Math coach welcomed by teaching staff
Water prices on the rise By Marcus Kahn and Coleman Rainey Tiger Staff The decrepit reservoir stands in the middle of a suburban San Gabriel community, its perfectly manicured lawn and hedge-lined walls guarding the main source of South Pasadena’s water. “They’re telling us to conserve water,” said Environmental Sciences teacher Don Wielenga, shaking his head, “And then they have a lawn like this. The city of South Pasadena held a presentation and tour of its reservoirs and pumps last Saturday, February 5, hoping to quell protests over the proposed increase in water bill rates. This March, residents will see their water bills rise by 30% in an attempt to fix the city’s crumbling infrastructure, and deal with a scarcity of both ground and imported water. Rate hikes will not stop there, however, and will be raised in increments until 2015. The problem is twofold. As city officials explained Saturday, the amount of water that South Pasadena receives from Northern California and the Colorado River is dwindling. To make matters worse, the aquifer below the San Gabriel Valley, from which we pump all of our groundwater, is at a record low. Only 60% of our water can come from these sources, for health and sustainability concerns. The rest must be purchased from the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) – water which is almost 30 times more expensive than groundwater and will continue to get more expensive in the next few years. The second factor spurring the rate hikes is South Pasadena’s hundred-year-old reservoirs and pumps, which are in desperate need of repair. See “Water” on pg. 2
By Amber Laird and Ande Withers Tiger Staff
Jennifer Kim
WINTER FORMAL 2011: Freshmen Michael Owens and Isabella Trent embrace on the dance floor at the Stadium Club at Dodger Stadium on February 29. See additional coverage on pg. 12-13.
Construction aims to alleviate traffic congestion By Libby Rainey News Editor Construction on Fair Oaks Avenue is being conducted throughout South Pasadena in a project aiming to reduce traffic congestion in town, although the work itself is causing the street to be temporarily jammed. The construction, ranging from Columbia Street to Monterey Road, is an effort mainly aiming to resurface the street by removing and replacing existing asphalt, install crosswalks and median islands, and build a new traffic signal at the State Street and Raymondale Drive intersection, among other renovations. Funding for the road renovation comes from multiple sources, including money secured in 1998 by Congressman
Sam Gurley
Street work on the intersection of Fair Oaks Ave and El Centro St. Jim Rogan specifically meant to aid traffic congestion in the Los Angeles area. Other reserves include the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act supply, local resources, and Metro funds. The project is estimated to cost about 4.3 million dollars. Street work has “definitely impacted local business,” ac-
District invests in “Thinking Maps” By Coleman Rainey Editor-In-Chief
Katie Whitworth
English Department Chair Mr. Jim Asher displays some visual teaching tools.
A professional development program named “Thinking Maps Incorporated” has been hired by South Pasadena Unified School District (SPUSD) to train faculty to use “visual teaching techniques which foster and encourage life long learning,” said Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Services Dr. Steve Seaford. Those “visual teaching techniques” are eight “Thinking Maps;” basic visual organizers that are now being utilized across the district. According to Dr. Seaford, the program is based on research of the brain. The “Thinking Maps” are based upon eight fundamental thinking processes that researchers have identified. These
maps, which include basic shapes and recognizable designs like bubble diagrams and brackets, are trademarked. The district must pay $260 daily to train teachers to use the maps, and each teacher receives five days of training. According to English Department Chair Mr. Jim Asher, one of a dozen teachers who attended the initial development workshop, the training is extremely specific and intensive, and requires six hours of work for the teacher to become officially licensed to use the company’s designs. The district sent teachers from every school in the district to the training. The district now plans to train every teacher in SPUSD to use this program. Mr. Asher and fellow English teacher Patricia Wylie received the training See “Maps” on pg. 2
cording to Gabriel Nevarez, Project Manager for the city of South Pasadena, who is involved in carrying out the development. However, Nevarez stresses that an effort is being made to minimize the disruptions to businesses on the street, and the current stress on stores is the “only drawback to the construction plan.”
Last month, South Pasadena Unified School District hired Ms. Janet Bryson as a math coach for the middle and high schools. Bryson, whose experiences with math range from teaching in Mali, Africa, to consulting with schools in Hawaii, has begun working in South Pasadena, primarily with the high school’s math department. At SPHS, Bryson is working with math teachers to provide innovative strategies and encourage efficacy in students. After observing teachers in their classrooms, she holds meetings with all the teachers of the same level of math. There, she collaborates with the teachers, suggesting new and innovative strategies that help teachers be effective in their instruction. So far, Bryson has been very well received by the staff. Although many teachers have yet to meet with her, most are very optimistic about her ability to positively contribute to the math department. “She has some great ideas,” said Ms. Ruth Moonesinghe, Algebra and Calculus AB and BC teacher. “I’m always learning. I’m glad that I have someone that I can bounce ideas off of.” The administration agrees. “Everyone, regardless of how successful they are, can use a coach in some way,” said Principal Janet Anderson. “It is great to have an objective person give feedback and suggestions from a strong experience base.”
WASC report submitted By Luka Douridas Assoc. Opinion Editor After a year of effort, the SPHS faculty turned in a self-study report to the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, or WASC, this past month. SPHS completed a similar report in 2005, which, along with a visit from a WASC visiting committee, earned the school a six-year accreditation with a review in its third year. The SPHS faculty was divided into five “focus groups:” Organization, Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment and Accountability, and School Culture and Student Support. Each focus group put together their share of the self-study report, which made up Chapter IV—by far the largest portion of the report. For each focus group, teachers had to describe ways that SPHS meets specific criteria, while citing evidence to support those findings,
such as specific events, policies, and direct quotes from students. While the self-study report was the lengthiest and most labor-intensive for SPHS faculty, it is only part one of the accreditation process; the second part involves a review from a WASC visiting committee, which will begin February 27 and continue to March 2. “It’s been exciting to see all the pieces of the report come together as we prepare for the arrival of the visiting committee,” says co-chair Maryann Nielsen. “I think they are going to enjoy being here at SPHS and will be impressed by our dedicated faculty and staff as well as our outstanding student body.” After SPHS is assessed, it can receive a six-year, “clear” accreditation, a six-year accreditation with a review in its third year, a three-year accreditation, a one-year accreditation, or no accreditation at all.
News 2
Tiger - Thursday, February 10, 2011
News
Around Campus
AFS Intercultural Programs hosted an informative meeting for local students interested in studying abroad at the South Pasadena Public Library on Monday, February 7. Volunteers were present to explain the process to students looking into international study for the summer, a semester, or a full year. Senior Gabriel Kahn, a former AFS student, estimated, “There were maybe ten interested students present.” /Libby Rainey
Suspension make-up work policy unclear
Man arrested for public intoxication By Brendan Perry Staff Writer
By Kelsey Hess and Jake Folsom Tiger Staff Suspended South Pasadena High School students may be uninformed about the school’s suspension make-up policy. Due to a lack of clarity regarding suspension make-up work, students are not sure whether they can turn in their missed work upon returning to school. This has also led to confusion among staff members. Assistant Principal for Student Services Mr. Terrance Dunn says that no written policy exists that addresses whether missing work will be accepted post-suspension. However, Dunn says, “the current policy has been passed down from administrator to administrator over the years.” When questioned why this hasn’t been recognized or documented, Dunn explained that students can access their work if it’s posted online, or pick it up in the main office if the suspension is longer than three days. However, students may have no way of knowing whether a teacher will accept it. When a student is suspended, his teachers are given a homework request form. It is the individual teacher’s discretion whether they want to inform the student that they will accept missed assignments. The Teachers Association of South Pasadena (TASP) contract with the school district does not specifically address this policy.
From “Thinking Maps” on Page 1 at the high school. They will now be in charge of training the rest of the faculty in a program called “Training of Trainers,” which Mr. Asher explained would require another official six-hour training session in order for the high school staff to legally use the program’s maps. “Thinking Maps Incorporated,” and other types of professional development are part of a larger push from the federal government to encourage and stimulate innovation within districts. The federal government gives school restricted funds named “Title II,” to be used exclusively for professional development. If the district cannot show that it has used Title II funds for such programs, it loses the money. Some students at SPHS, however, expressed concern that the district allocated Title II funds for “Thinking Maps Incorporated.” AP English Literature students have already been exposed to the eight unique maps. “I think training should focus more on the actual curriculum,” said senior Camille Endacott. “I have done bubble maps, and other charts on my own. I think it ridiculous that they can copyright them and make us pay money for them,” said senior Nick Benzoni. Senior Elise Gabriel said, “I thought they were helpful, but not everyone learns in the same way. Professional development should help teachers adjust to every student’s needs.”
Edmund Mandin-Lee
Water Production Supervisor for South Pasadena, Anteneh Tesfaye, shows a group of concerned residents a map of the city’s water infrastructure at Saturday’s tour. From “Water” on Page 1 Part of the increased revenue will go to renovating reservoirs that, as Saturday’s tour clearly indicated, represent a significant threat to the city’s water supplies. The city’s proposed solution includes more than just increased water bills. The city is urging residents to conserve water. “I think South Pasadena’s citizens are definitely able to take on that responsibility,” said Chu Thai, Finance Director for the city, who led the presentation on Saturday and whose office made critical decisions on the rate hikes. “The city is providing incentives that will encourage people to really look at their consumption and use less
water.” If South Pasadenians can limit the amount of water they use, the city won’t have to import as much water from the MWD. Some present at Saturday’s tour were concerned with the cities implementation of the increased rates. The city is proposing a “tiered” rate, following the model of almost every other city in the San Gabriel Valley, in which those who use less water have lower rates. One concerned woman questioned, “Shouldn’t there just be a uniform rate, so everyone will conserve water?” Scott Feldman, representing the Chamber of Commerce, noted that businesses would be hit especially hard but still “needs to be a part of the solution.”
A drunken man who believed he had been chased by pumas was found in a South Pasadena tree early Tuesday morning. South Pasadena Police received a call at approximately 3:30 A.M. regarding the man stuck in a tree on the 200 block of St. Albans Ave. According to the police, the 41-year old Los Angeles man, whose name was unavailable at press time, was attempting to escape from the alleged pumas by climbing a tree. When firefighters arrived to rescue the intoxicated tree-climber, he was about 20 feet up. The man managed to get down without assistance, happy to see not a single puma in sight. Police concluded that the pumas were, in fact, imaginary. Sergeant Brian Solinsky said that the man was arrested for suspicion of public intoxication. Police held the man in custody for several hours, allowing the effects of the alcohol to wear off. He was then released with a citation to appear in court at a later date. Police say the man had no prior criminal record.
Winter Formal “Take Me Out to the Ball” a success By Harry Yadav Staff Writer South Pasadena High School’s 2011 Winter Formal was held on January 29 at the Stadium Club in the midlevel of Dodger Stadium. Students spent their time dancing, playing video games in the game room, conversing outdoors on the balcony, and ordering nonalcoholic drinks at the bar. However, students were not given
complete independence as SPHS faculty members supervised the event. Mathematics teacher Mr. Jeff Chi was impressed with what he saw from the attendees, commenting, “It was nice to see the students in a mature setting outside of school. Everybody looked really pretty.” Similar to dances in the past, student opinion of the event varied. Some, such as sophomore Chris Verdin, found certain aspects of the dance unsatisfactory. “Formal was a lot of fun, but the dance
Freshman trains seeing eye dog By Clair Fuller Staff Writer Freshman Samantha Figueroa plans on bringing Tamiko, a three-monthold golden lab, to her classes beginning in late March or early April. The dog, which Figueroa is training to become a “seeing eye” guide dog, will sit under her desk during class. “I have to make the dog aware of different surroundings, and calm around people,” says Figueroa. Tamiko will live with the Figueroa family, learning to act as a guide dog, leading blind and visually impaired individuals safely through their daily activities. Figueroa decided to train the dog as part of her Girl Scout Gold Award project, the highest award available to Girl Scouts ages 14-18. “It seemed like the most interesting project to me because I also like animals,” says Figueroa, who has been a Girl Scout since first grade. Although Samantha originally planned to bring Tamiko to school at the end of this month, a recent outbreak of the Parvo virus has prompted Guide Dogs
of America to urge the seclusion of their puppies until they at least five months old. When the dog is able to come to school, principal Ms. Janet Anderson will make a school-wide announcement with guidelines regarding the puppy. At the end of a two-year period, Figueroa will give up Tamiko, who will join the Guide Dogs of America.
floor should’ve been larger,” said Verdin. Junior Miranda Gontz also noted, “It would have been better if the baseball field wasn’t all torn up.” All faults aside, attendance at Winter Formal was the highest in years. The multiple ASB commissioners who put time and effort into planning the event and choosing the location were pleased with the dance’s unprecedented success. Senior Olivia Yeh, SPHS Commissioner of Spirit, felt that apart from the torn-up condition of the field, the site satisfied most of her expectations. “I am really glad that there were enough places to get away and just relax, but the field looked like a big mound of dirt,” said Yeh. Some of the nights’ most memorable moments took place courtesy of Physical Education teacher Ms. Elinor Charleton and Assistant Principal for Student Services Mr. Terrance Dunn, who had the unfortunate task of separating couples who were dancing inappropriately. Despite some bumps, the general consensus was that Winter Formal was a success.
Kevin Figueroa
Samantha Figueroa will bring seeing eye dog Kamiko to SPHS starting in late March or early April. She will be training the puppy for her Girl Scout Gold Award.
Thursday, February 10, 2011 - Tiger
News
Drug dog continues campus presence
RYLA presented to three outstanding students By Josh Roquemore Staff Writer
By Meghan Roche Staff Writer Students and administration continue to take note of “drug dog” Mya’s periodic visits to campus. Since her introduction to the school back in October, Mya has visited classrooms to patrol for illegal paraphernalia a total of five times, according to Assistant Principal Mr. Terrance Dunn. “Whenever there’s a controlled substance found (in addition to always calling the student in question’s parents) we have called the police... It’s an Ed. Code violation to not alert the appropriate law enforcement upon the discovery of something illegal,” said Dunn. Out of these five visits, Mya has “alerted” on 11 students’ backpacks, and appropriate action was taken. According to Dunn, “The majority of [the alerts] have been residual odors,” though he also said, “There have been actual substances alerted on only five times.” On a side note, he says that, “Mya has not alerted on any one person more than once.” Some people have noted that they have seen Mya come to the school several times in a short period within the last month. Says Dunn, “Mya has come twice in the past week, but her services were not able to be utilized because nobody was able to go with her. She cannot go out with the handler if a member of the administration is not present.” Dunn also noted that Mya is a working dog. “I know she’s cute, she’s cuddly, but if you want to pet her [you] have to at least ask her handler if it’s okay. Her time costs the school district money.”
Sam Gurley
Alternate RYLA recipient Thomas von Bibra will learn new leadership skills at camp.
Ms Janet Bryson began her career in mathematics as a teacher in Temple City, after getting her Master’s degree in math from Wheaton College. Since then, she has had a wide variety of experiences with teaching and coaching math. Although she has primarily worked in California, she has also traveled to schools in Hawaii and Mali, Africa. Bryson began working as a math coach when she was invited to participate in Teachers Assisting Students to Excel in Learning Mathematics (TASEL-M), a program in Orange County. There, she collaborated with the Orange County Department of Education and Cal State Fullerton to help teachers and schools in Orange improve their efficiency and reach the standards set by the No Child Left Behind Act. “I worked on program improvement,” said Bryson. “The number of students proficient in Algebra went from 60% to 81%.” After participating in this project, Bryson realized that what she really enjoyed was working with other teachers to be more effective. “How I see my job is to provide resources, but most
Three South Pasadena High School students were extended invitations to attend a Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) conference on March 4- 6. Juniors Jason Koo and Alexander Prescott are the primary recipients, and junior Thomas von Bibra was chosen as an alternate candidate. “It is a camp that Rotary puts up and completely pays for every year to help build leadership skills in students who attend,” said von Bibra. “They have a bunch of activities set up for the people there
that help teach life skills, and leadership abilities with [both] small and large groups of people.” The Rotary Club, which sponsors RYLA, promotes youth leadership and awareness on a localto-global scale. Camps and conferences such as this are meant to promote leadership and enthusiasm for local clubs. “I am looking forward to representing South Pasadena while I meet other young leaders at the conference,” said Prescott. “Hopefully it will be just as fun as it is beneficial and engaging.” While Rotary has over a million members
worldwide, few students are chosen to attend camps like RYLA. After an application and interview process, four students were chosen from the South Pasadena school district. There were two girls and two boys chosen as well as two alternates. “RYLA recognizes current leadership achievements and enhances students skills as well,” said RYLA chair member Sara Munshin. The students able to accept this honor will attend the conference on the designated Friday through Sunday and return to their peers again to apply what they learn.
Has the drug dog affected campus life? Students and staff share their opinions on Mya’s impact on SPHS. Mr. Pat Barr, SPHS Computer Technician:
Cynthia Ream, 10th Grade:
“Well, we know some items are here, but we don’t know if the drug dog is a deterrent. The only way we can tell if it is effective is by comparing data from before and after the drug dog. Other than that, we’re just guessing.”
“The dog came into my class multiple times, but didn’t find anything. I think that shows that it has reduced drug use on campus.”
Michelle Gin, 9th Grade:
“I don’t think it’s made much of a difference. People wise up... Maybe in terms of bringing drugs to school but certainly not usage.”
“I get what they’re doing and why they’re doing it, but I don’t think it’s had a huge impact.”
Math mentor to contribute to program improvement at South Pasadena High School By Amber Laird and Ande Withers Tiger Staff
3
importantly, to engage in conversations,” said Bryson. “I encourage teachers to reflect on their practices.” One of Bryson’s primary goals as a math coach is to encourage teachers to ensure that their students are engaged and active in their learning. “I tend to think specifically,” said Bryson. “All the students in the classroom must be actively engaged. This can be challenging for teachers, but also for students—it’s easy to be passive about learning if you want to be.”
Like the teachers and administration, Bryson believes that there is plenty of room to grow in the SPHS math department. To her, being a math coach is about helping teachers adjust to a much different generation of students. “To expect that instruction that worked for me is going to work for [these students] is ludicrous,” she said. “Math used to be about processes. Now, we can know those processes instantly. It’s not just about information anymore. It’s about understanding.”
Edmund Mandin-Lee
Ms Bryson has been hired as a math coach for SPUSD.
John Weiner, 12th Grade:
Sam Gurley
Mya visits room 425 while on campus.
4
Tiger - Thursday, February 10, 2011
News
Pep wows at regionals; looks forward to spring competition By Jackson Atwater and Sofi Goode Tiger Staff South Pasadena High School’s Pep squad attended a regional cheer competition in Agoura Hills on January 22. The competition attracted cheer teams from many high schools. The squad competed in three different events – Time Out Dance, Time Out Cheer, and Fight Song. They received the highest possible rating in all three categories, winning first place in Time Out Dance and Fight Song. They came in second in Time Out Cheer. This competition was pep’s first since 2001. “We went to a competition early in the season to watch, but this was our first time competing,” Varsity Yell Captain Jennifer Glaeser said. “I’m really impressed with how well our squad did, it being our first time. We really showed them what South Pas is about.” “For their first time at competition, they exceeded my expectations,” Pep coach Dani Babb said. “They gave it their all.” The three pep squads—Yell, Song, and Flags—took the cheers that they use in football and basketball games, and added some stunts and addition material. They performed them in the competition. “[They’re] the same cheers that we use to support our school. If
you’ve gone to a football game, you would probably recognize the cheers,” Varsity Song Captain Katherine Roemer said. For the Fight Song division, pep cheered to a recording of the High School band. “It was cool that we got to work with band,” Glaeser said. “A lot of schools have music and voiceovers just for the competition.” Pep was encouraged to compete in Agoura Hills by the United Spirit Association. The USA holds an annual summer camp at UC Irvine that South Pasadena Pep attends every year. “[Our] cheer camp started a
new sector of the camp for competition,” Roemer said. “They give us an evaluation, and we got a “Superior” the last two years. It encouraged us to go compete.” The squad will advance to the national competition in Anaheim on March 26. “We’re advancing to the next level in all of the divisions,” Glaeser said. “It’s cool; a lot of schools only get to move forward in one division.” “My hopes are high for Nationals,” Babb said. “The squad will have to put in a lot more time, hard work and dedication, but I know we can do it.” Provided by Lisa Reynolds
Provided by Lisa Reynolds
Jennifer Kim
South Pasadena Pep Squad performs: (Top) Senior Morgan Kennedy, senior Katherine Roemer, and junior Ellen Na pose with their awards. (Left) Commissioner of Spirit Angelina Palomino performs with Flags on the Tiger Patio in weeks before cheer regionals. (Above) The pep squad cheers for the crowd while in competition in Agoura Hills January 22.
Thursday, February 10, 2010 - Tiger
Bingo
TIGER The unsung heroes of SPHS
5
a e h S i t e L Judy M cClellan
Tiger wanted to pay tribute to those who have been giving back to South Pasadena High School every Saturday for 25 years. Meet some of the most dedicated Bingo patrons. Page by Coleman and Libby Rainey Photos by Sam Gurley
Rule n e k o p s An Un : of Bingo
eat.
layer’s s p g in n r u t e r Never steal a
Alicia Corral
• Have attended Bingo every Saturday for 16 years Many Bingo patrons bring good luck charms, and build “shrines” (as the volunteers call them) like the ones above.
• Has always sat at Table 5
able! T ” y t r a P “ The
• Judy and Leti agree that Judy is the “nice one”. • Leti is assertive in her Bingo game. “I just remind him that there are certain numbers we are waiting for.”
“When she gets fiesty, I’ll ask someone else to drive me home.” -Judy • Despite each suffering from health problems at various times, one of them is always well enough to drive the pair to Bingo.
• On Bingo table-talk:
“I like to talk politics.” • Meets so many people at Bingo, “It’s hard to remember their names!”
• On their Bingo game: “We have the hot streaks. And then we go through dry spells.” • “It’s so quiet without us!”
“We get dirty looks. This is the lucky table!”
advice to students from:
Mathias Keleman
92 year old “Bingoer” “You all have been given an opportunity. You have got to deliver!” It’s the
25th Anniversary of South Pasadena Bingo
Yolanda & Isabella Soto
The mother-daughter duo attends Bingo every Saturday. Isabella (above) is the first one in the gym almost every week. “Nobody beats me here,” she says.
d ar fille c e l o my wh ladies!” t e g I “ d ttle ol i l h t i w
• On average, 175 people have attended for the past five years • Has raised millions of dollars throughout its time at South Pasadena • People come from all over the San Gabriel Valley • Bingo is a form of gambling, which is not sanctioned by state law…unless it is. Gambling cannot be done for profit, but can be used for non-profit purposes.
!”
ng i h t e m o s , we’re e n o y n a t jus t o n e r ’ e W “
A long-standing patron, Carol Barriou passed away and left her Bingo seat open - but her friends still set a place for her on the first Saturday after her passing.
6
Tiger - Thursday, February 10, 2011
Opinion
Opinion The great irony
B
oo to Sam Pons for not wearing his running shoes to Winter Formal...but he was still speedy. And we have photos to prove it.
B B
ravo to the pajamas during finals. We all need lightheartedness during dark times.
By Coleman Westfall Rainey Editor in Chief
oo to no late start during the CAHSEE. A
two-hour class with Mr. Chi just turns into a discussion about Pokémon.
B B
ravo to Pique Magazine. It’s like Vogue, only stapled.
ravo to both boys and girls varsity basketball for beating San Marino. You gave us sweet, sweet gloating rights at In-N-Out afterwards.
B
to Dodger Stadium for making their field a monster truck course. The one person at the dance who actually cared about baseball was super angry. oo
B
ravo to Girls Water Polo for winning league. Now we respectfully demand a CIF title.
B
ravo to the SPHS faculty for completing the WASC report. It truly is a captivating read.
The Tiger Established 1913
CSPA Gold Medalist 2005 CSPA Gold Medalist 2006 CSPA Gold Medalist 2009 CSPA Gold Medalist 2010 Editor-in-Chief Coleman Westfall Rainey Managing Editor Marcus Kahn News Libby Rainey, Editor Jackson Atwater, Associate Opinion Devin Mitchell, Editor Luka Douridas, Associate Feature Lana Ho, Editor Jessica Moog, Associate Sports Carlton Lew, Editor Christian Miyamae, Associate Copy Editors Christine Chen and Kristin Gunther Photography Sam Gurley, Editor Edmund Mandin-Lee, Associate Photographers Tai Carter, Jennifer Kim, Kathryn Whitworth Staff Writers Michael Abelev, Wyatt Bukowski, Jake Folsom, Clair Fuller, Sofi Goode, Kristin Gunther, Kelsey Hess, Amber Laird, Chloe Lloyd, Brendan Perry, Meghan Roche, Joshua Roquemore, Alex Tranquada, Max White, Ande Withers Harry Yadav Staff Illustrators Samuel Shin, Daniel Willardson Managers Kennedy Diaz, Ads Angela Jang, Business Webmaster Makenna Sidle Faculty Advisor Mike Hogan
Tiger is produced by the advanced journalism newspaper class at South Pasadena High School, 1401 Fremont Ave, South Pasadena, CA 91030. Layout and photo imaging are completed on-site. Printed by American/Foothill Publishing Co., Inc., Tujunga, CA. Signed articles appearing in Tiger represent the writer’s opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the staff, student body, faculty or administration of SPHS. Contact the publications office at (626) 441-5820 ext. 2615 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. for advertising rates and subscriptions. Tiger welcomes articles, letters or rebuttals. All letters must be signed and verifiable, but names will be witheld upon request.
Daniel Willardson
A.P. classes need reform Staff Editorial At the beginning of every A.P. class, your teacher will probably tell you that it is a college level course. But how true is this? What point of reference do high school students have to confirm this? According to graduated SPHS students, the science and math departments at SPHS are in fact analogous to college level courses. However A.P. English courses in no way reflect the style and quality of work of college level English classes, especially at top tier schools. We are not holding the teachers accountable, at least not completely. Krystal Tung, a sophomore at Harvard and SPHS alum says, “The A.P. system itself is problematic.” And this seems to be true. Shannon Thomas, a freshman at U.C. Berkeley, has papers at Cal that are ten pages, in contrast to the short in-class essays of high school. And why did we do those? Because that is what appears in the A.P. tests. Tung also says, “Many teachers teach to the A.P. tests simply because we tend to measure their effectiveness by what percentage of students get a 5.” So in that respect the teachers are at fault. A personalized quality education should never be sacrificed for success within an arbitrary standard. But if the purpose of A.P. tests is to standardize our college preparedness, then they should test the style of work that is likely to crop up in college.
Instead of analyzing short passages and writing short argumentative and analysis essays, students should be writing long research papers. A possible solution would be similar to how A.P. Art functions; students might spend a semester completing a research paper for submission in early May. Perhaps this is something that cannot be tested. But if the A.P. test is forcing students to learn the wrong way, the test itself isn’t only useless; it is negatively impacting the education of students, and should be either reformed or eliminated altogether. The other option is to keep the A.P. test preparation in the curriculum, and cut the fat off of busywork. English classes, even at the advanced level, are notorious for assignments and projects that toe the line of seeming irrelevance. When Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Freshman Bucky Ford stepped into this first college English course his teacher said, “So most of you have mastered how to write to a test... now I want you to take everything you were taught in high school about structured essay writing and throw it out because that will get you at best a ‘C’ in this class.” This isn’t to say that every college car r ies t hat same sentiment— but obviously this flaw in the A.P. program isn’t endemic to our school, and is something that needs to be addressed on the national as well as the local level.
The revolution in Egypt presents a great irony. For years, the United States has been trying to introduce “democracy” into the war-torn, poverty stricken countries of Iraq and Afghanistan. These wars have sown seeds of anti-American sentiment across the globe, and begun an international rejection of America’s neo-imperialism under the banners of “freedom” and “liberty.” They have cost the American people trillions of dollars and thousands of lives. They have cost the people of Baghdad and Kabul countless husbands, wives, and children of a region without hope for change—until now. The Arab world, which Western powers have coerced and controlled for years, has chosen freedom and democracy over the longstanding stability of their regimes. Why all the effort? How futile now seem the efforts of the United States military, the Bush Administration, and our current president. What they have struggled to do for nearly a decade was done in a week by the people of Cairo. What spurred the young men to entrench themselves in Tahrir Square, and the future of a nation? What led Tunis to finally reject the excess and corruption of the Ben Ali family? The fight being waged for the Arab world is one of limited resources, of rising food prices, and unemployment. It is representative of a greater, global problem. The global climate is changing, and extreme weather patterns and agricultural degradation are limiting the world’s food supplies. Humans are not living sustainably. 2010 ranked alongside 2005 as the two hottest years in recorded history, although solar output was at its lowest and global oceans currents were in a cooling cycle. The American model of exploitation, of growth without conscious, and hyper-consumption are leading to a global food crisis, and men in Egypt, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, and Iran are beginning to take action. This crisis, created by the excessive burning of fossil fuels, has sparked revolutions in unstable regions of the Arab world. But it is to this very region which the members of the Security Council have gifted millions of dollars to corrupt governments, in order to breed stability and eventually, hopefully, exploit their fossil fuels. In the end, it won’t be “Operation Iraqi Freedom” that will liberate the people of the Middle East. It will be American greed, consumption, and pollution that will alter global food prices and upset the global status quo. How ironic!
Assessing the Asian parenting philosophy By Carlton Lew Sports Editor Amy Chua’s new book, “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother,” has generated a lot of controversy by talking about the advantages of raising a child the “Asian” way as opposed to the “Western” way. Chua criticizes Western parents for being too lenient with their children. For example, she says they are too laid back when it comes to certain things such as grades. “If a child comes home with an A-minus on a test, a Western parent will most likely praise the child. The Chinese mother will gasp in horror and ask what went wrong,” Chua says. So in the end which style of parenting is really more correct? The reality is that neither parenting technique in the absolute is superior, much less correct. Parents must understand that
there is no one specific way to raise a child. Think of it like a football game; in order to win the game you must make adjustments throughout the contest in order to prevail in the end. The “Asian” way is way too strict. it deprives a child of the freedom needed to grow and learn certain social skills needed in life. However, is the “Western” way really as lenient as Chua puts it? In her book, Chua says “70% of the Western mothers said either that ‘stressing academic success is not good for children’ or that ‘parents need to foster the idea that learning is fun.’” I know many Caucasian parents that stress academics as much as some Asian parents do, if not more. “Academics are important, there’s no doubt about that, but expanding the imagination of the future generations should clearly be a goal of the educators and parents
of today,” freshman Michael Chang said. “When I was little, my parents were very strict with grades, but as I’ve grown, they have backed off and let me pursue other ventures in life while keeping up with my academics.” In order to raise a child that will be both extroverted and academically motivated, parents should resort to a hybrid version of the “Asian” and “Western” styles. Each child is different and there is no fixed way in which to raise it. Being so focused on academics can cloud a child’s creative imagination and prevent them from coming up with the innovation needed to keep this country moving forward. Instead, parents should allow their children to choose extracurricular activities and stick with it. While the bottom line is that academics come first, they are not the only important thing.
Opinion
Thursday, February 10, 2011 - Tiger
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World issues and the role of social media By Jackson Atwater Assoc. News Editor Have you ever written a Facebook status about something consequential? Can you remember the last time you posted a video to your YouTube channel in which the main intent was something other than entertainment of your audience? The answer to both questions is probably no. Social media outlets like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube are often used to broadcast details of the user’s personal life and often simply to amuse feed subscribers. We often focus on updating social media sites with entertaining or compelling pictures, videos, and text. But when’s the last time you saw an intelligent post about politics or world events that didn’t devolve into a shouting match? If you live in Egypt or Tunisia, however, your answer might be different. The potential power of social media has certainly been realized by
protesters in the Middle East. Facebook and Twitter are being used as a forum for complaint and an outlet for unrest, being utilized to organize mass protests, avoid police, and boost protester morale. Perhaps the most influential story of the revolution so far is that of Khaled Said, a 28-year-old Egyptian businessman who was pulled from an Internet café and beaten to death by two police officers because he was in possession of evidence of police corruption. Pictures of Said’s battered body in the morgue and stories of his murder were posted on Facebook, and YouTube videos honoring his life and protesting against the Egyptian government soon followed. His death put a human face on the police brutality in Egypt. Obviously, residents of South Pasadena live under different social conditions than residents of Cairo. Accordingly, the content of discourse on social networks between these two
populations differs. But this doesn’t mean that the nature of discourse should be different. Just because we don’t live in a police state doesn’t mean we should be silent on matters of state. Just because we’re not trying to oust the president doesn’t mean we should ignore his decisions. Conversely, preparation of Eggo waffles does not demand a status update. This is not to say that social media users should never post things about their personal lives or share amusing links, as it those are some of the original purposes of these networks. But social networks now clearly have the ability to serve as forums for discussion and exact real-world change. We, as users of these networks, have a responsibility to set the tone of discussion and create an environment where a relationship between discussion and action is commonplace. These networks offer great potential, and it’s up to us to capitalize on it.
Daniel Willardson
Parking at SPHS: daily drag that needs immediate reform By Jake Folsom Senior Staff Writer When I started driving to school I assumed that there was a certain protocol to ensure that everyone arrived on time and that as many people as possible received parking spots. I was shocked when I witnessed the numerous parents stopping to drop their children off, talk to them, and hug them good-bye in the middle of the road and the terrible way students were wasting the very limited parking spaces. Parents, I have something to say to you. Please refrain from stopping in the middle of Rollin Street to drop off your children when there is a line of cars behind you waiting to get down the tiny street. What are people are thinking when they decide to just stop their cars in the middle of the road to drop their children off. There is a simple solution to this problem. Go down another street and drop off your children, or drop them off a block or two away. There are simple ways
to make this right that would require little extra energy on behalf of both the students and the parents. The administration could also minimize this problem. At the middle school, volunteer parents come every morning to direct traffic. If the high school were to set up a similar system, the problem would not be as extreme. The other major problem that students encounter when driving to school is the lack of parking. I have suffered through searches for spaces many times, getting to school 15 minutes before class and having to park all the way down near Oak. This isn’t because there are too many people driving to school and not enough parking spots. It is because many students who drive to school don’t understand how to park efficiently. There are many spaces between cars that could be used to make room for more cars. There are simple solutions that would solve these problems and leave
everyone happier, like pulling all the way up to the car behind you when parking. It may seem unimportant and not something to get upset about, but think about it. How many times have you been running a little bit late for school and had to
Life in the South Pas lane By Harry Yadav Staff Writer Quiet streets and an abundance of trees make South Pasadena the ideal setting for bike riding. But one thing essential to riding bikes is sorely missing: bike lanes. When you consider their advantages, it is hard to understand why our city government hasn’t taken action. Bicycle lanes would make transportation safer for bicyclists, drivers, and pedestrians. They would prompt city residents to use more eco-friendly and efficient modes of
An obvious gap in our historical education By Libby Rainey News Editor Headlines today are dominated by international affairs. News of the momentous, groundbreaking events in Egypt is the source of debate and discussion worldwide. So why is it that if asked, most students would be unable to identify Egypt on a map? The importance of keeping up with current events is clear: knowledge of the world, awareness that can broaden perspective, understanding issues that can be applied to life and used to affect change. The value of geography should be regarded as critical when it comes to world awareness. In order to connect to important issues beyond a second of passing remorse, an idea of where such significant or heartbreaking events are taking place is vital. It puts the events into a physical context that can make global news influential instead of easy to forget. Knowledge of geography allows for a more informed perspective of the world as a whole. Significance of geographical knowl-
curriculum is a direct result of the lack of a 9th grade history course—a Global Studies class that was previously provided and required for all freshmen up until the 20062007 school year, when it was eliminated due to budget cuts. Geography was a prominent part of the curriculum and was good preparation for the more advanced history classes in later years. Naturally, cuts are necessary in today’s economy, but geography was an unfortunate casualty in the budget war, as it is a skill that some may never acquire after they leave high school. Fortunately, the administration is looking to bring back Daniel Willardson the Global Studies class as soon “Traveler IQ Challenge”, a location guessing as it becomes economically feasible. “We didn’t even expect it to be gone game on Facebook, than they have gained from a lifetime of schooling. A key part of for this long,” said Principal Janet Anderson. It can only be hoped that despite the history is where the events that shaped our modern world took place, and how those dismal fiscal situation the school district faces, locations affected the course of key proceed- South Pasadena curriculum will be able to include the important concept of geography ings in the past. The absence of geography in SPHS as soon as possible. edge goes beyond current world affairs. In social science curriculums at South Pasadena High School ranging from World History to Civics and Government, geography is notably absent. Many students have learned more about the world’s layout from playing
park all the way down the block because some people didn’t take the extra 2 seconds to pull their car forward an extra couple of feet? Students, parents and the administration can help to make this problem a non-issue with minimal effort.
transportation. They would make it easy for kids who are too young to drive to get around the city. And, most importantly, bike lanes would bring the community together by making the far corners of the city accessible to all citizens. The establishment of bike lanes would bring an immediate increase in safety to city streets. The present lack of lanes has caused many kids to ride on the sidewalk. This causes incredible confusion for cars, because now they have to worry about bicyclists who follow the rules of pedestrians, and bicyclists who follow the rules of cars. Additionally, kids who walk to school hold the constant fear of getting run over by bikes. Just as the sidewalk is designated for pedestrians, and the street is designated for cars, there should be a special lane designated for bikes. The city’s only substantial lane runs for twelve blocks on Marengo. Senior Jacob Kabealo, who uses the lane on his way to school most mornings, knows first hand the advantages of bike lanes. “They reduce stress because you know what the cars are doing. It would be helpful if there were more in our city,” says Kabealo. Perhaps the best example of the positive impact bike lanes can have on a city is that Amsterdam, widely regarded as the most bike-friendly city in the world, was recently ranked twenty-second in a survey of the safest cities in the world. Amsterdam has over 280 miles of lanes integrated into the city, serving as network that allows 40 percent of the cities commuters to use bikes. Bikes provide an eco-friendly alternative to driving that is truly practical in South Pasadena. Because of the small size of our city, riding a bike to go run errands is a realistic choice. Bikes may never replace cars; however, the establishment of bike lanes would be a helpful step to reduce pollution and increase safety in South Pasadena.
8 Tiger - Thursday, February 10, 2011
Opinion
A chance for showing affection By Meghan Roche Staff Writer In the weeks leading up to Valentine’s Day, the majority of the love in the air isn’t from love flowing between couples or between happy friends. It’s from those crotchety few whose biggest passion isn’t candies or happiness, but their own passion of loving to hate the holiday itself. It’s true—stores do use Valentine’s Day as a vehicle to sell things people probably wouldn’t want otherwise. If that’s an excuse to hate an entire holiday season, though, perhaps those people shouldn’t be celebrating Christmas or Halloween, either. Have you ever seen a store that sold Valentine’s products that didn’t spend at least as much on getting you to buy miniature ceramic Santas in December or enormous bags of candy in October? Probably not. Those who want to buy things for Valentine’s Day generally do so because it makes them happy, or because they want to make others happy. If people really don’t want to buy things, they won’t. Simple as that. The opinion that only people who can celebrate Valentine’s Day are couples and that single people must be miserable on February 14th is not an absolute. It’s a choice—and plenty of people take the opportunity to not only express appreciation and affection for a significant other, but for dear friends and family members whom they love in an entirely non-romantic way. There are days dedicated to all sorts of oddities. February 24th, for example, is National Tortilla Chip Day, while August 29th is “Hug Holiday.” There are very few days that pass by that don’t have some sort
For consumerism, not love
of celebration attached. If there are days celebrating tortilla chips and hugs, then why not a day celebrating love? If you don’t have a date for this one over-hyped day on the February calendar, so what? That doesn’t mean that anyone else who happens to be choosing to celebrate a relationship shouldn’t be able to. According to the latest US census statistics, the ratio of new marriages to divorces is 2 to 1. 63% of American children
By Clair Fuller Staff Writer
grow up with both biological parents- the lowest figure in the Western world. And the shelf life of the average teenage relationship is two months. With these bleak numbers, there is nothing wrong with taking an opportunity to try and keep things romantic. The fact of the matter is that there is nothing wrong with holidays like Valentine’s Day. They give people a chance to show just how much they appreciate their loved ones—romantically and nonromantically. What kind of society do we live in if people take offense to something as simple as that?
Valentine’s Day advertises itself as an opportunity to show the important people in your life that you care about them—but we all know this is just a facade. Society’s obsession with the holiday—fueled by candy and card companies—isn’t born out of a deep desire to demonstrate its appreciation for loved ones. It comes from an unhealthy preoccupation with “love”—genuine or not—at any cost, and frankly, it’s more trouble than it’s worth. Whether you’re in a relationship or not, it is doubtful that you’re unfamiliar with the stress and potential trauma attached to Valentine’s Day. The single people have to watch the sickly-sweet
I hate happiness. Well, perhaps that’s a bit extreme. I hate the kind of happiness that abounds on February 14, which, invariably, is either the forced, manufactured, cheapcandy-and-generic-card kind or the fake, “I’m happy I’m single!” kind that is always coupled with a strained smile and pint of ice cream served with one spoon.
couples fawn over each other and exchange meaningless gifts while they themselves pretend not to be bothered. Those in relationships have to worry about what, exactly, they should do for their significant other. The potential pitfalls of Valentine’s gifts can be even more perilous for couples than say, those on birthdays or Christmas. And then, of course, there are the single people. Some have even taken to referring to February 14th as ‘Singles Awareness Day’, acronymed (notso-coincidentally) SAD. Those not in a relationship come Valentine’s Day are shuff led aside and completely left out of the flurry of teddy bears and dr ugstore candies, societally punished for not having a significant other. Without regard to your relationship status, the holiday comes with a crushing feeling of obligation. Either you feel that you must make some grand romantic gesture for your boyfriend or girlfriend, or that you should have someone to celebrate with. The premium placed on being a “couple” is Sam Shin raised on Valentine’s Day: true feelings be damned, society is forced into “love.” Legitimate relationships are cheapened by the pointless and forced displays of affection—aren’t you supposed to love your significant other every day, and not just when Hallmark says you have to? Why does our society remain so fixated on a holiday invented by card and candy companies, one that alienates everyone without a date? It begs the question: what would happen if we spent as much time actually forming healthy relationships as we did worrying about having someone to celebrate February 14 with?
Critics of Skins go too far By Max White Staff Writer Nothing outrages parents quite like the volatile combination of teenagers, drugs, sex, and alcohol. Yet MTV’s new show Skins, a teen drama adapted from the enormously popular British series of the same name, blends this quartet of controversial elements into an exaggerated and over-thetop account of the high school lifestyle. So it comes as no surprise that Skins has faced considerable opposition from protective moms and dads all over the country. Especially furious are the members of the Parental Television Council, or PTC. Regardless of their affiliation, these parents share a single goal: to shield their impressionable offspring from the inappropriate content that Skins so unrealistically portrays. While those who share this sentiment should feel free to criticize the show both
publicly and privately, some have overstepped their parental roles and taken steps to force the program off the air. Companies have been pressured by angry parents to cancel advertisements. As a result, at least nine major sponsors—including Taco Bell, Wrigley Gum, GM, and Subway—have refused to air commercials during Skins. Also, the PTC has allegedly asked the government to conduct a child pornography investigation, as 17-year-old Jesse Carere was briefly shown naked from behind in last Monday’s episode. This endeavor to terminate Skins is both ridiculous and counter-productive. The PTC has no right to prevent others from watching Skins simply because its members have a personal vendetta against the show. The parents who disapprove of Skins don’t have to watch it; it shouldn’t matter to them if others choose to let their kids tune in. That is a decision for
each family to make on its own. And it’s not as though the protestors have succeeded in their goal. Skins netted 3.3 million viewers in its premiere episode in part because of the PTC’s hype. There will always be advertisers willing to cash in on six million eyes, no matter how many potential sponsors the PTC scares off. Plus, MTV has invested way too much in the series to stop airing episodes halfway through the season, regardless of how many companies pull out. It is true that MTV could have done more to prevent the parental backlash. Perhaps Skins should be moved to a later time slot in order to reach a more mature audience. Maybe the writers should tone down the explicit content, if just to give the impression that the show isn’t looking for controversy. But ultimately, no group, regardless of how vehemently opposed it is to Skins, has the right to silence it forever.
Sam Shin
Opinion
An education abomination which requires each state to set academic standards and goals that its students are supposed to reach. This initiative, while Even though President Obama’s a step in the right direction, leaves too hotly debated national health care plan has much educational power in the hands an indefinite future, we should consider of the states. NCLB requires statewide what other public issues could be aided standardized testing to check achievement by nationalization. Almost every student levels. However, each state is allowed to has heard at some point in his or her life create their own test, thus determining the how important education is to the future next year’s curriculum in a viscous cycle and to personal success. If education is so that inhibits academic progress. The Navital, however, why do students not receive tional Assessment of Educational Progress the same quality of education across the (NAEP) issues a national test in reading nation? In the same vein as Obamacare, and mathematics to students in the 4th academic instruction in America needs to and 8th grade. Not only do NCLB testing scores differ per state, like be run as a standardMassachusetts’s 8th grade ized public education Is it simply the luck of reading score of 79% and system. the draw for students, Louisiana’s score of 61%, In the cur rent if a school has a great but they also differ comsystem, education stanpared to the same states’ dards are set by federal, English department or NAEP scores of 43% and state, and local jurisdica bad one? 20%, respectively. tions, meaning that The differences in districts receive different funds and teach different curricula. scores on the nationally administered Discrepancies in standards ensure that NAEP test demonstrate how ineffectively students across the nation learn different run a state curriculum is, no matter the material at different levels. This lack of influence of NCLB guidelines. There a uniform standard can mean that one should be one federal education program, student receives a better quality educa- similar to the idea of one federal health tion than another student, even though care system. The program would provide both were enrolled in the public school adequate funding, proportionate to a dissystem. Is it simply the luck of the draw trict’s student population. It would also for students, if a school has a great English regulate district curricula, and ensure department or a bad one? Why should that all schools are teaching to the same some public schools have better API scores standards. Students across the nation than others, if they’re both supposed to be would receive the same education, and theoretically, all schools would qualify to offering a free and equal education? In 2001, President Bush signed into be featured on Newsweek’s “Top 10 Public law the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act, Schools” List. By Kristin Gunther Copy Editor
Thursday, February 10, 2011 - Tiger
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Monthly Doodle
Daniel Willardson
Tiger Newspaper Asks: “If you could change SPHS’s tardy policy, how would you change it and why? If you don’t want to change it, explain why you feel the current system is best.” Moises Aguirre, Grade 10 I think tardy sweeps should only apply to students who are more than three minutes late at the beginning of the day. Everyone has mornings when they forget it is Monday or their alarm didn’t go off. It is unfair that students who are only a minute or two late have to get a tardy slip, miss fifteen to thirty minutes of class, and go to detention for an hour. Some parents would rather have their child miss their first class of the day and write them a note saying their child didn’t feel well rather than have them waste time before class and an additional hour after school just for being a little late. Daniel Buchen, Grade 12 I don’t really have much to say about the tardy policy. It is what it is. As far as the administration is concerned, the policy is working, since tardies have gone way down since they started doing the tardy sweeps. They’ve even fixed the bell system so that it works on time everyday. There’s really just two problems with it: 1) waiting in the tardy sweep line can make you 10 minutes late to class instead of 10 seconds; and 2) I think it should be up to the teacher to decide who gets a tardy sweep or not. The problem with tardies is that they disrupt class. Once a teacher locks their door, we can just assume that our tardy-ness would be considered disruptive and go get a slip. What sucks is having the administration
standing around and deciding whether or not we have the time to get to class. Give the power to the teachers. The only cue we need is a locked door. Aria Dean, Grade 12 Tardy sweeps generally work in that they do encourage students to get to class on time, but the method is far too extreme. Getting to class a minute after the bell shouldn’t result in an hour of after school detention. Sometimes things happen that are beyond our control. Perhaps instituting a 5-10 minute grace period at the beginning of each class would be appropriate; it’s rare that anything of real importance goes on in the first 5-10 minutes of class anyway. I think that most students who intend to attend the class can make it through the door by then. The current system, if anything— while probably effective in the reduction of the number of tardy students as a whole—fosters a greater resentment of the administration and, in a few cases, skipping of classes in order to avoid a detention on one’s record. Kaveh Javaheri, Grade 12 I don’t care, because next year in college, I’ll go to school when I wanna, and I’m gonna join a frat. Timothy Lee, Grade 12 Tardy sweeps were created because of students at SPHS. Even though I don’t
like the tardy sweeps, they were intended to cut back tardies, not punish those who are late. However, that is what they have become, and an hour is a lot of time to ask students to spend in detention after school when most of us are there from 8:00-2:00. Before tardy sweeps were instituted, the school had some of the highest absence and tardy rates on a regular basis within our Rio Hondo League. Now, SPHS has one of the lowest. If you are more than five minutes late, there should be repercussions. Not an hour after school, but something just to remind students to be on time. We all have days when we are late, it’s just the kids who abuse it that ruin it for the rest of the student body. Jenny Meier, Grade 12 Tardy sweeps do reduce tardies but the punishment is too extreme. I’m not usually late but when I am it is by a minute or so. It is unfair that I have to stay after an hour for that minute I am late. It makes me want to ditch class instead of being late. Plus, usually there is a long line, so I end up being 5 or 10 minutes late. Also, there have been a couple of times that my cell phone said that I was on time yet my teacher had already locked the door because the school clock was different. I think teachers should implement their own tardy policy. For example, make students stay after class for every couple of minutes they are late. When someone is 5-10 minutes late or more, then the
administration can get involved and give someone detention or another suitable punishment. Kay Sasaki, Grade 12 Tardy sweeps work. They effectively serve the purpose of cutting down on tardies. After having to spend an unpleasant hour with Mr. Dunn, I never want to be tardy ever again. Even to Lit. Ryan Stone, Grade 10 The tardy policy is a jumble of unofficial rules that only some members of the faculty know. Tardy sweeps are not easily found in the Tiger Guide, if they are there at all. The school does tardy sweeps because every time a student is tardy, the school loses money. But the system is illogical. At the beginning of the year, they did tardy sweeps every period, and, it worked. Now that the school is doing tardy sweeps during random periods, teachers don’t know when they are and students don’t either. The school needs to have tardy sweeps every day, every period, or not at all. Also, I think there should be a “grace tardy” so to speak. Everyone is late now and then, and the students should be given one tardy every month before they are sentenced to detention. Even teachers are late, and we don’t make them pay, so why not cut the students who had a bad morning some slack for a change?
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Thursday, February 10, 2011 - Tiger
Tiger - Thursday, February 10, 2011
W nter F rmal
We thought the dance was simple and sweet - very much like our relationship!
Sam Yang, 12, and Brianna Loo, 11.
Page and photos by Jennifer Kim Text by Kelsey Hess
The 2011 SPHS Winter Formal was held on January 29 at Dodger Stadium. The attendees looked stunning as they paraded through the stadium entry, leading into the Stadium Club overlooking the field. Nothing could bring down the overpowering enthusiasm filling the festooned dance hall. All 463 of our guests poured through the hall hoping to dance the night away and to make this night unforgettable. Guests breathed in the crisp night air while lounging on the balcony outside, overlooking the view of the field and sipping Shirley Temples with friends. The techno-pop music reverberated off of the glass walls, separating dancers from the guests resting on the double-deck balcony. The evening provided students with the key ingredients for a memorable night of delight and entertainment. Exceeding any expectations guests had walking in, Winter Formal 2011 was undeniably a night never to be forgotten.
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Tiger - Thursday, February 10, 2011
Culture Music Art Books Movies Fashion People
Pogo: sage of sound bites
By Alex Tranquada Staff Writer Pogo, also known as Nick Bertke, is an Australian artist who transforms movies into music. He extracts small pieces of audio from feature films and stitches them together over a relaxing background of synth beats and remixed pieces from the film’s soundtrack. To date, Pogo has remixed over twenty Disney movies, including Toy Story, Up, and Snow White, as well as non-Disney fare such as Terminator and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. “Alice,” the mix of Alice in Wonderland that first garnered him widespread attention from the music community, has over five million views on YouTube. Pogo’s style, described by some as trip hop but known to others as “dreampop,” has inspired many an imitator; YouTube and Last.fm are home to hundreds of other artists who have decided to try their hand at mixing movies. More recently, Pogo has turned his attention to a different source of remixable material: live action. His first experiment with making music out of the physical world was entitled “Gardyn,” and comprised various sounds from his mother’s backyard. Feeling inspired, he began to plan on a larger scale, and has since begun a project called Remixing the World, wherein he plans to “travel the world in search of sights, sounds, voices and chords, and use them to compose and shoot a track and video for each major culture of the world.” Thus far, he has released “Joburg Jam,” a mix of various sounds from the city of Johannesburg in South Africa, and plans to travel to Tibet in March to begin working on a new track. Copyright law, however, has proven to be a significant obstacle for Pogo in terms of distribution. Because his tracks are composed of sound from movies, he is not legally allowed to sell them in common online stores like iTunes and Amazon; instead, he must release his music on a donation-only basis, allowing listeners to set their own price (down to and including free) for individual songs. Most of his Disney-based songs remained unavailable until late last year, when he finished a year of contracted work for Disney and was then allowed to make the tracks available for download. “Swashbuckle,” a remix of Pirates of the Caribbean that Pogo has described as his best work, has only been heard by a handful of people because Jerry Bruckheimer Studios informed him that he could either postpone its release until the theatrical premiere of the fourth Pirates movie this summer or face a copyright infringement lawsuit.
Edmund Mandin-Lee
Senior Henry Stambler, editor of the upcoming culture magazine Pique, looks up from behind the pages of the newly-printed publication. Pique, a student outlet for alternative culture, features interviews with local artists. The premiere issue goes on sale tomorrow for two dollars.
The making of Pique Magazine
By Meghan Roche Staff Writer To be released tomorrow, Pique Magazine is a 20-page fashion, art, and music magazine headed by SPHS students Henry Stambler and Estelle Rubin. To learn more about the publication, Tiger sat down with Henry to talk about the ups and downs of getting a magazine produced, printed, and released. Tell us about the conception of Pique. “It started out as maybe 30 or 40 people who’d come to the meetings—we do weekly meetings on Wednesdays—and over the course of the past 4 months it just dwindled down to about 12 or 13 core writers, and editors.”
last.fm
Pogo, a Disney mash-up mix artist, lies in a field of clover.
What gave you the idea? “I’ve been doing a lot of this editor business — I’m on Copa, I’m the lifestyles editor, so it’s like fashion and stuff — and so I just read a lot of magazines… there’s been this whole movement towards like ‘zines in that
you can create a publication on your own without too many restrictions … I was just kind of inspired by that whole idea, that you’re not really confined to a big publication to get your message across.” What were you aiming to do with pique? “Right now it’s in two portions, we have a web portion… and the actual publication, which we’re intending— hoping—to get out in three issues this year. Essentially, the print portion is all the big articles is reviews, big artists, all that good stuff. Then there’s the webbased site, which is, y’know, songs, album reviews, stream-of-consciousnesses, very timely, time-sensitive music and fashion and art…. It’s really the print part that’s the tailored, tasteful, well-designed aspect.” What was the hardest part of getting everything together? “It’s difficult, getting things from the start idea, getting 1,000 copies of 20 pages of content printed and distrib-
uted to print. It just takes a lot of organization, a lot of figuring out the things like, ‘How much is this going to cost per issue?’ and ‘How are we actually going to get these artists to sign on for an interview?’…getting the photo shoot all organized, stuff like that.” How are you hoping for the ‘legacy of Pique’ to continue? “Well… most of the staff are seniors and graduating this year, and that’s unfortunate. What we have here is a very dedicated.. thing that all these people wanted to get together to do, which was great, but the downside is that now there’s not really anyone to carry it on next year. We have some underclassmen on staff, but… we’ll just have to see how this issue, how this year goes… The one thing I’m really happy about is that there is a really great artistic, forward-thinking, creative, progressive community here at South Pas who are capable of producing something that not only I, but hopefully a bunch of people can really be proud of. I’m just happy it turned out so well.”
New Cake album leaves listeners hungry for older tunes By Max White Staff Writer Fifteen years after burstcakemusic.com ing onto the alternative rock scene with Motorcade of Generosity, Cake has released its sixth album, Showroom of Compassion. Recorded and conceived in the band’s Sacramento studio, Showroom of Compassion features the eccentric melodies that characterize every Cake song. The familiar vocals – half
spoken and half sung – of lead singer John McCrea combine with layers of syncopated music to form the group’s distinctive style. Although the album debuted in the number one spot on the U.S. Billboard 200, it sold fewer copies than many of the band’s previous records. “Sick of You” is perhaps the album’s best track, with a classic Cake beat, clever lyrics, and striking guitar riffs reminiscent of Comfort Eagles’ “Short Skirt/Long Jacket.” The eleven other songs form the foundation of the record, ranging
from the borderline electronic “Easy to Crash” to the country-tinged “Bound Away.” While not every track is destined to be the next hit single, each song manages to stay fresh and original yet maintain the signature Cake sound. The band will never shy away from the absurd, and Showroom of Compassion oozes with what is arguably the band’s greatest attribute – its sense of humor. One need only hear the piano-heavy instrumental dubbed “Teenage Pregnancy” or the satirical “Italian Guy” (a song that
mocks the curious mannerisms of legacy, but those unfamiliar with the those pizza-loving residents of the band may be better introduced by Apennine Peninsula) in order to feel one of its earlier albums. the albums’ lighthearted vibe. Although Showroom of Compassion can’t capture the genius of some of the group’s past albums, it is a solid effort that stays true to the band’s unique and quirky style. cakemusic.com Longtime fans will appreciate this lat- Alternative rock band Cake just released est addition to the Cake their sixth full-length album.
Feature
Thursday, February 10, 2011 - Tiger
Otis Portfolio Day brings forth young artists
photography
Sabrina Che
By Clair Fuller Staff Writer
Edmund Mandin-Lee
Matt Ravenelle Matt Ravenelle uses markers, pastels, and colored pencils to create transportation and product designs. He has been drawing and sketching cars for more than five years, and started designing three years ago. His college plans include Otis or the Art Center College of Design.
Sabrina Che
Sabrina Che has been interested in photography for about four years, using both digital and film media, and occasionally makes drawings or clay sculptures. She hopes to attend either the Art Center College of Design or the USC Roski School of Fine Art.
product design Matt Ravenelle
Edmund Mandin-Lee
Anthony Harmer illustration
Otis College of Art and Design, along with many other art colleges around the country, hosts a National Portfolio Day in an effort to give art students “a small taste of what it could be like to attend a professional art program.” The event gave students and young artists an opportunity to meet with representatives from various art colleges in the US and receive critique on their portfolios, which proved a valuable experience for the 18 SPHS students that attended the January 16 event. Representatives from a multitude of art colleges met with prospective artists for roughly 15 minute sessions, during which they gave critique and advice on the student’s portfolios. “I’m really glad to be able to get criticism on my art and advice on how to improve,” said senior Sabrina Che. Finished pieces, works in progress, and event sketches could be included in the portfolios, and, in some cases, colleges would even accept the portfolio as the visual portion of a student’s application. The event stressed that it was “not an examination or competition,” but rather a way to “further the artistic development of young artists.” The National Portfolio Day Association encourages those who attend to meet with as many representatives as possible. The exposure to different critiques proved valuable. Said senior Matt Ravenelle, “it was a great way to meet staff and faculty members in the certain field you wanted to pursue.” Senior Anthony Harmer appreciated the chance to meet others as passionate about art as he is. “I received really good advice and met other artists,” said Harmer.
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Mike Hogan
Anthony Harmer
Anthony Harmer makes storyboards, comic books, and conceptual art to “tell a story with images.” He has been working with his preferred mediums, pencils and markers, for four years, and has recently begun experimenting with paints as well. He is applying to the Art Institute of Chicago, California College of Art, and the Art Academy of San Francisco.
14 Tiger - Thursday, February 10, 2011
Feature
OVERheard
Personality Profile
Evan MacCarthy
By Chloe Lloyd Staff Writer
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Overheard anything interesting or funny recently? Send us the quote(s) at feature@tigernewspaper.
illustrations by Sam Shin
Standing at 6’1”, carrying 154 pounds, and sporting platinum blonde hair, senior Evan MacCarthy is hard to miss. Most commonly known for his water polo talents [MacCarthy has been part of the Olympic Development Program from early 2006 to 2008, as well as All Area First team as a junior and senior and all Rio-Hondo League First Team since sophomore year], MacCarthy has another passion: brewing beer. This Friday, MacCarthy will be embarking on a unique experience: studying in Hungary for six weeks. He will be staying with friends he made last summer through a Hungarian exchange program, when he and the South Pasadena water polo program visited. MacCarthy will be attending school in Budapest along with 54 other classmates, taking bology, geography, Hungarian, and English. During his six-week stay, MacCarthy will be playing for the Hungarian water polo team, Budafoka, as well as learning how to brew beer from his host family’s mother. MacCarthy first became interested in the fermentation sciences at five years old while staying with an aunt in Wisconsin. His father took him and his brother, Anders, to a brewery and the two MacCarthy’s have been interested ever since. “It was different. People would ask me what I wanted to do when I grew up and I would say ‘I want to make beer’,” says MacCarthy. MacCarthy hopes to major in fermentation science at the University of California Davis, where his older brother attends. Luckily, as the number one recruit for Davis for water polo, this dream is within reach.
Edmund Mandin-Lee
Hungary-bound senior, Evan MacCarthy, channels the Nirvana Nevermind baby. Staying in Hungary will not be easy. He will face language barriers, brutally cold weather, and cultural differences. MacCarthy will have to attend water polo practices in the morning, then travel two hours to school, after which he will have to take another twohour bus ride to a second practice. “I know it’s not going to be easy, but [this experience] will set me up for college and teach me to motivate myself instead of always having someone push me … My biggest inspiration is knowing that if I do well I will be able to play water polo with my older brother.”
Get your Zen on at Mission Street Yoga By Kelsey Hess Staff Writer Between our intricate academic demands, social drama, and hours of homework that high school so reliably provides us, a teenager’s life can be exhausting. Having just finished finals and with summer months away, some of us just can’t wait until spring break to give ourselves a rest. One of the most popular means of relaxation known to man is yoga. Originating in Ancient India by a Hindu Saint from anywhere between 900 to 500 BCE, yoga has been providing centuries of self-discovery, inner peace, and relaxation. I decided to put this theory to the test. On Monday, February 7, I attended the 7:00 ‘Basics’ class at Mission Street Yoga. The blood orange, vanilla, and
honey-scented aroma engulfs you, the enterer, at the first step inside. A calm receptionist awaits, sitting in the center of the room, ready to answer any and all questions relating to yoga. Hot tea and filtered refrigerated water rests on a counter on the right side of the room. On the other side, a small boutique of garden-esque attire, yoga wear, and candles are perused by South Pasadena’s calmest. After removing your shoes, sweater, and phone, you continue on through a frosted-glass door into your classroom, or, sanctuary of peace. With hardwood floors, all white walls, and an oddly relaxing abstract water feature at the far end – the studio is the perfect environment to relax. As the class begins, prepare to feel angst and nervousness if you’re a virgin yoga-goer. Flexibility is important, but the willingness to try things is just as good. You can do
A Race to Nowhere exposes flaws in education system tured in the movie; most are seniors or former high school students, who all testify to the intense and detrimental effects of homework. The relatable tales of worthless homework Released in October 2010 for screenings, the documentary A Race to Nowhere was recently screened woes cater to one English teacher from Northern California who manages to highlight one of the movie’s at the Pasadena Central Library. The documentary aims to unearth our soci- most poignant points, “Since when did schools have ety’s dangerous and deeply flawed education system the right to dictate students lives after the bell rings?” By far the most moving part of the film highas well as its twisted interpretation of success. The lights the passing of Devon piece jumps to different locations Marvin, a thirteen-year-old in California in order to capture girl from Abeles’ community all of the pressure and stress faced who committed suicide in by today’s high school students, 2008 during the film’s productouching on issues like abuse of tion. At the screening itself, prescription medication, rampant it was this scene and the feacheating, stress-induced illness, tured interview of Devon’s and the failure of the AP system. www.columbusacademy.org mother that brought parents The film, running 85 minutes long, is directed by Vicki A Race to Nowhere examines the in the audience to tears. Several times, the film Abeles. A concerned mother of high intensity atmosphere of edmentions alternative schoolthree who was outraged by her ucation, and its structure. own children’s struggles with school, Abeles speaks ing opportunities, but perhaps what the film lacks to students, teachers, and administrators to gain is the actual illustration of how home schooling or perspective from all different levels of the issue, but more progressive courses can relieve the overwhelmpointedly maintains a liberal viewpoint throughout ing stress present in both the private and public school sphere. The film aimed to mobilize parents across the the film. The documentary is well shot and flows well nation to take action, but in the effort to be fiercely from one topic to another, wisely choosing to feature persuasive, counter arguments were completely omitboth psychologists and Directors of Admissions alike ted. If the documentary included interviews with to weigh in with professional anecdotes and opinions. students who have succeeded under the high-pressure Students make up the majority of those fea- system, it would strengthen its credibility. By Jessica Moog Assoc. Feature Editor
it! After an hour or so of the yoga class, when your thighs are killing you and you’re forgetting how to balance, the best part of the class arrives. Sitting cross-legged at the top of the mat, the lights dim, the class says “Om”, and an Indian duet echoes through the room, slipping the class into a shared meditative hypnotic daze. The experience was refreshing and cleansing, and lived up to every expectation. Walking out of the class, it was the same feeling after just leaving a massage. Cleansed, relaxed, and refreshed. Though the yoga styles are numerous (hot, acrobatic, and meditation-styled are available here), no matter what style you choose, yoga is a necessary refresher for the stressed student. My yoga experience blew me away, and regardless of where you take the class, I highly recommend this. Namaste.
SportsDome sinks
New parody sports show misses the mark By Brendan Perry Staff Writer Two of America’s biggest fake news producers have come together. Comedy Central, home to humorous news shows like The Colbert Report and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, has joined forces with The Onion, the nation’s top comedic newspaper. The combined product—Onion’s Sportsdome, a faux sports news show that strives to create and explore amusing and unusual sports headlines. While this show may seem like it would be funny and unique, it is not. Sportsdome, a spoof on ESPN’s Sportscenter, fails as a television show. While the show’s headlines of Miami’s big three demanding new rules for basketball or the St. Louis Cardinals giving slugger Albert Pujols a functioning key to the city may have given me a slight chuckle at first listen, they failed to produce laughs when executed in length. Similar to The Onion’s
n e w s p a p e r, the headlines are far more amusing than the content. Viewers are seehistory.net forced to listen to joke after joke on the same obscure topic. Only a few of the jokes are actually funny, giving the show an uncomfortable feel. I found myself literally fastforwarding through many of the segments. Unlike its fellow comedy news programs, Sportsdome makes up its news stories, rather than putting a comical spin on a current issue. If instead of fabricating ridiculous stories like NFL retirees escaping the institution, they poked fun at a current issue in sports, the way Colbert and Stewart make fun of politics, the show could be much funnier. But instead what we are left with is an SNL style show of sketch comedy with none of the talent.
Feature
Thursday, February 10, 2011 - Tiger
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Personality Profile: Nick Primuth By Sofi Goode Staff Writer
Sam & Luka’s Awesome Adventures in the Greater L.A. Area
Sam Gurley
Top: Luka on a cruise. Far Left: The duo in front of an aquarium exhibit. Left: Sam coercing a parrot in the aquarium’s aviary. By Luka Douridas Associate Opinion Editor This month, Master Adventurers Sam and Luka spent hours scratching their heads, trying to plot their next Awesome Adventure. After mindlessly clicking our way through web pages and flipping through trendy L.A. culture ‘zines, we kept coming up empty-handed. However, once thirst plagued our throats, we both attained the same brilliant idea. “Water?” we said simultaneously, with cautious optimism. Could it be that simple? Two mischievous smiles slowly formed. Ten minutes later, we hit the freeway. It seems almost too clichéd for SoCal adventurers to set their sights on the beach. But the more we progressed down the 710, the more we knew that Long Beach—our choice shore—was the perfect place to go. The first thing we noticed once we reached the docks was how picturesque everything was. Shoreside Village, where we parked Sam’s sweet ride, looked like a life-sized version of something that would be used to accompany a toy train track. There, after grabbing some Italian food, we came
across a trio of teenage girls from China who asked to pose with us for a picture. Flattered, we complied—with accompanying peace signs, of course. But, we realized, that’s not why we came there—so we walked down to the docks to purchase two tickets for a 45-minute harbor cruise. While we waited for the ship to board, we headed over to the famed Aquarium of the Pacific, where while exploring its perimeters, we accidentally managed to enter free of charge. Taking advantage of the opportunity, we spent nearly an hour smiling at fish before we had to board our ship. And what a ship it was! We couldn’t contain our smiles as the wind caressed our faces. After chatting with tourists, soaking in the sunlight, and waving at seals, we knew that it was the highlight of our trip. After we returned to port, the sun began to set, and we headed back to our car, tired and happy. But we weren’t satisfied without a little competitive gaming, so we headed to the arcade, where we left with a few cheap toys. And as we drove home, we couldn’t contain our happiness— we heartily laughed the whole way. ‘Til next time. Sam and Luka out.
Red hair stands out anywhere, but in America, most people don’t reach out and touch it when they see it. Nick Primuth, who lived in China at two different points in his life, has had people reach out to touch his hair, simply because they’d never seen red hair before. Primuth was born in North Carolina, but he moved to China when he was only a few weeks old. He lived in Beijing until he was three, then moved to South Pasadena. He and his family went back to live in Shanghai for two years when Primuth was in fifth grade, then returned here. Primuth spent his mornings in a Chinese public school and was home-schooled in the afternoons. Although most of his close friends were American, he also had friends native to China. It was in Shanghai that Primuth first started to play guitar. “One of my [soccer] teammates played guitar and sang. It was my first experience seeing just a guy on guitar singing. He really inspired me and I really looked up to him. It was the first time I really thought I wanted to play music.” Before his teammate taught him to play guitar, Pri-
Jennifer Kim
Senior Nick Primuth strums his guitar while humming a few bars of his newest song. muth was already musically inclined. He had taken piano lessons on and off for most of his life. Growing up, he participated in multiple church choirs and musicals. In fourth grade, he sang in the Los Angeles Children’s Chorus, quite an accomplishment for a nine-year-old. Primuth joined the school band in fifth grade, playing the trumpet. Today, he plays baritone horn, but he says guitar is definitely his favorite instrument. “It’s so versatile,” he said.
“It gives you a lot of freedom.” Freedom is important for Primuth, especially since he writes his own songs. He wants to be a singer/songwriter and plans to minor in music next year at Azusa Pacific University. He hopes to return to China this summer and continue going back throughout his life. “It’s given me better people skills,” Primuth said. “I learned to interact with lots of different kinds of people from all walks of life.”
Why you need to catch some Z’s By Angela Jang Business Manager Finals, tests, and homework are some of the reasons that cause students to stay up late into the night until 12 a.m., preventing the students from being well-rested. It is a mystery why sleep is a basic necessity for both human and animals; however, research shows that the lack of sleep can bring both emotional and physical damage. Lack of sleep may result in drowsiness, insomnia, a lack of concentration, Sleep Apnea, Restless Leg Syndrome, Narcolepsy, snoring, and sleepwalking. “During finals I had a student who tried to present but could not get through the presen-
tation”, said Ms. Greenhouse, 9th and 12th grade English teacher, “because, as he admitted, he was up all night working on the presentation.” In that case, how can drowsiness and the effects of sleeping disorder be prevented? According to the National Sleep Foundation, the average amount of sleep required for older-aged children and teenagers is 9 hours, adult is 8 hours, and preschool children is 10 to 12 hours. Researchers say that the best way to maximize the sleeping time is to sleep and wake up at a standard time. One’s body can slowly adapt to the standard time, if this habit was conducted continuously.
Before going to bed, stopping oneself from eating excessively and staying away from caffeine-filled drinks after dinner are helpful steps towards the prevention of sleeping disorder. Most important of all, make sure the environment and the temperature where one sleeps is quiet and comforting. Research agrees that temperatures above 75 degrees Fahrenheit or below 54 degrees may cause sleep disorder. It is recommended to turn down the heater and instead use warm blankets and clothes. The lack of sleep cannot be “cured” just by sleeping excessively during the weekends. Sleeping should be a continuous, scheduled habit.
Perfect sixths: standout choir sextet sings Ingrid Michaelson By Ande Withers Staff Writer Last month, the Arroyo Seco Ensemble and Oneonta Choir held their annual Winter Choir Concert. Although each group performed a myriad of songs, the highlight of the evening was the individual projects, which comprised no more than six members of the Arroyo Seco Ensemble. These groups of singers were given the opportunity to work independently: choose their own song, divide their own parts, and practice on their own time. Despite several memorable performances, one of the most entrancing was the
display put on by seniors Sean Nang, Nick Primuth, Anthony San Pedro, Steven Xing, and juniors Laurel Kitada and Naomi Krieger. So how did they do it? Nang and Primuth already frequently sing together in ASE, and Krieger and Kitada are best friends, but the most important aspect of putting together this powerful group of singers was equilibrium. “We just needed a balanced group, one where everyone’s voices could complement each other and everyone’s individual talents could be highlighted,” said Kitada. As any student knows, putting together an inde-
pendent project is no easy task—but in this case, it was especially intimidating. “Occasionally, we would present it to [choirmaster Mr. Gray] to make sure we were on track,” said Nang, “but the assignment was to do your own thing.” How does one divide a song between six people? “We kind of just sat down at a piano and…we just did it,” said Primuth, who was the primary decision-maker in choosing “The Way I Am,” by Ingrid Michaelson. One reason that the audience was so drawn to these individual performances was familiarity. The songs that the entire choirs perform are
traditional pieces, many of which originate from the 19th century or prior. “We wanted people to recognize the song,” said Krieger. “When the audience can identify the song, it makes it a lot of fun, for us and for them.”
Photographer
This six-man group was obviously very different, having experience with different voices and genre preferences. But the group came together to create, as they said, a balance that made their performance extremely
successful, and a wonderful complement to the traditional songs that the choir performs. “I really enjoyed all of the projects,” said Krieger. “[This project] gave us the opportunity to sing a song that we really wanted to sing.”
16 Tiger - Thursday, February 10, 2011
Valentine’s Day
Denise Gill & Casey Shotwell February 14th is just a few days away, so Tiger thought it only fitting to cover some of South Pasadena’s cutest sweethearts.
Qylan Salazar & Carly Muir You might have seen a couple around campus, wrapped in one another’s arms, and enraptured by each other’s
eyes. Qylan Salazar and Carly Muir are that loving pair that just recently celebrated their 3 month anniversary. When last
they exchanged gifts, Carly received jewelry and Qylan recieved assorted Dodger apparel. (See left) It wasn’t always easy for Carly and Qylan to stay together. When they first started dating Qylan was living and going to school in Ventura while Carly was going to school at South Pasadena. Qylan recently returned to SPHS. “I came back to South Pas to be with Carly,” he said. According to them, that distance was the only hang up in their love saga, and now that they’ve braved a long distance relationship, they couldn’t name a single things they didn’t like about one another. “We love everything about each other!” Carly said. And now that Qylan gets his daily dose of his “Vitamin C” things are only going to get better.
Unlike some couples, neither Ms Gill nor Mr. Shotwell knows exactly when their first date was; the spring of 2000 is about as specific as either of them can get. The two got to know each other through a group of mutual friends, although according to Mr. Shotwell he “got the cold shoulder” upon their first meeting. Ms Gill has a different version of the story to tell: she was supposed to meet a few other teachers (who, unbeknownst to her, had invited Mr. Shotwell along) at a theater in Old Town to see a Drew Barrymore movie called Never Been Kissed, but was unable to find them in the darkened theater and so was “forced to watch this terrible movie, all by [herself].” Af-
Nichole Clark & Caleb Lewis
Caleb Lewis and Nichole Clark didn’t exactly have the most conventional first date. “We tried to go to the movies and ended up having to pan handle for money,” Nichole laughed recalling the moment, “but we had fun.” The pair, together since the summer of 2009, thrives on just
Destinee Pires & Laura Selig Destinne Pires and Laura Selig aren’t your average couple. They have been together since November 16, 2010, and have only gone on one official date since they have been together. But, yes, they’re Facebook Official. Hanging out with the same crowd during school, they got to know one another and quickly sparked a relationship. They explained that it is easy for them to talk and understand one another because they come from similar backgrounds. The three months that
Page by Coleman Rainey Photos by Tai Carter, Sam Gurley Stories by Alex Tranquada, Jake Folsom, Michael Abelev, Libby Rainey, Chloe Lloyd
terwards, already in a bad mood because of her poor movie going experience, she was confused to see Mr. Shotwell because “[she] had no idea who he was or why he was there.” The date of their engagement is also a mystery. Mr. Shotwell planned to propose by the Grand Canyon while they were on a cross-country road trip together, but Ms Gill’s allergies “killed the moment” and they were forced to vacate the flower-filled field he had chosen for the occasion. Despite these small bumps in the road, they will have been married for 9 years on July 5th of this year and wouldn’t change anything about the other person; in the words of Mr. Shotwell, “If I changed anything, she wouldn’t be her.”
they have been together has brought them many memorable moments, including walking the Rose Parade floats till five in the morning. One gift they have exchanged, they always have on them: a necklace with a key on it for Laura, and a necklace with a heart for Destinee. “Everyday is a date with my girlfriend,” said Destinee. When asked if being a gay couple is difficult, they said that since the very beginning it wasn’t awkward for them and their friends. They are open about their relationship and people treat them like anyone else – normal.
that sort of laid back and unusual atmosphere. They skipped traditional Christmas gifts this year and instead bought each other snakes. Named Salazar and Nagini for the Harry Potter series, the reptiles live at Caleb’s house. Nichole has warmed up to idea of holding the pets, but Caleb is in charge when it comes to feeding them live mice. Besides housing the snakes, Caleb’s house is also a regular dinner stop for the pair. “I eat dinner at his house almost every night,” says Nichole. When feeling a bit more ambitious, they will venture out to Kabuki in Old Town Pasadena, their favorite restaurant. Does the couple, cleverly dubbed “Lewis and Clark”, have any secret pet peeves? “Oh yes,” said Nichole, “He does this mumbling thing…” Caleb is slightly less forward with his criticism, although he eventually concedes, “She can get riled up.” Light-hearted even when debating their flaws, the pair laughs off their imperfections. Says Lewis, “I love my girlfriend.”
Alice LeNghiem & Grady Kinnoin Grady and Alice have been dating for 7 months, and their anniversary lies on July 11th. Spend any amount of time with the couple and it is apparent that they are more then just a couple they’re best friends. The romance began when Alice asked Grady to prom last year, and has grown since into a comfortable and playful relationship. Their first date was on Melrose where the couple enjoyed a fine night on the town walking around, and going to dinner. Common interests such as music, style, and humor are what brought the couple together.
A special aspect of Grady and Alice’s relationship is the handmade necklaces, bracelets, and rings that the two make for each other. When asked about their strongest relationship trait Grady stated, “We’re really comfortable with each other, like I can fart on Alice’s face and she won’t get mad.” One particular fight the couple had occurred when Alice did not make Grady’s bed correctly, and Grady became upset. Alice’s nickname for Grady is “gwaybbl” and Grady’s nickname for Alice is “nooder” as in the Asian pronunciation of “noodle”. The two are in fact, Facebook Official.
Sports - Player Profiles Her endless hours of hard work and dedication paid off when in August, she and the varsity team were invited to train in Hungary. Hathaway knows that she has improved partly because of the trip to Hungary, but she can’t help but notice other benefiting factors when the team’s success increases dramatically. “We’re stronger as a team because of the trip. We learned to depend on one another because in a place where didn’t speak the same language, all we had was each other,” she said. Hathaway’s love for water polo will last forever, but she isn’t interested in playing past high school. She says she has a passion for teaching and has applied to UCLA, UC Berkeley, and UC Davis. Despite her talent, Hathaway remains modest, giving much credit to her team and the support of the community. “I feel like our team plays for our city, and I’m proud to be on the team.”
~ Kelsey Hess
Focused, dedicated, and intense are all words that describe senior wrestling captain Chris Nuñez. Nuñez began wrestling in eighth grade and has been on varsity since freshman year. Some of his accomplishments include All-Area 1st team as a sophomore, lower weight MVP as a junior, and placing third at the California Invitational. Nuñez’s achievements are a reflection of his hard work and dedication. Along with daily 4 hour wrestling practices and 14 hour wrestling tournaments, Nuñez also has another commitment to success: dieting. Nuñez’s diet lives by three rules: no sugars, no fat, and no salt. Nuñez wrestles in the 125 pound weight class, and in order to compete in this class he must weigh in no more than 127 pounds. “Everything motivates me to compete. It’s a hard sport. You have to be in shape, know your moves, have the right mindset, and no body fat,” he said.
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Nuñez credits the success he enjoys to his family and younger siblings. Though his season has been plagued with injuries including a sprained ankle, a torn rotator cuff, a torn tendon in his finger, and a cracked rib, Nuñez remains optimistic about to reaching his goal. “It has been my dream to make it to state since freshman year, and I am very close this year,” he said. Aside from going to state, Nuñez hopes to continue his wrestling career at Cuesa College in San Luis Obispo. Nuñez has faced both trouble and triumph through wrestling. “Wrestling has taught me to enjoy the little things like being able to sleep in and eat. I have also learned that discipline makes life a lot easier, and the importance of being mentally mature.” Nuñez’s love and dedication to the sport is sure to keep him on his continued path of success.
~ Chloe Lloyd
CHRIS NUÑEZ
ANNA-LENA HATHAWAY
As far as Anna-Lena Hathaway is concerned, the keys to mastering water polo are simply technique and timing. If only it’s as simple as she makes it look. “To know when to start swimming, when to pick your head up, when to hit… it’s all just part of the game,” the senior said. Hathaway has been interested in playing water polo from a young age, and in seventh grade she joined a club team. She was hesitant about trying out for the team as a freshman, but her coach encouraged her, and she made varsity. “I knew I had to be humble coming onto the team, and I earned the respect of my teammates quickly,” she said. And the level of player cohesion has proved critical for the function of South Pasadena’s water polo team. Four years later, Anna-Lena Hathaway is one of the team’s strongest players. Hathaway’s position as the “sprinter” makes her the first player of the team who races to the ball at the start of every game.
Thursday, February 10, 2011 - Tiger
Tai Carter
Sam Gurley
KELSEY LEE
Sam Gurley
BEN CHARNEY Jennifer Kim
A member of the varsity tennis and soccer teams since his freshman year, Benjamin Charney ranks among the best athletes in the Rio Hondo League. As a sophomore, Charney helped the tennis squad to qualify for CIF, where he won all three of his matches. In his junior year he led the soccer team to its first CIF appearance in almost a decade. Tiger soccer qualified again for CIF this season thanks primarily to Charney’s offensive talent. Despite these accomplishments, Benjamin’s fondest memory may be the goal he scored as a freshman in his first varsity soccer game, or being selected as a starting varsity singles tennis player his freshman year. Chosen to be captain for both tennis and soccer, Benjamin radiates a quiet confidence that has earned him the respect of his teammates and coaches. Charney’s athletic career is characterized not only by outstanding success, but also by a remarkable number of injuries. Before high school he broke both his
arm and his collarbone playing soccer. He missed half of the league soccer games his freshman year because of an injury, yet still emerged as the team’s leading scorer. As a sophomore he broke his foot, but repeated this goal-scoring feat. Charney has continued to battle strained muscles and stress fractures as well as opposing players on both the tennis court and soccer field even as a senior. “Urgent care is my second home,” he jokes, adding that the X-ray guy knows his name. Sports will continue to play a central role in Charney’s life even as he makes the leap from high school to college. He hopes to attend Grinnell, Roger Williams, Connecticut, or Muhlenburg College where he will play tennis and possibly soccer. Although he has yet to hear back from his colleges of choice, it is a forgone conclusion that his diverse skill-set will be a welcome addition to any collegiate sports program.
~Max White
Wearing the jersey emblazoned with #1 , Kelsey Lee is under a lot of pressure to perform on the basketball court. As a fouryear varsity veteran and two-year Captain, Lee is expected to always be “on her game.” After ten years on the court, Lee has lived up to her expectations with ease. In fact, Lee embraces the responsibility, playing both point and shooting guard, although she prefers point because it allows her to be a playmaker and see the entire court. As captain, Lee sees it as her job to be a leader and unify the program. Lee says that what makes the sport so great is “being with the team. Between tournaments, practice, and league, I spend more time with them than my actual family!” Lee is the leading scorer for the Tigers, averaging 12.4 points a game. In the February 5th league win against La Cañada, Kelsey scored 20 points out of 49 for the team. Sinking four three-point shots, Kelsey is no stranger to making big plays, although
she says that “finding your groove” is the hardest part of basketball. Lee has always considered herself an athlete; she started playing in an Asian community basketball league when she was seven and is in her fourth year of running track for South Pasadena High School. Lee says she no longer feels nervous before even the biggest games. But don’t mistake Lee’s confidence for lack of caring. “Since it’s my last year, I take every game seriously. I make it clear to my teammates that some of us only have one shot [left].” Looking toward the future, Kelsey would like to attend University of Redlands and major in speech pathology, but says that if the opportunity to play basketball at the collegiate level arises, she would be very interested. With her infectious smile and tenacious attitude on and off the court, there’s no doubt that Kelsey will continue to be a force to be reckoned with.
~Jessica Moog
18 Tiger - Thursday, February 10, 2011
Sports
Boys soccer in position for playoffs
CIF chances slim for bball
Tigers fight for second place finish in conference
Team hopes to even record as season winds down By Josh Roquemore Staff Writer
Tai Carter
Senior midfielder McKay Hatch dribbles the ball while looking for an open teammate. By Christian Miyamae Assoc. Sports Editor As the season comes to a close, South Pasadena soccer has remained at a constant third place throughout the season with a 10-7-2 record. Leading the way for the boys has been senior captain Benjamin Charney – who leads the team in goals with eight- and junior Steven Blackwell. On Tuesday, February 8, the Tigers continued their late success with a 1-0 victory against Temple City. This game was the deciding factor for the Tigers to clinch a CIF spot. With both teams carrying high spirits throughout, it was in the second half that Charney came
through in the clutch to score the winning goal. “It was an awesome feeling. At first it was a frustrating game because [South Pasadena] had a lot of missed opportunities to score, and it was late in the game so it was a good feeling to finally score. A perfect feeling,” said Charney on his winning goal. On February 4, South Pas battled the first place La Cañada Spartans. Despite going into the game with high hopes, the Tigers
2/02 SPHS v. Blair 2-0 W
were off to a slow start as La Cañada quickly took the game with two early goals. That turned out to be the difference in the game. Scoring those goals were seniors Mathew Canatta and Cameron Meeker. The boys have already secured a CIF spot, but their final league game will be tonight against Monrovia. “We’ve worked harder this year and the team is more intense overall,” said senior captain Matt Nelson.
2/04 SPHS v. La Cañada 0-2 L
2/08 SPHS v. Temple City 1-0 W
Girls soccer falls short in league League championship out of reach; CIF next on agenda By Wyatt Bukowski Staff Writer On Tuesday the South Pasadena girls soccer team traveled to Temple City to take on the Rams in an important league game. The girls started fast with a goal from senior Stacy Lee in the first half. Later in the game, fellow senior Madeline Godwin contributed with a goal of her own to secure a 2-1 Tigers victory. The win gave the Tigers a second place ranking in league. With the win, the Tigers now own a league record of 6-1-2, and Temple City dropped to a record of 2-6-1 in league play. “I think we are really strong this year, we have some really good freshmen, and if we could just get a couple of goals we have a good chance at winning,” said senior Julia Dunn. Prior to the Temple City match, the Tigers squared off against the La Cañada Spartans last Friday in their biggest game of the season. Entering the match, South Pas held an impressive league record of 5-0-2, while the Spartans posted a record of 5-1-1. A win here would have put the Tigers in the driver’s seat for a league championship, but due to an early goal from a Spartan forward and the Tigers’ struggling offense, South Pas suffered their first league defeat with a final score of 0-2. “It was a tough loss, but I’m still proud of our team,” said senior captain Marian Slocum after the game. The Tigers now stand with a league record of 6-1-2, but the loss has taken them out of contention for a league title with La Cañada holding the tiebreaker over the two
teams. With one game remaining on their schedule, South Pas can only hope to secure second place and gain momentum as they enter the playoffs. “If we come together as a unit, especially us 12 seniors on the team, and we play hard every time we step on the field, we are a very good team,” said senior Tara Aalem when asked about the team’s chances of succeeding in CIF. The Tigers will play their final league game at home against the Monrovia Wildcats today. The Tigers must win today’s game in order to secure a second place finish in league and a sure CIF berth.
In South Pasadena’s last home game of the season, the Tigers managed a win against Temple City Rams on Tuesday, February 8. After trailing the Rams for the majority of the game, the Tigers made a comeback in the final quarter and won 58-56. “We fo ught hard and didn’t give up,” said junior captain JJ Shields, “and we came out with the win.” A catalyst for the Tigers’ win was junior Zach Lindecamp. Lindecamp made several three-pointers late in the game, which gave the boys the edge they needed to win. “ We p l ay e d h a r d a l l game; we knew we had to get a Katie Whitworth win for CIF.” said Lindecamp. Junior Alireza Jabalameli fights through the “I was hoping we could just Blair defense for a second-chance basket. hold on ‘till the end.” The Tigers suffered a tough loss today. The winner of the game will to the La Cañada Spartans on Friday, have a much greater chance of makFebruary 4. The final score was 32-69 ing the playoffs. South Pasadena was and the Spartans retained their unde- defeated by Monrovia in their previous feated league record. However, two match-up, and tensions are high as both days earlier, the Tigers handed Blair a teams hope to make their last league game a memorable one. 73-68 defeat. “I want to stress to the kids “We can beat these teams,” said junior captain James Kawakami, “we that [today] is a little bit of a revenge [just] need to play with passion; we game,” said Parry. “I think we can go to Monrovia and give them a little can’t lose our energy.” Head coach Skip Parry believes gift--the same type of gift they gave us the boys have shown vast improvement last time.” in playing extremely physical schools. “All year long we have had 02/04 2/02 02/08 trouble with very physical teams,” said SPHS SPHS SPHS v. Parry. “But we [have] weathered the v. La v. Blair Temple storm and made a comeback.” Cañada 73-68 W City The Tigers’ last game will be 32-69 L 58-56 W away against the Monrovia Wildcats
Right: Freshman Janel Ismail advances the ball upfield against La Cañada. Bottom: Senior Mallory Downing fights for the ball against a La Cañada opponent. The Tigers lost 0-2. 02/04 SPHS v. LC 0-2 L 02/08 SPHS v. TC 2-1 W Photos by Tai Carter
Sports
Thursday, February 10, 2011 - Tiger
19
Wrestling reaches potential By Michael Abelev Staff Writer
Edmund Mandin-Lee
Senior Adam Ismail pins his San Marino opponent at league finals.
Girls water polo Although junior varsity girls water polo has not experienced the same success as their varsity counterparts, they have definitely proven their potential for success. Led by sophomore team captains, Carolyn Magistrale and America Hall, the young team has played to a 4-7 league overall. Another sophomore, Hannah Vaden is becoming an impact player on this team. Despite the less than stellar record, water polo seems to have enough talent to keep them on top of Rio Hondo for years to come.
Wrestling dominated in the Rio Hondo League Finals this last Saturday, competing against all Rio Hondo schools except Temple City and Blair. Overall, the Tigers came out with 5 league champions and 9 finalists. Junior Chris Nuñez placed first in his weight class and was named MVP of the tournament and the league. Alongside Nuñez, junior Ned Estrada and senior Alex Larrimore were among some of those who set first place. “Personally, I got first place but I still think I could have wrestled better since I think I performed really badly,” said Estrada. The week before, the Tigers fell to the La
Girls soccer
Boys basketball
Much like the varsity squad, girls JV soccer has done very well in league boasting a record of 4-0-2. Led by sophomore captains Charlie Gleeson and Cody Galvez, the girls are quietly putting together a solid season. Much of their success can be credited to an impressive freshmen class which features Olivia Folsom, Kelly Brady, Dani Ulmer, and Helena Van Loan, along with the consistent play of goalie of Claire Bilderback. The young talent being displayed by this team is a sign of things to come for the future of girls soccer.
Girls basketball For JV girls basketball, the 2011 season has been a rebuilding year. The girls have an overall record of 3-15. Freshman Sandra Hurtado, who has the highest number of points per game, and sophomore Alyssa Naritoku are the stars of the team. “They work hard,” Coach Steven Garcia said. “They’ll definitely be better next year when [the freshman] have some experience.” “We really came together as group,” Naritoku said. “[The team] has improved a lot as a whole.”
Cañada in a heartbreaking lose on February 1, losing 47-32, putting their league championship in jeopardy. Though South Pasadena wasn’t able to reach its full potential against La Cañada, they were able to show their stripes in the California Wrestling Invitational Tournament at Morro Bay High School, held on January 21 & 22, sending multiple wrestlers into illumination rounds. “At Morro Bay, we had the highest finish in South Pas Wrestling history. I couldn’t be happier. Out of all 64 schools that competed, Chris Nunez set 3rd overall [in the 125 weight class],” said Coach Robinette. With multiple wrestlers in CIF, the squad looks to make a deep run into the playoffs.
Boys soccer
The South Pasadena JV boys are wrapping up their season with their last game on Thursday, February 10th against the Monrovia Wildcats. The team has had a trying season with a league record of 3-6. Two upstanding players on the team, are junior captain Sid Vyas and freshman captain Logan Wong. Coach Nick Bates has been leading the Tigers this year and remains optimistic about the future of South Pasadena’s JV team. “I think they have worked hard and learned the value of winning,” said Coach Bates. “The guys returning to JV will be ten times stronger next year.”
With varsity boys soccer on their way to CIF, junior varsity is also representing South Pasadena well with a solid 14-2-3 record. Leading the team in goals are freshmen Zachary Dunn and Heven Gomez. Along with this strong offense, the defense has also been a key factor in the Tigers’ success. Sophomore goalies Corey Keenan and Sean Hartman have allowed only six goals so far this season. With a strong nucleus of JV players, varsity has a lot to look forward to in the coming seasons.
20 Tiger - Thursday, February 10, 2011
Sports
Sports Girls Soccer
La Cañada So. Pasadena San Marino Monrovia Temple City Blair
2010-2011 Rio Hondo League Standings
Wins Losses Ties G. Basketball
7 6 6 3 2 0
1 1 2 5 6 8
1 2 1 1 1 0
Monrovia So. Pasadena Blair La Cañada San Marino Temple City
Wins
9 8 5 3 2 0
Losses
0 1 4 6 7 9
Speaking of
Sports Lana Ho
Jennifer Kim
Inherent Injustice
Katie Whitworth
Sophomore Sabrina Pierce prepares to shoot a goal against La Cañada on Feb 3. The Tigers easily won 26-2.
Girls water polo prepares for CIF After back-to-back league championships, girls water polo eyes their first CIF title in nearly a decade By Brendan Perry Staff Writer Varsity girls water polo earned first place at the 10th annual Oxnard Tournament on January 29, demonstrating on the regional stage what they have already proved in the Rio Hondo league—the Tigers cannot be stopped. The Tigers had expected the late-January tournament to be a true test for them as they prepare for CIF play, and it was.
2/01 SPHS v. Temple City 22-12 W
They faced top ranked teams from around Southern California, including non-league rival Crescenta Valley. The Falcons have been the only team to defeat the Tigers this year, handing South Pas two heartbreaking losses, the first coming in the finals of the Los Altos Tournament. Since South Pasadena’s 9-8 loss to the Falcons on December 15, the Tigers have won 12 straight games and improved their overall record to 20-2. Eager for payback, the Tigers went into the tournament
2/03 SPHS v. La Cañada 26-2 W
2/08 SPHS v. Pasadena Poly 19-11 W
matchup determined to win. The game was close once again, with both teams showing off their impressive defenses. Ultimately, it was South Pasadena that came out on top. Led by two goals from tournament MVP and freshman Devin Grab, the Tigers were finally able to defeat CV, 5-3. “We were able to shut down the other teams’ offenses throughout the tournament. We had really good passing, and were able to trust each other on offense and defense,” said Grab. The Tigers went undefeated in the challenging tournament, and feel even more confident about their chances in CIF. “We came together as a team defensively and that’s what
enabled us to pull off the win against those tough teams like Ventura and CV,” said senior captain Tyler Brown. South Pasadena continued their domination in league this season, defeating La Cañada 26-2 last Thursday. Decisive league victories have become a trend for South Pasadena, averaging double-digit victories against conference opponents thus far. The Tigers have not yet lost in league, and have already clinched first place and the league title. Their goal during the last few conference games will be to prepare for their CIF matchups and to stay focused on the ultimate prize—becoming CIF champions.
Girls basketball goes one-on-one with Monrovia By Sofi Goode Staff Writer Girls basketball is performing well this season with a league record of 8-1 and a second place league standing. The top three teams in league will advance to CIF. “Our record is better than I expected,” Coach Rich Kitagawa said. “We’ve had a tough schedule and it’s a rebuilding year, but I’m really proud of them.” In their most recent and final home game against Temple City, the Tigers triumphed over the Rams with a 46-25 win. For the first quarter of the game, Coach Kitagawa played all of his seniors – Lana Ho, Kay Huang, Alex Kubela, Jennifer Wong, Katie Nakamura, Emma Mitchell and Kelsey Lee. Even though many of the girls don’t start in a regular game, the Tigers scored the first basket and stayed ahead for nearly the entire game. The win keeps the Tigers second in league and puts the Rams permanently out of CIF contention.
Jennifer Kim
Junior Kelsey Nakamura drives past four San Marino defenders on her way to the basket. The girls started off league play with a four game winning streak, but their streak was ultimately broken in the game versus Monrovia on January 21. The Wildcats scored the first basket and held the lead for the whole
game, resulting in a 37-57 loss for the Tigers. The Tigers recorded a 41-38 come-from-behind win the following week in another game against their arch-rivals from San Marino. The next two games against Blair and La Cañada both went into an overtime period of four minutes. In the last seconds of both contests, the Tigers managed to obtain a lead. They defeated Blair 58-57 and the La Cañada 49-47. “We keep fighting,” Coach Kitagawa said. “We’ve got eleven girls out there with the flu. It really shows the heart of the team.” Tonight, the Tigers play their final league game against Monrovia.
02/08 02/04 02/02 SPHS SPHS v. SPHS v. TC LC v. Blair 58-57 W 49-47 W 46-25 W
This isn’t a rant about misogyny in sports. I could go on about the lack of respect female athletes are given and address one of the most harmless-but-harmful jokes thrown around, the one in which the joker asks an unsuspecting jokee “Do you want to hear a joke?” and the punch line is “women’s [insert name of sport here].” Instead, I focus on an issue closer to home: the inherent inequality that exists between male and female athletics. Here at SPHS, our cheerleaders and bands do a good job of attending both boys and girls games equally. But I can’t say the same for other Rio Hondo League schools. During away games, I’ve noticed a peculiar trend: pep squads and bands don’t show up until the boy’s game. My varsity girls’ basketball team, with an impressive 8-1 record in league, attracts dismal audiences, while the boys’ varsity game, which follows ours, brings in a full house of fans. This might be due to the convenient time slot of the boys’ game – 7:15. That’s when parents get home from work and that’s when students are usually freed from their extracurricular activities. There’s also the fact that boys’ games conventionally attract more viewers than girls’ games. There’s no denying that. But that’s not the problem. The problem is that our unfortunate game-time slot is made worse by the lack of support of the bands and cheerleading squads. When these school-sponsored organizations decide that they only have time for one game, and forgo the other, they are subconsciously telling the audience not to come. They are telling entire teams that they are unimportant. If the girls’ games are at too inconvenient a time, perhaps we should the 7:15 time slot between girls’ and boys’ teams. Or maybe, those squads that can’t be bothered to cheer for three hours shouldn’t bother cheering at all. If the lack of support at the girls’ games isn’t due to timing, but inherent disrespect by school-sponsored organizations, then we have an entirely different – and more serious – problem on our hands.
[inside] Read up on wrestling as they prepare for the playoffs. Edmund Mandin-Lee
page 19 See how the junior varsity sports are doing this
season.
Sam Gurley
page 19