January 2024 by Tiger Newspaper

Empowering students to think critically and creatively since 1913

VOLUME 110 ISSUE 4 JANUARY 18, 2024

IN THE NEWS

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

COUNSELOR PROGRAMMING

MIDDLE SCHOOL NIGHT

WINTER FORMAL

SPHS counselors began class programing for underclassmen on Tuesday, Jan. 16 and will go to February.

SPHS will host parents of SPMS students for programming options on Thursday, Jan. 25.

The annual dance will be held at the Museum of Latin American Art on Saturday, Feb. 3.

SPHS student Isabelle Whiting makes PCC Honor Band

STORY & PHOTO ZOE CHEN

he Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade has been held annually since 1890, cascading 5.5 miles down Colorado Blvd. and garnering 700,000 live spectators and more than 50 million through broadcast each year. Marching bands are a long-standing tradition of the parade, and qualifying to march the historic route is a well established honor for any musician. The parade featured a total of 20 marching bands, including out-of-state and international groups. Notably, the Pasadena City College (PCC) Tournament of Roses Honor Band features exceptional Southern Californian high school musicians. Students are selected for limited spots in the band through highly competitive auditions each year. Prospective participants are given two weeks to learn and memorize the required solo excerpt for the audition, as well as prepare other scales and pieces. Over 500 students from the greater Southern California area auditioned for Honor Band slots in early October. Only one SPHS student was accepted. Isabelle “Belle” Whiting, an SPHS freshman, picked up the flute in fourth grade and has kept up her studies for five years since. As a member of the Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestra for four years, Whiting has extensive experience playing in formal concert venues. However, the unique marching experience of the Honor Band posed as a unique opportunity for Whiting, and she ultimately decided to sign up to audition. “I was like, ‘[they] get to go to Disneyland. And they get to do the parade, that sounds so fun,’” Whiting said. “If I did this, it would help with a lot of things including my musical talent, my physical ability to march…of course I want to do that.” POLITICAL HOMOGENEITY

Two weeks of preparation were ultimately channeled into a six minute audition. One day after auditions were conducted, a PDF with the qualifying students’ names was posted online. Whiting’s name made the list; she was the only student from SPHS to be accepted, and one of three freshmen in the band. Lengthy practices were held at a variety of locations, including Dodger Stadium and the Santa Anita race track. As Jan. 1 approached, practices intensified in preparation for the big day. A performance at Disneyland preceded the last of the band’s rehearsals, and at 3 a.m. on New Year’s Day, Honor Band students arrived at PCC for pre-parade setup. Floats, bands, equestrian units, and everything in between awaited them on the parade route. Whiting recalls her fingers turning blue in the cold of the morning as the Honor Band waited to begin their march. Despite nerve wracking anticipation, the band’s rigorously rehearsed steps allowed for “smooth parade route sailing.” “[The Honor Band] sounds very much like a very very painful process…but it’s actually really fun,” Whiting concluded. “It’s always going to be worth it because…it’s playing music in the Rose Parade with a bunch of people watching you and cheering you on. It just, it feels amazing.” Whiting has her mind set on auditioning for the Honor Band again next year. Although unsure whether she will pursue a profession in music, Whiting believes that she will never be able to forget music entirely and hopes that, wherever she may end up, she is able to continue to play her flute. RICE PURITY TEST

Tiger analyzes the steep price of political homogeneity in classroom environments and how the exclusive South Pas bubble stifles student curiosity.

The widely recognized self-assessment known as the Rice Purity Test is examined through the critical lenses of an outdated concept of purity, emphasizing the double standard norms.

Page 7

Page 10 TIGERNEWSPAPER.COM

THE PHENOMENON OF MOMENTUM Players and teams play well when they have been playing well; only the best can look past their previous failures and overcome the other team’s momentum to win. Page 16

TIGER JANUARY 18, 2024

NEWS

Love, Magnolia: a budding band A closer look into an up-and-coming music group of South Pasadena reveals new production potential.

STORY MORGAN SUN PHOTO SAMANTHA SHIROISHI

show on the weekend before finals in 2023, marking their ninth show.

The students began their group in October of 2022, with senior Brandon Goldman on the drums, senior Jonah Lau and senior Aidan Jackson as guitarists and singers, freshman Campbell Carey as a guitarist, and CS Arts senior Elijah Dune as bass player. Their name is inspired by Magnolia Street, where the band all started, stylized as a letter to audiences. Incidentally, they began

outh Pasadena High School’s music division is filled with eclectic creators looking for a coveted spot in the industry. One band has skyrocketed in popularity with their latest single, “Magnolia,” which debuted on Nov. 17, 2023. This band, titled Love, Magnolia, caught SPHS students’ attention with their live performance during Homecoming Picnic. Recently, they played a

as the stereotypical band beginning from scratch, with Goldman pitching the idea and gathering the group into a one-car wooden garage. Once gathered, they kicked off the band. “The first time we practiced all together, I told everyone to just get a notepad out or a notebook, and go to different corners of the room,” Goldman said. “You just write five words down. And then you tell them to each other, and you come up with ideas for these words, and then you make up a story, and pretty much you just like, you try to create a story off of one word.” The group draws inspiration from several bands, including The Strokes, Foo Fighters, Fall Out Boy, and Arctic Monkeys. They draw from the heavier and grunge aesthetic of the Foo Fighters and lighter, happier mood of The Strokes, but themes between each of their songs range with the moment. Lau, a main songwriter within the band, began to play electric guitar at 10 years old. “I started playing for church and it developed into more of a passion. And then, we started this band, and I’d always wanted to start a band and to make my own music,” Lau said. “Through this band, through writing songs and playing them, it’s just been really fun and I’ve been able to express myself.” The future of the band is uncertain with many of its members graduating within the year. They plan to stay together near the area, hoping for a hit song by the end of the year. “Whatever sounds come to my mind, I just play them. Music is my life. I don’t think I can survive without music.” Goldman said. “My dad always says this quote: ‘Don’t be a musician unless you have to.’ And I have to be.”

South Pasadena police cars go electric STORY CLAIRE MAO PHOTO LINDA YUN

example, an outline for other agencies, so that what we’re doing here can actually be replicated all over the world.”

The South Pasadena Police Department started transitioning to an entirely electric car fleet in September 2022. The transition, initiated by South Pasadena councilmember Michael Cacciotti, has been in the works for over 20 years.

More cars continue to be converted, and trucks will be added to the fleet in the near future. Potential options for electric trucks include Cyber trucks, Fords, or GM trucks.

Cacciotti realized the harmful effects of gas-powered vehicles, and ever since his election to the city council in 2001, he has advocated for the transition to electricpowered vehicles.

The city aims to fully transition by March or April this year. The process of going electric is not limited to just cars, and extends to electric chargers and solar panels. There are currently 20 public electric chargers in South Pasadena,

and the city plans to install more near the City Hall — a process may lead into mid or late 2024, around September. The project of installing solar panels will extend to around late 2025 or early 2026. “All of us, individually, as a school district, as a city like ourselves, we all have an obligation to be good stewards of this planet, this common home we have called Earth,” Cacciotti said. “[Think of what] we’ve done at the end of our lives on how we’ve made it a better world and not how we made it more polluted.”

“What comes out of the exhaust are these are these emissions: substances, gasses, particles, metals, things called nitric oxide, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds or VOCs carbon dioxide which can lead to global climate change,” Cacciotti said. “Fine particulates and metals that can go through your blood brain barrier into your bloodstream [and] your organs, so I realized this was bad stuff.” The city’s detectives utilize 10 Tesla Model 3s. Patrol officers drive the larger Tesla Model Y, and are equipped with 10 of the vehicles. However, the transitioning process is not as simple as it seems. The process of switching to battery-powered cars has never been done before. As a result of the South Pasadena Police Department being the first group in the world to convert to electric vehicles, the city is still ironing out the exact details. “Since we’re going to be the first in the world doing this, there’s no textbook to follow. So we’re actually writing the textbook…as we roll this out, the testing [of] the modifications we’re making to the vehicles, the training of the officers, the operation of vehicles,” Cacciotti said. “As part of our grant we got, we’re required to provide an

Alumni Eagle Scouts honored

MAYOR CACCIOTTI began the transition to electric police cars in September 2022. “[For] my project, I made an arbor…a gateway without the gate. I made it for Compost Culture in the Huntington Gardens,” Hodson said. “I realized that we have an area in the Huntington Gardens where we do all of our composting, but it kind of consisted of three piles of dirt. I wanted to make it more of a home.”

STORY HANNA BAE Three Eagle Scouts from Troop 342 were celebrated at a Court of Honor ceremony on Friday, Jan. 5 at Gray Hall at Oneonta Church. 2023 SPHS graduates Nathan Hodson, Andrew Jin, and Cai-Chun “Lim” Lin were recognized for their dedication and having attained the highest Scouting rank. The Eagle rank is the top honor within Scouts BSA, and according to Scouting Magazine, only 2.01 percent of registered scouts have reached the highest level since 1912. The three Scouts, accompanied by adult leadership, family, friends, and fellow troop members, marked their contributions to their community with their individual projects.

As a freshman at the Rose Hulman Institute of Technology majoring in mechanical engineering, his involvement with Compost Culture and scouting has nurtured a passion for environmentalism, which Hodson hopes to incorporate in his engineering career. “I learned that I really cared for the environment, partially due to Scouts and all the camping and hiking,” Hodson said. “I also enjoyed taking Environmental Science in high school. I found it super interesting and concerning.” Jin, a freshman and computer science major at University of California, Riverside, built four potato boxes and a composter for the South Pasadena

Community Gardens. One of his goals for the future is to work on developing sustainable public transportation solutions. “My dream for the future is [that] I want to work on public transportation for America: clean, green transportation…I like to ride the metro and it’s a shame it doesn’t work that well. I’d like to work on sustainable transportation solutions for our country and get away from a car civilization,” Jin said. Lin is a freshman and data science major at University of California, Berkeley. For his Eagle project, Lin constructed a bookshelf for South Pasadena Christian Church to provide a better storage option for Bibles. “One challenge [I overcame in Scouting] was the language because English is not my first language,” Lin said. “[Another challenge was] discouraging myself… but eventually I decided to just try. So I just worked hard and proved to myself that I was wrong.”

PAGE DESIGN EMIKO ESSMILLER & SOPHIE MERTZEL

TIGER JANUARY 18, 2024

NEWS

Tiger Talks: Sports Medicine with teacher Andre Zumaeta Discussing sports medicine’s intricacies — from unraveling the course’s content, to the use and goal of the field. STORY CLAIRE MAO PHOTO KAITLYN LEE This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Tiger: What is sports medicine? Zumaeta: Sports Medicine is a branch of the medical career, and it is a pretty large umbrella. There’s a lot of different careers that you can go into in sports medicine. For example, physical therapy, orthopedic doctors or surgeons, athletic training, strength and conditioning, chiropractic, chiropractors, even sports nutrition can fall under sports medicine. And the list goes on. But those are just to name a few. Tiger: What activities do sports medicine students participate in? Zumaeta: In the inter-level class – the first semester – we kind of focus on emergency response. So we start talking about environmental-related illnesses like heatstroke – for example – or hypothermia. And then we learn about vital signs, and how to take the vital signs of a patient. Then we go into wound care, how to properly take care of wounds, and how to respond to emergencies. So we take everything that we’ve learned in the whole semester for the end, and kind of apply it to how to properly respond to an emergency. And in the second semester, we start getting into topics like sports, nutrition, head injuries, get into anatomy and physiology in preparation for the advanced sports medicine course. We focus on – in a nutshell – the prevention, diagnosing, and treatment of sportsrelated injuries. And upon completion of both courses in the intro-level and advanced-level, you complete the patient care pathway. Tiger: Has the class been doing anything specific to this past year/semester that’s different from last year? Zumaeta: Yeah, especially with the advanced class. The past couple years, I’ve been in a transition of curriculum because the program became articulated with PCC, so students get college credit for taking the classes. I had to change things around in the curriculum, especially for the advanced class. So it’s quite different than last year. This year, we’re focusing on the prevention, examination process, and treatment of injuries.

Tiger: What motivates you to teach this class? Zumaeta: Many years ago, I came back when I was a college student after graduating from South Pas[adena]. And then, I came back to coach cross country and track. Then, when my athletes would get injured and didn’t know what to do, I took them to get a physical so they could see a physical therapist. I started getting kind of interested in that field. From there, I volunteered my time, and decided that I wanted to become an athletic trainer. I wanted to work with athletes specifically, and their injuries. I became certified in that, and worked for professional teams, different universities, colleges, and secondary schools. And then life just kind of led me back over here to start teaching. So I’ve kind of been doing that ever since. Tiger: What are the advantages of taking your class? Zumaeta: Well, I think the pros are that it’s a resume booster, and you get first aid, CPR, and AED certified. You get other certificates such as heat, illness, prevention, concussions in sports, sports, nutrition, and cardiac arrest – just to name a few. I think my students like it because I separate everybody into teams of three. They compete all semester by getting points, how they perform under practical assessments, how they perform on exam reviews, or assessment reviews. We’ll play some games

that get added to their points on their assessment. So I’ll take what they scored, take the average of the team, and add in 17 points. It gives them a little bit of a way to kind of engage into seeking knowledge in a competitive type of nature. Tiger: Were there any challenges that you encountered when teaching sports medicine? Zumaeta: Yeah, more or less the same challenges that any teacher goes through with lesson planning: ordering supplies, not having enough money to order those supplies, and raising money. That kind of thing, and then just the grading. But my biggest challenge was coming up with the curriculum. Building it all from scratch was continuously quite challenging. Tiger: What are you hoping to achieve by teaching this class? Zumaeta: I’m hoping to get students interested in the field of medicine. And I say the whole field of medicine because I want them to serve as a little introduction to our medicines. They can choose to become a healthcare provider, or if they go into sports medicine that’s even better since we’re kind of focused on that. But I just want to expose students to what’s out there, and what the medical field is. At least a little taste of it.

WILLIAM G. ERICSON

PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION & SCHOLARSHIP

WILLIAM G. ERICSON FOUNDATION

PAGE DESIGN EMIKO ESSMILLER & SOPHIE MERTZEL

TIGER JANUARY 18, 2024

NEWS

Ambitious Liftoff: three SPHS clubs strived for impacts beyond the classroom This year, three SPHS clubs, Jewish Mitzvah, Rocketry, and Musical Theatre Society, have pushed to impact the community. These clubs strive to break ground by making kits for the homeless, aiming to break international records, and spreading a passion for musical threatre. STORY ZOE CHEN, ABIGAIL KIM, & CLAIRE MAO

ILLUSTRATIONS & PAGE DESIGN ISOLE KIM

Behind the scenes of the Jewish Mitzvah club of SPHS T

he SPHS Jewish Mitzvah club was founded in August of 2022. The founders of the club, juniors Gabriel Vogel, Benjamin Regan, Charlie Vogel, and Emmet Mendel, established the club to facilitate mitzvahs, or good deeds, for Jews and non-Jews. The club currently has around 30 members. “In doing so [to educate Jews and non-Jews] we will give our members a chance to make a difference within the South Pasadena community as well as other surrounding communities as well,” secretary and founder Gabriel Vogel said. Treasurer and founder Benjamin Regan applied for and was awarded a $1,000 Julie Beren Platt Teen Innovation Grant from the Los Angeles Jewish Federation for the club’s service project named “Hope, Soap, and Blankets.” The grant will allow the Jewish Mitzvah to purchase items and assemble them into kits to help people

experiencing homelessness during the California winter. The kit sets will consist of blankets and toiletries, which include soap, deodorant, toothpaste, and toothbrushes. The Jewish Mitzvah club provides kits because it is following a mitzvot included in the Torah. Additionally, providing essential items for day-to-day living to individuals who lack the resources is another reason to pack kits. The group plans to donate the kits to Friends Indeed in Pasadena. The next meetings of the Jewish club will involve coordinating their services and discussing upcoming holidays, for instance, the Tu B’Shevat and Purim.

LYN LEE

Meetings of the Jewish Mitzvah club are conducted in Debbie Mogel’s classroom, room 426, during lunchtimes on Wednesdays.

PHOTO KAIT

Rocketry Club aspires to break international records SPHS welcomed over 40 new clubs this year, but the new Rocketry Club has goals slightly more ambitious than “awareness” and “group bonding.” The club currently has about 11 members and meets every other Wednesday in Mr. Modarres’ room, 913. The club was founded by Walter Lohmueller, a current freshman with a deep interest in amateur rocketry. “Amateur rocketry is a hobby where people will build, test, and launch rockets,” Lohmueller said. “It's very relevant to the aerospace industry and gives a lot of hands-on experience…It's such an awesome hobby that gives you hands-on experience in electronics, programming, aerodynamics, mechanical engineering, et cetera.”

PHOTO

CONTRIB

UTOR

The Rocketry Club has two main goals in mind: they are aiming to expose students to the hobby of amateur rocketry, and they are seeking to break an international high school rocketry record. “The Rocketry Club's current goal is to break the international altitude record for a high school led amateur rocket, which currently stands at 45,000 feet,” Lohmueller said. “We decided to go after this record because it's a challenge that we will learn a lot from…

there is a lot to be learned in terms of managing the technical aspects of a project this big.” Rockets are typically 3-6 feet in size, just large enough to fit propellant, avionics to track the height and flight data, and a recovery system with parachutes to safely land the rocket. During club meetings, members of the club experiment with fuels and designs for varying rocket launch outcomes, as well as discussing possible fundraising opportunities. So far, the club has launched four practice rockets at the Friends Of Amatuer Rocketry test site in the open skies of the Mojave desert. The club’s current launch record is 18,555 feet; a height of more than 3.5 vertical miles, but still only about half the height of the international record. “We're hoping that we can break the record before the end of this school year,” Lohmueller said. “We have several more launches planned over the next few months, which should give us enough experience for a record attempt in the spring.”

“I feel when people think of musical theatre, they think of one particular thing. And I think that that's a disservice to the genre as a whole. I don't think a lot of people know…at face value and how it's so much deeper, and so much more integral to our culture than…people realize,” Dekle said.

“I…created it [because] not only would it be a cool place to talk about musical theater, but also it's filling a void that the school didn't have,” Dekle said. Dekle typically leads discussions about musical theatre during the club meetings. Her sophomore, junior, and senior years have all had different underlying themes to the weekly meetings. During the club’s first year, every meeting was centered around certain genres found in various musicals, such as musicals on teenagers, or musicals about war. In the club’s second year, each meeting focused on a specific musical.

The club has had numerous unique activities that include musical theater jeopardy, biannual potlucks, and Dekle’s homemade cookies every meeting. Some musicals discussed this year include, Oklahoma!, Rent, and My Fair Lady. “I…want to just…leave my mark on the people who are in this club, and hope that they leave with a better or more joyful understanding musical theater and more appreciation for it than when they came in,” Dekle said.

Dekle was inspired to create the club after realizing that there was not a club for musical theater. It is not a performance club, but rather a way to express ideas about the subject. The club holds detailed conversations to discuss background information or pieces of specific musicals.

This year is the club’s third year, and so far meetings have detailed components of a musical, such as opening and closing acts. Plans for the second semester include going over and digging through the history of musical theatre, as well as various technical elements.

SPHS’s Musical Theatre Society has been active for over two years. Founded by senior Charlotte Dekle in her sophomore year, the Musical Theatre Society aims to provide students with a space to discuss and analyze various works of musical theater. The club meets every Tuesday at lunch in Ms. Cantey’s room.

Musical Theatre Society expands knowledge

RA C E( Y H

HEL) CHOI

TIGER JANUARY 18, 2024

OPINION

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

STAFF EDITORIAL

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF HANNA BAE MANAGING EDITORS ELLIE NAKAMURA, Print BENJAMIN REGAN, Online NEWS ETHAN KWAK, Editor OPINION LINDA YUN, Editor and Online Associate FEATURE MORGAN SUN, Editor SPORTS ROSE VANDEVELDE, Editor DESIGN EMIKO ESSMILLER, Editor ISOLE KIM, Editor PHOTOGRAPHY SAMANTHA SHIROISHI, Editor COPY CLEMENTINE EVANS, Editor

From the red carpet to ballot boxes

BUSINESS AND ADS ADA BORREDON, Editor KATE LIU, Staff Ads Manager

Turning to celebrities for political insight undermines true democratic values.

STAFF WRITERS ZOE CHEN, Copy Associate ABIGAIL KIM, Copy Associate CLAIRE MAO, News/Sports Associate SONYA SHIMPOCK, Opinion/Feature Associate SOLANA SINGER PHOTOGRAPHERS ZOE CHEN, Photography Associate SHIN-HYE (RACHEL) CHOI SUNHYE (SUNNY) CHOI EMIKO ESSMILLER KAITLYN LEE LINDA YUN ILLUSTRATORS SUNHYE (SUNNY) CHOI HEEJOON (JOON) LEE ISABELLE WONG PAGE DESIGNERS OLIVIA CHIN, Design Associate SOPHIE MERTZEL SOLANA SINGER FACULTY ADVISOR KAREN HAMES VOL. 110 NO. 4 DISTRIBUTED ON JANUARY 18, 2024. DISTRIBUTION: 1460 STUDENTS; 70 COMMUNITY. 1400 COPIES PRINTED. DISTRIBUTED BY TIGER STAFF FREE OF CHARGE.

TIGER IS PRODUCED BY THE ADVANCED JOURNALISM NEWSPAPER CLASS AT SOUTH PASADENA HIGH SCHOOL, 1401 FREMONT AVE, SOUTH PASADENA, CA 91030. LAYOUT AND PHOTO IMAGING ARE COMPLETED ON-SITE. SIGNED ARTICLES APPEARING IN TIGER REPRESENT THE WRITER’S OPINIONS AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE STAFF, STUDENT BODY, FACULTY OR ADMINISTRATION OF SPHS. ORIGINAL

nstagram clamored to cancel Selena Gomez in December after she tweeted a statement that included “we should save all the children” in response to the growing Israel-Hamas conflict. She received backlash for implying neutrality in yet another example of frenzied, internet-driven cancel culture that has become part of an increasingly disturbing trend of America’s newfound approach to political engagement. The growth of social media has begun to blur the lines between entertainment and politics. With this evolution, there has been a growing cry for celebrities to voice their political views as well as backlash when they choose to stay silent. While celebrities can use their platforms to amplify marginalized voices, the notion that they should be a primary source of political guidance, or that their silence is inherently problematic, is fundamentally flawed. Entertainment and politics are vastly different realms. There is an extreme discrepancy between celebrity expertise and political competency: the skills it takes to become a successful artist or entertainer do not necessarily translate to an understanding of political nuances. Personal political views need to be the result of an individual’s own thoughtful and informed analysis, not simply adopted from celebrities. The public’s excessive focus on the political stances of celebrities risks overshadowing genuine perspectives from political experts and scholars, while also compromising individual decision-making. Expecting a public figure to provide social and political commentary is akin to expecting a politician to act in a blockbuster movie — it is both absurd and outside of their area of expertise. It is preferable for celebrities to refrain from speaking on political issues without a genuine understanding than for them to speak out solely to make a statement. The performative activism that is present when celebrities simply echo half-formed thoughts trivializes serious issues and reduces them to mere talking points in the celebrity publicity playbook. Promoting a culture that pressures everyone to voice opinions on critical issues, irrespective of their political

expertise, severely undermines and degrades the quality of political discourse in America. Public branding has become intertwined with public persona, and celebrities — who are inherently biased like any individual — often link their political statements with self-promotion or align them with prevailing industry trends. This focus on brand enhancement compromises the impartiality of their political views and tends to overshadow objective analysis in favor of personal or commercial interests. Even when their statements appear void of any external influence, they are still often limited to sound bites or brief social media posts. The brevity of these narratives leads to an inherent oversimplification of complex political issues, creating dangerous misconceptions about political matters with the public. Substance should be prioritized over spectacle in society, and continuing to condemn celebrities over their silence only demonstrates a superficial approach to political engagement. Instead, the public should begin to prioritize individual political responsibility. Democracy thrives on informed and engaged citizens who form their own opinions and use them to hold elected officials accountable, and outsourcing this participation to public figures only serves to severely diminish the quality of democracy. Public figures should not be expected to, nor should attempt to be political commentators, and their masquerading as such dilutes the essence and duty of informed citizenship. While celebrities have the power to draw attention to political issues, their role should be seen as complementary to, not a substitute for, a citizen’s obligation to understand and engage with political issues. It is imperative that SPHS students educate themselves and form their own opinions in order to, when the time comes, responsibly contribute to the democratic process. Political understanding is deepened not by following a single voice, but by listening to a multitude of them; while celebrities can use their platforms to highlight these voices, it is vital that they do not replace them.

STORIES WILL CARRY BYLINES, ALTHOUGH STORIES

Boos & Bravos

REWRITTEN BY ANYONE OTHER THAN THE ORIGINAL WRITER WILL NOT RECEIVE ONE. CONTRIBUTING WRITERS WILL ALSO RECEIVE ONE.

Tiger’s cheers and jeers for the month of January

CONTACT THE PUBLICATIONS OFFICE AT (626) 441-5820 EXT. 2615 BETWEEN 8:00 A.M. AND 4:00 P.M. FOR ADVERTISING RATES AND SUBSCRIPTIONS. TIGER WELCOMES ARTICLES,

BRAVOS

BOOS

LETTERS OR REBUTTALS FOR PUBLICATION IN THE PRINT AND ONLINE EDITIONS. ALL LETTERS MUST BE SIGNED AND VERIFIABLE, BUT NAMES WILL BE WITHHELD UPON REQUEST.

TIGER’S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE A RELIABLE NEWS OUTLET FOR SPHS AND THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. THROUGH A VARIETY OF COVERAGE, TIGER EMPOWERS/ENABLES STUDENTS TO THINK CRITICALLY AND CREATIVELY, COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY, SOLVE PROBLEMS, SET AND REACH GOALS, AND WORK COOPERATIVELY AND INDEPENDENTLY AS RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS. TIGER IS A FORUM FOR STUDENT FREE SPEECH, IN ACCORDANCE WITH

BOO to vegans. Lettuce live in peace. BOO to Erewhon. I’m breathing the air of a different

BRAVO to Michigan Football. They won the battle of BOO to my dad. The only thing he and Nemo have in common is that they can’t be found. BOO to the Gmail app. Sent from my iPhone.

the public bathrooms. BRAVO to my grandmother and websites. You can’t deny either of their cookies. BRAVO to Jacob Elordi. Looking at you gives my

ARE ONLINE AT TIGERNEWSPAPER.COM INCLUDING: CONFLICT OF INTEREST, LETTERS TO THE EDITOR,

BRAVO to Aeries. Just like my life; shut down when I need it.

tax bracket.

CALIFORNIA ED CODE 48907. ALL REMAINING CURRENT TIGER NEWSPAPER POLICIES

BRAVO to Wham! Thanks for the heart.

BOO to stand-up comedy. Sit down.

CORRECTIONS, AND SOCIAL MEDIA.

PAGE DESIGN SOLANA SINGER

heart a salt burn.

TIGER JANUARY 18, 2024

OPINION

Study of humanities builds global bridges Humanities, although seen as a lifeless field, can form connections around the world and foster unity. human beings are, regardless of their ethnicity or identity. However, the drift of students away from humanities is becoming an alarming trend — a trend that will present a looming shadow over the future to come. The waning interest in humanities poses a threat not only to the current generation but to generations to follow. As a result of the diminishing emphasis on humanities, there is perilous neglect in genuine rising crises. Crises around the world need to be solved in an effective way — getting to the root of the cause and not merely treating the symptoms. For instance, displacement within societies. Surface-level knowledge of an event will not result in an effective choice and will instead result in a poor policy. Simply assigning a random street as a “living quarter” does not solve the problem. The temporary setting will cause anxiousness within the group and cause a larger gap between societies as one is viewed as an “outsider.” Instead, people should be aware of what has happened and what specific group values can provide to other societies.

STORY CLAIRE MAO ILLUSTRATION ISOLE KIM

under law, politics, journalism, graphic design, and more fall under the “humanities” umbrella.

Values of different cultures and how history is made are brought to the table with humanities. Those teachings transform the way humans understand the world they live in today. The humanities give people new ideas on how to refine the world given past experiences in history and cultures.

etting a degree in a STEM field is perceived as the golden ticket in life. However, hidden beneath the shadows of STEM lies the basic understanding that forms networks of communication — humanities. Many may dismiss the study of humanities as dull or irrelevant — yet as humans navigate through the 21st century, the study of humanities only becomes increasingly profound. The beauty of humanity lies in its versatility. While the initial perception of humanities may label them as “trivial,” closer inspection reveals the remarkable flexibility humanities provide. The application of humanities goes much beyond the boundaries the course teaches — topics such as philosophy, performing arts, literature, and cultural studies apply to broader fields. Its relevance falls

Humanities furthermore provide context on potential consequences that may occur. The expansive teachings of humanities have the potential to foster unity and continually develop the array of possibilities throughout time. A chance to better understand oneself and others builds and promotes meaningful connections. Revealing important factors of others’ lives proves how similar

The study of humanities will equip humans with tools to navigate the choices that people have to make and moreover help individuals wade through the sea of misinformation that circulates in today’s modern times. Remaining ignorant on affairs happening around the world not only dampens people’s view of the earth but also disconnects people from society. If students persist in their indifferent approach to the study of humanities, the repercussions will extend beyond personal sentiments — they will become a collective disregard for the world. The absence of humanities in education and its diverse applications in various professions leaves individuals illequipped to grasp the consequences of their indifference, perpetuating a cycle of unawareness that may bear severe consequences for the collective well-being of Earth’s global communities.

In defense of fruitless spending and million-dollar yachts STORY ZOE CHEN ILLUSTRATION SUNHYE (SUNNY) CHOI Criticizing others is practically a part of human nature, and especially when it comes to celebrities, the ultra rich, and the privileged. However, while harmless from a distance, collective criticism thrown from one class of income to another serves as a wedge between the people of the classes. Every spitting, criticizing remark hammers the wedge deeper into already defined cracks, further dividing people in what is already a divided world. Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon, is near the very top of the income pyramid with his estimated $172.3 billion net worth. In 2021, Bezos ordered the construction of a personal superyacht. The project took two years to complete and cost Bezos an estimated $500 million. Non-billionaires — or pretty much everybody except Bezos himself — are quick to criticize this purchase as “useless” and “not worth it.” But worth is subjective, and people should look inwardly at themselves before outwardly criticizing others. A large percentage of SPHS students own AirPods, or some sort of wireless headphones. However, wireless headphones often cost upwards of $100, with Apple listing AirPods Max for $549 on their website. When wired earbuds are practically given away for free but

Baes and Nays HANNA BAE

To be humbled As election season goes into full swing, I’ve been meticulously following along. I turn 18 this year, meaning I can vote for the very first time. As daunting as this idea of (as millennials love to appeal) “adulting” is, I want to embrace it. I’ve learned to think for myself, and that’s arguably the best thing I’ve ever done. I was 13 when the pandemic flipped the world on its head and in turn, completely flipped my Instagram feed into a run-down, impromptu, middle school dress code protest. Word of George Floyd’s death and

work just as well as their Bluetooth counterparts, the decision to purchase AirPods may be viewed as a frivolous waste of money by those who cannot afford the same luxuries. This is the same criticism thrown at the superyacht, now redirected. This creates a cycle where one criticizes someone with more money than themself, then is criticized by one with less money than themself; where one is shooting while simultaneously being shot at. And while a million-dollar yacht, $500 headphones, and something even smaller — say, a $5 ice cream cone — may not seem “the same,” each is subject to the same criticisms, which further the lack of understanding for people in social classes higher than one’s own. This is not to say that people should stop enjoying what others may consider to be “not worth it.” Not that ice cream should be boycotted, not that AirPods squander savings, not even that Bezos’ superyacht is not worth the time or money its construction required. Each of these examples interprets the word “worth” in a different way — which is fine, because worth is dependent on the person in the same way ethics and politics are. Nothing distinctly is or is not “worth it,” and people should be more accepting of others’ open interpretations of the undefined idea — interpretations that are the base of spending decisions.

No matter how unnecessary the thought of a multimillion-dollar purchase may be, it is hypocritical and self-inconsistent to criticize others’ seemingly pointless purchases while making choices that can be questioned with the same logic. It is up to each individual to live within their means and make the best choices for themself; the decisions that they choose to make should simply be acknowledged as their choices, not mocked and berated by those who do not agree. In the end, people should acknowledge their own luxuries, large or small, and put in their best effort not to judge the ways others derive enjoyment from their own spending.

Black Lives Matter sentiments spread like wildfire, and so did the infographics and misinformed story callouts.

other people and myself in the process. But I needed that time, ultimately, for myself.

I initially got caught up in the whirlwind of posts and lengthy post captions, much of which was to the distaste of my peers. I started hearing seemingly make-believe words like capitalism, stigma, and bipartisan thrown around, most of which I didn’t fully understand.

I learned. I began to properly research the roots behind the hastily put-together infographics, the underlying tones, and the legitimacy of arguments thrown at me.

But as I kept reposting mindless infographics and making sly comments on posts on social justice (or rather the lack thereof), I was criticized, cursed at, and threatened. I made rash claims in moments of flame and fury and suddenly, I was a know-nothing know-it-all who knew nothing about the “real world” or what anything I was saying meant. To an extent, the claims weren’t wrong. Simply put, I rode the tide. Whatever one of my friends posted on their story, I agreed. I didn’t take the time or energy to think for myself — I followed the herd and thought what everyone else thought, misinformed and all. Everything I was saying didn’t register, and I made mistakes. I said things that took it too far, and I hurt

PAGE DESIGN SOLANA SINGER

I took my skewed views and false claims and metamorphosed what I didn’t understand at first into what I’m most passionate about now. If you told me four years ago that I applied for political science and journalism majors, I would have laughed in your face. I would like to say I think for myself now. I don’t necessarily conform to mass exoduses of schools of thought, and I’ve distanced myself from the extremes. In the grand scheme of things, I’ve changed. Some may argue for better or for worse. I’m no longer the same, timid, and quite honestly ignorant eighth grader who first reposted those posts on Instagram. But, I needed that embarrassment. I needed to be humbled. And I think I’m okay with that.

TIGER JANUARY 18, 2024

OPINION

Perceived homogeneity stifles political thought South Pasadena’s inability to see beyond its bubble leads to isolation of opposing viewpoints. STORY ANONYMOUS ILLUSTRATION ISABELLE WONG

lush oasis just a short drive from one of America’s biggest cities, South Pasadena has a reputation for its arts crawls, weekly farmers markets, and general eclecticism. Besides being an artsy corner for LA’s plant moms and the like, South Pasadena, as it stands today, is known for being exceedingly liberal. For around 75 years, South Pasadena’s restrictive covenants ensured the community remained largely racially homogenous. When the federal government funded the Altos de Monterey development, excluding racial discrimination on who could purchase property, families of color began moving into the city. South Pasadena has become much more diverse since then. According to the 2023 Community Profiles Magazine, around 60 percent of South Pasadena’s population are people of color. As the city grows more diverse, its politics have taken an interesting turn, which is reflected in the attitudes of the SPHS community. SPHS students often feel that inclusionary aspects of literature are being “shoved down their throat.” Many current and past 10th grade students express disappointment in the way classrooms approach literature. “Diverse books in English classrooms are definitely important,” said one anonymous SPHS student. “But in my opinion, what is more important is actually understanding the writer’s message. When an English class focuses so much on cherry picking themes and dedicates an [enormous] amount of time to analyzing these themes, it neglects the intent of the author.” While mature themes in the English curriculum are important, as they help children subconsciously prepare for the reality of the world, they become problematic when teachers jump to conclusions about inclusionary aspects of the text without acknowledging the entire book. Many students have experienced the use of leading questions in class-wide discussions. Leading questions are dangerous in educational environments because they manipulate answers in a way that leads students to an opinion that may not be their own. When these

questions are combined with the need to conform to what seems to be the collective belief of a classroom, essentially when a classroom of students that do not think for themselves, but rather piggyback off other students’ claim to please the teacher, learning environments are compromised.

and does not actually change one’s views — it only changes what comes out of someone’s mouth in a high pressure environment, not what they actually believe when the walls come down. This is not the way to produce fledging young adults who genuinely believe in causes.

Educator bias is inevitable. But the problem arises when they come to lack understanding for the diversity and complexity of student backgrounds by pushing one single viewpoint. In complicated classroom environments, filled with the elements of competitive SPHS classroom culture of who can kiss up to the teacher more, the need to belong to a collective, the need to be right and appear on the “right side” of the debate, the need to talk to receive a grade, on top of the teacher’s existing and unavoidable biases, pressure builds up and many students may feel a need to “tame” their opinion to be more digestible.

Although the city’s deep-rooted politics are not within their control, SPHS staff can leave a mark on students’ classroom experiences by being more accommodating of different perspectives. The way students change themselves and code switch in classrooms grow from anything between experiences good and bad from families, friends, the way they are raised, trauma responses, to human nature. Expecting teachers, one factor that contributes to the lack of free thought, to magically undo all the other components is unreasonable. That being said, teachers can and should do their part to make learning environments more balanced. They should evaluate their own biases before deciding on, say, the essay prompt or discussion question. That little bit can go a long way to create a more authentic learning environment.

Deniers of SPHS’s culture of surface-level homogeneity may argue that conformity of this kind prevents hate speech. However, the form of conformity is involuntary

Aiming for instant virality chokes modern music industry devoted fan base, Frank Ocean, who hasn’t had a major record release in seven years, is a prime example of an artist who gets much hate for releasing music on his own terms. Fans have waited not-so-patiently since Ocean’s beloved project Blonde was put out in 2016, speculating about far-fetched hints and rumors of a new album drop that always turn out to be false. Ocean has continuously defied both expectations and demands for new music. And good for him; he persists as one of the few famous artists who have avoided succumbing to the pressure of the music industry. Another curious byproduct of the current music industry is the “song of the summer” phenomenon. Lip-syncing the audio to another generic, overproduced breakup pop song, smaller artists upload videos from their cars unironically captioned “Did I just make the song of the summer?” These empty promotion tactics continually end up fruitless. Lately, social media platforms have taken up poking fun at the concept of the song of the summer, holding more ironic than genuine results for “song of the summer” searches.

STORY SOLANA SINGER ILLUSTRATION ISABELLE WONG The definition of success in a particular field in this everevolving world remains in a constant flux state. From marketing copies of vinyl records and selling out stadium tours to landing gigs on television and reaching billions of streams on Spotify, this continual metamorphosis can easily be recognized in the milestones of the music industry. Due to the technological focus of the modern era, the ways in which listeners consume music are perpetually changing — and the latest development of achieving material success in music requires artists to shift their prowess from the creation of replayable radio songs to that of viral TikTok sounds. As the only way to guarantee that their material will be played over and over, many managers have resorted to marketing their clients and their work through social media. It cannot be denied that the majority of TikTok-famous artists are one hit wonders. After a single song reaches immeasurable success by being featured in thousands of short clips, artists are reduced to a solitary piece of what is oftentimes their extensive musical catalog. The rest of their discography does not contain those 15 seconds of viral gold, so listeners do not care enough to venture into unknown waters.

Along with entertainment, music clips have been increasingly shortened. People turn to TikTok and other fast-paced social media apps as appealing options of audio consumption. Filled with bite-sized tracks compressed to their most flavorful 15 seconds, TikTok allows consumers to quickly discover the best part of thousands of songs. As evidence, many will cite the case of Steve Lacy’s “Bad Habit” — after it blew up as a TikTok sound, videos surfaced of Lacy’s concertgoers falling silent after singing along to the chorus. Social media acts as the vessel for the majority of artist promotion today. Once supported by professional campaign teams, artists are now expected to log onto social media and do the majority of their marketing themselves with relatable content to boost view counts. In addition, producers and managers encourage artists to drag out the promotion period for their songs. In hopes of a chunk of chorus going viral, short sections of unreleased songs are teased for months online. Often, by the time they finally release on streaming platforms, the hype surrounding the teasers will have dissipated and the trend gone stale. Labels also pressure artists to churn out huge quantities of music in short periods of time to avoid losing listener interest, besides the expectation of self-promotion. Although he still manages to hold the attention of a large,

PAGE DESIGN SOLANA SINGER

TikTok’s grand presence in the music industry has also introduced an overwhelming reliance on clichés and gimmicks that artists know will go viral. The average online person can fill both hands counting the number of recent hits that have relied on nursery rhymes, letters and numbers, or unsponsored product placement. On top of this, variety within mainstream production has declined. Convenient adherence to the same basic song structure allows artists to increase their musical yield, as well as audiences to find things they like more quickly. Repeated use of similar instrumentation, styles, and even melodies makes it easier for listeners to identify the shadow of a certain trend in an artist’s music. The existence of viral culture should be debated. Despite this, TikTok trends and sounds provide a springboard for people all over the world to connect and stretch their creativity. However, the use of audios should not mean that the music industry has to sacrifice the standard of its output. This lowered standard begs the question: are people expecting less from songs? TikTok has recently promoted a picture of music as a fun little toy to play around with. While this can be a nice way to look at things in certain situations, music is also an art form. A renewed societal emphasis on radio stations, streaming by album instead of singular song, and hard-copy record and CD stores could enrich the musical canons and help one hit wonders become multi-hit wonders whose musical accomplishments will make future humans proud.

TIGER JANUARY 18, 2024

Everywhere you look: de

As media and entertainment permeate into teenage life, the effects of extended media use bub

Media encourages fantasy

PAGE DESIGN EMIKO ESSMILLER

STORY CLEMENTINE EVANS

hows from Law & Order to Riverdale have people enveloping themselves in the lives of other characters, striving to be more like them, wanting to have the same level of respect, popularity, wealth, as them. Media has had irreversible impacts on society, showing the best and worst parts of characters’ lives, resulting in happy endings. It has become the root of all of society’s wants (and needs). Society watches the lives of fictional characters instead of focusing on their own lives and desires. They are inspired by the people on the screen. In hopes of having the same reactions for themselves as those in the media, people attempt to become that character, stripping their personality and calling it their own. Shows like Breaking Bad, Gossip Girl, and reality TV shows give audiences unrealistic fantasies, romanticizing certain bad situations and events. Although these are all effects of excessive media consumption, the positive outcomes of consuming media are also present. Documentaries and certain movies and shows also give viewers a window into other cultures and perspectives they would have otherwise not been able to see. Even with idealistic and unreal visions of others’ lives, this type of influence is an escape from the reality of life.

Shopping websites also advertise for other purchases. It can be very overwhelming to feel like nothing is ever enough. Signing up for a website subscription is almost a guarantee of spam emails informing receivers about new items and discounts. When riding the metro or bus, ads are plastered on the walls. When driving, biking, or walking around town, billboards loom in the sky advertising services and stores. Bombardment by ads is guaranteed. Christmas is the most popular celebration of the holiday season in the United States. 90 percent of Americans celebrate Christmas. Within this, 80 percent of non-Christians celebrate Christmas, and almost all view it as a cultural holiday over a religious one. Holiday traditions range, but with some staples — a Christmas tree, gathering for meals, and gift giving. The idea of spending is everywhere from Nov. 1 to Dec. 25. New toys, new appliances, and new devices are all one sees. It all comes to a head on the day after Thanksgiving: Black Friday. This famously hectic day of the year is emblematic of the obsession with purchasing. This environment has become artificial in its emphasis on gifts and spending. The culture on TikTok of documenting hauls revels in the sheer mass of purchases. The quality and enjoyment of each item goes ignored. It serves to create jealousy in viewers, rather than genuine content. The lack of regulation of the advertisements only intensifies the problem. Influencers serving as vessels for advertising is a new format, and thus mandatory “#ads” are minimally enforced. With no notice of sponsorship, it can be impossible to tell if there is genuine enjoyment of a product rather than a paid statement. Consumerism itself is not necessarily the issue, as it can be a sweet show of affection to give gifts at this special time of year. However, gifts are also used as the only way to show thought and care. Rather than taking the time to see what other people are interested in, often people may end up with something given for the sake of giving a gift. While people feel gratitude for this show of love, it does not need to be funnelled through purchases. Handwritten cards, food, or some kind words can be just as valuable ways of expressing to our loved one’s that we care.

The holidays are a special time of year. Lights shine around our neighborhoods, families gather, presents are opened. As nice as traditions can be, one of the most noticeable aspects of the holidays is the rampant advertising. It is impossible to walk into Target or Vons, drive down the highway, or even open a phone without being hit with an advertisement.

STORY SOPHIE MERTZEL

TLY

Holiday overconsumption

KAI

Influencers on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat have that title for a reason: they have the products, communication skills, and persuasion to entice an audience. Viewers trust the words of popular influential voices, and influencers build a rapport and a large audience in order to have a network of interested viewers. Media has given audiences unrealistic views of life (and the lives of others). People have become naturally consumed by fiction.

People see the lives of fictional characters unravel and want to mirror their successes and failures; wanting to have the same level of respect, popularity, and/or attention. Society yearns to reflect the day-to-day experiences of people on shows, in movies, and especially on social media.

PHO

Movies such as The Kissing Booth and Do Revenge and shows like Ginny & Georgia and Outer Banks portray the highs and lows of high school: peer pressure, romance, and substance use. The unrealistic, naive expectations and events shown influence society because people believe what is fed to them through the screen of the television. Love life is shown as overly romantic in the media. Bridgerton, The Summer I Turned Pretty, and reality dating shows make romance seem even more unattainable to the average person.

TIGER JANUARY 18, 2024

ecision-making in media

bble to the surface. Tiger analyzes the positives and negatives of modern-day screen reliance. ILLUSTRAT IO

Behind true crime N S

STORY ABIGAIL KIM

HE E

T JO

(JOON) LEE N O

LLIE NA KA &E M

rue crime continues to experience a dramatic increase in popularity that first dates back to the mid-1600s. True crime refers to any source of media coverage regarding real events, real people, and real crimes. However, nowadays it is not a way to spread awareness or gather information, but rather a source of entertainment for the general public. True crime is enjoyed through the forms of documentaries, books, and — most commonly — podcasts in today’s world. Podcasts centered around true crime were ranked as the highest topic among high-ranking podcasts, according to a study done by the Pew Research Center in 2022. The study also listed entertainment as the top reason why people tune in, stating that around 85 percent of people listen for their own pleasure. This form of entertainment appeals to intellectual curiosity and grabs attention with gripping headlines. The feelings of being able to “solve the mystery” and follow along with the story can be enjoyable to many, contributing to why true crime is so widespread and loved.

RA U

The downside of true crime in the media is that only the big, bad cases truly garner and collect people’s attention. Many, if not all, of the cases that are publicized and discussed are ones that are meant to draw the viewers’ attention. These dramaticized cases create a false illusion of reality, since the cases shown are a sliver of the amount of cases there really are. The televised crimes can be perceived by viewers as the only crimes that are really happening, which is far from the truth. Indulging in true crime for pleasure fabricates a storyline in which real-world crimes are ignored, partially because of the unrealistic portrayal of violence in the media. Headlines include interesting, eyecatching stories, which are not true to the world’s events. However, in true crime, there is yet another problem — the romanticization of criminals. The romanticization of criminals mentioned in true crime is simply detrimental to society as a whole. Determining morality on the basis of physical appearance has led to popularized attraction to “bad boys,” overlooking their wrongdoings. The severity of criminals’ actions cannot be brushed over, which is, in other words, encouraging delinquency culture. Delinquency culture, which refers to a system in which criminal or illegal behavior is supported, cannot continue to be reinforced by the idea of finding criminals attractive. Rather, they must be held accountable for their actions through an accurate and equal portrayal in the media. Romanticizing criminals also contributes to the desensitization of violence, as people are unable to take their cases seriously. Focused on the attractiveness of villains, their actions are seen as “not as big of a deal.” Additionally, the mass amount of content thrown at viewers also contributes to the desensitization of real-world events. Constantly being exposed to crimes and cases simply makes one get used to them, so real-world events seem less important or severe. However, this is not what to take away from true crime. Although it may be an entertaining way to spend one’s time, it does not exist to idolize felons. If true crime is meant to educate the public, it should be more factual and less romanticized. Otherwise, it is media that brings delight or distraction, and should be consumed as such. Although true crime’s original intent was to spread information, it now seems as if it is more of a form of entertainment in the media.

Breaking the scroll STORY CLAIRE MAO Technology continues to advance throughout time. However, with the constant barrage of information and the ever-scrolling timelines of social media platforms, people’s attention spans have undergone a harsh aftermath. A study conducted by the American Psychological Association in 2004 showed that the average person had an attention span of two and a half minutes. As years continued, along with the advancements of technology, the average attention span went from 12 seconds to eight and a half seconds. People’s attention spans continue to dwindle as the result of the relentless tide of the century’s digital era. Students especially find themselves subject to spending hours scrolling away on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and other similar platforms. Student’s attention spans affect their future lives and additionally break the communications between others. When people immerse themselves in Instagram, the pixels of the screen drive them away from interactions with the outside world. Each swipe results in another video popping up at record speed. When waiting to listen to others or waiting in line for the local ice cream truck, people become impatient and stick to their electronic “best friends.” Social media platforms are designed to trap whoever taps on the app. Many features such as getting rewards or notifications constantly switch people’s attention to their social media — a deep, endless ocean. Mountains of information, clips, and videos are stored within the walls of social media. With every new click or tap, something new that someone has never seen before is unlocked. There is constant information being bombarded at students, and with the fast advancement of technology, electronics respond in milliseconds. The result of being fed information in milliseconds eventually leads to shorter attention spans. While it is incredibly hard for one to put away their phone while there are notifications going off every two minutes, it is a task people must follow in current times. Larger repercussions will arise if people submit to their slowly diminishing attention spans. It will not be a simple matter of getting impatient if a website is not loading, it will be entirely new levels of miscommunication. The diminishing attention spans are the first sign of the fall of the timeline. Short attention spans contribute to miscommunication and the decline of happiness. As less and less communication takes place, miscommunication will arise. As people get isolated, the “happiness” they receive from their phones will serve nothing to them. Attention spans are shorter, and students are wasting hours of what could be useful studying, instead watching pixels move across the screen to only receive a tinge of “happiness.” With this, not only do people become impatient when something is slower than usual, but their scrolling provides false happiness and fills up time that the individuals could instead use to take care of themselves. But in the meantime, social media will continue to advance. It is up to individuals themselves to minimize the harmful side of devices.

TIGER JANUARY 18, 2024

FEATURE

Charlotte’s Web CHARLOTTE DEKLE

Going on 18 If I played my cards right, this column should be distributed on my 18th birthday. If this is the case, I am expecting a text from everyone in the readership of Tiger congratulating me on this momentous occasion. To be honest, I never expected to make it to 18. Take that in an “I have no concept of time” way and not a “cry for help” way. But instead of wallowing in the specter of death that is a year closer, let us go through a nonexhaustive list of everything I can now do. Vote: This is the major one. Unfortunately, we partially have Richard Nixon to thank for the 26th Amendment. The 2024 election will be one of the most consequential of my lifetime. However, it does seem like every subsequent election has upped the intensity. I suggest that all eligible 18 year olds register to vote, and all eligible 16 and 17 year olds pre-register.

Rice Purity Test’s double standard in sexuality

A purity test that gives you a number of your innocence is tainted itself.

STORY CLEMENTINE EVANS ILLUSTRATION HEEJOON (JOON) LEE

ex, love, drugs, interpersonal relationships. These are the main elements of the highly popularized and well-known Rice Purity Test. This self-grading survey has 100 actions that one will check off, and after the selection is complete, the test will generate a score out of 100. The lower the score, the more things the individual has done, and vice versa. Since the survey’s creation, the level of sex positivity has decreased, while the amount of slut-shaming has increased. Rice University created and administered the first purity test in 1924. The test asked 100 “yes” or “no” questions. It was only given to women so the university could determine how “improper” their female student population was. The test eventually expanded to other university campuses and student bodies. Taking this test elicits stares of judgment, no matter if the score is in the high 90s or the low 70s. Being “too innocent” is seen as being a Virgin Mary, or being “too experienced” is seen as being a Lydia Bennet. Girls are especially looked down on for having a low score. On the other hand, boys are shamed for having high scores, making them seem as if they are not experienced enough. This test inflates the gender-based stereotypes that come with the topic of sex. This test perpetuates overrated and outdated expectations of both men and women. Girls are expected to have Bridgerton-like abstinence and be as virtuous and innocent as possible. Boys are pressured by society (and peers) to be a capital R Rake and a player.

Sex positivity seems to be overrated, as well. The test ridicules girls for having too much experience and boys for not having enough, conveying caveman-like ideals. The scoring system for the test is ridiculous. Having 100 to 90 is “Pure as gold,” 89 to 80 is “High level of innocence and purity,” 79 to 45 is “Moderately experienced,” 44 to 10 is “Tainted purity,” and nine to zero is “Most experienced.” The ranking system of having the middle range of scores as moderately experienced is an umbrella title for the average score — an umbrella title that does not fit everyone who falls in that number range. The spectrum is broad, and one ranking of someone who might be on the cusp of 44 to 10 has “tainted purity.” It is a generalization of (sexual) experiences that do not describe everyone in a specific number range. The idea of “purity” in and of itself is misogynistic. Women are not tainted if they do not abide by society’s sexist standards to wait until marriage — or until a man tells her — to have sex. Treating women like a piece of chaste property and disregarding them if they are not up to the man’s standards of purity is something that should have died out centuries ago. People are shamed for even talking about sex, let alone for having “too much” sex. Instead of slut-shaming people for having sex, society needs to shift its perspective to thinking of it in a more positive light. The score of the Rice Purity Test is yet another opportunity for someone to be shamed for their experience. No individual should be looked at a certain way simply on the basis of a score of a test.

PAGE DESIGN OLIVIA CHIN

Join the Army: As of the publication of this column, women are not required to sign up for the selective service but if I felt so inclined, I could join the military. This seems unlikely considering that I can barely complete a push-up and would not thrive in a combat zone but now that I am an adult, I have the option. Get married: This one seems less likely to be accomplished since I am not even in a relationship. But if any people reading this column would like to change this, call me. Moreover, if I ever find myself alone in Vegas, Elvis can officiate my elopement with the nearest beau. Adopt: I would consider this option if the prior condition is met. Sue someone: I think that I will start with intentional infliction of emotional distress and sue the College Board. Serve on a jury: The main thing I hear about jury duty is that it is a chore. But, as someone who has seen 12 Angry Men upwards of one time, I would feel honored to do my civic duty to serve on a jury of my peers. But perhaps the true civic duty is evading jury duty, just like my fellow citizens. Get a Costco card: I’m all in for the savings that I will definitely need as a broke college student. Change your name: I am currently taking suggestions. Hanna Bae? Ellie Nakamura? Ben Regan? Sophie Mertzel? Ada Bild? John Paul Jones? Do not get me wrong, I adore the name Charlotte Dekle. I adore the way it forms on my tongue and in my mouth. I adore the way the tone of my voice changes as I say it. I adore the fact that this name is so distinctly mine. Then again, I am willing to give all of that up for the right price. Buy cigarettes and tobacco: I have never smoked before and trust the scientific consensus about the dangers of smoking but it looks cool, so I should start now. Get forklift certified: I can’t even drive a car but watch me operate a forklift. Happy birthday to me.

TIGER JANUARY 18, 2024

FEATURE

Activism of the 1960s comes alive through art History is revitalized in photography depicting the vicissitudes of the civil rights movement.

The majority of these photographers were affiliated with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), the first civil rights organization to include a photography department. This allowed them to intertwine their activism with visual storytelling, using the power of images to evoke emotions and provoke thought. Each photo is accompanied by a blurb from the photographer with context and thoughts of what was captured.

Life (What we Saw),” explains that these photographs captured the effects of systemic discrimination that was going undocumented in the “Black Belt” — a region spanning from Maryland to Texas.

The gallery features over 150 images taken by nine different photographers: Bob Adelman, George “Elfie” Ballis, Bob Fitch, Bob Fletcher, Matt Heron, David Prince, Herbert Randall, Maria Varela, and Tamio Wakayama.

Some pieces have audio contextual commentary from the photographed figures. The exhibit also includes several glass cases displaying booklets, posters, and protest music vinyls with audio from the civil rights era.

These photographers identified with diverse backgrounds such as Black, white, Jewish, Christian, Native American, Japanese, Mexican American, and Canadian, contributing to a collection of images that extends beyond a singular narrative.

The exhibit is laid out in a chronological order of events that weave together the comprehensive path to equality. Large black panels with backstories to events going on in the time periods the photos were taken in are scattered throughout. The introductory panel, titled “Black

The content of each black and white photograph ranges from street photography to portraiture, offering a holistic view of the movement. Importantly, the photographers’ approach is distinct from traditional photojournalism; it offers a personal and insider perspective rather than the detached viewpoint of a neutral, unbiased observer.

STORY & PHOTOS EMIKO ESSMILLER & SAMANTHA SHIROISHI his Light of Ours: Activist Photographers from the Civil Rights Movement, a temporary exhibition currently displayed at the Skirball Center in Los Angeles, boasts a carefully curated selection of photography and other relics from the 1960s.

Topics such as the fight for Black suffrage, Freedom Summer, and violent encounters with the Ku Klux Klan are brought up and given their own section of photographs as the exhibit continues.

The exhibit is on display through Feb. 25, 2024, and ticket prices may vary.

Lessons in Chemistry is an insightful exploration of feminism STORY SONYA SHIMPOCK ILLUSTRATION ISOLE KIM Bonnie Garmus’s debut novel, Lessons in Chemistry, is a brilliant tragicomedy and historical fiction novel that perfectly balances harsh themes with quick wit and continual humor. The book is a commentary on institutional sexism and the oftentimes blatant unfairness of life — themes of grief and loss feature heavily. Though this novel is not for everyone, with instances of sexual assault, rape, and general abuse, Garmus has done a fantastic job in creating a thoroughly immersive literary world. The lead character of Lessons In Chemistry is Elizabeth Zott, who is a chemist during the 1950s; an era of both massive scientific advancement and harrowingly discriminatory gender dynamics. Elizabeth had her job prospects ruined early in her career after physically retaliating against a senior male colleague, Dr. Burkhart, after he attempted to rape her. Burkhart had then proceeded to leverage his influence in the academic world to ruin her professional reputation, relegating Elizabeth to the Hastings Institute of Research, a small research center in California. Here, she meets and falls in love with Calvin Evans, an eccentric genius and seemingly Elizabeth’s first colleague to dignify her with even a shred of respect. Lessons in Chemistry employs the use of a non-linear storyline, so as readers view the development of Elizabeth’s relationship with Calvin, they are also privy to her life further along the line. This is the story that opens the novel; it establishes the time period (Nov. 1961), and Elizabeth’s current situation 10 years after she first stepped foot into Hastings Institute of Research: Elizabeth now has a five-year-old daughter, Madeline, Calvin has passed away, and she is no longer a research chemist, but a wildly successful star of a science-based cooking show, Supper at Six. On the show, Elizabeth uses her platform to empower women and challenge the stereotypes applied to them. Elizabeth’s journey from a chemist to a television host not only reflects a surprising change in career, but also demonstrates the novel’s themes of gender roles, societal expectations, and Elizabeth’s own adaptability and perseverance.

The narrative does get a bit flat in places, and Garmus does have a tendency to branch off into tangents, but the overall feel of the story is extremely powerful. The characters that Elizabeth encounters during her journey tend to be greatly exaggerated; almost caricatures of the ideas they represent — so discriminatory and intolerant that it borders on ridiculous, or so incompetent and blundering that the very idea of their existence feels embarrassing. Instead of feeling overdone, however, these characters signify the overbearing nature of these traits in society: how glaring and present these hurdles for women continue to be. However, this does bring about an issue with the novel: Lessons in Chemistry is highly eurocentric. Women of color continue to experience far more obstacles in both the workplace and society than Elizabeth did, which

PAGE DESIGN OLIVIA CHIN

is a fact that is neither acknowledged nor mentioned. This conclusion is not to detract in any way from any of the suffering and hurdles that Elizabeth faced in any way; it is simply an observation of the singular racial perspective that the novel is told from. The novel is incredibly well written, skillfully constructed, and its characters are very well developed (even the dog, Six-Thirty — who was named for the time he entered Elizabeth’s life — was an extremely lovable character who frequently provided comedic relief in some of Elizabeth’s darker moments). Lessons in Chemistry is a mature book that includes sensitive material, so research should be done before deciding to read, but it is an absolutely fantastic literary journey that anyone partial to historical fiction, feminism, and general fun would enjoy.

TIGER JANUARY 18, 2024

FEATURE

The visual revision of music videos The difference in aesthetic wavelengths between old and new music videos.

artist’s persona and the aesthetics they want their audience to associate them with. Take Doja Cat’s song “You Right,” whose lyrics confess desired disloyalty to one’s partner and pining for another lover. Yet the music video does not portray a whirlwind affair of this kind, rather presenting Doja Cat as an omnipotent goddess residing in an Olympusesque paradise above the clouds. Doja Cat’s artistic choices for the music video are not out of left field when taken in the context of her album, Planet Her. Its holistic style revolves around the heavens and an astral aesthetic, and other music videos from this album tend to follow the same visual style as “You Right.” This approach for the style of music videos is employed by numerous artists in today’s industry, allowing artists like Doja Cat to present a unique visual representation of their music to their audience. The simplest explanation for the progression of music videos is found in the concept of time: as time progresses, change occurs. However, looking at the increasingly competitive music industry illustrates a more nuanced reality of a need to be unique.

STORY & ILLUSTRATION ISABELLE WONG

usic videos are the medium for the visual expression of an audible artform. First gaining their notoriety in the 1980s with the creation of broadcasting channel MTV, music videos play a pivotal role in the contemporary music industry. Music videos give audiences the chance to delve into a song in an alternative form, and allow an artist’s lyricism to come to life as each frame dashes across the viewer’s screen. Although music’s appeal transcends generational change, the stylistic nature of music videos has not withstood temporal transformation. An initial observation would be that new music videos are flashier, more vibrant, and much more cinematically advanced than those created during earlier eras. Yet audiences of prior decades considered the music videos of their times just as “psychedelic” or “flashy” as current audiences do modern music videos. The deeper difference between the two lies in their

exigencies. When placing old and new music videos next to one another, one change stands out most prominently: musicians then created music videos to serve as an interpretation, while musicians now create music videos to serve as a representation. Musicians of the ‘80s used music videos as a way to portray a visual interpretation of their song, with many symbols and motifs alluding directly to the lyrics. For example, the “Bad Boys” music video by the band Wham! depicts a rebel teen going against the ideals of his parents. The music video embodies the song’s lyrics through the visuals of said boy growing up to join a band of delinquents, and troubled parents disapproving of his lifestyle. The “Bad Boys” music video parallels directly with the song’s writing, letting Wham! narrate their song through a medley of visual and audible storytelling. Musicians of today’s industry, however, use music videos for a much different purpose. Instead of embodying their lyricism, music videos embody an

Publicization of industry abuse by big-name record labels shifts artists to take the risks of releasing independently rather than lose autonomy over their art, and motivates the creation of new independent labels. This combination makes entering the industry much easier, oversaturating it with new artists piling in from both bedrooms and professional studios. To keep up, artists must fight for the attention of potential audiences by presenting something of genre-bending unconventionality in music videos that have the possibility of being a fast pass to overnight sensationalism, a loyal fanbase, and industry success. The greater emphasis on pursuing passion while reaping the benefits of the modern music industry leads to artists inevitably creating music videos that are starkly different from those of generations who did not face the same pressures under a then oligopolistic industry. These differences become clearer alongside the enhanced clarity of music video quality on a screen, and more notable as colors saturate in the same manner the current industry does.

Mean Girls fails to “fetch” audiences STORY KATE LIU ILLUSTRATION HEEJOON (JOON) LEE Tina Fey’s highly acclaimed Mean Girls underwent a musical remake in 2018. The musical Mean Girls had a highly successful Broadway run with 12 Tony award nominations in 2018, grossing about $125 million over 833 performances. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 restrictions, productions of the musical were halted indefinitely until 2021 when it was officially announced the musical had closed permanently. It was not until early 2020 that news of a movie adaptation of the musical surfaced, marking a significant moment for this iconic production. The film boasted a star-studded cast, featuring talents like Reneé Rapp as Regina George, Angourie Rice as Cady Heron, Chris Briney as Aaron Samuels, and Auli’i Cravalho as Janis Imi’ike, generating considerable excitement. The anticipation surrounding this movie is substantial. Upon watching it, one can acknowledge that the new Mean Girls musical indeed had its moments, featuring standout performances and vibrant choreography, but also left much to be desired.

The performances were a highlight, with the cast truly embodying their characters. Rapp, in particular, stole the show with impeccable vocal phrasing and agility, bringing a genuine mean-girl vibe to her role. “World Burn” performed by Rapp emerged as a highlight, showcasing the energy and intensity that fans expected. Avantika’s embodiment of Karen in her comedic prowess and timing added another layer of enjoyment, making her character feel fully realized. Kyle Hanagami’s choreography of the numbers made the routines undeniably fun, adding a dynamic element to the overall experience. The movie unfortunately fell short in several areas. Some of the directorial choices, like one peculiar tracking shot with Cady where viewers watched from a low, wide angle, were odd. The alterations in lyrics and instrumentation, while a matter of personal preference, led to a departure from the original Broadway sound, transforming the musical into a more pop-oriented experience. The removal of the Broadway sound, replaced by a more pop style, made it feel like a movie with songs rather than a true musical experience.

PAGE DESIGN OLIVIA CHIN

Criticism was also directed towards the movie’s perpetuation of fatphobia and its arguably anti-feminist core. Despite societal progress, Mean Girls seemed to hold onto outdated stereotypes, depicting women as catty with little depth beyond outside relationships. The film’s focus on boyfriends and the absence of more empowering narratives left some viewers wishing for a more progressive approach. A welcome surprise near the end of the movie was the reveal of Lindsay Lohan as the proctor in the Mathlete competition. But a notable omission was the absence of the rest of the original core cast members. Because of the actors’ enthusiasm to be part of the project, publicly endorsing the movie and speaking about their excitement for this revival, their exclusion raised eyebrows. The movie missed an opportunity to capitalize on the nostalgia associated with the original cast. The movie was entertaining and is definitely worth a watch. However, it is unlikely to ever achieve acclaim. Mean Girls has had its time, but perhaps this movie is a reminder that some classics are best left untouched.

TIGER JANUARY 18, 2024

FEATURE

TAAGLAA: Skating in Santa Monica TIGER’S AWESOME ADVENTURES IN THE GREATER LOS ANGELES AREA

STORY SOLANA SINGER PHOTOS EMIKO ESSMILLER

headed over to the skating venue across the street for Emi to take photos before our time slot.

The first thing we noticed about the rink was how wet the ice was. It was not a particularly cold day, and the ice had melted significantly in the afternoon sun, creating large puddles on the sides of the rink and sprays of water behind the blades of fast skaters. A light breeze stirred the air; the sky was sunny and clear blue. Families, couples, and friend groups floated on the ice, laughing and seemingly enjoying themselves. Some skaters glided easily, while others shuffled along the wall. Others still appeared professional in their movements and practiced their jumps and twirls.

anuary is the last month for good open-air ice skating, mainly considered a winter holiday activity. To celebrate the new year, as well as Emi’s birthday the following day, Emi and I went to the temporary Ice at Santa Monica rink before skating season officially ends. The annual exhibit, open from Nov. 1, 2023 to Jan. 15, 2024, sits on the corner of Arizona Ave. and 5th St. in downtown Santa Monica, boasting a main ice rink of over 8,000 square feet plus a 400-square-foot kids area. The rink also hosts special events, including Hanukkah, New Year’s Eve, and a series of Netflix Family Nights provided by its sponsor, Netflix. The original idea was to skate after sunset to appreciate the festive lights with a larger group of staff, but our plans were foiled by a round of winter colds. In the end, Emi and I were the only two able to go, and the TAAGLAA worked better for our schedules as an afternoon affair. We arrived in Santa Monica around 12:40 p.m. and first went for a delicious pasta lunch at Colapasta, a nearby Italian restaurant. Accompanied by a wide host of gorgeously green plants, Emi ordered pesto and I Bolognese, and we ate and chatted in the restaurant’s charming outdoor seating area. Once we finished, we

Emi and I skated the full hour from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. I spent the time peer pressuring Emi into facing her fears. After I peeled her from the wall, we circled the main rink several times. I am no expert in ice skating, but in the smaller kids area, I tried to teach Emi the technique behind moving your feet so as to avoid falling over. Her fall count ended up totaling to three. My overall impression of the spot was that the rink was cute, but planted in the middle of the blocky city buildings, the atmosphere was slightly awkward. For a rink in Santa Monica with the beach only a few blocks away, it would be much nicer if the location at least had an ocean view.

PAGE DESIGN OLIVIA CHIN

In addition, the rink’s Netflix sponsorship stuck out with a somewhat alarming ad placement; a selection of Netflix characters watched the skaters from their images on the rink walls, and a red-lettered “NETFLIX” leered out from under the ice itself. $22 was perhaps a little overpriced for an hour of skating with the breathtaking view of the surrounding businesses’ gray walls. Despite my complaints, I like ice skating and would go again, especially at night. I enjoyed the outing, but in my view, Ice at Santa Monica could never top Pershing Square’s Holiday Ice Rink with its lovely downtown Los Angeles city lights and nearby churro cart. Ultimately, the main attraction of Ice at Santa Monica is just that — its location in Santa Monica. The fact that we were not able to take full advantage of the rink’s proximity to the ocean due to time constraints made the excursion slightly less satisfying. Once our session ended, we returned our skates and almost got locked out of the locker Emi rented for her bag. A cafe stand next to the lockers offered sandwiches, gelato, and hot chocolate, so we made a quick stop to buy mint chip gelato before my dad picked us up. Los Angeles rush hour caused the car ride home to take almost an hour and a half. We savored our gelato while watching the sun set in a perfectly soft gradient through the car windows.

TIGER JANUARY 18, 2024

SPORTS

Skating on thin ice: skating’s toxic body culture Figure skating’s unrealistic and impractical body culture is ruining lives and ending careers. STORY HANNA BAE, SOPHIE MERTZEL, & SONYA SHIMPOCK ILLUSTRATION ISABELLE WONG

ulia Lipnitskaya, Russia’s 15-year-old golden girl and gold medalist at the 2014 Winter Olympics, hung up her skates due to anorexia before she turned 19. Gracie Gold, 17 years old and on the cusp of Olympic stardom, covered every mirror in her house before receiving a diagnosis of anxiety, depression, and a severe eating disorder. At 18, due to anorexia nervosa, Akiko Suzuki lost a third of her body weight in two months and was not able to skate for a full year. It is not uncommon for figure skaters to suffer from eating disorders — a study found that 20.5 percent of competitive skaters had a history of eating disorders, with over half of those reported still having an eating disorder; and a majority of those skaters, at 62.5 percent, reported signs of anorexia. Figure skating has historically emphasized a very specific body type: slender, small, and graceful. This ideal is framed as not just an aesthetic look but also as a functional benefit — a lighter body allows one to reach greater heights and achieve faster rotations on the ice. This physique, however, is simply unrealistic: the raw power and muscles that are required to perform even basic figure skating jumps and spins do not align with a petite figure. It is extremely unrealistic for a figure skater to have the same build as a ballerina, and it is absurd to expect it. Why should there be anything wrong with a powerful, healthy body that functions exactly as one’s sport requires? Continuing to impose this ridiculous, unattainable standard upon athletes drives them to develop negative relationships with their bodies and their sport at a frighteningly young age. The emphasis on physical appearance is not just perpetuated through culture, but also through figure skating’s own scoring. In the early 1920s, it was petitioned for “beauty” to be added to the sport as a category of judging, but it was not officially included until 1959 under the title of “general impression.” Two years later, the category was then changed to “artistical impression” in the free skating program, and then was used to inspire the category “presentation” in the short program around 1975. These categories consisted of more subjective decisions, as quantifying things

like physical beauty and appearance can be extremely difficult. Descriptions of figure skating can also be quite vague, consisting mostly of detached words like “carriage,” “sureness,” and “harmony,” which meant that there was not any sure rule for judging. Technical categories are more straightforward with markings; points are taken off for things like not completing a certain skill or touching the ice, but in such personal categories like “presentation,” judging can be very varied and oftentimes biased. A famous example is Tonya Harding, who was docked points for her appearance and home-sewn costumes. Her fanbase even created a GoFundMe to raise funds to correct her teeth after they lost her points. Starving oneself in order to conform with entirely unrealistic body standards creates a frail and weak athlete who falters in the very sport they were trying to

thrive in. What if the next great figure skater is thrown from this sport simply because of the toxic standards that have infested the very core of skating? Measuring physical appearance instead of talent is pointless. The critiques of aesthetic appeal are not for the integrity of judging sporting abilities, and the exclusion and hatred that they create among athletes is startling. Figure skating must begin to foster an environment that encourages healthy, strong athletes who are capable of achieving greatness without sacrificing their wellbeing. This change is not only for the health of athletes, but also for the integrity and future of figure skating itself. The narrative of figure skating must be shifted to ensure that skaters are able to thrive both on and off the ice.

Lana Yamagata: swinging and leading through golf STORY ABIGAIL KIM PHOTO SUNHYE (SUNNY) CHOI Junior Lana Yamagata is one of three captains on the varsity girls’ golf team, and became a co-captain after being elected the summer following her freshman year. She has played golf since she was around 10 years old. Yamagata is not quite sure how she got into the sport. Prior to her success on the SPHS team, she played outside of school leading up to her freshman year. Now as a junior, she is a key player on the team, helping to lead many athletes on the team.

the Southern California Championships round of CIF, where she fell just two points short of advancing to the state championships. However, she still considers it an enjoyable experience.

of playing tournaments, she lifts weights in the mornings before school three times a week to help cross train. She also goes to the golf course on her own to hit on the range or play practice rounds for a game.

“It was a bittersweet moment, it was fun and you know, I got to play with a lot of people I knew and it’s kind of like a reunion with some people that I haven’t talked to in a while and CIF, it’s always fun,” Yamagata said.

“I do tournaments all year round, but [when] there’s no high school season, I get to really tone into my game and focus on building and improving my swing and my game and just really weight training and swing training,” Yamagata said.

“My dad always tells me that he was watching a tournament one day, and I saw the TV and I was like, ‘hey, I want to play that,’” Yamagata said. “So that’s supposedly how it happened. But to me, it’s a mystery.”

Yamagata hopes to be able to lead the whole team to CIF next year, which will be her final high school season of golf. Golf is played individually, meaning that each member of the team must qualify on their own to make it to CIF. Yamagata hopes to see all six varsity members make the first round of CIF. Although it has only happened once during her time at SPHS, she hopes to be able to see it happen again to close out her senior year.

Yamagata made it further in this past season’s CIF than last season, advancing through Rio Hondo League finals, Southern Section Championships, and Southern Section Regionals. Her postseason run was cut short at

Golf typically does not have an off-season, and Yamagata still competes throughout the year when the fall high school season ends. She plays individually, entering tournaments during the high school off-months. Outside

The support that Yamagata receives from other girls on the team is what she considers the best part of the sport. The team chemistry helps everyone play their best, as well as make the team an enjoyable place for all athletes to succeed. “There is a lot of support, like from the other girls, and it’s a really great atmosphere. And the girls are awesome,” Yamagata said. “They’re super super nice and like the best team I could ever imagine. And they just radiate so much positive energy and it rubs off on me completely and I’m really grateful for that.” One of her favorite parts of golf is watching herself improve, knowing that all of her hard work has paid off. All the time and effort that she pours into the sport is finally showcased during tournaments, and the sense of achievement afterwards is what makes golf so enjoyable for Yamagata. “There’s a satisfaction playing golf, you’ve been…hitting so many golf balls, you’ve been hitting putts on the greens for hours and hours and then going out to play,” Yamagata said. Yamagata currently aspires to commit to playing collegiate golf at the highest level following her time at SPHS. Afterwards, she may end up wanting to pursue golf in the LPGA, the Ladies Professional Golf Association, which is known as the organization that runs tournaments for elite golfers. If she does not pursue professional golf, she still plans on continuing it as a side hobby.

JUNIOR LANA YAMAGATA, one of three captains of varsity girls’ golf, strives for a successful senior season to close out her time at SPHS, hoping to lead the team to CIF. PAGE DESIGN ISOLE KIM

“I am excited because [next year is] going to be my last season and so I really want to soak it all in before college,” Yamagata said. “It’s going to be very bittersweet, but I think we’re going to have a lot of fun next season.”

TIGER JANUARY 18, 2024

SPORTS

The phenomenon of momentum and why it is real Considered by many to be an illusion, momentum is a defining part of sports and is felt in every game. Momentum is the idea that teams or players are affected by their previous efforts and will continue upon them. For example, once a team starts playing well and winning games, confidence will be high and the team will keep winning. Momentum is the cycle of good play leading to confidence, in turn leading to more good play. For athletes, momentum is real and has tangible effects. It is not merely a placebo effect; players are legitimately impacted by their previous play. A past performance influences the future, which is why players tend to build off past successes with good games while players who have struggled find it difficult to bounce back. The most admirable efforts are by those that fail earlier in the game and recover to become the hero. This type of performance is rare, taking not only the necessary talent but the skill of mental toughness and tenacity. When momentum is at play, everyone can feel it. Fans, coaches, and players know momentum when they see it; they can feel a team rolling past their opponent. When a basketball player knocks down a shot, then another, and another, it feels like they cannot miss. Armed with the momentum, that player will keep shooting, and likely keep connecting.

STORY BENJAMIN REGAN ILLUSTRATION ISOLE KIM

ports are defined by streaks, both winning and losing. From 1971–1974 under the leadership of Coach John Wooden, the UCLA men’s basketball team won 88 straight games, including three national championships during that time. On the other side of the scoreboard, some teams find themselves in the history books for the wrong reasons. Caltech men’s basketball could not win a game from 1996–2007. The Beavers lost 207 consecutive games. These streaks tap into an element beyond just talent. Most of the time, the better team wins and the lesser team loses. But when teams win or lose games consecutively, displaying uninterrupted dominance or unwavering incompetence, it is the snowball rolling down the hill, picking up wins or losses. In sports terms: momentum.

The momentum might even become contagious, spreading to the rest of the team. This was the case for the SPHS boys’ basketball team on Wednesday, Dec. 13, beating the rival San Marino Titans with a 112-point performance. Behind senior Derek Peterson’s hot hand, the rest of the team sunk shot after shot and the Tigers used momentum to bury the Titans. SPHS football captured the momentum from the first play of the game against the Monrovia Wildcats on Friday, Oct. 6, winning 56-28. The Tigers set the tone with an opening-drive touchdown and never looked back. Confident and comfortable the entire game, the Tigers rode the momentum to their first win over the Wildcats in nearly two decades. Momentum can also flip between two teams during a game. Last season, SPHS girls’ volleyball lost the first two sets of the match to Campbell Hall, falling into a nearly insurmountable hole. The Vikings were a set away from victory, but the Tigers, mentally and physically focused, were determined to snatch the momentum back.

PAGE DESIGN SOLANA SINGER

The wins kept coming and South Pasadena began making a dent into Campbell Hall’s lead, shifting the momentum toward their side. With wins in the fourth and fifth sets, the Tigers completed the comeback. It is tough for a team to come back once they have given up the momentum. It can be especially challenging when playing on the road. Home field advantage, as it is appropriately named, feeds into momentum. A large, loud crowd, seen in professional games in sizes of over 100,000, can intimidate the opponent and make it even more difficult to reverse the previous trends of the game and stop the bleeding. With so many people cheering upon every right step by the home team, that team may use the crowd and momentum to get an edge. Professor Lawrence D. Ries, Department Chair of Statistics at the University of Missouri said, speaking of Major League Baseball, “In 2023, the home team averaged about 4.596 runs per game and the visiting team averaged about 4.595 runs per game. That seems like it is equal, but the bottom of the 9th is only played if the home team is losing, so the home team is scoring (slightly) more runs than the visiting team in fewer opportunities.” Momentum can be difficult to quantify, and therefore difficult to prove its existence or how/when it influences a game. As a result, many question the phenomenon of momentum and label it as an illusion, a byproduct of what goes on throughout the course of a game. David Hale, college sports reporter for ESPN, said, “I found that there is good evidence to suggest some level of change in brain chemistry — dopamine response, etc. — when you experience sustained success or failure, but again, there doesn’t seem to be any real evidence that those chemical changes have a noticeable impact on outcomes on the field. Long story short, I think momentum is a figment of our collective imagination.” Momentum is not an illusion to athletes. It is something, however difficult to explain or quantify, that can be felt. Momentum makes its owners feel invincible, knowing they have it and the other team will have to scratch and claw their way to get it back. Momentum is something that every player seeks. For those without the momentum, it can feel daunting to recapture and recover. Momentum, as every player knows, is a dish best served on their side.

TIGER JANUARY 18, 2024

SPORTS

Nak-nak! Who’s there?

Boys’ soccer holds strong against aggressive Monrovia offense.

I am not a poet

Boys’ soccer ties Monrovia 0-0

ELLIE NAKAMURA

In kindergarten, I vividly remember using what little writing I was capable of to describe the world around me. Despite not having been pressured by my parents at the time, I was obsessed with determining my future as a vibrant six year old, and thus I wrote pages and pages describing the bakery I would own, the giant bread basket adorning the building to be smelled from miles around, and glass doors for passing customers to peer through and that would entice them to come in. I would draw the building, my family, my dinner, not caring at the time whether it was truly quality work purely because I wasn’t aware my work could have meaning to others. Looking back on my writing, the majority of it is now incoherent words, spelled out in a tongue and mind I cannot access. As I grew up, the rigidity of school, training my mind to simply work instead of explore, trapped my ability to dream without purpose. As we learned about argumentative essays, concrete evidence, commentary, and transition words in fifth grade, my writing became for the purpose of getting a good grade instead of personal development.

STORY SONYA SHIMPOCK PHOTOS SHIN-HYE (RACHEL) CHOI

he boys’ soccer team tied Monrovia in a tough match on Friday, Jan. 12 that ended in a 0-0 stalemate.

South Pasadena took the kick off, but were unable to advance further than the midfield due to Monrovia’s defense. Despite their aggressive pressing, the Tigers found themselves continuously rebuffed, but they continued to maintain possession. Monrovia eventually took advantage of a stray pass in order to press further up the field, but were averted by Tiger defense and ended up earning a corner. The ensuing kick saw Monrovia put the ball into the box, but it was quickly intercepted by South Pasadena’s goalkeeper, sophomore Mick Dubster, who consistently made strong saves throughout the match. The intense battle in the minefield continued for a large majority of the first half. Monrovia’s often unnecessary physicality added to the challenge, but the Tigers held their ground. Junior defender Leo Fiss upheld an especially strong defense and stopped several offensive runs by Monrovia. The Tigers were unable to break the deadlock. Both teams had their chances, with the Tigers making several offensive presses, notably by junior midfielder and captain Emilio Gonzalez-Mosqueda, junior forward Joel Kim, and senior forward Sawyer Fox, who both had excellent plays but ultimately did not manage to score. Monrovia kept up an unrelenting offensive pressure. They were particularly aggressive, which led to several fouls, but their physical play did not translate into goals. GonzalezMosqueda was fouled several times in increasingly aggressive moves by Monrovia. Neither team could find the back of the net, even with increased efforts and increased play. The Tigers’ defense,

bolstered by Gonzalez-Mosqueda and sophomore midfielder Samuel Rodak, averted most of Monrovia’s offensive runs. Both Monrovia and South Pasadena had players who shone in the offense, like Gonzalez-Mosqueda, and others who were pivotal in defense, like Fiss and junior defender Ethan Kung. Kung made several critical plays in maintaining the Tiger’s defense, and was a strong player throughout the game. The game’s tempo increased with more offensive strategies coming to the fore in the second half. Dubster’s goalkeeping remained top-notch, with several exceptional saves ensuring that Monrovia would not be the one to break the 0-0 tie. Tiger defense began to move further up the field as the Tigers began to make more forward progress with Fox and Kim contributing significantly. Fox had made a significant offensive run and then crossed the ball to Gonzalez-Mosqueda, who had begun to make his way to the box when he was fouled. The Tigers were awarded with a direct free kick, putting the ball directly in front of the goal. Monrovia’s defense was able to clear it, but the close goal had been the marker of a renewed offensive effort by the Tigers. Fox continued to make offensive presses, and Tiger defense remained strong. Fiss aggressively shut down any Wildcat attempts at a goal — notably stealing the ball from an offender in a crucial moment while the other members of defense were further up the field, aiding in an offensive effort. The clock still ran down quickly, and though the Tigers maintained offensive dominance, the match eventually drew to a close with a 0-0 tie. “We played a really great game but unfortunately we weren’t able to capitalize on our chances when it mattered.” Gonzalez-Mosqueda said. The Tigers will play their next match away on Friday, Jan. 19 against San Marino.

I lost love for creative writing because it felt like a chore, and the more vulnerable pieces were not meant for teachers to read. I developed a formula, a strict, stiff language, that ensured that while my work wasn’t exceptional or artful, it did what it was meant to do. It was the end of my creative writing journey, only to be stuck on a path of prompts and dull failures. Upon entering high school, I was instructed to write creatively. I found myself writing about the world around me, reflecting on my purpose and identity as one must do in our developing time. While I wasn’t any better at writing, as I remember my freshman English teacher only telling me I could improve by changing my titles to be more descriptive, it meant my work didn’t need to be purely logical. I’ve written one poem that accurately reflected my emotions, most likely because poetry didn’t have rules like essays. Like most high schoolers, my mindset often looks for purpose in my actions. When given free reins to write, my work becomes an exploration of existence and self, more or less dark or light based on my place in life. Part of emotional maturity, whether or not it is where it’s supposed to be, is being aware of how it affects your decisions and opinions. A lot of my writing in high school is emotionally charged ideas plugged into my formula for dull success, resulting in a bland but articulate piece of writing. While I like to ignore that the majority of my writing is forced, we can see a lot of it stems from gaining others’ approval. I am not happy with my writing nor fulfilled by the act of writing, and the idea of aesthetics (tying into approval) makes me cautious in writing. Recently, I was instructed to write without worrying about neatness. While it sounds stupid, it was a challenge to write down my thoughts because it would require me to face my worries rather than bottling up stress. It made me look at my worst ideas, permanently in the notebook I hid in the bottom of my dresser drawer because I could never let anyone see it. Maybe I was just being dramatic. Maybe it wasn’t meaningful. That was my worst fear. I still don’t think I could ever be an artful writer. I’ll always be motivated by approval, searching for meaning in assignments that don’t mean anything to me beyond that. As long as I remain in an academic environment, writing will always be a rigid box or a personal rant, neither of which I’m ever satisfied with. Maybe the pursuit of writing I am happy with is meaningful enough.

UPCOMING GAMES THURSDAY, JAN. 18TH @ 4:00 PM, GIRLS WATER POLO VS. BLAIR AT HOME FRIDAY, JAN. 19TH @ 4:00 PM, GIRLS SOCCER VS. SAN MARINO AT HOME FRIDAY, JAN. 19TH @ 4:00 PM, BOYS SOCCER VS. LA CAÑADA AWAY FRIDAY, JAN. 19TH @ 5:30 PM, GIRLS BASKETBALL VS. SAN MARINO AWAY PAGE DESIGN SOPHIE MERTZEL