Tiger Newspaper March 2018

VOLUME 104 ISSUE 6 MARCH 13, 2018

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

POWDERPUFF VICTORY GOES TO SENIORS IN 44-12 WIN Senior Sophie Reynolds prepares to throw, aiding the Class of 2018 win.

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he senior class defeated the juniors 44-12 in the annual Powderpuff game on March 9.

After having lost to the Class of 2017 last year, the seniors dominated the game, with senior running back Riley Segal leading the team in touchdowns. The competition was intense and engaging, and proved to be a memorable experience for both classes.

“I always look forward to the Powderpuff game because its just a really good opportunity to bond with other girls in my grade and have fun while doing so,” senior captain Tiffany Holmes said. “I think it was nice to bond over a common goal.”

Both teams practiced for two weeks in preparation for the game, learning plays and football basics with the help of coaches from the SPHS football team including senior Ben Martinez and junior Justin Huff.

An early touchdown from captain Segal began the game and put the seniors ahead by six points. Juniors Rainey Tilley and Uma Hornish tried to keep their team on par with its opponents, but they soon fell behind thanks to touchdowns from seniors Maya Martinez and Maddie Saito. After this, the juniors were unable to score any more touchdowns thanks to a strong senior defense spearheaded by Ashley Rusch.

BLOCK GRANTS

Staff Writer Dominic Marziali criticizes the city council’s usage of development block grants in affluent neighborhoods rather than lower-income communities.

Page 7

IN THE NEWS

STORY BEN CLARK PHOTO ISAAC MARZIALI The game was preceded by a school assembly earlier in the day by senior and Commissioner of School and Community Ben Elbaum. Featuring the senior and junior captains as well as a South Pasadena High School trivia game, the assembly ensured that students were aware of the game that night.

Following the traditions of Powderpuff, the “man-leaders” performed their cheering routine at halftime, entertaining audiences with flag tricks and dancing. The audience received a continuation of the Tiger Spirit assembly festivities, with sophomores Evan Kowal and Jewel Nguyen and freshmen Macie Lukavsky and Erin Soo competing against one another in an egg spoon race. The Powderpuff game concluded as a uniting experience for many of the players given the opportunity to compete in good spirits.

“Powderpuff was the perfect way to bond with members of the senior class that I don’t always get to talk to,” Rusch said. “The actual game was definitely fun, but it was bonding with everyone that made it more memorable.”

SOCCER SHINES

MOVIES ALONE

Girls’ varsity soccer reached new heights this past season––and postseason––advancing to the semifinal stage of the regional state tournament.

Page 16

Read Truman Lesak’s take on seeing movies in solitude, an experience he often practices. Lesak attempts to break the stigma of the “non-social movie watcher.”

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Pennies for Patients ends this Friday. Make sure to bring any final donations to your fourth period classes.

March 14 (3.14), or Pi Day, is tomorrow. Multiple businesses such as Blaze Pizza will be offering specialty promotions.

TIGERNEWSPAPER.COM

South Pas Public Library is showing a film in appreciation of women in baseball on Thursday at 7:00p.m.

TIGER

02 MARCH 13, 2018

NEWS

NEWS

SPUSD holds 5th Special Needs Conference STORY CHRISTINE MAO PHOTO COURTESY OF SARA AUSTIN The South Pasadena Unified School District (SPUSD) hosted its fifth special needs conference at South Pasadena High School on Saturday, March 3. This conference was held in conjunction with The South Pasadena Council Parent Teacher Association Special Needs Committee. The event consisted of various panels, each addressing different issues facing students with special needs.

The committee’s primary mission is to help students, parents, and teachers understand special needs and create an inclusive, tolerant community. Since parents created the group in 2004, the committee has grown and now attracts people residing outside of South Pasadena to their conferences, hosted every other year.

The event highlighted experienced panelists such as Dr. Diane Cullinane, co-founder of Professional Child Development Associates (PCDA), to inform parents and community members about how to address challenges faced by special needs students.

Attendees were prompted to attend one of the three panels present, including finding services—regional centers, insurance, or in-home supportive services— open to speical needs students. Other panels addressed the issues of attention disorder and developing social language. Following these presentations, audience members were invited to engage in a Q&A session to clarify any remaining issues.

The second session pertained to preventing and addressing challenging behavior as well as finding success after graduating from high school.

Attendees visited the resource fair that was set up across the front of the campus after the presentations.

This fair included numerous booths from local and government agencies and businesses that provide services for students with special needs. It provided parents with the opportunity to find and discover the array of services available for their children.

In between these large-scale conferences, the committee provides parent education nights where one person will present throughout the evening. Throughout the school year, they hosts monthly support group meetings that are held at different parents’ homes. The committee also offers scholarships to graduating seniors with special needs. “[It’s our goal that] students with special needs in the district schools feel fully included and supported and that this is a place for learning for all kids,” Special Needs Committee Chair Sara Austin said. “[We reach] out to the communities so that people are friendly, supportive, [and] understanding of kids with special needs. This is our community and we want it to be a welcoming one.”

SENIOR ZOE KAPLAN works in an engineering seminar onducted to work toward gender parity.

Femineers encourage coding with first intensive pilot program STORY NOAH PARKER PHOTO THOMAS FORMAN

T

he buzz of robotic arms and coding keyboard clicks filled the library projection room as the Femineers hosted a pilot event Friday, March 2 and Monday, March 5. The event was run by SPHS computer science teacher Garrett Shorr, and Dr. Mariappan Jawaharlal, a professor of mechanical engineering at the California Polytechnic University, Pomona.

Under the guidance of Mr. Shorr and Dr. Jawaharlal, 17 girls learned how to build and code a robot using Raspberry Pi, a programmable computer. The girls also learned about the functioning of the robot and the importance of coding in the real world.

The Femineers program was created last school year to encourage girls to pursue a career in the science, technology, engineering, and math fields. The group hopes to confront a problem that plagues many professional fields in the U.S.: the underrepresentation of women in STEM. According to the Office of the Chief Economist, women––who hold nearly fifty percent of the jobs in America––filled just 24% of STEM jobs in 2017.

“The big picture goal [of Femineers] would be to close

the gender gap in STEM industries,” senior Femineer member Lauren Sharkey said, “and to get us interested in engineering at a young age, providing us with an opportunity to enter this industry where women are heavily underrepresented.”

This event was planned in association with Cal Poly Pomona, which chose the South Pasadena Femineers as one of the hosts of this new, ambitious pilot program.

“I’ve been working with Cal Poly Pomona and Project Lead the Way for a couple of years and introduced the femineer project from there,” Mr. Shorr said. “We [started] femineers last year, and they selected us to do a pilot for the second year program.

I handpicked these students for the pilot because I wanted to give the opportunity to some 12th graders who didn’t get a chance to participate last year.”

The Femineers will be able to keep the robots they made for the rest of the year, allowing them to experiment with new coding techniques and other innovative creations.

[FEMINEERS PROVIDES] US OPPORTUNITY TO ENTER INDUSTRY WHERE WOMEN HEAVILY UNDERREPRESENTED.”

AN THE ARE

Arroyo Bike Trail near completion Roadblocks emerge as the project approaches the end of its construction STORY PETER WANG South Pasadena is making plans for the finalization of the Arroyo Seco Bicycle and Pedestrian Trail. The nearly finished project has encountered unexpected hurdles in its last stage of construction, and a concrete plan for completion must be submitted as soon as possible.

This new trail, which runs along South Pasadena’s section of the Arroyo River, opens up a newly accessible section of the Arroyo Seco Park to residents. Work on the project began in 2006, and the trail was scheduled to open last month, but the official opening has been delayed to April 22.

Councilmember Michael Cacciotti began the trail project, intending the Arroyo Seco Bicycle and Pedestrian Trail as part of a larger network of trails including the LA River and Rio Hondo. “[The land is an] open-space corridor that has been cut off from our citizens for over half a century,” Cacciotti said.

THE SPECIAL NEEDS COMMITTEE has hosted five conferences since 2004.

At a city council meeting on Wednesday, March 7, councilmembers explored potential solutions to several setbacks of the project, including falling golf balls from the golf course’s driving range that pose a risk of physical trauma to pedestrians and bikers. The hazard was identified late in the project’s construction through a ball flight study earlier this year.

Community Services Director Sheila Pautsch informed the council of potential damage of these balls.

“I was out [at a driving range] and [a ball] nailed us. I took a picture of the divot in the concrete because I was so shocked at the velocity at which it came,” Paustch said.

Public Works recommended that a “safety trellis,” a permanent protective covering consisting metal bars and netting, be put over a 500-foot section of the trail to guard people from golf balls. Although the council was expected to approve the addition, the decision was postponed until the next meeting to explore various options and optimize the budget.

The estimated cost of the trellis is over $580,000, which will be covered by both city funds and outside grants. However, the city needs to finalize the plans and budget for the trellis as soon as possible to meet deadlines for grant applications.

Mayor Richard Schneider suggested that a temporary safety net should be placed over the trail during the three months of planning and construction.

Other obstacles during construction included potholes in the parking lots and remnant foundations from previous buildings.

While these need to be dealt with, they are not as large in scale compared to the safety trellis. The costs of repairing the parking lot and road surfaces around the trail will also be part of the ‘safety package.’

TIGER 03 MARCH 13, 2018

NEWS

SPHS reacts to Parkland shooting with protest SPHS students have organized to express solidarity with Parkland students and their support of gun control STORY SOFIE DRESKIN PHOTO ISAAC MARZIALI South Pasadena students are mobilizing a walk-out on Wednesday, March 14 to stand in solidarity with the survivors of the Parkland, Florida shooting, joining nationwide efforts led by high school students to pressure legislators to prioritize gun control. The march will last 17 minutes to honor the 17 students killed on February 14.

Seniors Kate Ba, Sophie Reynolds, and Lauren Sharkey and junior Rachel Lu have been organizing meetings of SPHS students in order to effectively participate in the National School Walkout. Through numerous meetings, students have decided to hold the walkout in front of the school on Fremont Ave. “Our goal is to show the community and the country that we are not going to forget about this,” senior Sophie Reynolds said.

“Kids, and teenagers especially, are angry and we are ready to make change.”

The meetings come as a response to the recent shooting tragedies throughout the United States this year, primarily to the Parkland tragedy on February 14 of this year. Nineteen-year-old Nikolas Jacob Cruz opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida killing 17 people and injuring 14.

This shooting has sparked reactions from various organizations and groups, forming events and walkouts to protest Congressional inaction. The Women’s March youth EMPOWER branch is rallying students and teachers to participate in the National School Walkout to empower youth and pressure Congress to take action in demanding gun control.

SPUSD is one of many districts in the nation planning to participate in the National School Walkout. From the schools to the police department, South Pasadena has shared its thoughts on participation.

In a districtwide email, Superintendent Geoff Yantz communicated the school’s dedication to student safety and respect for civic discourse. Yantz stated the necessity of working with SPPD regarding safety matters and the role of school administration during this time due to the school’s liability for SPUSD students.

“We respect our students’ rights to engage in civic discourse,” Yantz said. “All school employees are responsible for maintaining a safe and orderly environment and may not encourage students to leave school or participate in a student led walkout.”

The South Pasadena community has been no stranger to the threat of gun violence; SPHS has faced numerous threats since 2014. Three days before the current seniors began their freshman year, a shooting plot planned by two SPHS students was discovered. The two then-seniors responsible were sentenced to probation April 15, 2015, the story making national news. Four months later, an emailed threat was sent to the SPHS website resulting in a lockdown preceding an evacuation. In March of last year, another lockdown occurred after a a social media threat. A student allegedly posted a picture of guns with the caption, “Three replies and I’ll shoot up the school,” prompting cancellation of Powederpuff and a two-hour lockdown.

The Walkout will take place outside of the school on March 14th at 10 a.m.; organizers encourage student body participation.

OUR GOAL IS TO SHOW THE COMMUNITY AND COUNTRY THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO FORGET ABOUT THIS. KIDS, AND TEENAGERS ESPECIALLY, ARE ANGRY AND WE ARE READY TO MAKE A CHANGE.”

SENIOR OWEN PRATT VOICES HIS OPINION in reaction to the Parkland tragedy and ideas for the March 14 walkout.

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TIGER March 13, 2018

NEWS

l

y Serv ces

STORY NOAH PARKER, PRESTON SHARKEY, & ISABELLA TSAI

PAGE DESIGN ELAINE YANG & KATE ROGERS

DoorDash

PHOTOS THOMAS FORMAN GRAPHIC TRUMAN LESAK & FINLEY MULLEN

The third San Francisco startup on this list, DoorDash is an app founded by three Stanford graduates that utilizes analytics to predict delivery time based off time of day or inventory. To test DoorDash against the other two apps, we ordered two servings of chicken Pad See Ew from Rice, a Thai restaurant in Pasadena. Similar to the other delivery services, the food was delivered 20 minutes earlier than the original estimated delivery time. Our food was walked to the door by a “Dasher” in a pink, insulated bag; DoorDash was the only service that brought the food in such a device, which kept the food steaming hot and close to restaurant quality.

DoorDash offers a first time discount of $10 off your order and a free delivery charge, but we still had to pay the service fee of $2.10.

A wide variety of restaurants across the San Gabriel Valley will typically have DoorDash delivery for either no charge or under six dollars. While there are plenty of restaurants with free delivery charges during the day, prices can increase by a few dollars during busy hours in the evening. Between sit-down restaurants like Rice, local bites like Lucky Boy, and fast food chains, DoorDash has a very diverse selection of food options for whatever your stomach is yearning for.

Postmates In 2011, a food delivery service called Postmates broke onto the scene, offering a simple and affordable option for on-demand delivery service. Unlike its competitors, Postmates has expanded to delivering groceries and even alcoholic beverages straight to its users’ doorstep. Postmates boasts 34 recommended options in the South Pasadena area, ranging from fast food chains to local mom-and-pop shops. After a careful examination of Postmates’ selections, we decided to order from Taco Fix. Although it arrived about ten minutes after its initial estimated arrival time, the app offered real-time tracking that notified us of our delivery’s progress every step of the way.

We ordered a carne asada taco, carne asada nacho fries, and churros with nutella. As advertised, Postmates tacked on a $3.99 delivery fee to the total while the prices they charged for each individual item corresponded with the restaurant’s own pricing. Unlike UberEats, the Postmate who delivered our meal came right up to our front door. Very brief pleasantries were exchanged, and then the food changed hands.

The food, packaged neatly and still warm, was just as good as if we were to have dined in the restaurant. Postmates’ affordability, reliability, and ease of access makes it a stand-out app in the new industry of food delivery.

Uber Eats Although Uber Eats offers a wide variety of food for the South Pasadena customer, it failed to impress in many other aspects of food delivery. Making an account was easy enough; the user was able to use their Uber account credentials to sign in.

Using the app, we ordered from The Oinkster, a local hotspot in Eagle Rock popularized by its greasy burgers and pulled pork sandwiches. We decided to order a cheeseburger, a pork sandwich, and a chocolate milkshake made with Fosselman’s ice cream. However, upon ordering, we came across the distressing news that there was a $1.35 “busy area” fee, on top of the relatively-pricey booking fee of $4.99.

The food arrived quickly enough (a 25 minute arrival time, considerably faster than the 33 minute estimated time), but the service required us to leave the warm and comfortable confines of our home to go outside to pick up the food from the car. The food arrived semi-warm, with the burger a bit soggy at the bottom. The milkshake made up for it all, as its icy cold interior was a perfect compliment to the burger.

Overall, Uber Eats excels in its app design and food selection, but falls short in its customer service. If you are looking for a quick bite for cheap, look elsewhere.

Eat24 A former subsidiary of the popular review service Yelp, Eat24 allows users to rate their experiences with each restaurant that they order from. Users can view the food quality, delivery time, and order accuracy percentages that previous users gave each restaurant. In a separate comments section, users can share their experiences and tips as well as list out everything they ordered.

Grubhub The veteran food delivery service was launched in 2004 and had over 15 million active users in 2017.

Recently, GrubHub partnered with Yum Brands, which owns fast food chains Pizza Hut, KFC, and Taco Bell. The companies plan to work together to broaden delivery service access to these chain restaurants. GrubHub also offers delivery from local restaurants with a typical delivery charge that is anywhere from $1 to $5.99.

Delivery.com Delivery.com offers a variety of services, including laundry/dry cleaning, alcoholic beverages, grocery, and restaurant delivery. The company offers a rewards system, giving users points for the amount they spend on delivery. Points can be redeemed for future delivery credit or prizes. Users also have the option of trading in their delivery points to make donations to several charity organizations that Delivery.com has partnered with to battle hunger.

TIGER 05 MARCH 13, 2018

THE TIGER ESTABLISHED 1913

CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2011 CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2013 CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2014 CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2015 CSPA CROWN AWARD 2016 CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2017 CSPA CROWN AWARD 2018

ST A F F ED IT OR IA L

OPINION

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF RILEY SEGAL MANAGING EDITORS COLE CAHILL, Print BRANDON YUNG, Online NEWS RACHEL LU, Editor ISABELLA TSAI, Associate OPINION OONA FOLEY, Editor PETER WANG, Associate FEATURE MAYA WILLIAMSON, Editor NOAH PARKER, Associate SPORTS MATT WAKUMOTO, Editor ALEX BETTS, Associate DESIGN ASHTON CARLESS, TRUMAN LESAK, Editors KATE ROGERS, ELAINE YANG, Associates PHOTOGRAPHY THOMAS FORMAN, Editor ALICIA ALDERETE, Associate

Grade rounding: an important discretion

COPY AMELIA ANTHONY ALINA MEHDI SENIOR STAFF WRITER SAMMY PARK STAFF WRITERS LILIAN AZAT, DASHIEL BOVE, BENJAMIN CLARK, SOFIE DRESKIN, CHRISTINE MAO, DOMINIC MARZIALI, LUKE QUEZADA, DAVID SEO, PRESTON SHARKEY PHOTOGRAPHERS HELENA FU, LUKE QUEZADA, RICHARD GOMEZ ILLUSTRATOR ISABELLA FRESCURA GRAPHIC DESIGNER FINLEY MULLEN VIDEOGRAPHER ISAAC MARZIALI MANAGERS SAMANTHA ABELSON, Ads LAUREN TAN, Business WEBMASTER OLIVER CHANG FACULTY ADVISOR MIKE HOGAN VOL. 104 NO. 6 DISTRIBUTED ON MAR 13, 2018.

DISTRIBUTION: 1489 STUDENTS; 70 COMMUNITY. 1600 COPIES PRINTED. DISTRIBUTED BY TIGER STAFF FREE OF CHARGE.

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The District’s zero-tolerance stance towards grade rounding diminishes students’ achievements

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veryone knows the nerve-wracking post-finals drill: locate your ID number, shakily trace across the sheet of paper to the four-digit decimal, and realize that all those homework assignments, sleepless nights, and Starbucks lattes culminate with a single letter. For a few high schoolers, the inevitable discovery of a grade just short of the cutoff mark leads to frantic emails to teachers in desperate hope of a grade bump. The difference between an “A” and a “B” can often be the difference of fractions of a percent, punishing students who fall arbitrarily below the bar. Many teachers employ grade rounding in that case as a way for discretion and merit to override a system that can fail hard-working students.

Despite the wagging fingers from administration, certain South Pasadena High School teachers round grades to recognize student efforts. South Pasadena Unified School District has stressed the importance of following board policy, citing the slippery slope belief that there will always be a student who is just beneath the cutoff.

“If teachers give enough assignments, enough tests for students to demonstrate their mastery, students have to reach that Board-level threshold in order to achieve the level grade,” SPHS principal Janet Anderson said. “Once we change a bar and start rounding up, then people say ‘I’m just under that bar.’ ” Ultimately, grades do have to be finalized and respected; a line has to be drawn at a certain point. But in order for grades to have room for understanding of individual circumstances, the line must be more flexible. Students who consistently challenge themselves and engage in the learning process should be rewarded by teachers even if they fall slightly below the cutoff. Rigorous Honors courses require significant effort to understand and master the material; not all students have a

dual degree CalTech parent to help them with Math II+. SPUSD needs to entrust their experienced instructors with the task of determining which students have displayed mastery and should receive a grade worthy of their efforts.

The ethical issue with grade rounding stems from teachers excessively bumping grades when students clearly did not exhibit proficiency. This conflict generally materializes with a few teachers, who make subjective decisions and increase student’s grades by significant quantities, rather than marginal amounts. In cases like these, rounding becomes the result of malfeasance, not empathy, as it should be. This abuse of power damages the credibility of all teachers to make a rational, holistic decision and ruins the practice for all parties involved.

However, this ethical dispute is not the nature of grade rounding, because a substantial increase—like from 82 to 90—is not rounding. Where actual rounding is concerned, like when one student earns a 90.01 and the other a 89.97, it is nearly impossible to determine which student has a higher level of mastery. Despite this, our categorical system of education provides the former student with a higher grade and the latter with a B, placing them in a group with lower-achieving students.

In the era where GPA can determine a student’s trajectory after high school, this decision can be devastating.

While grade rounding shouldn’t encompass significant jumps, the prospect of earning little bumps of a few tenths of a percentage point is absolutely necessary for hard-working students. Teachers should re-evaluate borderline grades for students who have understood and engaged in the class discussion, fostering a system based on merit, rather than purely cold, numerical benchmarks.

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

BOOS

BRAVOS

BOO to last Friday’s assembly for being the most poorly written episode of the Eric Andre Show so far.

BRAVO to Guillermo Del Toro for shining a needed light on the social concerns and consequences of beastiality.

BOO to the broken urinals in the boys’ bathroom.

They make me pissed.

BRAVO to the broken lock in the girls’ bathroom.

The threat of being walked in on serves as a great laxative.

BOO to the lunchtime swarms of bees for making sitting at a lunch table riskier than landing in Tilted Towers.

BRAVO to our upcoming April Fools issue. A whole 12 pages for those who only read these Boos & Bravos.

TIGER

06 MARCH 13, 2018

OPINION

Don’t blame mental illness for gun violence In the wake of the Parkland shooting, blaming mental illness distracts from the real issue of guns STORY AMELIA ANTHONY ILLUSTRATION ELAINE YANG The recent Parkland shooting pushed the dire need for gun control and reform yet again to the forefront of American minds, Facebook feeds, and political agendas. Media outlets cited the Parkland shooter’s disturbing online activity, ostracization from his peers, and past mental health treatment as evidence that he was a “troubled teen.” The focus on his alleged mental health issues has led to bipartisan support for strengthening background checks to prevent people with mental illnesses from gaining access to guns. It is clear that our country needs stronger gun control. Mass shootings, especially in schools, have begun to feel like an epidemic.

However, focusing policy on a shooter’s alleged or diagnosed mental illness misses the point.

The American mass shooting problem is not due to mental illness. The American mass shooting problem is due to guns.

Blaming mental illness is a coping mechanism, in a way. In the wake of a shooting, wanting to keep guns out of the hands of people society deems violent and “other” is natural. The mass shootings that occurred in Parkland, Las Vegas, or Sandy Hook are so incomprehensibly violent that many assume the perpetrator cannot be sane. However, the most recent study from the American Journal of Public Health, dated January 2018, specifically

states that “mental illness is a weak risk factor for violence despite popular misconceptions reflected in the media and policy.” Although statistics vary, most studies cite numbers less than ten percent when it comes to mass shooters who have diagnosed mental illness. It is easy to blame already stigmatized people and their mental health conditions in reaction to horrifying violence. When creating legislation, though, lawmakers need to look at the facts and focus on the common thread between mass shootings: guns, especially assault-style weapons.

It’s more feasible and more effective to regulate guns instead of subgroups of people.

Implementing mental health checks would be expensive and open the door to human error. Instead, lawmakers should look towards objective bans like the Clinton administration’s ban on assault-style weapons that was in place from 1994 to 2004. During that decade, there was a decrease—43%—in gun massacre deaths (more than six individuals). After the expiration, gun massacre deaths rose significantly by 239% in the following decade.

Society is quick to accept “mentally ill” as a synonym for “violent”. This misplaced fear should never be the basis for legislation. Bans on guns themselves ensure that much-needed gun control is not the product of hysteria and uninformed stereotypes. Legislation should target guns, the common thread in mass shootings.

It’s not affirmative action, you’re just racist STORY SAMMY PARK ILLUSTRATION FINLEY MULLEN

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pplicants are conditioned to present themselves as people rather than numbers, so when a college rejects a student, it can feel personal. It can be easy to try to find something, or someone, to blame. Usually, an applicant simply doesn’t have the GPA, course load, or standardized test scores for elite universities. Rejected students (and parents) often turn to affirmative action as the scapegoat in order to minimize their rejection or invalidate others’ acceptances.

Affirmative action—which many colleges institute—aims to reduce racial and gender discrimination. For example, some admissions teams prioritize accepting students of color and white female students over white male students.

While there is some valid criticism of affirmative action (like its dismissal of ethnicity and/or mixed race people), arguments against it are often just thinly-veiled jabs at underrepresented students.

Since its implementation in the 1960s, it has been portrayed as a program that “steals” spots from white and Asian-American people. However, other non-merit based criteria, like legacy and athletic admissions, play a much bigger role in college admissions.

Asian-Americans have been led to believe that they are victims of affirmative action policies. A lawsuit brought against Harvard University by a coalition of Asian students accusing the college of heavily penalizing Asians brings to light the issue of racebased admissions. However, the lawsuit misses

the crucial reality that Black, Latinx, and Native enrollment in Ivy League schools has somewhat stagnated while Asian-American enrollment has more than doubled since the 1980s.

It is harmful to hold underrepresented minorities to the same standards as Asian-Americans because Asian-Americans are statistically much wealthier. The fact is that quality education is often inaccessible to underrepresented minorities and lower-income white people: everything from ACT tutoring to college application essay help costs money. The reality that quality education and test scores are purchased is drowned out by affirmative action critics.

They criticize affirmative action as a way of pitting people of color against each other. However, the stagnating numbers of Black and Latinx students share one story: underrepresented minorities are not “stealing” Asian-American spots, legacy students and recruited athletes are.

While both legacy and athletic admissions are not inherently race-based, elite universities’ historical discrimination against people of color results in overwhelmingly white alumni. Asian-Americans make up less than five percent of recruited athletes at institutions like Harvard.

If opponents of affirmative action were truly working for a meritocratic admission system, they would be calling for the abolishment of both legacy and athletic admissions. However, complaints about affirmative action have just become a sociallyacceptable way to complain about Black, Latinx, and Native students at prestigious universities.

AMELIA ANTHONY | ON BEING DRAMELIA

Confidence can always be learned Fellow copy editor and trusted friend Alina Mehdi once told me that I was the most confident person she knows. This was the best compliment she’s ever given me, because I have worked so hard to develop my confidence throughout high school.

I doubt that the average high schooler naturally possesses a lot of confidence. Since math class grade rankings in middle school, we are taught to compare and compete even if it’s by a tenth of a percent. Growing up on Instagram made learning self-love—and loving selfies—a tough process unique to our generation.

Everyone else in Tiger or Youth and Government or

my classes possessed such authority and eloquence. By comparison, it was easy for me to feel inadequate since I was constantly trying to keep up with my peers.

Surrounding myself with skilled and put-together people helped me in two ways. First, I realized that the people I admire actually had close to no idea what they were doing. Second, I was able to learn from and emulate their skills in some ways. Learning from my talented friends led me to be self-assured in my ability to write an article or participate in a debate.

I also just stopped taking myself so seriously. Being able

to laugh when I mispronounce words in the middle of a speech, fall while roller-skating, or make a really dumb joke cushions the blow of any embarrassment.

Also, there’s just perspective: I won’t remember most mistakes of others I witness. I can’t expect them to remember all of mine.

Looking back on the amount of embarrassment I’ve suffered while mispeaking in front of Youth and Government or while getting roasted to a crisp by my friends still makes me cringe. But it also makes me laugh. I’m stuck with myself for a while; I’m glad I learned to own what I have.

TIGER 07 MARCH 13, 2018

OPINION

Dodging ethical obligations, one grant at a time STORY DOMINIC MARZIALI ILLUSTRATION FINLEY MULLEN GRAPHIC FINLEY MULLEN

O

ver 40 years ago, the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) was introduced by President Gerald Ford. The grant was enacted to provide municipalities monetary assistance from the federal government to develop housing, and was voted into law bipartisanly in 1974. Forty four years later, the city of South Pasadena has improved sidewalks in affluent neighborhoods and has failed to do so in community centers, seemingly forgetting that the CDBG describes its purpose as to “help local governments tackle serious challenges facing their communities” and that the funds provided are to aid “the most vulnerable in our community.”

THE CITY IS FAILING TO BENEFIT THOSE STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET IN SOUTH PASADENA BY USING MONEY RESERVED FOR LIMITED TO MODERATE INCOME PERSONS IN AREAS DOMINATED BY AFFLUENT, SINGLEFAMILY HOUSES. Since the launch of the program, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has granted over $144 billion to cities across the nation to aid Low or Moderate Income (LMI) persons and families. However, South Pasadena has continually decided to use the funds in a different way. Every year, from 2013 to 2018, the city has spent over $622,000, roughly 85 percent of the grant money they received during this five year period, on repairing and replacing sidewalks to make them compliant with the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA).

sidewalks, creating curb cuts, and adding sidewalk bumps) affecting seniors and the seriously disabled, both of whom are automatically considered “low or moderate income” individuals. However, cities are not required to prove the amount of seniors and disabled persons in their municipality that are LMI with statistics.

This use of the funds does not keep in spirit with the purpose of the grant and is not morally or ethically correct.

Moreover, HUD placed a provision within CDBG guidelines to, “ensure that localities did not use CDBG funds to replace local or state money to fund essential services typically offered by the local government entity.” Many cities routinely fix sidewalks as a matter of all encompassing standards, not simply to make them ADA compliant, and as such, fixing sidewalks is a service that cities offer, thus grant money should not be used to repair sidewalks, regardless of the reason. This use is unjustified because the grant was introduced to benefit those with low or moderate income. Despite a system of checks being introduced, the HUD’s efforts to realign the grant are inadequate.

While South Pasadena is bettering sidewalks to make them ADA compliant, they are doing so in generally prosperous neighborhoods, including Diamond Ave, La France, Maple St, Wayne Ave, La Fremontia, and Primrose Ave. Furthermore, most of the residences along the sidewalks being repaired are single family houses, and the city asserts

that the 2013 sidewalk improvement project was to “reduce the amount of money spent by the city on claims, and reduce the city’s cost of liability coverage.”

Despite the importance of modernizing infrastructure and making sidewalks ADA compliant, using grant money to defend the city from liability claims is in no way what the grant was purposed for.

The city’s argument that they are “[providing] handicap accessibility to city sidewalks” caves when one takes a look at the intersection of Diamond and El Centro.

Diamond has received sidewalk repairs to smooth the pavement, yet conceivably the most important aspect for a senior or disabled person’s accessibility, the curb cut, was never improved upon. The curb cuts all have large bumps or ledges at the bottom of the ramp at the street, making it difficult for those in wheelchairs to use them, and do not have any texture for the visually impaired.

Exploiting the removal of barriers guideline in this fashion does not fall under the intent of the program. The city is failing to benefit those struggling to make ends meet in South Pasadena by using money reserved for LMI persons in areas dominated by affluent, single-family houses. Instead, the CDBG funds should be redistributed in South Pasadena, a city with notoriously high housing prices, to provide renovation funds to homeowners who cannot afford to fix their homes.

HUD provides cities with a handbook entitled “Basically CDBG” in which guidelines are listed for activities that are approved to use CDBG grant money on. The guideline the city uses to justify their use of the funds is the removal of architectural barriers, which allows cities to remove barriers (smoothing

Our suburbia isn’t the real LA STORY ALINA MEHDI ILLUSTRATION ISABELLA FRESCURA

I’ve always been thankful to be from Los Angeles, or Los Angeles County to be more accurate. This identity of mine has simplified any trip abroad with the easy answer, “I’m from LA.” While this isn’t entirely true, telling my Pakistani cousin that I’m actually from a small suburb called South Pasadena would likely result in a blank stare. Even in Northern California, South Pas garners the “Oh, like the Rose Parade?” response at most.

For suburbanites like me, telling people you are from the closest major city is a common practice when traveling abroad or domestically. With social media prominently displaying personal information like location, however, it’s become apparent that South Pas kids are claiming they’re from Los Angeles for more reasons than to just avoid a blank stare. The main reason seems to be that it’s trendy to say you’re from LA, the home of artsy “pink wall” photos. While not terribly significant, privileged South Pas kids should be mindful of the fact that we often glamorize Los Angeles, claiming to be a part of it when in reality we are more removed than we think.

We eat at hip restaurants in gentrified neighborhoods, use dirty LA streets for Instagram photos, thrift shop at stores meant to help lower-income people, stick “LA” in our social media bios, and then take the Gold Line back to good old South Pasadena. Kids here have the luxury to pick and choose what aspects of city life fit their image.

Compared to the majority of Los Angeles residents, South Pasadenans live a much more comfortable life.

We are privileged and lucky to grow up in a supportive community unlike many of our neighbors. Our schools are well-equipped with Macbooks, sports equipment, and endless resources that most LAUSD schools aren’t

given. This is likely related to the fact that South Pas is more economically and racially homogenous. In LA, 19.5% of the population lives below the poverty line while in South Pas only 7.84% does. Los Angeles is 49% Hispanic while South Pas is 49% white. Our demographics have made it so that we cannot relate to the majority of Angelenos. We are surrounded by less diverse, more affluent people which plays a major role in shaping our lives. Still, we claim the city’s identity without having experienced the true implications of the Los Angeles narrative: one riddled with more pain than glamour.

On the other hand, the history and fluctuating boundaries that define LA do blur the lines of its identity.

It’s a city that has wide disparities in wealth and race, where a wealthy celebrity can live five minutes away from a struggling low-income family. These disparities, however, don’t justify a suburbanite claiming the LA identity. Most South Pas teens only claim a connection to the parts of LA that make them seem tougher. The wealthy side of the LA identity spectrum is seldom claimed by SP kids because it is already a part of our South Pas identity. The point of claiming an LA identity is to seem closer to the “streets,” to be more trendy. In an effort to seem more cultured we romanticize poverty and POC cultures, completely disregarding those who live it.

It’s truly not a huge issue to name-drop LA out of convenience. But it’s important to be conscious of the fact that South Pas kids tend to exploit certain cultural aspects of Los Angeles, while those who actually live in LA don’t have the privilege to Uber back to suburbia.

TIGER

08 MARCH 13, 2018

TIGER 09 MARCH 13, 2018

GUN VIOLENCE

GUN VIOLENCE: A SOUTH PAS STORY

STORY COLE CAHILL, BEN CLARK, ALEX BETTS & DAVID SEO PAGE TRUMAN LESAK & ASHTON CARLESS ILLUSTRATIONS TRUMAN LESAK & ASHTON CARLESS

Gun violence on school campuses has dominated the national spotlight since 17 students were murdered last month at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. But on the local stage, gun violence is a reoccurring force in South Pasadena. From one of America’s earliest school shootings in 1940 to a thwarted plot in the fall of 2014, the national conversation about guns feels closer to home than ever.

SOUTH PASADENA: HOME TO THE FIRST MODERN SCHOOL SHOOTING Although school shootings make headlines as a 21st century phenomenon, gun violence on American campuses is nothing new. Over 75 years ago, South Pasadena schools were home to one of the first mass school shootings in the nation. South Pasadena Junior High School (now Middle School) principal Verlin Spencer gunned down five faculty members at the school and district office on May 6, 1940.

South Pasadena superintendent George Bush fired Spencer that April from his position as principal after prolonged conflicts with colleagues. He refused to accept the dismissal and demanded a hearing with the school board on May 6. That day, Spencer walked into the district’s administrative building on Diamond Avenue (since demolished and replaced with a maintenance department building) with a semi-automatic pistol. He shot and killed Bush, SPHS principal John Altman, and business manager Will Speer. Secretary Dorothy Talbert survived Spencer’s shots, but was paralyzed for the rest of her life.

Spencer returned to his car after this violent rampage, but found it had a dead battery. Unaware of the violence that had just taken place, SPHS students assisted him in jump-starting his engine and enabled him to drive to the junior high school where he murdered two more teachers. By that time, police had drawn guns on him in the cafeteria and he unsuccessfully attempted to commit suicide.

He was taken into custody and was swiftly sentenced to life at San Quentin prison.

Years later, doctors determined that Spencer’s headache medication poisoned his blood with enough bromide to render him legally insane. He received parole after numerous appeals, and lived out the remainder of his life in Hawaii.

GUNSHOTS AT POWDERPUFF SHOCK THE COMMUNITY IN 1997 Recent threats of school shootings have held the attention of the South Pasadena community, but another brush with gun violence made headlines just over ten years ago. At the 1997 Powderpuff Football game, six gunshots were fired from an unidentified source, injuring a female student and a father. Most spectators were unaware of the shots—the noise could not be heard over the sound of the band playing.

Six gunshots were fired from an unidentified source, injuring a female student and a father.

Police soon apprehended three 14-year old boys—one SPHS student and two from neighboring San Marino High School. Although their motives for opening fire are still not certain, one boy claimed to have affiliation with a local Asian gang. The Powderpuff football game was suspended from SPHS’ annual activities as the community recovered from the dramatic incident. Both shooting victims soon reached full recovery with limited medical attention, and the boys were charged with assault with a deadly weapon.

CULTURAL SHIFTS MAKE SCHOOL SHOOTINGS BECOME A PART OF LIFE America first glimpsed a wave of school shootings in the 1920s and 1930s, a period similar to the present in terms of gun violence and school safety. On May 18, 1927, the Bath School Bombing in Bath Township, Michigan shook the world—literally and figuratively—and stands to this day as the deadliest school massacre with 44 fatalities. Despite its precedence, the massacre has been largely forgotten due to the substantial decrease in school shootings in 1940s and 1950s and subsequent uptick in catastrophic events in more recent times. As the century turned and technology grew more efficient, random school shootings mounted, and single attacks intermixed with massacres.

As the century turned and technology grew more efficient, random school shootings mounted, and single attacks intermixed with massacres.

For unknown reasons, these horrific events grew increasingly frequent in the latter half of the 20th century. On August 1, 1966, Charles Whitman set the stage when he climbed a 27-story building at the University of Texas, Austin and opened fire, murdering 16 and wounding 32.

These shootings culminated in Littleton, Colorado, when two teenagers went on a frenzy at Columbine High School on April 20, 1999. The atrocity—13 killed, 20 wounded—prompted a national debate and remains as the most monumental school shooting in the history of America.

2014: THE WAVE OF SCHOOL VIOLENCE COMES TO SPHS On August 21, 2014, one of the first and most prominent modern threats to South Pasadena came to light merely three days before the first day of the 2014 school year. Two rising seniors were arrested after administrators and police found their ploy to commit a mass shooting at South Pasadena High School. Though no weapons were found in the boys’ homes, internet history revealed searches for guns, bomb materials, and body armor.

School started as planned on the Thursday thereafter despite the panic. Administration immediately attempted to diffuse the situation by providing resources such as counselors, psychologists, and stress relief dogs.

Still, the entire South Pasadena community was shaken after the revelations of these kids’ intentions to shoot “as many students as possible.”

The entire South Pasadena community was shaken after the revelations of these kids’ intentions to shoot “as many students as possible.”

A hit list was also found that pinpointed specific names’ of various teachers and students.

Many students were afraid to go back to school in the following days­—some students even transferred out of SPHS before the year started. A media frenzy only exacerbated the issues at hand, as the mass-shooting threat made national news—people in and out of the community were shocked by the apparent danger in supposedly safe South Pasadena.

INTERMITTENT LOCKDOWNS REMIND SCHOOL OF POTENTIAL DANGERS Since the discovery of the shooting plot in 2014, South Pasadena has responded to several threats to the safety of this school. The first potential threat occurred just four months after the initial plot was discovered, when a threatening email was sent anonymously to the high school website. Acting on this threat, the school was placed under lockdown until 12:45 p.m. when students were safely evacuated from the campus.

A school year passed after that without incident, but in the summer of 2016, the school was again put under lockdown when a summer school student reported sexual harassment as she walked to school. After two similar reports as well as notifications of burglary in the area, the school closed its doors until the suspect was apprehended.

Later that year another school shooting threat occurred, this time via social media. The day of the lockdown, a student posted an image of weapons and ammunition on their Snapchat story with a threatening caption. Some people believed that this was a joke, but the school was locked down for more than two hours before the student was arrested in San Bernardino.

TRAGEDY IN PARKLAND AND A LOCAL RESPONSE On February 14, 2018, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School was rocked by a massive shooting that ended up taking 17 lives. The city of Parkland mirrors South Pasadena in many ways, with a small population of 31,507 and a progressive outlook.

And, paralleling the attitude most cities share after a shooting, nobody claims to have expected it. Unlike a multitude of other shootings in years past, the people of Parkland are demanding action.

Students affected from the shooting have galvanized the entire nation, sharing personal accounts of the horrors and losses they dealt with during and following the tragedy. Tired of the complacency from the government, they are currently calling for the Senate to propose and pass gun control legislation.

This shooting and movement has also roused nationwide movement as well. On Wednesday, March 14, students across the country are planning to make a loud statement through a walk-out. Led by seniors Kate Ba, Sophie Reynolds, and Lauren Sharkey alongside junior Rachel Lu, the SPHS student body, too, has organized an event corresponding to the movement. Having held multiple meetings to discuss goals, SPHS plans on walking out of classes at 10 a.m. for 17 minutes in honor of the 17 deaths from the Parkland shooting.

The SPHS student body, too, has organized an event corresponding to the movement, planning on walking out of classes at 10am for 17 minutes in honor of the 17 deaths from the Parkland shooting.

TIGER

10 MARCH 13, 2018

FEATURE

FEATURE

PARKS AND WRECKED SAMMY PARK

Oh, the places we’ll go!

The first time I met Sophia Benzoni, she was an outdoors-y kindergartner with a propensity to hide behind her mother in all social situations. Despite the fact that we lived less than three blocks away from each other and went to the same school for our whole lives, we didn’t interact until the fourth grade.

As nine year-olds, we formed a friendship that was characterized by terrible Photo Booth selfies and Nicki Minaj’s “Super Bass.” However during middle school a combination of my sudden elitism and different class schedules led to the gradual decline of our friendship.

TAKING THE REIGNS, new owner Michelle Hammond maintains the local sandwich shop’s 30 year munch-worthy status.

The Munch Co. adds a modern flair to classic sandwiches The long-standing local deli introduces new features and flavors to SP STORY CHRISTINE MAO PHOTO ALICIA ALDERETE

S

outh Pasadena’s small town charm is cemented by its many family friendly, long standing shops and restaurants.

One of such establishments is The Munch Company, which has exclusively served its classic deli sandwiches on Mission Street for over 30 years. In spring of 2017, the restaurant came up for sale for the third time. Seizing this opportunity, South Pasadena resident Michelle Hammond is now the third owner of this quaint, charming restaurant.

Under Hammond’s ownership, the restaurant underwent a complete renovation. The remodeled interior is similar to that of a coffee shop, including modern furniture with coffee tables and wooden booths, reflecting the younger demographic of customers. The business also provides games for people to play while hanging out.

“I tried to make [The Munch Company] a place where [people] would like to hang out at more, instead of just picking up a sandwich,” Hammond said.

The Munch Company has also updated its menu to include vegetarian options, bowls, salads, desserts, and house drinks, such as its freshly brewed tea. The classic sandwiches for which The Munch Company is known still remain but now feature less conventional ingredients like fermented vegetables, Korean radish, and ginger.

The restaurant’s new philosophy seems to emphasize the importance of fresh handcrafted foods using locally sourced

Out & About

organic ingredients. Hammond is an active committee member of the South Pasadena Community Garden and often incorporates local produce from the garden or the farmers’ market in some dishes.

“It’s about educating people about all these different kinds of things [and how] whole food can take care of you better than medicine. It’s more about teaching people about healing foods and tasty foods in a more organic way of living,” Hammond said, commenting on how these new ingredients can inform the community about a healthier and tastier way of living.

With Hammond’s new ownership, some long time customers of The Munch Company were concerned that the business would lose the perks that come with a small family owned business.

However, one of Hammond’s main goals is for the shop to be more connected with the community in new ways. This includes supporting local fundraisers and community events such as “Food for Thought” (a SPEF fundraiser for SPUSD schools) and involvement with local elementary schools. The restaurant showcases artwork created by elementary school students on the its walls to establish a deeper connections with its community. The Munch Company is also responsible for providing some of the end of year picnics for the elementary schools as well as several of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) lunches.

Despite the change of atmosphere, The Munch Company’s values remained untouched as they were 30 years ago. With this classic yet modernized sandwich shop, Hammond hopes to establish a new gathering place for the community as well as a destination for curious eaters.

I don’t remember how or why, but we somehow became inseparable again in high school. Her shyness has disappeared, replaced by the ability to confidently shout Kendrick Lamar’s “King’s Dead” across campus. Instead of Photo Booth selfies, she Snapchats my sleeping body before leaving our sleepover (at her house) to serve her Saturday school sentence.

Nights spent with Sophia often begin with her Amazon Alexa blaring Frank Ocean and end with the realization that, despite my willingness to leave California, I will undoubtedly miss her and all of the other friends she has introduced me to throughout our 17 years in this suburb.

As a current second semester senior, I am surrounded by my peers and the popular sentiment that friendships have to last forever. Most vows to keep in touch after graduation sound more like empty promises than actual plans. Since elementary school, we have, to a certain extent, been forced to be friends. We have done mandatory dances to the “Wells Fargo Wagon” and live within a five-mile radius of the school. After graduation, we will be thousands of miles away from each other and we will no longer be tied together with common classes or our South Pasadangerous pride.

The truth is, I don’t know if Sophia and I will still have three different conversations simultaneously (Snapchat, Instagram, and iMessage) until ungodly hours when we are 40: I can’t even think of what I’ll eat for breakfast tomorrow.

The one thing I know for certain is that even when I am 35 or 50, I will always remember the impact that she had on me. I’ll still remember the sound of her pulsating speakers above the chatter of friends.

I don’t expect forever from this friendship and neither does she. All I can hope for is that in a couple of decades, I’ll hear “King’s Dead” and remember the journey that I had with an effervescent blonde.

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

STORY SOFIE DRESKIN & AMELIA ANTHONY

FOOD Located along the L.A. River, Spoke Bicycle Cafe provides a friendly outdoor spot for cyclists, tourists, and residents.

This one-of-a-kind restaurant serves coffee, refreshments, and snacks along with all-day breakfast, aiming to promote a healthy and happy lifestyle.

ACTIVITY The South Pasadena San Marino Delegation holds the first meeting of the 2018 Spring Conference tonight at 6:30 pm.

Head down to the YMCA at Oak and Garfield to learn more about the model-government program.

ART The Los Angeles County Museum of Art has combined drawings, films, and photographs from design movements in California and Mexico for their “Found in Translation” exhibit. The show displays a variety of stylistic influences and will run through April 1st.

TIGER MARCH 13, 2018

FEATURE

11

PERSONALITY PROFILES EAMONN GIBSON: FORGING A NEW PATH STORY LILIAN AZAT PHOTO THOMAS FORMAN On a walk to the bathroom during third period, it’s pretty common to see a particular student next to the auditorium welding under a shower of sparks. The nonchalant man under the mask is junior Eamonn Gibson. He has a cool-guy persona locked down; he always remains kind, calm, and collected under all circumstances, which is needed to focus on creating works of metal kindled by his creativity.

Gibson has been studying the art of blacksmithing since he was in elementary school, when he first started taking classes. His friend’s father, who was a blacksmith, told him about the process of creating products by forging metals together, and Gibson was immediately hooked.

“Blacksmithing is the job that led the creation of practically everything that we use in society today, and have always used throughout history,” Gibson said.

“I just liked the idea of being able to make beautiful things with my hands.”

Although he’s always been intrigued with the craft, Gibson didn’t start investing a large portion of his time, effort, and money into furthering his blacksmithing career until high school. He recently earned his level one California Blacksmithing

Association Certificate, after completing a series of 13 projects, including a candlestick holder, within a year.

Gibson has attempted to incorporate his passion into his schoolwork, stage crew, and woodshop, but the limited vocational courses at South Pasadena have caused him to seek other means of reaching his career goals as soon as possible.

Next year he plans to continue his blacksmithing education at Glendale Community College while taking only three basic classes at SPHS. Gibson will be enrolling in mostly blacksmithing and a few machining classes to learn techniques and perfect projects at GCC in order to earn certifications in several different types of welding.

On top of a unique senior year, Gibson is currently in the process of setting up a shop in his backyard, and hopes to open and run a knife sharpening business next year.

Gibson’s dedication and passion to such an uncommon and intriguing craft is rare. Not only does he completely invest himself in blacksmithing but he also enjoys woodworking and recently took up painting. As the rest of SPHS advances toward a typical education pathway, he will be molding creations and making a living for himself.

SPARKS FLY when Eamonn Gibson welds his newest creation. The junior has been blacksmithing since elementary school and hopes to turn the eccentric hobby into a career.

MARTA JEREBETS: RAISING THE BAR STORY DAVID SEO PHOTO HELENA FU Senior Marta Jerebets has always been an anomaly. Since elementary school, Jerebets has exhibited the full breadth of the all-encompassing raw talent she possesses. In fifth grade, her class had an Accelerated Reading program where students competed in comprehension tests after reading a book to gain points in a ranking system. Every weekend, Jerebets walked into a class with a stack of novels in her arms, having proudly read upwards of seven books at the speed of an English professor.

Nowadays, the spectacle of Jerebets’ genius has not tarnished. A bevy of outstanding academic achievements precede her: a 4.0 GPA even with a junior year filled with five AP classes and esteem on the national level as the highest scoring National Merit Finalist at this school. Some of this is a byproduct of her sheer intelligence, but there is no doubt that her success stems from an incredible work ethic fostered since her youth.

HARDWORKING doesn’t even begin to describe senior Marta Jerebets, who is involved with countless activites on and off campus, including Peer Mediators, water polo, and extra classes at PCC.

Growing up, Jerebets didn’t have the white-picket fence lifestyle typical of many South Pasadena families.

Her family immigrated from Ukraine to pursue the American dream, a brutal rite of passage that demands unwavering perseverance. Her mother wriggled into a small apartment in the Raymond Hills—the small section of affordable housing available in South Pas—knowing that the education SPUSD has to offer was worth its weight in gold. Jerebets’ mother, in turn, worked tirelessly as a nurse to pay for

its heavy price. Especially considering that a large portion of income was being sent back to Ukraine, money was always on the Jerebets’ family mind; Jerebets was not afforded the cushion her friends at school always had below them. From a young age, Jerebets’ parents had convinced her that Harvard equated to the only means of success out of South Pas. Given her background, Jerebets knew she had to push harder than her peers to attain such lofty goals.

This mindset has manifested in all arenas of Jerebets’ life. Jerebets is now in the midst of her fifth supplemental PCC class, currently learning American Sign Language. Outside of her scholastic accomplishments, she exceeds expectations in all she touches. In her career in water polo, she started as a mediocre player. As she quickly rose through the ranks, as indicated by a Most Improved award, Jerebets found herself playing an integral role these past two years on the varsity team. As a peer mediator, she was a major organizer for the TEDx events held in the past year. As a pianist, she completed all ten levels of the Certificate of Merit evaluations and performed in Paris on the basis of her virtuosity.

It’s fair to say that despite the obstacles she faced, Jerebets has conquered the arena of high school. Looking onward to her career, Jerebets has plans to pursue the international stage. Tying together her ventures of excellence, Jerebets aims to become a US diplomat, negotiating and problem-solving beyond the lines of country borders.

TIGER

12 MARCH 13, 2018

FEATURE

Alone, but not lonely, at the movies STORY DASHIEL BOVE ILLUSTRATION ASHTON CARLESS

STORY & ILLUSTRATION TRUMAN LESAK

T

here I sat between the empty sticky seats, eavesdropping on the gossip of nearby people, chewing on stale Red Vines. I moderately participated in the on-screen trivia while intermittently answering, “No, this seat isn’t taken,” patiently waiting for the lights to dim and to watch the movie—alone.

I love movies. I love them for what they have to offer: awesome computer generated effects, beautiful narrative stories, and good-looking people with explosions behind them.

Some may find a solo movie theater experience embarrassing, but I must disagree.

I have started going to the movies by myself more often. It’s not from a lack of friends, and it’s not because I am a House M.D.-level misanthrope. Simply put, I just like to enjoy a night out by myself from time to time, not needing the comfort of an acquaintance. I knew when I began this practice that it was uncommon, but I thought nothing of it—until one day, when I told a friend that I went to see The Shape of Water before the Oscars hype. His reply was wrapped in humor-intended sarcasm, but was spoken rather unsparingly, calling me “a pathetic loser.” He wasn’t talking about my taste in film.

Why is the loner—the isolated movie watcher—still synonymous with such pitiful inadequacy? When someone is flanked by empty chairs, why is there a sense of condescension?

Quite frankly, it sucks to be alone when you’re surrounded by a mass of people who all in groups. Attending something where you don’t know a single person often makes you feel like an outcast.

This notion is certainly present over the summer when blockbusters attract a more mainstream audience. Films such as Avengers: Infinity War come with a mob mentality, interrupted with unsolicited comments. By contrast, the theater for The Shape of Water was populated by middle-aged couples, grandparents, and other single parties like me. The crowd was sedate and un-hip, the type that frequents estate sales and visits the Hoover Dam. Compared to the blockbuster crowd, it becomes a decidedly less harrowing experience for a loner. Everyone acts the same at these wintertime Oscar-buzz movies: reserved and there for the true experience of film appreciation.

The stigma of solo watching is strange because movies aren’t inherently social activities. Theaters are set up to be the opposite—they even tell you to shut up before the movie starts. The seats are side-by-side and partitioned by armrests, suggesting that attention is focused on the screen.

When going to the theater alone, I realized what we all know: movies don’t require immediate interaction, sitting unaccompanied in a theater is a sign of poise and not of low social standing, and it just doesn’t make sense to feel like a loser for going alone.

The Simpsons paved the way for good storytelling STORY DASHIEL BOVE ILLUSTRATION KATE ROGERS The Simpsons has been airing since 1989, nearly 30 years and 30 seasons. This show, originally a satire on American feel-good family television, unleashed the floodgates for the birth of American adult animation. The popularity of The Simpsons during its peak years—1990-1997—cannot be understated. It was a cultural phenomena to end all phenomena; Simpsons watches, books, shirts and shoes—The Simpsons were America’s favorite family for almost a decade, being plastered on nearly everything in some way or another. While many shows initially emerged, riding the wave of Simpsonsmania that rocked television in the mid-90s, only two have managed to continue alongside their parent series: Family Guy and South Park.

Nowadays, Family Guy, South Park, and The Simpsons are shells of their former selves, as the first two have stagnated as writers resort to generic cutaway gags and edginess to cling onto a tiring fanbase. Out of the three, The Simpsons have fallen the farthest, as new writers continue to fail to capture the magic of the first 10 seasons. The series began to lose its edge, with characters being softened into the sitcom stereotypes they were originally intended to be satirizing. The most egregious example of this change is perhaps the character of Barney Gumble. Homer’s alcoholic high school friend and fellow barfly spent the series’s golden years as a testament to the destructive power of booze and how it can completely destroy a person’s life—only to suddenly be sobered up, a writing deci-

sion which completely killed what made him funny. Further changes, like turning Moe the bartender from a skeevy underworld panda-smuggling greed-driven bar owner into a outwardly mean-spirited but ultimately kind hearted friend of the family only served to compound the show’s steep decline.

However, the decline of the first generation of adult cartoons has allowed for the emergence of a new, more focused lineup. Writers, both veterans of the old and young up-and-comers, seek to take what made first gen adult animation work and add in genuinely great plots backed by magnificently written characters. Series like Bojack Horseman, F is for Family, Archer, Futurama, and Venture Bros. among many others, have pushed to evolve the medium. Of particular note are Futurama and Bojack Horseman who, while having fairly opposing tones and themes, both manage to find a fantastic middleground between adult humor, childish immaturity, and developed themes and characters. Both shows have brought episodes that will make any viewer waver between joyous laughter and crying like a newborn, and both emphasize their characters and plot over cheap gags and edginess for its own sake.

Adult animation is a genre whose seed started with a satire on sitcoms. Now, nearly three decades after the genre’s popularization, we are seeing a new stage—one where televised animation can finally shrug off the mantle of child-oriented fluff and evolve into real art and stand up alongside both mainstream film and live-action TV.

TIGER 13 MARCH 13, 2018

FEATURE

TAAGLAA: Japanese Gardens TIGER’S AWESOME ADVENTURES IN THE GREATER LOS ANGELES AREA STORY & PHOTOS LUKE QUEZADA

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fter a hectic day in AP U.S. History left me feeling stressed out, I needed some serious time to recuperate. So I headed to the Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden in Pasadena. Built in the 1930s by Japanese immigrant Kinzua Fuji, the garden was the home of Charles and Ellamae Storrier Stearns. After employing the help of premier Japanese designer, Takeo Uesugi, current owners Jim and Connie Haddad reopened to the public in 2005 following nearly 60 years of inactivity. The park is open Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 10am to 4pm as well as select Sundays in the spring.

I settled in and enjoyed a good book on a very inviting bench next to the garden’s koi pond. My concentration waned when I spotted a white cat skipping across a bridge. As I got up and walked around a large pond

teeming with fish, surrounded by lush vegetation, I met an older man with a long bushy beard and a bag of fish food.

“The turtle,” he said in a thick Colombian accent. “We have a turtle. Midori is its name.”

Thoroughly confused, I thanked him, and continued around the bend until I heard him begin to cry out to the turtle. “Midori” he called. I looked down to watch this turtle, sunning itself on a rock, extend its neck and look side to side. The turtle stepped down from its perch and began swimming to the man, who was now sprinkling handfuls of food to the koi in front of him. It had taken sixteen years of my life, but I had finally met the turtle whisperer.

I still do not have the slightest idea how this man

BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPING highlighted the interior of the gardens. developed the ability to communicate with the amphibian kind, but after spending some more time exploring the grounds of the garden, I realized that there was certainly a lot more to this place than I ever expected.

Nestled between several homes and the Westridge School campus, Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden is a tranquil escape from the stress of daily life.

In addition to an abundance of traditional Japanese plants, Storrier Stearns has adopted an extensive approach to sustainable design. Jesus Rodriguez, the man I had come to know as the Turtle Whisperer, oversees the garden’s landscaping. He collects any fallen leaves and uses them to create mulch for the grounds through a form of rapid composting.

STORRIER STEARNS JAPANESE GARDENS is a perfect place to spend a quiet afternnon after a long day. Open on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, the admission price is $10.

A charge of $10 is required for entry on open days, but the gardens more than make up for the charge with periodic tea ceremonies, book signings, painting and photography sessions, cooking classes, and meditation sessions in addition to the everyday tranquility of nature.

Located at 270 Arlington Drive, the garden is a short walk away from the heart of South Pasadena, making it a great location for calm strolls, reconnecting with nature, impromptu photo shoots, or even just a short break from the outside world.

TIGER

14 MARCH 13, 2018

SPORTS

Softball falls to La Salle STORY SAMMY PARK PHOTO RICHARD GOMEZ

5-0. Unfortunately, the Tiger offense continued to be dominated by La Salle’s aggressive pitching.

With its preseason closing, softball lost 12-0 to La Salle on Friday, March 9 at home. Earlier this month, the Lancers beat South Pas 10-3.

“We struggled on offense and weren’t as solid as we could’ve been on defense which is mainly what contributed to the loss,” freshman Carissa Park said.

La Salle’s scrappy, opportunistic offensive game highlighted weaknesses within the Tigers’ defense in the first inning. Junior catcher Catherine Connolly was noticeably absent from the team’s defense due to illness. At the top of the first, the Lancers were able to score three runs through a combination of aggressive running and strong batting. La Salle’s near perfect pitching throughout the game made it difficult for the Tigers to get on base, and practically impossible for them to score.

READY TO STRIDE, freshman Carissa Park tries to ignite the stagnant South Pasadena offense.

The Lancers’ commanding offensive game continued to show as they racked up two additional runs in the second inning. Fortunately, freshman Sarah De La O caught a sloping pop fly between first and second base, to end the inning.

By the end of the half inning, the Tigers were down

La Salle’s offensive prowess paid off as they scored four runs, growing its already healthy lead. Facing a nine run deficit in the third inning, South Pas was unable to get runners on base.

In the fourth inning, the 9-0 lead widened to 11-0 as a Lancer batter managed to hit an overthe-fence home run. Luckily, De La O came in as a relief pitcher with two outs and was able to cauterize the damage. Even though the final score was 12-0, a small victory for the Tigers came from junior Katie Wooton’s hard line drive during their last inning. She was one of the only batters all game to get on base.

The Tigers look to their next game on Tuesday, March 13 against Schurr.

Jaden Mullin: developing a winning stroke STORY & PHOTO LUKE QUEZADA

T

he horn sounds and a ring of swimmers launch themselves into the water at unnerving speeds.

Junior Jaden Mullin emerges from the wake, nearly halfway across the pool. He glides across the surface, between the chaotic splashes on either side of him, butterflying with perfect form.

As he kicks into his second lap, he draws nearer to the head of the pack, a line of athletes battling for first. His third lap, and there is no longer a splash or ripple ahead of him. Five laps later and Mullin reaches the wall, well before anyone else.

As one of the team’s most dominant athletes, Mullin is instrumental to his team’s success, placing first in nearly every event he swims.

Constant victory in league meets as well as impressive performances at CIF finals each year make Mullin one of the most consistent members of the varsity squad.

Before he was a powerhouse swimmer and major contributor to the Tigers’ point totals, Mullin began swimming as a seven year old. He joined the popular Sea Tigers club and soon began to develop his stroke. Years of diligent training with the Sea

Tigers and Crown City Aquatics developed his flawless form, turning him into a tried-and-true athlete by the start of his freshman year.

While his dominance in competitions indicates Mullin’s mastery of most styles, it is backstroke that he mainly excels in.

“At first I gravitated to breaststroke because there were no good breaststrokes on my team that were my age. But when I was twelve, I switched to backstroke because my coach and I felt it was my best stroke,” Mullin said.

When he joined the high school team as a freshman, he instantly made a mark as one of the only freshmen on the varsity roster. Soon enough, Mullin broke five minutes in the 500-meter backstroke, one of the most coveted milestones in the world of swimming.

With a completely fresh coaching staff and the absence of several of last year’s key senior swimmers, the Tigers will have to work their way to the top of their league. As one of the most experienced members of the varsity squad, Mullin will be essential in leading his team to victory.

SWIMMING THE 100 FLY, Mullin vies for first.

TIGER 15 MARCH 13, 2018

SPORTS

Track’s underclassmen on the rise STORY PRESTON SHARKEY PHOTO HELENA FU

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ith last year’s track team finishing off another championship season in 2017, individual athletes were headed to CIF to compete with top competitors from opposing high schools. Among the athletes at Division 3 finals, South Pasadena’s Tianhao Wei competed against the best jumpers in the southern section on the Cerritos College track.

After netting top three finishes in hurdles, sprints, and triple jump to help South Pas win league meets all year, now sophomore Wei qualified for CIF Prelims as a triple jumper. His jump of 43’2’’ earned him sixth place at prelims, despite being one of only two freshmen competing against 28 other older, more experienced jumpers.

This performance earned him a spot in CIF finals and a chance to compete against the best athletes in the most competitive section in California. A jump of 42’4’’ in finals wasn’t enough for Wei to advance to CIF Masters, but his success as a freshman indicated a bright future.

In most other sports, underclassmen tend to play on JV or freshmen teams in order to develop skills and gain experience before making significant contributions to the varsity level. But on track, the team relies on a select group of underclassmen to make an impact at the varsity level each year. Standout sophomore middle distance runner Gianna Beasley attributes the success of underclassmen on track to the fact that talent can easily be judged by times.

“I think that track is the sport where your dedication, natural talent, and work ethic separate you from everyone else,” said Beasley, “Politics also don’t play a role in track; if your times are good enough, you’ll compete at the highest level. Those factors give everyone, including underclassmen, an equal opportunity to shine.”

OUT OF THE BLOCKS, sophomore Rhue McEvoy sprints at Roosevelt Field.

Sophomore hurdler Michael Jia believes the nature of track and field offers a plethora of prime opportunities for underclassmen, who initially devote themselves to several events before narrowing down their specialty as they grow older. Upon pursuing a few specific events, athletes form close-knit friendships with their teammates, and experienced upperclassmen mentor certain successful sophomores and freshmen throughout the league and CIF season.

This established “social hierarchy,” according to Wei, allows for younger athletes to gain lots of valuable experience with upperclassmen and later seamlessly

transition to becoming strong leaders themselves.

“Those who aren’t as successful are left behind in a group that aren’t considered as having as much potential,” Wei said. “Our success as underclassmen kind of creates a social hierarchy in track based on talent.”

Year after year, the growth of talented freshmen into upperclassmen leaders has created a cycle of mentorship that has allowed South Pas to dominate the Rio Hondo League. Under the helm of coach C.B. Richards, the track team hasn’t lost a league meet in seven years, largely because of contributions from all grade levels.

Volleyball looks to restock and defend Rio Hondo title STORY BEN CLARK The SPHS boys’ volleyball team has had a strong history of winning games, with the team’s putting forth excellent league seasons in the past two years. In the 2017 season, the Tigers were league champions, however they are now faced with rebuilding after the graduation of multiple key players such as Gunther Vaden and Matt Scholtz. Now, the new team lead by senior captains Fernando Sornoso, Maxton Lam, Cole Schroeder, and Kyle Woo strive to live up to the volleyball program’s high expectations and standards.

FOLLOWING THROUGH, senior Isaac Luevano throws a strike against Pasadena.

Baseball: Dave Moore tourney STORY PETER WANG PHOTO RICHARD GOMEZ South Pasadena High School’s varsity baseball team finished with a record of 2-2 in Monrovia’s Dave Moore tournament. Although the Tigers found initial success, performance faltered in the later games, thus ending their run for a championship. After losing in the semi-final stage to Alhambra, the team failed to qualify for a final game.

In their first tournament game against Salesian on March 1, the Tigers’ aggressive defense kept their opponents at bay in a tight 2-0 score. Early in the game, senior Zach Howorth’s catch defused a bases-loaded opportunity, while senior Jackson Totleben’s excellent pitching staggered the Mustang’s batters. The Tigers’ risky offense paid off, with two runs scored on a steal and a bunt.

Energized by their first win of this year, the Tigers played Pasadena at an away game the following week, where they took home a 6-3 victory. An astounding two-out rally gave the Tigers six runs in the first inning, with two runs batted in on a single by junior Adam Schroder. The predicted efficient defense prevented Bulldog runners from catching up.

At the following home game against Cathedral, the Tigers were trounced by the Phantoms’ superior batting in a 5-0 loss. After four runs were scored by the visitors in the first inning, junior Max Smith was brought in as pitcher in hopes of turning the tide.

Unfortunately, South Pas was doomed by its lethargic offense.

During the team’s final game against Alhambra, South Pas lost 8-5. The Tigers scored two runs in the top of the first by capitalizing on speed and mental errors. The two teams then exchanged blows throughout the duration of the game, with the lead switching constantly, before the Moors emerged victorious by scoring three runs in their last at-bat.

Just through the first six games of the season, it has become apparent that the Tigers are a pitching-oriented team, as their scoring average is under three runs a game. In the highly competitive Rio Hondo League, where runs will be even fewer and farther between, the pitching will have to continue to be stellar for South Pas to succeed.

Following a non-conference game against Glendale, the Tigers will play their first league game against rival San Marino at an away game on Friday.

In the preseason, the team lost its first game against Santa Fe, but got its act together in the Camarillo Tournament, easily defeating every team other than the tournament’s victor, Dos Pueblos to finish in second place. The championship bracket of the tournament saw the Tigers take down strong teams such as Foothill Tech, who had an impressive 12-2 record last year.

After the tournament, the Tigers faced Cathedral and La Salle, defeating Cathedral easily, but losing to the La Salle Lancers in a close game. As of now, their 9-3 record puts them at the top of the Rio Hondo League.

The Tigers have clearly stepped up to the task of carrying on the legacy of earlier years. The team is hopeful for their future and goes into this new season with a fiercely optimistic mindset.

“We kind of have to work more as a team, and I think everyone has had to step up individually,” says senior Kanak Belgaum, “I think this senior class has absolutely shouldered the load, but I also have to give huge props to some of the sophomores who were moved up from JV.” The Tigers are now less dependent on specific star players and have been able to utilize more hitters and trick plays. They have become even more dedicated to their training than in years past, beginning practices early in November. For months, the team has done three hours of position-specific drills and scrimmages every day (with less time spent on the days before a game). Outside of practice, the Tigers continue to maintain a close bond through activities like hiking and watching college games.

After two more preseason games, the Tigers will soon face off against the other teams in the Rio Hondo League. Last season, the Tigers were easily able to conquer their four opponents, with the second-place team, Temple City, falling significantly behind South Pasadena’s 8-0 record. However the Tigers have rising to the occasion, fighting to continue a longstanding tradition of excellence.

TIGER

16 MARCH 13, 2018

SPORTS

RILEY REMINISCES RILEY SEGAL

AN ADIEU TO SP SOCCER For the past three years, early February signaled the end of another soccer season. I grew accustomed to the immediate goodbye as we usually finished towards the bottom of league and were left hoping that next year would be our year. This season, the other seniors and I knew we didn’t have that luxury. We’d had fun in our past seasons, but we still wanted a taste of that CIF experience. Something ignited a spark this year, and the resulting flames spread further than we could’ve imagined.

We whizzed through preseason virtually undefeated and rarely scored on, and followed that trend during league save for one loss. I don’t think we really felt how good we could be until after that first round of CIF. The shift in mood was palpable; we all undeniably wanted it. We carried our momentum all the way to a CIF championship title and the semifinals of state playoffs—the first SPHS girls’ soccer team to do so.

PULLING BACK TO KICK, senior Emily Dunn takes a shot in South Pas’ 3-0 loss to Ventura.

Girls’ soccer: CIF champions STORY DAVID SEO PHOTOGRAPH HELENA FU

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hattering any and all expectations, the girls’ varsity soccer team secured a CIF title for the first time in fifteen years. After blazing through four consecutive opponents in CIF Southern Section Division 5 Tournament play, it was a narrow 1-0 victory over Westminster at the finals on Friday, March 2 that allowed the Tigers to define SPHS history. The CIF title only sweetens the Rio Hondo league title the girls easily attained weeks before, cleaning up the competition with a 6-1-1 league record.

The girls’ unbelievable postseason journey began with their first round match against Glendale, breezing by with a 2-0 victory. The second round game against Maranatha went similarly, as the Tigers crushed their opponents with a 3-0 win; senior, junior, and sophomore Emily Dunn, Rainey Tilley, and Corey Segal all delivered beautiful goals. Quarterfinals against Beaumont began on a rough note, but they were able to quickly recover,

emerging on top 2-1. Meanwhile, the semifinals were a showcase of Tiger talent; with a 4-0 triumph, junior Uma Hornish, Dunn, and Segal asserted their superiority over the weaker Los Amigos.

The rainy CIF finals against Westminster brought ferocious play. After Segal was able to finish a clean goal in the first half, it came down to the Tigers’ backline to hold the win. Juniors Booch Barrera, AJ Bonk, and Jade Myer and senior Riley Segal protected the net with undying valor. Senior and junior goalkeepers Sophie Reynolds and Noemi Howland executed save after save not only in this match, but all post-season long.

Yet, the Tigers’ impressive season continued even after both titles, as they were invited to compete in the State Championships. The Tigers brought the soccer program the furthest it has ever been, beating out Marquez 4-0 in the first-round and moving up to state semifinals before losing 3-0 to the formidable Ventura Cougars. They leave their season with a 21-4-3 record.

The cliché is that you don’t need to win to make you happy. That may be true to an extent, because in previous years we’d have fun simply playing with one another. But, there’s just something different about CIF games; the pulsing excitement and energy levels from both teams create a jittery, thrilling atmosphere. In these matches, winning tends to dictate happiness. What truly made us happy in those games wasn’t just the scoreboard, though. A sentence had permeated our mindset since league: This is for us. It was something we told each other before every game. We no longer had to remind ourselves of this once we reached CIF, because it resonated within us.

This success has arguably been a long time coming—I’ve played with many of these girls since I was seven years old. I think that’s partially why this farewell is so bittersweet. With this goodbye to high school soccer, I also say goodbye to my earliest memories of the sport. I think that’s what I’ll miss the most about high school soccer. While I still feel proud of all we’ve accomplished, I won’t long for the glory days of winning. What I’ll remember most is the joy of celebrating our achievements and making history as one.

Boys tennis falls to Polytechnic at home STORY DOMINIC MARZIALI PHOTO THOMAS FORMAN The boys’ varsity tennis team was overwhelmed by Polytechnic School on Friday, March 9 in a 14-4 loss at home. While the team suffered a large loss, a few games were fought tooth and nail, ending in tight scores. The match sets the Tigers’ overall preseason record to 6-2.

Similar to the boys’ match against Mark Keppel on Thursday, March 8, which the Tigers won 10-8, one game went into a tiebreaker. In contrast, while the boys were able to close out games at Mark Keppel, doubles teams one and two almost clinched wins, but ultimately failed to close out their matches against Poly.

Doubles team one, seniors Ken Koyama and Ryan Summers, lost two games to Poly. Their first game ended in a 0-6 loss, and the team nearly came out victorious in its second game, but lost narrowly, ending in a 5-7 defeat.

After the team redoubled its efforts, the Tigers surfaced victorious in their third game, with a score of 5-3. The team was forced to end its last game early due to facility limitations.

“We were struggling at first, but emerged as better players,” Koyama said after winning his third game.

Around the same time, doubles team two, sophomore Sigmund Goodstein and junior Gene Suk were battling

LUNGING TO HIS LEFT, junior Jeremy Becker prepares to backhand the ball to his opponent. it out in a protracted tiebreaker, eventually losing 6-7 by a mere point. Goodstein and Suk described their performance as subpar, and expressed frustration over the loss.

Doubles team three, consisting of junior Alex Betts and sophomore Evan Strittmatter, wrested two matches from Poly, with scores of 6-1 and 6-2. However, the team was not able to secure its third match, ending in a

disappointing loss with a score of 2-6.

Sophomore Ben Pestana, who was subbed in as singles one for sophomore Desmond Chan, lost his first game with a tight score of 6-4, but recovered and pulled in a second game with a score of 6-3.

The boys’ varsity team will face off against Schurr on Thursday, March 15 in an away matchup.

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