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The SPHS Band department will be conducting their Jazz Night on Friday, April 28.
AP Subject Exams will begin through campus on Monday, May 1 and continue until Friday, May 12.
SPHS will host their annual Junior/ Senior Prom to the theme of Supernova on Saturday, May 6.
The Autry Museum of the American West, located in Griffith Park, held their annual high school student visual arts exhibition on Saturday, Apr. 22. The exhibition also showcased the 2D visual artwork of 12 SPHS students, a striking increase in student recognition at the prestigious competition. This year, the exhibition was held in-person, unlike last year’s digital exhibition on the Autry Museum website.
Dedicated to exploring an inclusive history of the American West, the Autry Museum is on a mission to provide world-class art galleries showcasing diverse heritages. The 2023 theme is Visions of Solidarity, and the Autry prompted students in the Los Angeles area with the following questions, “What does solidarity look like to you? How do you support others through solidarity and how are you supported in return?” The competition accepted submissions from November 2022 through March 2023.
The 12 honored SPHS students are seniors Hanna Preston, Sirius Mackie, Jonathan Chiu, Allison Lee, Basil How Tung Sang, Luna Encinas, Jenny Pietrzik, Celeste Shuton, and Madison Chase, juniors Lorenzo Guerra and Enzo DeFelice, alongside sophomore Ella Petrunia.
“It was very eye-opening. I was very proud that at least the judges considered my piece. It was very fun to know that I’m actually getting my first exhibit. The theme was visions of solidarity, meaning uniting or being together. I portrayed that through different emotions in my photo,” Guerra said.
Tiger explores the hardships that low-income students face at SPHS that bar individuals from attending events while also being supported for specific academic activities.
Guerra’s photo, a self portrait titled, Seclusion in Myself, originally taken for his sustained investigation in AP Photography, explored emotions of anxiety, stress, and pressure. He used long exposure, a technique that keeps the camera shutter open for a long period of time, allowing the photographer to capture stationary elements while blurring movement in between poses.
“My work shows the solidarity of oneself through fragments of feminine and masculine merging together into one body. To be authentically myself and shine in that way I have to let myself live in authenticity amongst a society that tries to break or erase me,” How said.
How took a self portrait of themself, titled Iridescent Fragments looking into a mirror with their hand reached out and used Photoshop to create a collage of colors that symbolized their identity.
“I feel proud that my work was chosen out of the many amazing works. I’m proud that I was able to showcase a piece of my culture…and I’m glad my work gave space for conversation about the beauty of Chinese culture,” Pietrzik said.
Pietrzik took a photo, titled Wishing Tree, of a Chinese New Year (CNY) wishing tree. Particularly in the context of America’s current political climate, Pietrzik communicated solidarity through this CNY tradition.
The Autry Museum will exhibit the selected works for a year until the new winners are announced in 2024.
Tiger analyzes the expansion of youth gambling that has rooted itself into video games in an engaging form known as gacha.
Tiger covers the LA Kubb Club’s annual tournament that took place on April 23, focused on the popular European sport Kubb.
Over the course of several months, more than 50 SPHS art students finalized their pieces for the 2023 Congressional Art Competition. Artists submitted their work to the annual, national competition where high school students submit a variety of mediums for their congressional representatives. Competing in the CA-28 distinct under Representative Judy Chu, 57 SPHS students had their art exhibited at the local Huntington
Park’s work, entitled “Heritage of Machinery,” is a culmination of his one year of SPHS art experience and his interest in art from his youth. After picking up art again in tenth grade through video game design, Park joined AP Studio Art after a portfolio review. Through this platform, Park was able to compete in the Congressional Art Competition this year.
“Heritage of Machinery” reflects on the changes in Korean culture as a result of modernization and societal expectation. Featuring a girl dressed in a corrupted version of the traditional, Korean hanbok, Park’s piece comments on the recent controversy in which the hanbok and kimono were called Chinese clothing.
“With so many important city officials and Judy Chu present, I was trembling in my seat,” Park said. “Receiving second place, while many might consider it disappointing since it isn’t first, I was extremely honored to receive any awards that night, especially coming from a background which lacks the technical skills or insight that many would have developed since a young age.”
Tran submitted a photography piece titled “Urban Odyssey,” featuring a statue in the rain symbolizing the struggles of achieving the “American Dream” and the harsh nature of cityscapes on both people and the environment.
Library and Botanical Garden on Thursday, April 13. Originating in 1982 as the Artistic Discovery Competition, a variety of themes have provided high school artists the platform to explore political issues through their work. 2023’s Congressional Art Competition followed the theme of “Let Freedom Ring,” a commentary on America’s work in being a beacon for hope and opportunity. Junior Hanniel Park and freshman Amelia Tran were selected as finalists for the competition by a panel of local artists and Judy Chu.
“I took the photo on film when I was in San Francisco. I was walking around during a rainstorm and came across a statue that had been given various articles of clothing,” Tran said. “The statue appeared to be struggling to reach the city, and I thought that it showed the struggle that many people go through.”
Park was given second place and Tran received an honorable mention as a finalist at the Congressional Art Competition Exhibition that took place on Thursday, Apr.il 13.
no one wants to talk about it,” Dekle said. “We want to demystify and de-stigmatize the word abortion.
San Gabriel Valley Planned Parenthood Peer Advocates (SGV PPSA) worked throughout the year on an “Impact Project,” with the goal of educating the community on Abortion Rights. The project is an annual initiative that includes information distribution and a social media campaign.
SPHS Peer Advocates juniors Charlotte Dekle and Elsie Waters, and seniors Alexa Morales and Parmis Baroumand Shamsedini, collaborated with other members of the SGV PPSA to complete the project.
Planned Parenthood was established in 1916 and is an organization that aims to improve sexual and reproductive health for all individuals in the community with education, access to health care, and advocacy.
Once students have been accepted to the SGV PPSA program through an application and interview, they undergo training that includes learning about reproductive rights and bodily autonomy, as well as a sex education course. Following training, advocates execute their chosen topic of impact project, and lead community education on the subject. This year’s chosen topic is abortion education, specifically minor’s rights concerning abortion.
“We chose this topic because information about abortion (especially after the fall of Roe), is shrouded in taboo and
The SPHS ASB hosted Club Activities Week on Monday, Apr. 17 through Friday, Apr. 21. The event showcased clubs from campus that had different activities for SPHS students to participate in. These clubs hosted competitions, games, sold foods, and items specific to their club.
Club Activities Week was originally started in 2016 by the former Commissioner of Clubs, Cameron Waters, but was not continued for the following years at SPHS due to issues such as the COVID pandemic shutting various activities down and other activities being created along the way. Club Activities Week was recently brought back by the current Commissioner of Clubs, senior Stephanie Law.
“[The previous Club Activities Week] was a different variation of what this year’s…will be,” Law said. “This year’s Club Activities Week is more focused
Dekle, Waters, Morales, and Baroumand Shamsedini worked alongside SGV PPSA members to lead presentations to admin, discussions about confidential medical release, as well as create pamphlets that contain information about youth rights and sexual health. As part of Morales’s contributions to the impact project she has helped lead presentations for both LAUSD board members and SPUSD administrators.
“I hope that this project shows students that they do have allies to turn to; and that even [if] the school has limited resources for sexual and reproductive health, [that] doesn’t mean they can’t access resources,” Morales said. Through the pamphlets that advocates passed out, Baromound Shamsedini hopes that they help to alleviate the knowledge gap she noticed about confidential medical release.
“I hope if this project has done anything, [it has] educated students on their reproductive rights… There’s a huge stigma surrounding abortion and people need to know that its okay to be vocal about it, thats why we titled our pamphlets ‘A teen’s guide to abortion!’” Baromound Shamsedini said.
The program runs an Instagram account @pppsgv_ peeradvocates, which provides information about the organization as well as the Impact Project.
on promoting these clubs and drawing students’ attention just in time for the new club application/ reinstatement process.”
The clubs that participated this year include the Red Cross Club, Women in Medicine, Coding Club, Chemistry Club, Science Club, LatinX Student Union, Black Student Union, Art Club, and World Wide Reading Buddies. Clubs that wanted to participate were selected after an announcement was posted by Law in the Clubs Google Classroom.
“I think it is important to have [Club Activities Week] to bring more students into the amazing club culture at South Pasadena High School,” Law said. “These clubs do a lot of work for our community and student body, and I think it is important to showcase that…The goal of this event is to draw student’s attention to clubs they may be interested in right before the new club reinstatement/ application process.”
Some activities that clubs hosted included cup pong games, prize games, and physical competitions such as arm wrestling and push up contests. The goal for clubs
that participated in this event was to draw attention to clubs that students may not have heard about just in time.
“We thought it would be good outreach to our student body if we participated in Club Activities Week. We will display a map of the world, about a table size, and have students place pins or marks where their family is from,” Rene Loera, President of the LatinX Student Union said. “This poster will be going in the office staff room so that administration and staff can see where their student body is from, and the diversity of this school. We…think [that Club Activities Week] should [also] continue for next year…”
Participating clubs hosted activities on different days throughout the week. On Monday, Apr. 17, the Red Cross Club and Women in Medicine were outside the Counseling Center and they hosted various activities, such as selling baked goods and bean bag tosses. The week closed out on Friday, Apr. 21 with the LatinX Student Union, the Black Student Union, and World Wide Reading Buddies.
STORY CLEMENTINE EVANSSGV Planned Parenthood Peer Advocates work to inform the public about minor’s abortion rights.
57 SPHS students submitted artwork for the theme “Let Freedom Ring.”STORY JAYDEN TRAN PHOTO SAMANTHA SHIROSHI STORY ROSE VANDEVELDE PHOTO MICHELLE SHADMON
PHOTOS SHIN-HYE (RACHEL) CHOI
Silverlake Ramen recently opened a new location here in South Pasadena. After years of a vacant Penguins Frozen Yogurt, the ramen company extended their chain, conveniently right in town.
Founded in 2017, Silverlake Ramen was franchised by owners Jitaek Lim and Thomas Aono. As Asian American chefs, the duo combined their experiences and passion for food to bring a new light to Japanese American cuisine.
“Silverlake embodies the free spirit and casual vibe of Los Angeles,” as stated on their website. “Cooked up by two chefs who drove their love for noodles and ramen, they dreamed up a brand that would be unpretentious and original in its way of thinking. Similar to the environment in which ramen was invented. We are now taking that vibe and serving bowls of it in locations across the nation.”
Since its founding, the chain has grown quite successfully, with 22 locations in California, including Monterey
Park, Chino Hills, and Koreatown. There are additional locations in Georgia, Texas, North Carolina, Washington, and Utah, and five new locations coming soon.
The South Pasadena branch was opened in March by franchisee Jinsu “Jimmy” Kim.
The restaurant serves a variety of Japanese and fusion New American-Japanese food, featuring ramen dishes, rice bowls, and side dishes. All seven ramen options are customizable with over 20 add-ons. Silverlake’s founders intended the incorporation of traditional ingredients to reclaim and empower Japanese cooking.
Popular items include their Crispy Chicken Karaage, their grilled gyoza, and their Classic Ramen, which features a creamy pork broth, a protein choice, greens, and their house seasoned egg. One ramen bowl ranges from around fifteen to eighteen dollars.
Silverlake Ramen is open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays from 11a.m. to 10 p.m. at 1105 Fair Oaks Ave.
Richard Nixon’s success in the 1946 congressional election catapulted him to the national spotlight. While in Congress, he spearheaded anti-communist sympathies and propagated Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy’s witch hunt. His most famous indictment was one of New Dealer Alger Hiss on a perjury charge. In fact, South Pasadena and local journalism helped him in his electoral triumph.
In his final remarks to the South Pasadena Review, thenunknown ex-Marine commander Richard M. Nixon wrote “If the people want bureaucratic control and domination with every phase of human activity regulated by Washington, then they should not vote for me, but for my opponent.”
The opponent in question was five-term incumbent for the California 12th Congressional district Jerry Voorhis. This brand of sharp-tongued vitriol was characteristic of Nixon’s campaign, especially the smear campaign he perpetuated in South Pasadena’s local paper.
Print media played a critical role in the proliferation of pro-Nixon propaganda. Nixon and his South Pasadena native campaign manager Harrison McCall set out to court the local papers to issue invective-like articles against his opponent.
The South Pasadena Review ran multiple articles about Voorhis’ supposed communist-ties. Voorhis had allegedly accepted an endorsement from the Congress of Industrial Organization — Political Action Committee (CIO-PAC), which was the first ever political action committee. Specifically, this PAC had its origins in unionizing and Voorhis’ detractors (many South Pasadena Review
columnists) associated this as communist sympathizing. Separate from the direct Nixon-Voorhis vitriol, the South Pasadena Review ran a story about the downfall of the labor movement, specifically in regards to the distinction between paid and unpaid laborers. The article stated, “it is not fair to pay a skillful worker the same as a weak or unskilled one, and the workers know it.” It eventually comes to the conclusion that “laborism” must be made as responsible as “capitalism” for the era of strikes.
A staunch anti-commist supporter, Nixon contrasted himself with Voorhis in his various written statements. Nixon promised “to resist with all my power the encroachments of foreign isms upon the American way of life.” By “foreign isms”, Nixon meant communism, socialism, and the like.
Voorhis tried hard to distance himself from this organization, but it inevitably tainted his campaign goals. In fact, the People’s World of San Francisco derided Voorhis for being anti-communist, a stance he took in stride. Voorhis writes in an Op-Ed,“The cry of “Communist” is a familiar political trick always used by those who are so bankrupt of ideas that they dare not discuss the real issues.”
The fight was not contained to print media. The NixonVoorhis race culminated in a highly contentious debate between the two men at South Pasadena Middle School. This debate was thoroughly covered by the paper in the weeks leading up and the pro-Nixon momentum assisted the Whittier native well. Nixon’s impressive performance at the South Pasadena debate cinched the win for him.
The town-hall-meeting-turned-debate, held on the 13th of September 1946, was a chaotic affair. Moderated by University of Southern California professor Carlton C. Rodee, the debates provided Nixon ample opportunity to eviscerate his opponent. Nixon supporters distributed anti-Voorhis propaganda at the door. Nixon arrived late to the debates, citing a previous commitment, arriving in the middle of Voorhis’ speech.
In his pre-planned rebuttal, Nixon wrote of veteran’s affairs, an especially pertinent topic given the immediate aftermath of World War 2. He cited a political flyer of Voorhis’ who claimed that Voorhis’ had voted in favor of every veteran’s initiative put before him in Congress, a statement presented in the flyer as a compliment.
“I have observed that those who shout the loudest in favor of pork barrel appropriation bills for veterans are office-holders and office-seekers who are not themselves veterans of any war.” Nixon said.
The paper printed the following issue that Nixon and Voorhis had expressed satisfaction with the debate. Additionally, the paper described how Nixon received one of the biggest hands of the night when he began to attack union groups (a dig at Voorhis’ union ties). The debate continued until a Voorhis supporter asked Nixon
His alleged communist ties were not the only controversy keeping Voorhis from office. The newspaper’s portrayals of Voorhis at this time is that it is riddled with antiintellectualism. One Op-Ed noted, “Born with a silver spoon in his mouth, [Voorhis] now proposes to represent the common man(...) It should be noted that he uses highsounding phrases in his talks with which it is difficult in many instances to find fault.”
Another crucial facet were the advertisements that ran in the South Pasadena Review in the weeks leading up to the debate. On page 10 of the May 24, 1946 issue has a Voorhis ad being wholly eclipsed by a quarter-page Nixon advertisement. The South Pasadena Review also displayed Nixon as an everyman veteran by running an anecdote about when then-Governor of Minnesota and “oftentimes mentioned as a 1948 Presidential candidate” met with Nixon and they jovially reminisced about their days in the South Pacific.
Voorhis tried to pick up momentum by appealing to the voters in an Op-Ed “Having no program of their own, and unable to offer a single constructive proposal, the republican bosses now insult the intelligence of South Pasadena voters by engaging in a cheap mudslinging campaign.”
why he kept propagating lies about Voorhis’ CIO-PAC endorsement and Nixon pulled out a pamphlet that showed the Southern California NCPAC had endorsed Voorhis.
Voorhis was unaware of this as his aides apparently forgot to tell him and mumbled that it was a different organization than the CIO-PAC. Then Nixon began to list off the members of both organizations then quipped “It’s the same thing, virtually, when they have the same directors.”
According to Voorhis biographer Paul Bullock, “the magnitude of Nixon’s triumph did not immediately dawn on us.” Congressman Holifield had grasped it, and when Voorhis asked him, “How did it go?” he responded, “Jerry, he cut you to pieces.”
ESTABLISHED 1913.
CSPA SILVER CROWN 2021
CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2019
CSPA SILVER CROWN 2018
CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2017
CSPA CROWN AWARD 2016
CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2015
CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2014
CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2013
CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2011
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ANIKA EBBERT
MANAGING EDITORS
HANNA BAE, Print ELSIE WATERS, Online
NEWS
KAHLEN MIAO, Editor ROSE VANDEVELDE, Associate
OPINION
MICHAEL MAYEMURA, Editor LINDA YUN, Associate
FEATURE
HANNA BAE, Editor ELSIE WATERS, Editor MORGAN SUN, Associate
SPORTS BENJAMIN REGAN, Editor ETHAN KWAK, Associate
DESIGN
ALLISON LEE, Editor EMIKO (EMI) ESMILLER, Associate ISOLE KIM, Associate
PHOTOGRAPHY
MICHELLE SHADMON, Editor
SAMANTHA SHIROISHI, Associate
COPY
KAHLEN MIAO, Editor
RALUCA TUDUSCIUC, Editor
STAFF WRITERS
CLEMENTINE EVANS ISU PARK JAYDEN TRAN
PHOTOGRAPHERS
SHIN-HYE (RACHEL) CHOI
EMIKO (EMI) ESSMILLER
ILLUSTRATORS
ETHAN LYONS
ELLA MIZOTA-WANG
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
ELLIE NAKAMURA
BUSINESS AND ADS
ADA BORREDON REV BRICK
ETHAN LYONS
FACULTY ADVISOR
KAREN HAMES
VOL. 108 NO. 7 DISTRIBUTED ON APRIL 28, 2023.
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The world of student activism has become widespread in light of social justice issues emerging throughout America. From shootings at schools to changes in curriculum, students across the nation have taken to the internet and campuses to voice their advocacy, to raise their voices and call for action. However, the continual violations of social justice in conjunction with the repetitive systems of activism have created a sense of apathy in advocacy that has desensitized students and silenced efforts of activism.
Student advocacy has been on the rise throughout history, but the values of activism have gained immense amounts of traction since 2019 with several social movements such as March for Our Lives, Black Lives Matter, and Stop Asian Hate. In high schools throughout the country, in South Pasadena, communities have watched as students take stands for their civil rights through walkouts, protests, and by spreading awareness.
Former Tiger Newspaper writer Sophia Dreskin recorded that over 500 to 600 students of SPHS walked out in solidarity with the victims of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shootings. Teachers and local politicians voiced support for the students as the South Pasadena Police Department set up safe boundaries for student protestors.
Demonstrations such as this walkout that occurred at the beginning of the movement for student activism were widespread throughout the nation and encompassed a majority of the values that were held by high schoolers in America. Protests revealed the challenges that high schoolers faced and offered a platform for affected students to speak their mind without being silenced or chastised by adults.
It is important to compare this walkout to those of recent years. On April 5th, a nationally coordinated walkout for high schoolers in America by the organization “Students Demand Action” seemed to fall upon deaf ears as a majority of students at SPHS convened by the counseling center. While some individuals at
SPHS walked out with the intention of representing the lost lives of those in the recent Tennessee shooting, the overall apathy and lack of care for the violations of social justice seemed to be a general consensus with a majority of the students.
The issue with student activism has become evident in recent years; the large wave of social justice has settled to become a repetition of the same ways to demonstrate support. Students can only do so much for activism. High schoolers cannot vote, rarely have platforms to express views, and can only offer basic support for political campaigns.
Walkouts and awareness posts have become overly saturated by students and ultimately created a sense of indifference and detachment. While students in affected areas can often feel the impacts of an issue, desensitization plagues student activism. Even when South Pasadena felt the repercussions of the Alhambra and Monterey Park shootings, there was nothing more mentioned besides passing comments in classes and a ParentSquare notification from administration.
This is not to say that students at SPHS do not care for civil rights and social justice. Clubs such as SPHS Amnesty, Period Gen, and more have done work that truly impacts the surrounding areas of South Pasadena. But there is also the fact that some students, both throughout America and at SPHS, have utilized the movements of social justice to better their college applications or stand out in interviews. With an extended view on social justice, students are allowed to encapsulate the values of justice in an apathetic manner to broaden their resumes. There is, however, the unfortunate truth that the apathy towards and normalization of shootings and racism and other violations of social justice has provided students a platform; it has given students the ability to walk out of class to simply get out of class, allowed for students to promote values of social justice while being dispassionate, and silenced the steps that student activists have taken to go against the idea that kids are just kids.
BOO to dad jokes about pizza. Why do they have to be so cheesy?
BOO to Joe Alwyn. LOVE IS FAKE AND YOU ARE A PRIME EXAMPLE.
BOO to the AP Photography exam. I can only take so many photos of people’s feet.
BOO to administration regarding graduation cords. I promise I won’t use them to jump rope across the stage.
BOO to May 1st. You’re telling me I have to decide my future and struggle in AP Gov?
BOO! Did i get you???
BRAVO to Freaky Friday. Or is it Wacky Wednesday? Trippy Thursday?
BRAVO to calculus. I’m deriving my happiness from your grading.
BRAVO to Ms. Nielsen. Thank you for moving the Unit VI AP Gov test from 4/20.
BRAVO to the Junior Officers. I am SUPER excited for the Supernova!
BRAVO to every person at SPHS with the last name Bae. You guys are all my Korean BAEfys.
BRAVO to Conan O’Brien. Every time his face wrinkles, his toupee gets just a bit bigger.
The ill-informed article, “Voluntourists Versus Volunteers” (Tiger Newspaper March 2023), mislabels TASSEL as a form of voluntourism and overlooks the meaningful work performed by dedicated TASSEL volunteers. In response, SPHS TASSEL feels compelled to explain what we really do, and why.
The Cambodian Genocide, or Khmer Rouge (1975-1979), caused the deaths of nearly a quarter of the Cambodian population. The genocide eliminated three million people, stamping out the highly educated – government officials, doctors, and teachers. Today the country faces the tragic consequences of this civil war. Over two million suffer from severe food insecurity, illiteracy stands at 40%, and a majority of the older generations suffer from PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder.)
As part of TASSEL (Teaching And Sharing Skills to Enrich Lives), an international non-profit, 800 high school and college students from around the world teach, fundraise and spread awareness of the genocide. The South Pasadena chapter in particular contributes 60 members -30 of which are VSEE and Writing teachers. Because a majority of the textbooks in Khmer – Cambodia’s official language – were burned, today, only books in English are available, rendering English language skills essential. Each year, TASSEL volunteers from Japan, Singapore, France, America, South Korea, and Israel teach basic English phonics and grammar to the impoverished younger generation of Cambodia.
TASSEL’s Khmer teachers have experienced first-hand the effects of the Khmer Rouge. Many of the twenty-some year olds have lost parents to the violence of the Khmer Rouge and its after-effects, including PTSD. Over the last nine years, TASSEL has opened five free teaching
facilities in some of the poorest Cambodian villages, where education previously was not prioritized. Now, TASSEL’s 30 incredibly dedicated Khmer teachers work tirelessly with kids in Cambodia, assisting in our virtual lessons, visiting the students’ families, bringing bags of rice and canned fish, and igniting hope, love, and a sense of community within the students and local villagers. In California, schools including South Pasadena High School do their part in monthly fundraising so that Khmer teachers can continue to provide this necessary aid.
It is disappointing to see “Voluntourists Versus Volunteers” and students like Isu Park diminish and undermine the efforts of the Khmer teachers local to Cambodia who work in tandem with SPHS volunteers and who dedicate their lives to ensure a better future for generations to come. Although Park’s freedom to express her opinions should be celebrated, we encourage her to respect the hearts involved and to ensure that she is fully informed before offering unfounded criticism. Given that she failed to speak to any of the TASSEL officers for fact-finding, her points are completely unwarranted and without merit.
Last summer, four members of the South Pasadena chapter joined other TASSEL volunteers from around the world in Cambodia. We provided educational and medical services while finally meeting in person some of the students and teachers we have interacted with for years through letters and video-chat. We taught and met with students, visited families, and distributed medicine to villages that had been plagued with diseases like HIV. The trip focused on providing immediate aid to those in need, not touring the country. TASSEL volunteers dedicate hundreds of hours each year to the organization;
for those who have actively participated in TASSEL for the entirety of our high school careers – and some continuing on through college – prioritizing our TASSEL duties over sports, other clubs, and social activities, the goal is not to pad our resumes but rather to make a real difference.
Although some organizations claiming to be charitable may lack integrity, TASSEL is not one of them. TASSEL maintains a strict recruitment process: potential teachers must complete two training sessions, a written application, an interview, and a graded exam just to be considered for a role, and volunteers’ work continues to be checked for quality, not just completeness, throughout the teaching season. The TASSEL commitment is not to be taken lightly.
Certainly, TASSEL doesn’t just benefit the students and teachers in Cambodia; SPHS volunteers who dedicate their time to TASSEL benefit as well. We gain a broader world view, learn to recognize our privilege, create lasting relationships across the globe, and develop a growing appreciation for helping others. But the lessons we learn and the skills we gain do not minimize the meaningful contribution TASSEL has made and continues to make in Cambodian children’s lives.
We agree with Park that “it is a volunteer’s job to serve what is possible and what is appropriate, not to turn the narrative into their own.” TASSEL’s mission is narrow and specific, and its volunteers are trained to achieve that objective, not to pursue their own personal motives. We invite Park and all of the Tiger editors to truly learn about the organization and the situation in Cambodia – perhaps by actually talking to one of our officers, or attending our upcoming community fundraiser and banquet in May.
alternatives are necessary to sustain continuous usage, not just one time Instagram swatches.
While dupes can unlock the world of cosmetics for those who may not otherwise be able to afford the lifestyle, their rising demand tasks the consumer with parsing out the holy-grail from the overpriced rip-off. While some expensive products have the price tag for their formulation, others wear it with no reason other than their expensive branding.
STORY LINDA YUNFrom the first scroll of dawn, an audience of teens and young adults gather to worship at the altar of Sephora as they fantasize about the next Dior lip oil. With the help of TikTok influencers, they no longer have to.
Everone likes to get a good deal. People haggle at farmers’ markets, bargain in car dealerships, and stampede their local Best Buy on Cyber Monday. Now, deal hunting has been picked up by TikTok, where the addition of a cuttingedge algorithm can metaphorically (or even corporeally) read the consumer’s mind.
Welcome to my last official column. Looking back, I realize that nothing I have written so far has been pertinent to society’s problems — neither hot cakes nor hot takes have been cooked up. In reality, it has served as my attempt at a somewhat-relatable record of my untamed thoughts, and I have no intention of changing it.
In fact, just recently, I rewatched the Disney masterpiece that is Lemonade Mouth: a story about a band of misfits who overcame all odds and “coup-d’état-ed” the once-
Dupe – short for duping – is an online slang created in the 2000s to talk about cheaper, often drugstore alternatives for luxury cosmetics. Virtually anything can be duped, and virtually everything has been. In the activewear sphere, alternatives for the cult-favorite Lululemon line the carts of convenience store regulars and late-night Amazon shoppers – visitors of the growing affordable fashion hotspot.
From the point of business, duping is a natural phenomenon. The recycling of ideas, especially within the depths of competition, is hard to make without. The naivete of expecting originality from every sales pitch is an overwhelming demand. For the consumer, cheaper
popular jocks. Something about it beckoned me to my youth. It reminded me of the post-bath moments at my grandmother’s house when these classics would cycle through and comfort me until my parents came to pick me up. It reminded me of that drive to be “somebody.”
See, that is the crazy thing about nostalgia — it somehow juxtaposes our naivité and our maturity. And so, on its second run-through, Lemonade Mouth resonated in a way it never had before. The nuances and themes illuminated themselves and those classic Disney beats just hit different. Beyond the romanticized rise to fame were these five teens struggling to find themselves in high school. There were these five teens who struggled to love themselves and to find their own worth in a world seemingly hell-bent on holding them down. It felt all too real.
But none of that is what stuck with me. Instead, it was the simple three minute moment leading up to the climax — this column’s namesake — that left me awestruck. It was when (spoiler alert) Bridgit Mendler sang about Lemonade Mouth’s meaning to her. That was the moment when I reflected on what my high school journey has meant to me. In my mind, the lyrics and melody of “Somebody” epitomize what has grown out of our freshmen selves.
The rise of the dupe has not brought forth the exposé of branded cosmetics because the few that can afford to regularly purchase high-end products cannot make the shift to derive their happiness elsewhere. Thus, those who cannot access the same luxuries are made to feel inadequate without the same or similar items. The truth of the matter is that the normalization of dupes is far from a meaningful rebuke of corporate marketing. If complacency with spending absurd amounts for the “desirable” product continues the way it does in modern media, all buyers will get caught in the dupe loop.
At the end of the day, we all know that high quality products are sometimes worthwhile. Rather than waiting for the matrix of duping to end, consumers can modify their own habits and force themselves to buy less – not out of consumer abstinence and suffering, but through buying higher quality products and, for once, not buying at all.
As a senior, the song’s chorus goes hard. When Bridgit Mendler belts out the prophetic lyrics: “We’re gonna just let go of everything, holding back our dreams and try to make it come alive. Come on let it shine so they can see, we were meant to be somebody,” I was following right along.
Standing on the precipice of a new world, new adventures, and new excitement, it feels as though all our inhibitions have shedded and we have taken flight. It feels as though each and everyone of us glistens in a way we have not before. It is as though we are no longer afraid or worried about the world. Rather, we yearn to make our dreams come to life.
And for me, well, I understand how much I differ from that post-bath kid enthralled by Disney original movies. The song is not about becoming famous nor does it have anything to do with starting my own best-selling band with my friends; instead, being a “somebody” is as simple as that — being “somebody.” Far from the star-studded interpretation of my youth, it is a coming of age song meant to highlight the humanity in our uniqueness. It is about the discovery, unity, and love of one’s self that constructs somebody.
Club President Sophia Kim and Vice President Talia Yoo respond
as a form of “voluntourism.”
“Buy this, not that!”: Buyers are stuck in a duping matrix
The fundamental lack of awareness on financial differences at SPHS has culminated into microagressive comments on income and spending. Accomodations on standardized testing but inability to provide for attendance at events reveals the discrepency of assistance at SPHS.
STORY JAYDEN TRAN ILLUSTRATION ISOLE KIMIt is no secret that South Pasadena is a city of affluence and wealth. The picket fences and bright blue hues painted on the exteriors of houses are a direct portrayal of the city’s average six figure annual income. Though, starkly contrasting this idyllic image is my home: a run down apartment with three compact rooms to fit seven people and three dogs.
“Your home is quaint,” or “It’s super antique,” and “Isn’t it a little cramped in here” are just some of the many comments my peers have said when visiting. When applying to college, my peers have asserted on the unfairness of my eligibility for fee waivers. As I buy food to spread throughout several meals, my peers question why I never have groceries at home.
All of these comments boil down to a fundamental issue that some members of the community hold: an incapability of understanding financial differences.
At SPHS, money seems to be one of the most important factors to education. I remember the struggles I faced last year when a staff member on campus told me it was my fault for being unable to afford a binder for worksheets in their class. The member then threatened to fail me on several of my assignments from their period of absence on the basis that “it was my duty to have the necessary supplies for their class.” The discomfort that arose in me as she loudly addressed that comment to the class is surely not the only negative experience a low-income student has faced with a faculty member at the high school. Students other than myself struggle to afford basic necessities. With rising costs of school supplies, resources that cost what seems to be a drop in someone’s bucket ultimately creates boundaries for my education. Resources become obstacles as I am forced to scour for anything from the many physical projects that involve a variety of materials to simple pens and paper. Coming to schools and exams with dead pens or pencils without lead forces me into awkward positions where teachers and peers criticize me for being unprepared.
It becomes even harder for me to feel aligned with the community of South Pasadena as I find myself unable to attend school events. Being barred from events such as my Junior Winter Formal due to high
costs and questioning if I can afford to attend my Senior Prom have altered my high school experience. These activities that typically cause anticipation and shape a high schooler’s career have been difficult conversations with my mother about being unable to pay for my attendance. The problem boils down to a single, convoluted issue: SPHS both does and does not offer financial assistance.
For AP exams and standardized tests, discussions with Ms. Blackwood or other office staff can put a student on the way towards financial aid for these academic events. I have been lucky enough to become aware of the necessary steps to processing financial aid, but not every student is aware of this assistance.
When it comes to student activities, however, SPHS only offers aid to specific students. With dances and productions at SPHS, these events that serve as fundraisers for students are unable to accommodate necessary financial aid. The administration and school offers assistance for students in specific circumstances, but that is the apparent extent of their aid.
I understand that accommodations cannot be provided to every student on the free or reduced lunch program for these rites of passage, but it is imperative that we extend the eligibility for fee waivers at these events. SPHS can offer a case-to-case investigation for students who request assistance or look into expanding the criteria instead of keeping assistance limited to specific students and hushed.
I have to offer my appreciation to some members of staff on campus on their attempts to accommodate my financial needs. Suzie Wong, former Technician to the Assistant Principal of Curriculum, took on the effort of balancing the challenges I faced in processing for AP fee waivers and paying for my exams out of pocket. English teacher Denise Gill has assisted me in appealing for financial aid packages from colleges and informing me of scholarships I am eligible for. However, the negative experiences that I have had at SPHS have ultimately deterred me from feeling as if I truly belong.
My peers continue to question why the cost of attendance is the deciding factor in my college selection, comment on the unfairness of the various colleges I applied to, and challenge my disposable spending; I will continue to struggle at academic costs and fight for extensions to financial assistance at SPHS. I can only hope that the
same peers who complain about the unfairness of the aid I have been provided thus far learn to understand the struggle of constantly climbing a wall of wealth that blocks me from connecting with the high school. As I take the adruous drive to South Pasadena every morning to attend my classes, I am continually greeted by the sights of pastel homes and white fences. This vision of a suburbia that I used to once thrive in has become a continual reminder that my household income will always put me below my peers.
While I cannot enforce that all students and staff at SPHS suddenly become aware of the variety of hurdles that low-income students face at the high school, I hope that future changes will be made to accomodate those in situations similar to mine so that all students are able to truly experience high school. One thing I can say, though, is that I am sure I am not the only student struggling with feeling out of place from the South Pasadena suburbia.
“Just as the manifestations of life are intimately connected with the phenomenon of life…, a translation issues from the original, not so much from its life as from its afterlife…since the important works of world literature never find their chosen translators at the time of their origin, their translation marks their stage of continued life,” philosopher Walter Benjamin, the forefather of translation theory, wrote in his 1921 essay The Task of the Translator.
Most of the greatest works of literature have been translated from different languages, influencing the interpretations of readers. The universal standard is that translators must maintain a level of cultural competence.
And, even with this knowledge, no translations, despite the circumstances, can ever reach the original. According to Benjamin, a work of art does not become art based on what it communicates, but how it communicates.
For example, in a good translation of Shakespeare’s Macbeth from early modern English to modern English, the story and its message will remain the same, but its artistic value is questioned.
The striking creativity of the original work cannot be reached. Benjamin implies that the original artistry of all translated works diminishes over time and assimilates to the post-publication culture.
However, without translations, literature could not act as gateways for cross cultural influences. For example, Shusaku Endo, who is renowned for his 1969 novel Silence, wrote from the rare perspective of a JapaneseCatholic.
Endo experimented with the concepts of Western and Asian influenced religion, analyzing the separate cultures and the results of convergence through westernization.
The overarching theme of theology and faith in his novels drew criticism from academics all around the world,
sparking a new debate on the presence of Christianity in “non-western” countries and their historic implications. While Endo’s career better encapsulates the impact of cultural influences represented through literature, the example of French writer and philosopher Albert Camus draws Benjamin’s theory into greater relevance.
Camus, a prolific writer and recipient of the 1957 Nobel Prize for Literature, published what many consider to be his magnum opus, L’Etranger (The Stranger) in 1942.
A 2012 New Yorker op-ed by Ryan Bloom summarized the first 1946 English translation of L’Etranger by Stuart Gilbert as “simple, succinct, and incorrect.” Bloom is referring to the first line, aujourd’hui, maman est morte. Gilbert translated the line into “Mother died today.” and the word “mother” would be used to replace “maman” in English translations through 1988 until the manuscript fell in the hands of American translator Matthew Ward. Ward noted the cold, distanced connotations of “mother” and the childish tone of “mommy”. Reasoning that not every English word can match the feeling of a foreign word, he maintained the usage of “maman”. A cognate, “maman” is similar enough to “mom” or “mama” that American readers can easily understand the line without skewing their first impression of the narrator.
Moreover, Benjamin’s prediction holds true. With the international impact of writers from separate cultures and the theory that artistic value is lost in translation, Benjamin’s theory creates the paradox that translated works only mirror the culture of the language it is being conformed to.
On the other hand, without translations, new perspectives would never be able to breach the echo chambers of literary cultures. Reading translated literature is inevitable, so nevertheless it is important to understand that the artistry of literature is never represented in translations.
If you want to read or understand the story, pick up a translation. But if you want to really appreciate the finesse of literature, to become entrenched in the wooded literary forest –not on the edge, listening for echoes– read the original.
ISOLE KIM
espite the efforts of the district for students with 504 plans, to manage within the classroom deadlines, lesson plans, and a need the same understanding, a majority accommodating students with the necessary For AP classes on campus, the impending to stay on task and ahead of the schedule. of the 504 plan; the teachers’ need to in their classes clashes with 504 students’ “For APUSH, I do not have specific deadlines turned in before the exam,” APUSH teacher work should be done to assist in substantiating full semester to do a big assignment, I with the understanding that the rigor Despite accommodations attempting to understand the lack of support that teachers support for students. Without a coordinator assistance is being provided for 504 students, are unable to navigate individual 504 plans “It is very important for teachers and ensure that all accommodations are said. “We must ensure that there is or another, and that consistency would
While there is evident support from 504 plan, the pressing need to cram to learn creates barriers in accommodations. to uplift students with 504 plans emerges towards mental wellness and support
A504 Coordinator is an administrator on school campuses that is responsible for preventing discrimination against students, employees, and others who have a disability as well as ensuring compliance with all procedures required under Section 504/Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
district in providing equal opportunity plans, accommodations become difficult and throughout the year. With strict need to keep students in different periods at majority of teachers at SPHS fall short in properly necessary resources.
impending doom of the AP exam creates tension schedule. This ultimately conflicts with the basis to get all material and curriculum ingrained students’ need for more time and support.
deadlines and I accept work as long as it is teacher Oliver Valcorza said. “My idea is that substantiating with learning, so if students need a am willing to give them that accommodation of my class is high.”
to be made by AP teachers, it is important to teachers have to properly provide the necessary coordinator on campus to guarantee proper students, it becomes an issue for teachers who plans from a variety of students.
and counselors to have a 504 coordinator to are fair and equal to all students,” Valcorza no accommodation better for one student would be better for not only teachers and
all staff in maintaining the integrity of the cram more and more curriculum for students accommodations. The need for more resources emerges as SPHS continues to shift focus support and away from academic achievement.
SPHS does meet the requirements that students with 504 Plans need so having a 504 Coordinator is not necessary. Although SPHS does not have a coordinator, SPUSD does have a district-wide coordinator, Dennis Lefevre, who is the Executive Director of Student Support. One of Lefevre’s bigger roles is being the district-wide 504 Coordinator, despite his official title. Even though the school does not have a coordinator, SPHS should have a counselor who assists students who have 504 Plans. Although SPHS has a low student-to-counselor ratio, students who do have 504 Plans cannot get the specific support they could benefit from. If SPHS had a counselor who specialized in 504 Students, those students would have a better chance at succeeding in their classes.
“504 Plan Coordinators are highly uncommon for a high school with less than 1,500 students. Instead, smaller public schools typically designate at least one school employee to coordinate compliance with Section 504,” one SPHS administrator said. “At SPHS, the assistant principal oversees the coordination of 504 plans. SPUSD also employs a program specialist at the District Office who supports administrators, counselors, and teachers with student 504 plans and [Individualized Education Plans].”
504 Coordinators are not always necessary at schools. As the SPHS Administration said, this school is on the smaller side, with about 1,450 students, which means that a 504 Coordinator is not as necessary since SPHS is not as big as other schools. SPHS does not employ a coordinator for this very reason. They do not think a 504 Coordinator is needed since the student-to-counselor ratio is smaller than other schools.
STORY LINDA YUN
The inequities of SPHS can be found in many facets of student life, including, to some extent, 504 accommodations. In recent years, student concern for the “antidiscrimination” accommodations have risen out of personal and peer experiences. While many received proper arrangements for their respective medical conditions, others encountered obstacles along the way.
For many, the process of receiving clearance for a 504 plan is shrouded in stigma. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act was written with the goal of providing accessible assistance to students with disabilities without specialized assistance. However, the lack of 504 awareness had made it difficult for students to access support.
“A lot of the time, students are not [in the know] of their rights,” an anonymous student said. The only reason I was able to get one is because I’m the one who brought it up - I didn’t even know that there was such thing as a 504 - the awareness is really lacking.”
This element of availability - not accessibility - in the 504 narrative has hacked into the classroom experience as well. While teachers are mandated by law to recognize 504s, few actually remember students’ individual needs.
“Teachers don’t remember [students’ 504s], which makes it very uncomfortable for the students who have to constantly remind them [of their accommodations]” another student added. “For us, we don’t even want to bring it up. We don’t even want to remind ourselves that we have [a 504].”
While 504s are a tricky topic to tackle on the reforming front, student suggestions are plentiful. Some SPHS students advocate for the hiring of a separate 504 advocate, a figure adjacent to a 504 coordinator, arguing that the unification of the role and responsibilities of a schoolwide program would uphold the integrity of the Rehabilitation Act. Others believe that teachers should receive training for how to properly administer 504 plans.
“Education with teachers and students is so off-based that [receiving support] has become inaccessible,” an advocate for the latter shared. “I think teachers definitely should get training to learn how to better accommodate their students.”
The idea that every individual is special has been inculcated within us at such a young age that we grow to resent it. I am one of those people. But it seemed like fate when I re-listened to, in my humble opinion, Stephen Sondheim’s best work, Sunday In The Park With George. Now, in this column, I could dissect any number of songs from this masterpiece. But I choose to focus on one thread and one lyric that stuck with me, specifically one with the theme of individual specialness.
SPHS actors showcase dramatic talent in a moving preformance.
STORY ROSE VANDEVELDE
PHOTO SAMANTHA SHIROISHI
SPHS actors, crew, and musicians shined on Friday, Apr. 21 at 7:00 PM on the opening night of Freaky Fridayinside the Anderson Auditorium. Directed by SPHS Drama teacher Nick Hoffa, the cast skillfully navigated the complex, emotional, and at times comedic journey through the heart of a mother-daughter relationship, and a single parent family.
Preparation for the musical began in January, and after auditions were completed, rehearsals started in late January. The cast then went through the lengthy process of learning music and choreography, while the crew created hundreds of set pieces for the musical.
FreakyFriday is based on the Disney movie, and originally book by Mary Rodgers of the same name. The story follows teenager Ellie Blake, and Ellie’s mom Katherine Blake, as well as Ellie’s brother Fletcher, and Katherine’s fiancee Mike.
While struggling with the challenges of high school, Ellie, played by senior Asha Quibilan, continues to grapple with the emotions surrounding the death of her late father five years ago. Seemingly polar opposite, Katherine, played by senior Audrey Omidi, is orderly and focused, under her staggering workload and impending wedding. However, despite this polished facade, the opening song, “One More Day,” encapsulates the stress and emotions that both characters are experiencing internally.
Lights flash as an argument between Ellie and Katherine peaks in “the switch.” With their relationship far from mended, and no way to switch back, Ellie and Katherine are forced to get through the day in each other’s bodies.
Katherine’s impending wedding adds time pressure as both frantically attempt to keep it together. Katherine – in Ellie’s body – navigates high school, including complicated emotions for Ellie’s crush Adam. Meanwhile Ellie – in Katherine’s body – searches for a way to switch
back. The production resolves in a heartwarming wedding scene where Ellie and Katherine switch back in a thrilling, down-to-the-wire ending, their relationship relatively fixed.
From the very beginning of the musical, the beautifully painted set and vibrant costumes - all 161 - create the vibrant atmosphere that the show maintains so well throughout. SPHS Dance teacher Courtney Cheyne’s visually impressive choreography adds dynamics to the performance. The ensemble numbers in particular are full of energy, especially when actors Quibilan and Omidi harmonize with other characters to create an impressive musical effect.
Perhaps the most well done aspect of the play are the emotional themes that the actors successfully incorporate into their role. Through Omidi and Quibilan’s acting and the development of the play, the emotional depth of Ellie and Katherine’s characters become apparent. Exceptional acting shows to be a common theme throughout the play, and characters such as Savannah, the overachieving school bully, played by senior Iris Barrera, as well as many more add depth and complexity to this play.
“It’s the first musical I’ve directed that feels more like a play with music than a musical. Yes, people all of a sudden start singing and dancing, but at its core it is about something sadly very real - how does a grieving family become whole again?” Hoffa said.
The hard work and dedication of everyone involved in the musical shone through the entire performance, and the evident pride each character took in their role made the production a joy to watch.
“On Saturday night, the closing song was so joyful. Their characters faded away and it was just a bunch of people I have loved working with having a blast.” Hoffa said.
The cast also performed on Saturday, Apr. 21, and Sunday, Apr. 22, in the Janet Anderson Auditorium.
In time, I have come to agree with the belief that everyone is special, that every person has an individual spark completely their own. The character Dot (a reference to Georges Seurat’s pointillism style) from Sunday in the Park with George does not prescribe to this belief, especially not to herself. Dot’s growth through the first act is one of realizing her own specialness. She, as George’s model, personally witnesses his specialness everyday. But in her relationship with George, her individuality is not affirmed. Not until Dot leaves George for baker Louis does she find this comfort. “Louis makes you feel present,” she sings in Everybody Loves Louis. All Dot wants is for George to affirm that he finds her special in the same way she finds him. This culminates in the song and the lyric that is of primary importance to me for this column. In the song ‘We Do Not Belong Together’ Dot, after being ignored by George as he continues to value his art over her, tells him that she is leaving for America with Louis. In this song, she continually makes the case that she is special to him, stating “I am something you can use.” Note something, not someone. After a contentious back-and-forth where she pleads to him to acknowledge her, Dot makes the realization that while George may be worthy of attention, so is she.
“No one is you George, and no one can be. But no one is me, George. No one is me!” She sings.
This line is one I had never particularly noticed for its poignance before. In fact, I had mostly ignored this song for the more outwardly emotional Move On. This is not a song of unrequited love, it is a song of self-definition and begging to be seen. That is what really struck a chord with me. I wrote an entire play about the concept of self-definition. Dot, like all of us, is in search of her own identity.
That is why high school and education, something Dot was not afforded in the 19th century, is so important. Beyond schooling, lunches and parties, high school is about discovering and fully solidifying your interests. Even though society tries to distill individuals with differing tastes down to numbers and statistics. Colleges claim to want to know the applicant as an individual, but never truly see the person as anything more than points on a graph.
I discussed in my first column the tragedy of competition and I return to that idea with a bit more clarity. As us juniors are hurtling towards college at an ever-quickening pace, I think back to this lyric. My classmates are brilliant and talented, yes, but so am I. That isn’t ego or arrogance, that is self-definition and confidence. No one can be my classmates and that is why they are special. But no one can be me either, and that is why I am.
Among the Dalgona coffee, TikTok dances, and hyperpop music emerged a new trend that would sweep the interest of students throughout the country as they remained stuck at home and bored during online classes: GenshinImpact. Releasing in September of 2020, the game took the internet by storm as interested players throughout the country took to investing themselves in the plotlines provided by the game and falling in love with the vast array of characters.
Genshin Impact is a role-playing game (RPG) created by Hoyoverse focused on the journey of two siblings separated by time. Featuring a “free to play” (F2P) playstyle for all users, Genshin allows players to participate in all story and events without having to pay for the game itself or any content. As participants continue through the content in-game, they are given the means to roulette – known by the RPG community as rolling – and receive a variety of ways to progress their game. Despite being provided the currency or resources to “roll” for characters, skins, and weapons, ultimately the players that emerge with stronger characters (carries) and end up more successful than F2P users are the ones that throw countless amounts of money at game developers: a phrase known as whaling.
The systems of microtransactions and gacha rolling have created a cultural phenomenon that has left the sphere of Genshin Impact and emerged into the real world, promoting gambling and consumerist values for youth in America; these issues become all the more present in newly released games such as Honkai: Star Rail and in the rise of gambling rates for recently-turned young adults. Hoyoverse’s next gacha game project is Honkai: Star Rail. Following their Honkai series, the game is set for release on Wednesday, April 26. The game follows the same money-making structure that has yielded them over four billion dollars from Genshin Impact. With rolling for characters and weapons, the only difference between Honkai and Genshin besides console is the story and design. With over 10 million pre-registration users enticed by the offer of currency to roll, the impacts of gacha games and gambling on youth become prevalent, correlating to mystery and adrenaline. However, industries and businesses have been long aware of the attachment that consumers have to the thrill of the unknown. From mystery boxes to Funko Surprise boxes,
this consumer model has been utilized specifically to encapsulate the engaged minds of Gen Z and youth.
“It’s about experiences as much as transactions now—and the mystery box provides that. The excitement of opening it, the social share-ability of unboxing content and item reviews,” CEO of fashion start-up HEAT said. “It’s about being part of the community and the interaction between that community as much as it’s about the product.”
This same principle companies use with mystery boxes can be directly applied to games such as Genshin and Honkai. With the excitement and engagement that comes with rolling for characters, Generation Z and youth that are already the target market for these games are predisposed to spend money on gambling for the sexy character they want or the weapon that boosts their carry’s damage. The extension of gacha has become widespread outside of Genshin and in more westernized games such as the FIFA series, Overwatch, and more. Studies done by a variety of Chinese university researchers found that over 65% of gacha game players were at moderate to high risk of becoming compulsive gamblers. The same systems that come with gacha rolling
can be found in your everyday casinos with activities such as roulettes and slots. The issue of gacha has prevailed throughout the world and within communities. In China, the government has issued an effective ban on gaming transactions that directly correlate to gacha rolling. This has caused game companies such as Blizzard to pull the direct transaction of loot boxes in games such as Overwatch. However, Hoyoverse has been able to avoid this ban through the indirect purchase of rolling, as users buy in-game currency as opposed to direct rolls.
Genshin Impact has served as a marker for game development companies, showing how easily influenced the consumer market can be towards the coolest designs or the strongest characters. As more developers begin to include gacha systems in their games, the prevalence of easy spending in order to appeal to the thrill of adrenaline will continue to impact young children dedicating their time to games. While Genshin has the merits of being an engaging game with an emotional story, the unfortunate truth is that the many users who refuse to spend money fall short to the whales who throw money at the alluring redesigns of characters or the most overpowered weapons being released.
that must work — both academically and through her criminal career — to continue her education. Societal pressure makes her feel as if the only way to succeed in life is to make a seven figure salary and lift her family out of poverty — and the only way to do so is by going to the most elite school in the country.
As the novel goes on, Alice becomes increasingly secluded as the weight of academic pressure bears down on her. She is drowning in her workload but no one can pull her out, not while she insists on holding herself to the standard of perfection.
Fortunately, Alice relies on the two people closest to her: Henry and Chanel. Alice and Henry begin as the academic rivals competing for the top title in school, and Chanel is Alice’s roommate and eventual friend.
The character dynamics fuel the growth of their relationships and blossoming bonds between them. Liang phenomenally explores the depth of their relationships so each breakthrough is all the more compelling.
STORY MORGAN SUNIf You Could See the Sun, Ann Liang’s debut novel published in late 2022, has all the features of a stereotypical YA novel in the social media viral phenomenon, but is done phenomenally authentic. The book follows a Chinese-American girl who monetizes her strange new invisibility powers by discovering and selling her wealthy classmates’ most scandalous secrets. The Chinese-Australian writer put her own spin on multinational identity, with main character Alice Sun attending an international boarding school in Beijing. Alice, a Chinese-born American immigrant, moved back to China after her parents could not afford their apartment in America any longer.
Living in China, Alice stays in the lower-class area but goes to the most prestigious school in the country in the midst of celebrities and kids of politicians. She is the only scholarship student in a sea of wealthy students, but her parents dropped a bomb on her telling her they could no longer afford the rising tuition, even with the scholarship. She uses her mysterious newfound invisibility powers to earn money for her tuition by selling the dirty secrets of China’s most influential teens to her fellow peers at a
steep price. As the tasks escalate from petty scandals to hardened crimes, Alice must decide whether wealth for her family is worth losing her conscience — and even her life — over.
The book is a lighthearted read with the added depth of commentary on serious issues including Asian representation, class disparity, and escalating pressures of academic and social success. The characters are enjoyable and fit within the story, and the relationships develop in a cohesive manner.
Liang’s depiction of the Chinese-American experience is incredibly genuine, along with the nuggets of Chinese culture interspersed in the book.
The experience of being “not Chinese enough” for extended family — or any other ethnicity for that matter — but “not American enough” for the U.S. is a sentiment that many multi-racial people, immigrants, and their descendants can attest to, as members of multiple groups of people.
Alice’s close friends will never have to worry about their finances or paying their bills. To Alice, it seems as if success is handed to them on a silver platter. Alice is the only person in the school that cannot pay the tuition money in spades, and it is isolating to be the only person
The plot was fast-paced but character development was aplenty. Alice began narrow-minded, assuming that the world was against her. The other characters began to change in her perspective as she opened her mind and let people in. Alice’s reactions were accurate to her character, and the toll of academic stress was realistically depicted for teens in the seemingly high-stake environment. Stakes around the consequences began smaller, but as the crimes escalated, so did the risks. The climax involves life-threatening danger, and the consequential damages to Alice’s life.
There were a few unresolved plots, but the addition of that ambiguity felt genuine to real life in that uncertainty. It left imagination to the reader, for the characters to boundlessly live on in their universe.
The novel was surprisingly action-packed with the theme of supernatural powers meets academic rivals to lovers. People of all types should be able to connect with the characters and the lessons in this book.
The discussions on racism and classism add heavier tones in a primarily light-hearted book, and Alice is able to learn her limits though hard taught experiences. The cultural aspects add pops of color to the beautiful tapestry that Liang wove with her words.
Multifaceted SPHS sophomore Holly Lacey is constantly occupied. Whether it’s through her fingertips on vibrating strings or spilling blood, sweat, and tears on the dance floor, Lacey expresses herself like no other. Juggling violin and dance for nearly 12 years, Lacey is an absolute powerhouse of talent, given her passion and dedication to herself, but also her community through art.
Like many musicians, Lacey began her journey as a pianist, listening to her mother play both piano and violin. After begging her mother, she began taking violin lessons at five years old. She now studies with Margaret Batjer at the Colburn Community School, heavily involved in the community ensembles for the past five years. She has played as the concertmaster of the Colburn String Orchestra, the Colburn Youth orchestra, and is the current concertmaster of the Colburn Sinfonietta.
Beyond her leadership in these ensembles, she’s continuously been involved in chamber music and has been the violinist for the NTH Trio for the past two years. Apart from her involvement as a musician at Colburn, Lacey is also the Regional Director of the non-profit organization, Back to Bach, which focuses on educating young students on the arts.
“This year, we have done a few presentations at local day cares about how music relates to movies,” Lacey said. “[It] is so fun and the kids are amazing.”
Lacey first started dancing, beginning with ballet, at the age of four. Now an Advanced Modern Dance student studying under Tamsin Carlson, Lacey consistently performs in community school events and performances.
“I’ve performed a lot, including last fall, I also was given the opportunity to perform at a small space for donors of the school,” Lacey said. “Last spring, I also had the opportunity of playing a solo Bach with the end of year dance concert with Coburn, as well as dancing in that as a modern dancer.”
Lacey juggles the two commitments with diligence, spending over 20 hours per week at the school, whether it be for rehearsal, lessons, or masterclasses. Balancing
the extensive commute and schoolwork, she finds joy and ease in her art.
“I have found that both music and dance play into each other pretty seamlessly, especially when performing,” Lacey said. “It can sometimes get challenging, but what really helps me is always organizing my priorities. When I have this organized, I can very easily manage my time, even if that means sacrificing a dance class to study for a math test or studying in the car on the way downtown.”
She doubleheaded her skills, playing solo for the Sinfonietta and dancing in a dance piece at Colburn’s annual collaboration concert that opened for the first time since the 2019 season. Lacey looks forward to her next endeavors for the rest of the year. She is set to play Chaconne by Tomaso Antonio Vitali as a soloist,
accompanied by the Colburn Chamber Orchestra as well as the concertmaster in the Colburn Sinfonietta on Sunday, Apr. 30.
The NTH Piano Trio is also preparing for a national competition at Notre Dame University in mid May. They are also set to play at multiple practice concerts to prepare the repertoire for the competition. Lacey is also set to dance in two pieces in the spring dance performance.
“One is by Merce Cunningham called ‘TV Rerun,’ and the other is by Rudy Perez, titled ‘Cheap Imitations,’” Lacey said. “These two have honestly been my favorite pieces to ever perform.”
Lacey has cemented herself as a dedicated musician and dancer, spearheading her art in passion and ecstasy.
Ann Liang’s debut novel, connects with readers through mysterious powers in a world pitted against her.
Sophomore Holly Lacey is a force to be reckoned with as she solidifies herself as a talented and dedicated musician, dancer, and student.
The Natural History Museum is a staple of LA life, with tourists and locals alike visiting the institution rich with history and exciting exhibitions of dinosaur skeletons and earthquake simulators. However, an often unfrequented exhibit is the butterfly pavilion, located in a small corner off the beaten track towards the larger museum and exhibits.
The butterfly pavilion requires reservation ahead of time, so my friend and I reserved a time slot for half an hour at $8 a ticket. The drive was pleasant, but parking was a hectic maze of driving in circles. After finding a parking space, the walk to the pavilion was short and breezy with plenty of signs to light the way. The dirt road separates from the main path en route to the main museum, and leads to the entrance. Once we scanned the QR code ticket, we were let into the shaded waiting area. Immediately we were greeted with a large welcome sign, filled with fun facts about all kinds of butterflies.
The clock hit our time-slot, and as the earlier people began filing out of the pavilion, we were told to line up to enter. They let us in through the doors, with multiple backto-back doors to prevent any butterflies from escaping. Much of the butterflies were imported species from other countries, so letting them out could be harmful and invasive to the native wildlife already thriving in the LA area. Immediately as the doors opened, I spotted three different butterflies in the air.
Many however, were hanging on plants to sunbathe or feed. A sign right by the entrance pointed to the Natural History Museum website to find the different types of
butterflies throughout their garden, including the name of the species and gender of the creature. The pathway from the entrance led us through the garden, open for butterflies to roam around. We were told to carefully watch our step, as a butterfly could be soaking up the sun on the dirt road without our knowledge.
As we wandered the pavilion, signs were located along the path to point to specific plants and features of the exhibition. Along with the butterflies, the flora of the exhibit showcased a vibrant storm of colors, with all different kinds of butterflies camouflaging within the plants. One particular patch located in the center of the exhibit featured a mud pie for butterflies to feed on, with a sign in the center to elaborate.
“Besides consuming nectar, pollen, and ripe fruit juice, butterflies also drink nutrients from wet soil,” the sign said. “This behavior is known as mud-puddling.”
Along with signs, the pavilion had professional guides wandering the garden for visitors to ask their burning questions, and provide information on the exhibit. During this sunny day, the butterflies were out and about in abundance, with their wings spread open to absorb the sunlight. These butterflies, only living about 2 weeks, needed to eat quick sugar and find a mate in their short lifespan, so visitors found the butterflies spread throughout the garden feeding on each flower.
One butterfly, the blue morpho butterfly, is identifiable by its vibrant and shiny blue wings that can catch anyone’s eye. The pavilion was filled with the species, creating a beautiful atmosphere with the colors. Once the blue morpho closes its wings, the outside resembles an eye with brown detailing, camouflaging into the trees
and bushes that make up its natural habitat. The blue coloring is not a result of pigmentation, rather a result of iridescence from the millions of tiny scales on its wings. From a different angle, the blue morpho’s wings have the typical brown coloring resembling the outside world, but the iridescent blue pattern is created by the reflection of sunlight, scaring off predators that may eat them.
In one magical moment, a blue morpho butterfly landed on an old woman’s jacket. The woman had come to the Natural History Museum as a birthday celebration, marking an extraordinary moment captured in the pavilion, as the delicate butterfly rested on the draped jacket. The blue morpho butterfly is not the only species in the pavilion to reflect effervescent colors — in fact, the most common color to appear in the pavilion was orange. The majority of the species that lived in the pavilion had orange coloring that appeared on their wings. These colors grew from mimicking the poisonous butterflies that had bright spotted colors sporting their bodies. The colors marked the toxic animals that predators avoided, so other species grew to develop the colors as a defense mechanism. Other than the butterflies, the pavilion carried the life of other critters that made the exhibit their home. Royal jumping spiders hung underneath the shady plants, and crickets made themselves at home near the fence of the pavilion.
Even though the butterflies live only two weeks, each one is a precious life carrying beauty, and the pavilion demonstrates this charm in a captivating exhibit. The animals may not be doing tricks for entertainment, but the pure delicacy of each animal leaves this exhibit with an appeal like no other. Unfortunately, no butterflies landed on me in that visit, but I hope to be deemed worthy in the future when I visit the precious creatures again.
STORY MORGAN SUN
PHOTOS EMIKO (EMI) ESSMILLER
After an overwhelming 10-1 victory against Monrovia, SPHS Baseball sits second in the RHL behind rival San Marino. With a league record of 6-4, the Division 4 team is looking to tie a bow around its illustrious season with a successful CIF run.
The first pitch of the season was thrown on the road against La Cañada, where the Tigers narrowly slid past the Spartans. Against San Marino, the team encountered another low-scoring affair, but managed to continue their winning streak.
After two matchups against Temple City and Monrovia, South Pas seemed invincible - but not before San Marino snatched first with two wins in front of a home crowd. A series of tournament fumbles later, South Pas returned to league ready to defend its second place title.
The Tigers will play Temple City at home on Thursday, April 23, in its final league matchup.
“We would love to get more support when we play Temple City,” said head coach Jaime Garcia, “So come out!”
The SPHS softball team have been hard at work on the field to maintain their standing in the Rio Honda league. Currently in fourth place, the team falls short behind Temple City, but remains above competitive teams such as San Marino. With a league score of 4-7 and a total game score of 12-11, the Tigers have been able to secure victories against teams outside the league, like Beverly Hills, while being challenged by La Cañada and Temple City’s respective scores of 8-3 and 10-0.
The South Pasadena High School boys volleyball team has had a successful season, ending with a win against Monrovia High School. Head Coach Ivy Chew led the Tigers through a triumphant season that culminated with a total of 24 wins and seven losses and a CIF qualification.
With the season coming to an end, the SPHS athletes boast strong statistics. Senior outside hitter Aidan Hilger had an average of 4.0 kills per set, junior libero Ryan Estanislao had an average of 2.6 digs per set, and
senior setter Aaron Quan had a total of 608 assists for the entire season.
“I think our team chemistry has been great,” Chew said. “I think, right now, from all the games and tournaments we have played, it has kind of helped us be ready for what is coming for us at CIF.”
The SPHS swimming team has had a record-breaking season, maintaining an undefeated Division II girls varsity team. After crushing Temple City in their recent league meet, the varsity girls are first and the varsity boys are fourth in the Rio Hondo League.
Team captains senior Andrew Sakahara and sophomore Samantha Wong have both been instrumental to the success of the season with their strong leadership and infectious energy.
“I’m proud of their dedication and commitment to the team this year. It’s difficult to be a student-athlete,” varsity coach Erica Sanchez said. “I hope to continue to give the team the support they need and desire to be successful.”
Their next meet is on Friday, Apr. 28 for their final league meet at La Cañada High School.
With a league record of 5-5, SPHS varsity boys tennis maintains an overall fourth place in the Rio Hondo League. Despite their standing in Division III, the team has bested rivals in higher divisions but also fallen short to league competitors. The team played their final league game on Friday, April 21, with a 16-2 victory against the Monrovia Wildcats.
“It’s been a wild season with all the rain, but the guys have been really resilient. We’ve won from a few opponents that we’ve never beaten, at least not in the past five years, including Poly and Temple City. It’s fun to see some improvement like that, it’s really motivating,” head coach Krista Gale said.
The Tigers defeated Temple City the first time around, putting them in a position for a coveted playoff spot, but fell short in the second match. Still, this victory won the Tigers a crucial tiebreaker. SPHS will move on to the CIF playoffs next week.
The SPHS Softball team played against the league leading Temple City Rams on Monday, April 24 at the Temple City softball field. Despite a strong start to the game, the team ultimately fell short in their league contest against Temple City by a score of 8-2.
In the first inning, the Tigers siezed an early lead against the Rams. Sophomore Natalie Kan hit a sharp grounder up the middle and reached first base. Freshman Lucia Atencio bunted the ball, allowing Natalie to advance to second base and Atencio to get to first.
Sophomore Emma Becerra brought Kan home with an RBI groundout. The Tigers extended their lead on an RBI single by junior Danica Stirling. The Tigers lead the Rams 2-0 after the top of the first.
Kan toed the rubber for the Tigers, and turned in a strong outing. In the bottom of the first inning, Temple
City chipped away and scored a run, cutting the lead in half. After the first inning, the Tigers clung to a 2-1 lead.
In the ensuing innings, the Tiger bats went cold. A single by senior Melina Becerra was the only offensive spark for the South Pasadena, but she was left stranded. Dominant pitching from Temple City kept South Pasadena off the scoreboard.
The Tigers, however, matched the Rams inning-forinning. Kan continued to induce weak contact, and South Pasadena’s defense backed up her. E. Becerra, Stirling, junior Daphne Malatesta, and junior Leilah Nolasco turned in stellar defensive plays. The Tigers lead 2-1 heading into the sixth inning.
Everything imploded for the Tigers in the bottom of the sixth, with the Rams exploding for seven runs on six hits. The game was turned on its head, with Temple City taking a commanding 8-2 lead right before heading into the last inning. The lead held and Temple City defeated
South Pasadena 8-2. Despite the lopsided score, the Tigers competed for six innings and held a lead for the majority of the game.
“Going against Temple City was nerve-wracking for us because we knew that thety would bring their 100%,” Atencio said. “Scoring only boosted our energy in the dugout, motivating us to stay strong throughout.”
The Tigers will face off against the Rams in their final league game on Thursday, April 27 at the SPHS softball field. With a win, the Tigers would secure third place in the Rio Hondo league, surpassing the Monrovia Wildcats and qualifying for CIF.
“We fought hard and had them until the sixth inning 2-1,” Kan said. “Being part of the two hit run was very exciting because it would not have happened without my team. We were always the team that people looked down upon and we were called the underdogs, but this year we showed them that we are a new team now.”
FRIDAY, APR. 28TH @ 3:30 PM, BOYS & GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD VS. RHL AT HOME
FRIDAY, APR. 28TH @ 3:30 PM, BOYS & GIRLS SWIM
TUESDAY, MAY 2ND @ 11:30 AM, BOYS GOLF VS. RHL AT MARSHALL
Beginning at 9:00 am at Orange Grove Park in South Pasadena, Sunday Apr. 23, the LA Kubb Clubb (LAKC) held their 7th annual West Coast Kubb Championships. Emerging in Sweden in the 1930s, the sport of Kubb, pronounced koob, has grown in popularity across the US, including in South Pasadena. During the longest running Kubb tournament on the West Coast, locals and out of state competitors of all levels of experience met to play Kubb.
Kubb is a lawn game in which players attempt to knock over as many of their opponents wooden blocks as possible. Teams of one to six players face each other on opposite sides of a small court, typically 5m by 8m. Wooden “baseline bins” are set on the base lines of each side. After a team successfully knocks down each of their opponents pins, they must knock down the baseline pins and the kingpin, which is set in the middle of the court, to win. Throws must be underhanded, and until the baseline pins are knocked down, avoid the kingpin (it being knocked down early will result in a loss).
Kubb is most popular in European countries, but has caught on in areas of the US, notably Eau Claire Wisconsin, the official “Kubb Capital of the US”. While Kubb is more widely played in the midwest the WCKC aims to popularize the sport in California, and across the West Coast.
Ever since 2016 when members of the LAKC Julian Petrillo and Joe Zinas first introduced the idea for the WCKC, the tournament has been held in South Pasadena. This year, around 32 teams from 5 states at all levels of competition entered the tournament. Each year, publicity coordinator Sophia Fineza estimates that they receive around 75. Teams are organized into a silver bracket, and a championship bracket, both of which have first, second and third place titles.
However, for many of the competitors, including player and manager Julian Petrillo, it is not just trophies that draw them to the tournament.
“It’s really great to have my son, who will be graduating a month from now, and going on his way, as my teammate; it really means a lot to me.” Petrillo said.
Marshall Dorstal, who is also a member of the LAKC, is a member of the team the “Kubix Rubes” that will play Petrillo’s team in the final added that he is looking forward to “destroying” Petrillo’s team, but similarly
enjoys the social aspect of the tournament.
“I have been enjoying the comradery, we have lots of friends from South Pasadena here, we have friends that come in from all over the country… It’s really exciting to get to spend a quality afternoon playing Kubb and hanging out with good friends,” Dorstal said.
Fineza echoed these sentiments and encouraged anyone looking for an activity to play Kubb, or even participate in the tournament.
HOSTED AT ORANGE GROVE PARK, Teams from 5 states gathered to participate in the longest running Kubb championship on the West Coast. STORY JAYDEN TRAN AND BEN REGAN PHOTOS SHIN-HYE (RACHEL) CHOI
In spite of the testing circumstances, cross country brought home an array of victories in last year’s shortened season. The team is ready to do even more this season in hopes of keeping their winning streak alive and well. With new runners and fierce determination, that seems more than promising.
Senior Chloe Auyeung and sophomore Samantha Wong each broke a separate school record in the same meet, at Mt. Sac Winterfest Finals, on Saturday, Mar. 18. Auyeung broke the SPHS 50 yard freestyle record of 24.82 seconds with her time of 24.47 seconds, also bringing home an auto-qualification for CIF. Wong broke the 500 freestyle record of 5:01.75 with a time of 5:00.83, and auto-qualified for two CIF events in the 200 and 500 freestyle.
Auyeung started swimming lessons at 5 years old, and joined the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center club swim team four years later. From there, she joined SPHS’ varsity swim team in her freshman year and continues to this day. As a sprinter, she enjoys the 50 and 100 freestyle events, and participates in the many relays at meets.
“I like racing people when I swim, it’s just really fun to be competitive,” Auyeung said. “I was happy [with my 50 freestyle race], it felt really good and I knew it was [my] best time.”
Continuing forward after her breakthrough, Auyeung is taking it one step at a time and appreciating the moment as it comes. She recently had a Mt. Sac Spring Meet of Champions, and she — along with Wong, senior Jordan Mullin, and sophomore Ana ManceraRodriguez — made the CIF auto-qualifying time in the 200 Medley Relay, dropping two seconds to get a time of 1:51.63. The group is 0.4 seconds off of a school record in the 200 Medley Relay, so their goal is to drop their time, breaking the third school record this year at the Rio Hondo League Championships.
Wong started learning to swim at 7 years old and began competitive swimming three years later. She moved on to join the high school varsity swim team as a freshman. At Mt. Sac, she swam the 500 and 200 freestyle along with a couple other relays, but her favorite event is on the other side of the spectrum. Distance events have always been her specialty, so every event is a major test of endurance. She uses her strengths to her advantage to win each race, strategizing on the best way to perform her best.
“The event I enjoy the most is probably 400 IM … it’s an event I’m good at, and it’s also one of the easier events I’m good at,” Wong said. “Because I’m a distance freestyler, and freestyle comes at the end, I know I’ll always beat them, because I’m really good at doing freestyle when I’m tired, and that feels amazing.”
Wong felt that her race at Mt. Sac was one of her best swims in her entire swimming career. She let her brain disconnect and used muscle-memory to carry her through to the end.
“[The race] felt amazing … I felt like I was flying through that thing.” Wong said. “My coach used the analogy of running downhill, where you don’t feel the exhaustion, you’re just running and it feels like it’s magic underneath your feet.”
After recovering from a shoulder injury that occurred due to overuse during spring break, Wong is lightening her load but plans to continue training hard for the rest of the season. Her long term goal for her swimming career is to get Junior Nationals and seek recruitment for college. For now, Auyeung plans to enjoy the rest of the high school season as it lasts, but in terms of collegiate level athletics, she plans to explore other interests and take a break from the sport.
Both Auyeung and Wong started swimming at a young age, and both have accomplished incredible feats, even as two polar opposite swimmers. Their legacy in SPHS’ sports history is now cemented for future generations— at least until the records are challenged once again.