construction on the high school to

1912 Home Economics and Shop Buildings Home Economics and Shop buildings were built along the ends of the main building in 1912, facing Fremont Avenue. These additions came ever SPUSD ParentTeacher Association was established at Lincoln Park School.

1971

The passage of a bond measure allowed for the construction of the current Fremont science building, in addition to the renovation of administrative facilities, which were damaged by a fire in 1971. At the same time, neighboring Pasadena was facing an education crisis surrounding school integration and

SPHS’ original auditorium suffered Long Beach Earthquake, leading to the establishment of the current auditorium with its historic pillars and Art Deco facade; the project was completed in April 1937. The building still stands today as the oldest in existence at SPHS.

in favor of more elite private institutions, explaining the exorbitant number of private schools in Pasadena today.

1978 Swimming Pool

Move to Fremont Ave. On April 8, the school was relocated to its current location on Fremont Avenue from its original home at the Taylor Block. In the ensuing years, various additional expansions and renovations took place at the spacious and modern building.

Much of the physical education and athletic facilities in the Roosevelt Field were renovated in 1959 with the completion of a new standard track and baseball field. In addition, the football fields had improvements and the girls’ locker room was extended this year. The scale of these projects was enormous; the endeavor required supplemental land south of the original field. Costs were then financed by the 1954 $1,645,000 bond issue by voters in the school district.

Current Science Building

Current Auditorium

1907

New Track and Baseball Field

voters rejected the bond, San Marino split from SPHS and formed its own high school in 1952.

1933

Current Land Purchased

1959

SPHS and San Marino Separate

STORY ELLIE CAMPBELL, HAELEE KIM, CAROLINE KIMBEL, NOAH KUHN, PRESTON SHARKEY, & PETER WANG PAGE DESIGN TALULLA CHOW & MADDIE YOO

1952

Swimming became a part of campus life in 1978 with the establishment of the aquatic facility, which has remained a Tiger constant today. Since then, it has played host to boys water polo’s CIF successes in the 80s and 90s, daily Sea Tiger practices, swimming lessons, summer recreational hours for the public, and much needed parking spaces for SPHS juniors.

1925 Theodore Roosevelt Field The Theodore Roosevelt Field first began operating as an athletics facility in 1952 and concurrently, SPHS established its athletic program. In 1955, the school expanded with the addition of a cafeteria and library. More classes were also added, increasing the school’s student population.

1921 Auditorium & Girl’s Gym The original auditorium and co-ed gymnasium were constructed in 1921, making them the first additions to campus in 10 years. In the same year, San Marino assimilated into South Pasadena High School, a union that would last until 1952.

1984 Freshmen in SPHS Starting in the fall of 1984, the school transformed to a four-year school, accepting students from grades nine through twelve. The addition of new students altered the school’s reputation. The school adopted a new the culture of a high achieving student body.

2019 900 Building Last winter, SPHS opened its newest addition, and Diamond Avenue. This building served as a replacement for the math bungalows that were set in place in the WW2 era. Many of the science and math classes moved into the building at the start of the second semester last year. In addition to this, SPHS is subject to many more renovations in the coming future. In another 100 years, the campus current students have come to know could be completely different.

TIGER

10 NOVEMBER 7, 2019

FEATURE

Green beans for dinner CAROLINE KIMBEL

Cancelling “cancel culture” The rise of social media has given teenagers immediate and easy access to celebrity and peer produced content, and subsequently, hasty judgements. In recent years, these quick condemnations have been given a new title: “cancel culture,” where people automatically lose their reputation when they say or do something problematic. There are times when celebrities and regular people alike need to be canceled: tendencies toward sexual assault, racism, sexism, or transphobia to name a few. However, cancel culture has become a quick solution to problems that are entirely complex and completely disregards human growth.

THE CAST WILL RELY ON PERSONAL INTERPRETATIONS of Metamophoses’ complex characters and underlying messages to bring the play to life.

Drama experiments with abstraction in fall production Metamorphoses The play will employ a challenging, unique set and complex character elements STORY AMBER CHEN PHOTOS JAYDEN EDEN

he SPHS drama program is putting on Metamorphoses, an adaptation of Greek mythology, for their annual fall play. The drama program has never approached a play that involves such abstract portrayals of life. The play presents unique challenges in set design and cast performances. Playwright Mary Zimmerman puts a modern spin on the collection of stories that make up the play. Each story, as is standard for Greek myths, is an explanation for natural phenomena, such as why the sun moves around or why a certain tree exists. These explanations are based around actors transforming through a pool, the play’s only set, which has been placed in the center of the Little Theater stage. The pool will be ten by six feet of water and all actors will get fully submerged. “The water is integral to the play to the point of being a character. It impacts how actors feel and completely changes their stage dynamic,” director and SPHS drama teacher Nick Hoffa said. Since the script originates from folklore, Metamorphoses’ style is poetic and anecdotal. To fit this lyrical style, use of props will be minimized to allow room for actors and actresses to utilize their imagination to the fullest and completely immerse themselves in their interpretations of the characters. “The material can be challenging because it needs people that can be really really physical, big, bold, but also really honest. You have to really be able to believe them,” Hoffa said. Hoffa brings a unique and open-minded form of directing that coincides with the unparalleled nature of the play. Since the play is so transformative and metaphorical, it oftentimes

cannot be staged beforehand, so the play has been constantly evolving during rehearsals. “I will go in having an idea of how it’s supposed to go, but it’s such a hard thing to imagine in advance until you see it. I can’t sit at home and say ‘oh, this person will go to stage left and this person will go stage right.’ I have to look at it and say so once we do it, and we’ll try their [the actors’] ideas.” Hoffa said. “A lot of what we end up putting in the play has been evolving in the rehearsals.” For preparation, actors rely on incorporating their own specific personalities into their roles because of the mystical nature of their characters. Each actor plays five-six characters alongside a narration piece. In general, actors are able to exercise their imagination with an open interpretation. Some characters are what you would imagine, while others are complete reinterpretations by playwright Mary Zimmerman. Zimmerman adapted the Greek play for the original Broadway cast, writing the script based on the actors’ dispositions. The cast also received guidance from actress Anjali Bhimani, a member of the original Broadway cast, in an unplanned visit. The visit provided the cast with a new perspective, as someone who had been with the play since its onset. “She talked a lot about the importance of using all your physicality and committing to what you’re doing on stage because this is a really hard play to do with just words, you really have to use your body to convey,” Hoffa said. “She was super amazing and inspiring and really brought home the importance that this story held for her and a lot of the people that saw the play.” The show will take place on Fridays, Nov. 15 and 22 at 7 p.m., and Saturdays, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. and 23 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

With the influx of unnecessary drama and gossip that comes along with high school, I’ve seen a lot of people completely cut off from their social circles just because they have wronged one person in the group. To be frank — there is nothing more emotionally immature. It’s important to stand by friends when someone hurts them, but that doesn’t mean that the wrong-doer should be automatically isolated from their so-called “friends” for doing something minor, such as hooking up with someone’s ex. Similarly, people can lose their friends for slipping up and making an isolated problematic comment. It should be one’s duty as a friend to call out offensive statements, and explain why these comments are unacceptable. If the person continues to make such comments, perhaps they should be canceled. But if their friend never called them out in the first place, they are also at fault. Abandoning friends in teachable moments doesn’t help anyone, it just leaves the problems unresolved. This doesn’t mean that people should take on the task of “educating” everyone, but merely that friends need to support one another and understand the complexity of human growth. Cutting people off and canceling them, unless they reach a certain extreme of toxicity, does nothing but contribute to elitism and isolation. There are undeniable faults in the SPUSD curriculum: lack of education on the Stonewall Riots, lack of discussion around the marginalization of disabled people, and the lack of acknowledgment of the extreme racism in South Pasadena’s history. Lack of education on these subjects leads to poor understanding of when jokes and statements go too far, so expectations on conduct should take this into account. When friends say or do something problematic, it should be treated as a learning opportunity rather than an opening for ostracism or cruelty. Especially in school, a place designated for learning, people need to allow room for their peers to learn from past mistakes rather than immediately scruitizing them and casting them aside. It’s time to “cancel” cancel culture.

TIGER NOVEMBER 7, 2019

FEATURE

PERSONALITY PROFILES VICTORIA TSKVITICHVILI: THRIVING WITH INDEPEDENCE STORY KIMBERLY HSUEH PHOTOS KATELYN HERNANDEZ

enior Victoria Tskvitichvili stood on the golf course, tightly gripping her club, observing the fairway ahead of her. In this moment, a sense of calm washed over her. To Tskvitichvili, playing golf is exhilarating, yet unhurried. Immersed in the game and without worry, she was ready to take on the challenge ahead of her. Tskvitichvili moved to the United States from Russia when she was just eight months old. She spent the next 15 years in Calabasas, California. While preparing to enter the local high school the following school year, Tskvitichvili was informed that she would be moving to South Pasadena. When Tskvitichvili began her freshman year at SPHS, her sister was 30 years old, married, and moving out to start a family. Before her departure, her sister managed the family’s finances as their parents were unfamiliar with English. When her sister left home, her sister’s responsibilities were suddenly hers. “My parents began permanently living here in freshman year,” Tskvitichvili said. “Whenever my dad had problems with English, I would be the one who translated. When we got an apartment in Pasadena, I had to schedule appointments and discuss home appliances with the realtor. I’ve had a lot more responsibilities besides school, learning about adulthood at an earlier age.” English was not a strong suit for Tskvitichvili. However, she did not let this language barrier affect her academic progression and sought out her teachers and well-spoken peers for guidance. Along her journey, she gained multiple friends and noticed how they pursued their passions. Now motivated to

express her own voice and did so by joining Youth and Government, believing that it would broaden her perspective on politics and improve her speaking skills. Unsurprisingly, the improvement in her communication efficiency boosted her confidence, not only at school but also in golf. Since the responsibilities of paying bills and maintaining her grades placed a heavy burden on her, she found herself destressing at the golf course. Tskvitichvili began competitively golfing in fifth grade with the Southern California Professional Golf Association, also known as SCPGA. Her experience and composure proved to be valuable assets to the varsity girls golf team. After two successful years, she was elected team captain, and with her participation in Y&G, she began to exude more confidence. She also realized the importance of being compassionate and becoming a leader who her teammates could go to for advice. “Golf impacted me the most,” Tskvitichvili said. “If anything was tough for me, the golf course was my peace. It got me through anything rough in my life, whether it be school or at home. At first, I was repelled by the slowness of golf, but it soon became a part of me. Once I started winning the first few matches of the SCPGA, that sparked me to pursue golfing more seriously.” Through all these experiences, she has become more independent, reliable, and responsible. The inspiration from her friends, golf, and academics have allowed her to face responsibilities with confidence. Determined to persevere past her language barrier and hardships, she has conquered her fear of speaking out and has a become a motivated, fiercely self-reliant individual whose strong work ethic will surely be invaluable to her goals in high school, golf, and beyond.

DESPITE SHOULDERING NUMEROUS RESPONSIBILITES including her family’s finances and golf practice, Tskvitichvili’s strong work ethic has helped her maintain a sunny outlook on life.

REMY LUZ JULIAN LORENZ: CHARISMA AND CONFIDENCE STORY CLOE MAURER PHOTOS SARAH LEE

ophomore Remy Luz Julian Lorenz sweetened his tea with three packets of artificial sweetener after politely returning the plastic lid and plastic straws. Prompted by a question that asked why his leather wallet looked like it had been through the wash, (which, it turns out, it had) Julian Lorenz launched into an animated impromptu about “jean day” and his dad’s second fridge. His personability and quick wit drew his listeners in as he bounced from one funny two line anecdotal to the next in between questions about being new to South Pas, growing up, and finding his place in high school. Julian Lorenz moved to SPHS from Avison Charter School at the beginning of last year. When selecting his courses for freshman year, he chose Speech and Debate. It suited his sensibilities, giving him a platform to write, speak, and think critically. Julian Lorenz included himself in a group of students that was truly devoted to the class’ success and fully utilized the built-in community and opportunities for public speech. His determination to succeed in the new environment, natural charisma and knack for storytelling set him apart from his classmates early in the school year when he won first place in Original Oratory (OO) at Fall Novice, one of his first comeptitions in Speech and Debate.

QUICK TO SHARE A JOKE OR WITTY STORY, Julian Lorenz’s magnetic energy draws his peers to his natural presence as a performer.

“Doing speech and debate makes me feel like I can tell people to [care] about me. When I first started speech and debate, I was still kind of weird and quiet and shy... I just didn’t know how to make myself a presence. But when I started speaking in public, and started getting good at it, I realized how much I needed a way to

express my thoughts. When I wrote my first OO, I had just gotten out of some wack [stuff] and hadn’t processed it yet. But writing an OO about it made me understand it in a practical way. It’s been easier to articulate my feelings, because now I think about it in the way I would explain it to a room full of judges,” Luz Julian Lorenz said. Julian Lorenz’s charming personality and growing confidence is something he jokingly plays off as self-inflation, but it’s played a big part in his seamless transition into the SPHS student body. He’s a delegate in Youth and Government and is an alto in the school choir. His efforts in Speech and Debate last year paid off and haved earned him the position of Assistant Captain. Remy has not taken these opprtunities for granted. His level of engagement is the result of an impressive go-getter attitude and a dedication to excelling in what he chooses to pursue. “Before I went to South Pas, I went to a school that was in a renovated dentist’s office in the middle of an intersection that was practically the size of the library. The first thing I noticed when I got here was how many good looking people there were here. I know it’s hard to see when you’ve known your classmates for a really long time, but since I came from the school equivalent of an Amish community, it was a big change. Also people were shockingly friendly to me, and I’m really grateful that I wasn’t seen as an outcast.” Julian Lorenz’s adaptability has served him well. He’s looking forward to further strengthening the Speech and Debate program as Captain his senior year. In the meantime, he will undoubtedly continue to teach, compete, speak out, and make the people around him laugh.

TIGER

12 NOVEMBER 7, 2019

FEATURE

New take on Looking for Alaska addresses identity and mental health STORY AUDREY ERNST ILLUSTRATION ALICIA ZHANG

ooking for Alaska, by John Green, one of the world’s most iconic young adult novels, was recently reimagined as an eight part, Hulu exclusive miniseries. The story follows Miles Halter, a quiet teenage boy, who goes to boarding school in Alabama and meets new, incredible people. His friends help him gain valuable life experience and break out of his shell as a wallflower. The book is primarily concerned with how he meets Alaska, a mysterious girl, and becomes completely infatuated with her. Although the show felt a bit cliche, it presents an important message about self-discovery and personal purpose. Since the book was released in 2005, there have been several attempts to turn the fan favorite into a feature film. This most recent attempt was by Josh Schwartz, who also produced teen TV classics such as Gossip Girl and The O.C. The mini series was well done, and in the perfect amount of time; it was not compacted into a feature film nor drawn out for a full TV season. The long duration allowed the show to further explore characters and deeper issues that weren’t fully fleshed out in the book. The main difference between the book and the mini series is its emphasis on each person’s story being an important feature in the plot and character development. The book is told from Miles’ point of view, which glosses over some storylines and certain character aspects. He sees Alaska as an exciting enigma, not as a real person with human flaws, which is why he and his friends fail to understand her serious mental health issues, leaving Alaska’s story from being unfinished. Most teen dramas produced by Josh Schwartz don’t directly address heavy topics like mental health

and death. Looking for Alaska is different. It still has some of the same elements of classic teen shows, such as friendship and elaborate pranks, but touches on deeper issues that are not usually seen in teen television shows. Topics such as suicide, death, and mental health are central components of Looking For Alaska’s plot and give viewers a valuable message about life to reflect on long after they’ve finished watching the series. The mini series enhanced the original story with additional scenes and a deeper look into more characters. However, some aspects were overly dramatized and angsty, like line from the book “I smoke to die.” These pretentious quotes took away from the serious themes and at times felt goofy. These melodramatic moments didn’t break the series, but it definitely would have benefited without them. Overall, Looking for Alaska enhanced the storyline where it was initially lacking in the book, and removed its weaker points. Looking for Alaska was a pleasant watch, but did not exceed any expectations. The characters felt genuine and the story flowed, but the series could have benefited without the melodrama. In general, it was able to balance the emotional and lighthearted moments. Looking for Alaska was a little pretentious and at times overdramatic, but was ultimately worth taking the time to watch.

Looking for Alaska Producer Genre

Josh Schwatrz Teen drama

Network

Hulu

Tiger’s guide to YouTube channels STORY KIMBERLY HSUEH, CLOE MAURER, & LILIAN ZHU

Doctor Mike 4.4M subscribers · 191 videos Mikhail Varshavski uploads informative and comedic medical videos with tips to help viewers lead a healthier lifestyle. His channel, Doctor Mike, aims to make the medical field understandable and relevant, especially to teens. The channel started as an informative channel, with videos such as “How Drugs Work,” which highlight medical misconceptions and explain methods to alleviate common health issues, but has evolved to include more viewer-involved content.

JunsKitchen 4.29M subscribers · 27 videos JunsKitchen is the perfect channel for cat lovers and food critics to browse. 29-year-old amateur cook Jun Yoshizuki creates authentic Japanese food, such as traditional Japanese ramen, sushi, and omurice, using fresh, high quality ingredients from local markets and family gardens. Yoshizuki also attracts people’s attention with the help of his adorable cats — Kohaku, Nagi, and Poki — and precise cooking techniques.

William Osman 1.54M subscribers · 126 videos William Osman explores STEM in a comedic yet educational style, creating videos that document how he creates new inventions. With a hands-on perspective, his videos break down technology’s complexities into entertaining tutorials that anyone can understand. Osman’s channel films his efforts to construct imaginative solutions to solve his day-to-day problems, which have included a

Tiny Meat Gang

PAGE DESIGN TALULLA CHOW

Varshavski’s channel also creates a space for his viewers to learn about typically stigmatized topics, such as vaping and marijuana use. He aims to entertain as well as educate teens so they are able to make informed lifestyle choices. Even for those who are not health or medical enthusiasts, Doctor Mike is an entertaining channel. His videos are dynamic and comical, punctuating current events with unique medical information. They are perfect for teens interested in health and medicine or even someone just hoping to learn while having a laugh. Yoshizuki dedicates every video to Japan’s lush nature and cleanliness, showing the intricacies of Japan that his subscribers are unfamiliar with. Yoshizuki showcases the aesthetic and calming aspect of cooking with voiceovers and relaxing background music. During his cooking sessions, his cats linger on top of the fridge or in a chair, curiously observing the process. Yoshizuki would often offer the ingredients to them for a sniff of inspection. Visually and audibly pleasing, JunsKitchen immerses people into a cooking world of sharp knives, swift and satisfying chopping, and adorable cats. set of automatic chopsticks to remedy his inability to use utensils. Other times, his videos were more spur of the moment and done in jest, like testing whether or not he could cook raw pancake batter with a laser. Osman’s witty humor makes his channel a Youtube sensation and will appeal to anyone looking for a creative take on how to use technology. Whether one is sitting down to learn something new or hoping to watch something that is both comedic and relaxing, William Osman’s YouTube channel proves to be the perfect combination of the two.

Comedians Cody Ko and Noel Miller make up the Tiny Meat Gang. Genuinely funny YouTubers are few and far between, and Miller is one of them. His humor is excellently timed, making binge watching his videos feel more like time well spent than 15 minutes of brain cell massacre.

Noel Miller Live is where Miller uploads his “React with Chats”. React with Chats are recordings of Miller’s Twitch hilarious livestreams in which he brutally roasts videos that are dredged up by his fans from the murky depths of YouTube’s twilight zone. Some of the standouts include his reaction to the Real Bachelor of Provo, a spinoff of The Bachelor with an all Mormon cast, and the Short King, a reaction to a Barcroft television video that’s about a 5’7” man who is engaged to a 6’ 5” woman.

The Noel Miller Channel is primarily a video series of collabortions with Ko and occasionally, fellow comedian and Youtuber Spock.

Miller is mean enough to be funny, but never mean enough to attract any real criticism. It’s always all in good fun.

464K subscribers · 111 videos

TIGER 13 NOVEMBER 7, 2019

FEATURE

TAAGLAA: Eataly L.A. TIGER’S AWESOME ADVENTURES IN THE GREATER LOS ANGELES AREA STORY PETER WANG PHOTOS JAYDEN EDEN

ataly L.A. shares its home — the Westfield Century City shopping center — with renowned establishments such as Tiffany & Co., Din Tai Fung, a Tesla showroom, and the Consulate General of Portugal. Eataly’s eclectic combination of restaurant and market spans 67,000 square feet across an impressive three stories, promising to be a mecca for lovers of fresh and authentic Italian food. As Dominic Marziali, Jayden Eden, and I snaked our way through its stalls and isles, this promise increasingly held true. I was initially taken aback by Eataly’s $$$ tag on Google, but as we stepped through the warm displays and chatter, I was pleasantly relieved by its welcoming humility. The professionalism and authenticity of the food is undeniable, but the atmosphere is not at all formal. Instead, a “come as you are” attitude makes patrons feel like they belong. The international chain began in Torino, Italy, and later added locations such as New York, Boston, Seoul, and Istanbul. Eataly expanded to Los Angeles in November 2017; it has since developed a decent reputation amongst discerning critics and ravenous consumers alike. Despite being located halfway around the world from the origin of

DELICIOUS BUT DOWN-TO-EARTH, Eataly L.A. captures the traditonal flavors of Italian dishes with quality ingredients — although these benefits are accompanied by a higher price tag. its cuisine and culture, Eataly successfully captures the bustling atmosphere of an Italian open-air market. However, this delicate authenticity comes at a cost — most groceries and entrees cost around 30 percent more than typical prices — though the high prices are fairly standard for high quality Italian food in California. For what it’s worth, the high prices go towards ensuring freshness, sustainability, and dedication to time-honored traditions — factors which culminate in a truly unique dining and shopping experience, one that can only be accomplished by using genuine and authentic ingredients. Eataly makes a point of selling livestock raised without antibiotics or hormones and makes conscious efforts to be as sustainable as possible, including the use of gray water in bathrooms. After perusing the vast selection of fresh and preserved produce, we decided to indulge in a sit-down lunch from the Pizza & Pasta section. A five-minute wait preceded our order, along with a complimentary appetizer. The soft interior and crunchy crust of the ciabatta was accentuated with the piquant zest of the olive oil, prompting Jayden to request another two helpings after we had exhausted the first batch.

Jayden and I decided to split a Neapolitan Pizza Margherita, which arrived before Dominic’s Bucatini. We weren’t surprised when the pizza hit home on every aspect, especially the rich mozzarella and vibrant sauce, which surpassed the dullness of premade sauces. The bucatini shared this refreshing acidity in its arrabiata, along with an equally satisfying al dente texture. However, the food did have some sticking points: the pizza disappointed with its stingy amount of basil, and the pasta was betrayed by the ill-advised inclusion of cured pork cheeks — the dish begs to be topped with eggplant or duck breast instead. Past its dizzying sprawl and occasionally staggering prices, Eataly consistently provides professionally detailed cuisine in a comfortable, laid back, no-nonsense setting. It’s a must-try for adventurous or nostalgic foodies looking for genuine Italian creations and traditions. Address: 10250 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90067 Hours: Monday – Thursday 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m., Friday 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m., Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m., Sunday 10:00 a.m. – 10:00p.m. Price: $$$

TIGER

14 NOVEMBER 7, 2019

SPORTS

FALL MVP: LINDSEY HIRANO How the junior libero’s energy has led girls volleyball to a historic season

Junior Lindsey Hirano is the engine that keeps the girls varsity volleyball team running. With Hirano playing the key role of libero, girls volleyball has cruised to an undefeated league title and made its first CIF semifinals appearance in school history. Hirano’s mastery is seen through her pinpoint passes and game-saving digs and her leadership has also been crucial to the Tiger’s historic season.

CIF semifinals, and her commitment has reaped plenty of benefits. She led the Tigers to a 33-7 season and in CIF Regionals, she averaged 22.3 digs a match, constantly keeping crucial rallies alive.

STORY ZOE SCHLAAK PHOTO SARAH LEE GRAPHIC MATTHEW TSAI

While excelling as a libero, Hirano also plays the role of ‘quarterback’ on the volleyball court. Her voice is often heard in the back row, coordinating plays and preventing dangerous miscommunications.

Volleyball has not always been a part of Hirano’s life. She was set on playing soccer throughout high school, but her sister’s involvement in volleyball prompted Hirano to follow in her footsteps. She tried out for the San Gabriel Elite Volleyball Club (SGE) in fifth grade and immediately displayed a natural affinity for the sport.

“Volleyball is such a team sport and I think maintaining a positive energy is really important for the team,” Hirano said. “Being upbeat and maintaining a positive attitude is super important especially during really tight games, where people get really tense.”

Six years later, Hirano has become one of the best players in the San Gabriel Valley and plays volleyball year round for both South Pasadena High School and SGE.

Hirano’s teammates have benefited from her infectious energy, which fosters a safe team dynamic.

The libero position requires speed, quickness, and swift reflexes. Hirano has all of these qualities, earning her a starting spot on the varsity volleyball team in her freshman year.

“Lindsey is a really supportive teammate. She’s always there for you when you are feeling down and never makes anyone feel sad when they messed up,” junior Lexi Schroeder said.

Now, she anchors the South Pas defense, receiving incoming hits and kick-starting the teams’ offensive plays. But Hirano’s hard work is often unjustly overlooked. “The libero position is so underappreciated, because it’s normal for them to dive for balls and risk injuries,” sophomore Kennedy Taylor said. “And usually the hitter has the last play, so the passers and the hitters don’t get recognition for the necessary pieces of the play.” This season, Hirano has always given her all on the court, be it in a summer preseason tournament or during the

With Hirano’s help, the girls volleyball team is headed to the Division II State tournament. The Tigers will play next on Tuesday, Nov. 12. Amid the chaos, Hirano will remain a pillar of positivity, ready to lead South Pas to victory.

THE STARTING LIBERO, Hirano’s positive attitude has made her the team’s energizer and leader.

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Hirano’s 2019 Season Stats: ~100 assists ~82 aces ~303 serve receptions ~570 digs

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TIGER 15 NOVEMBER 7, 2019

SPORTS

Julius Murphy: shaping lives with a smile STORY CLOE MAURER PHOTO JAYDEN EDEN

PHS athletic trainer Julius Murphy is no stranger to the setbacks and challenges of being an athlete. Murphy, recently hired, was a versatile high school athlete — competing in baseball, basketball, football, and track. While playing football, he suffered a debilitating shoulder injury. Due to his high school’s lack of resources, it never healed properly and still causes him issues to this day. However, the old “silver lining to every cloud” cliche supervened without fail. The injury showed Murphy the difference athletic training can make, setting him on what would ultimately be his career path. “Going through that rehabilitation process showed me how fun it could be as a clinician,” Murphy said. “You could actually change someone emotionally by just doing some work with them for a day and making them feel like they’re actually progressing and getting closer to their goal.” Murphy’s athletic experience has shaped his holistic training philosophy; he believes in the importance of fostering a strong, trusting relationship with the athlete. Emphasizing preventative measures, Murphy takes the time to ensure that both the body and mind fully recover. “I had a few players come in very unmotivated. They were thinking that it was the end of the road for them. I had the opportunity to express to them that they should take the rehabilitation [process]

seriously, accept what we can do for them, and understand how it could help them mentally and physically get back to their sport,” Murphy said. “When they were healed and ready to play again, they were totally different people with different attitudes. Those are really great stories to tell.” Now, Murphy is an experienced trainer with an impressive resume. He has worked for the Lynchburg Hillcats, a Cleveland Indian minor league affiliate, Liberty University’s Division I football team, and a small high school in Virginia. His interest in training high school athletes comes from a place of personal experience; Murphy’s shoulder injury showed him where he could really make a difference: high schools. “I feel like the high school scene is really lacking full time athletic trainers and that drove my interest to get into the field,” Murphy said. “A lot of the time, high school athletes are still looking for that mentor, someone to look up to other than professional athletes. I think that’s where athletic trainers get to step in and be another person they can come to and give them some life lessons along the way.” For Murphy, the student-athletes are the highlight of his job. He cherishes the chance to witness young athletes grow, change, and succeed in sports and life. “The athletes are amazing. They drive me in here everyday,” Murphy said. “The smiles they bring and the ‘What’s up Julius, how’s your day?’ are the things I look forward to.”

WITH A LOVE FOR HELPING STUDENTS, Murphy aims to create trusting relationships with athletes.

Farewell to the Main Gym STORY ELLIE CAMPBELL & HAELEE KIM

PAGE DESIGN TALULLA CHOW, DAVID SOHN, & MADDIE YOO

South Pasadena High School’s gym is home to many memories. From hosting campus traditions to Hollywood films, the gym has added meaningful charisma to school and community-wide events for almost a century. Tiger looks to commemorate the gym’s major contributions to the present by tracking different events throughout the years.

Providing film studios with a prime shooting location Film studios have always been attracted to South Pasadena, drawn by the city’s quaint and small-town American feel. SPHS is no exception, and consequently, many movies and television shows have been filmed on campus and around the athletic facilities. The gym has

become a popular destination for filmmakers, creating a legacy that lends familiarity to any viewer with connections to South Pas. The 2017 Golden Globe acclaimed film Lady Bird showcased prominent shots of the gym and theater. Many of the scenes encapsulated a school environment throughout the course of the film, while Netflix’s 2018 comedydrama Sierra Burgess is a Loser featured stunt doubles climbing on ropes hung in the rafters of the gym.

A host of city traditions The gym has become a welcoming area for students and community members alike, through the years of hosting a variety of schoolrelated and overall city occasions. Raising large amounts of funding to support school clubs, sports teams, and extracurriculars, Tiger Bingo — SPHS’ biggest fundraiser — was born and bred in the high school main gym. While athletic teams benefit from hundreds of Tiger Bingo dollars each year, the fundraiser has become a fun,

consistent tradition for South Pas residents every Saturday. The gym has also acted as a placeholder for many other community-based events. The AC Green Youth Foundation, an organization that helps to educate youth on responsible lifestyles, has held SPEF basketball camps for children in the gym for the past seven years. During the 2017 Halloween season, junior ASB officers organized a haunted house in the practice gym, decorating an elaborate maze with various interactive elements. SPHS students were welcome to participate, and many ended up donning costumes to play as scarers against the public. “The haunted house turned out well and was popular among the people who came to homecoming. It was a huge hit,” former junior class vice president Akash Rathi said. The Booster Club has hosted the annual Tiger Run every December for the past 21 years. The course starts and ends in front of the gym, where volunteers pass out t-shirts and bibs.

The feature film Sweet Old World, shot in

2010, set up a fictional narrative in South Pas. The plot centered around a student who was a member of the SPHS marching band. Local director and producer David Zeiger spent most of principal photography on campus. The gym and the field provided a constant backdrop for the 2012 drama. Numerous commercials were shot in the main gym as well, most notably a Google advertisement in 2016. The company transformed the main gym into a science fair setting for the shoot. Nike and healthcare company Highmark have also shot promotions in the gym and outdoor basketball courts, respectively. Actor and comedian Adam Sandler also made a special appearance in the main gym six to seven years ago, renting the space out for a couple days. While filming, Sandler spent his lunch breaks in the gym playing basketball.

SPHS’ top sports runs The gym has held some of SPHS’ most renowned CIF runs. Beginning in mid2010, indoor sports began to dominate. In the 2014-15 school year, girls basketball reached the second round of the Division III State tournament. The Tigers, led by senior Lexie Scholtz’s 17.4 points and 11.9 rebounds per game, were CIF Southern Section semifinalists with a 24-3 overall record. In its only CIF home game, South Pas destroyed Legacy High School, 64-41, behind Scholtz’s 20 points and 15 rebounds. Over the years, volleyball teams have also seen successful runs within the walls of the gym. The 2014 boys volleyball team became CIF Southern Section D-III champions with a 29-5-2 record. Ranked 28th in the nation, the Tigers towered over their opponents, with seven players over 6 feet 4 inches. South Pas was undefeated in CIF home games and finished the season with an emphatic 3-0 win over Gahr in the regional final.

TIGER

16 NOVEMBER 7, 2019

SPORTS

PAPA D’S TSAI MATTHEW TSAI

Don’t try to be a fake ‘expert’ Most of my friends are idiots. A couple of weeks ago, senior Andrew Gabor said that Stephen Curry is a better basketball player than Kobe Bryant. Fellow senior Alan Quan quickly countered, throwing out Bryant’s numerous accolades. Andrew responded with highlights of Curry splashing 40-footers. The two tossed arguments back and forth for an eternity.

EXCELLING IN LEAGUE, boys water polo and girls volleyball eye deep runs in the playoffs.

Undefeated RHL champs take on CIF STORY KIMBERLY HSUEH PHOTOS KATELYN HERNANDEZ & ELLA JAYASEKERA

here have been two constants in fall sports over the past few years: girls volleyball and boys water polo. Always featuring a talented roster, both teams have hovered near the top of the Rio Hondo League tables and competed for CIF berths. This season, girls volleyball made school history by reaching the CIF Southern Section semifinals, while boys water polo is primed for another long Division III CIF run. With similar storylines, both girls volleyball and boys water polo have risen to success, putting the RHL and the rest of California on notice. Fueled by a talented junior class, boys water polo finished with an 8-0 league record and won by 10.6 goals per match. Eddie Lane-Flannigan shines as the center of the Tigers’ offense with his ability to score from a wide variety of angles, while Anthony Felix and goalkeeper Liam Markus lead a stifling defense that conceded under five goals per league game. “The juniors are really the core of the team,” senior captain Evan Kowal said. “They’re the real leaders of the team, both with their play and attitude. With only two seniors on the team, the juniors have a bigger role than most and they’ve succeeded exceptionally.”

Likewise, girls volleyball features a roster packed with star juniors. Rice University commit Lola Foord and Katharine Florence provide a terrifying offensive attack, while libero Lindsey Hirano and defensive specialist Sydney Abundo maintain rallies. Against La Serna in the CIF Regional quarterfinals, the juniors shined on the biggest stage. Foord relentlessly slammed kills into Lancer territory and Florence boasted a season-high 19 assists. With a nail biting five set win, the Tigers advanced to the semifinals and clinched a CIF State berth. “I think that our team was able to rally together to get the job done,” Hirano said. “When the game got really close, our team did not crumble under the pressure.” While girls volleyball is knee-deep in its CIF run, boys water polo is just starting its playoff journey. South Pas jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead against Newbury Park in the first round on Tuesday, Nov. 5, and coasted to an 11-6 victory behind Markus’ stellar performance in goal. Boys water polo will look to continue past the second round today, Thursday, Nov. 7, when they face off against the Schurr Spartans. Meanwhile, girls volleyball will begin CIF State competition next week on Tuesday, Nov. 12.

The debate was incredibly vain, but I felt compelled to defend Bryant’s honor. No matter what I said, Andrew insisted that Curry was far superior. Flabbergasted, it occurred to me that most casual NBA fans would probably side with Andrew — and that is frightening. If Curry played 50 years ago, I am sure Andrew would believe Kobe is better. However, watching modern day sports has evolved. Today, it is easier to follow sports. Streaming services and social media give every team international exposure. Highlights flood feeds across the globe in seconds and top plays reach SportsCenter within the hour; everything is on display and easily accessible. Many “fans” skim through videos and stories, catching up on all the latest games, but never really experience the sport. Consequently, they form permanent opinions based on arbitrary Bleacher Report stats or posts. “Fans” only see the hype plays and neglect players’ impacts outside of the box score. Consider Lonzo Ball, one of the infamous Ball Brothers, as an example. Ball is a social media laughingstock: from his unconventional jump shot and air-balled free throws to his loudmouth father and foolish brothers, almost everyone I know has labeled him as a bust. However, I’ve watched almost all 99 of his games as a Los Angeles Laker, and Instagram posts don’t show his lockdown perimeter defense and otherworldly basketball I.Q. Ball is victim to these self-proclaimed “experts,” who assume they are making reasonable judgements. But as technology has transformed, it is impossible to be objective without actually watching the sport. So, if you’re just a casual House of Highlights fan, don’t pretend to be an “expert.”

Inside CIF seeding and the unfair selection process STORY KATHARINE FLORENCE PHOTO ELLA JAYASEKERA Winning CIF is practically every high school athlete’s ultimate goal. Many dream of competing in high stakes games and succeeding in CIF automatically grants players bragging rights on campus. However, the qualifying regulations are so flawed that CIF has become a pointless event; the competition does not contain California’s ‘best of the best’ and continuously pushes the narrative that CIF in and of itself is a joke. Due to the illogical selection process, student-athletes need to acknowledge one thing: CIF should not be placed on a pedestal. CIF determines playoff seeding based on the number of teams in a league, regardless of what division each school may be in. With six teams in the Rio Hondo League, the top three would get an automatic bid whereas another league with four teams would only ensure CIF advancement to the top two teams in the league. A team that is one spot below placement can submit an at-large bid to enter as a wildcard.

A FAULTY SELECTION PROCESS prevents CIF from being the premier tournament it is intended to be.

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However, a team must meet a minimum requirement of 50 percent in wins to qualify for playoff berth

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consideration. In order to improve their record and become stronger candidates for the wildcard pick, teams can stack their preseason schedules with easy matchups to boost their overall record. The selection process proves even more unfair when looking at the makeup of leagues. Most leagues contain a variety of teams from different divisions, basically handing the most wins and the league championship to the schools that belong to those higher divisions. This discriminates against those in lower divisions within a diverse league, preventing advancement to CIF even within their own division. While schools are able to apply for a bid, it is not guaranteed. Other schools with equally good teams or even worse ones will be picked for CIF simply because their league was less competitive. While going to CIF and succeeding is an impressive feat, it is worth mentioning that it is somewhat meaningless considering the arbitrary system of selecting teams. The diversity of divisions in a league results in an inherent unevenness of talent within CIF, making it a faulty determination for the best sports teams in California.

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