Tiger

Office robbed, SPHS security enhanced

Seniors defeat juniors 28-6 in Powderpuff

By Heather Vaughan Copy Editor

By Brandon Kim Staff Writer

An unidentified person or persons gained unauthorized access to the administration office at South Pasadena High School between the hours of 12:00 A.M. and 6:00 A.M. on Thursday, February 28. District maintenance staff member Mr. Lalo Alvarado discovered the break-in at around 6 A.M. when he arrived at the high school.

Alvarado informed Director of Facilities and Maintenance Mr. Joe Hiton, who immediately called Principal Ms Janet Anderson. The South Pasadena Police arrived on campus shortly after and proceeded to dust the office for fingerprints and take photos to use for the investigation.

The police suspect that the intruders entered through a window in the attendance office, according to Hiton. They were then able to gain access to all areas of the office, including locked rooms within the office itself. Most office staff members’ cupboards, desktops, and drawers were upset and showed signs of a search.

Anderson said that the items of significant value that were stolen include a sum of about $200 in cash, a computer, and several cameras owned by the school. Numerous cell phones belonging to students that had been confiscated by the administration were also stolen; the families will be reimbursed with district money.

The SAC Room was also entered by force the same night. Fingerprints were retrieved and given to police, who are currently conducting an investigation.

Hiton and his staff have fortified the office and the outer security of the school in order to prevent future forced entries. According to Anderson, the new alarm system is now functioning, and most of the office keys were replaced.

Anderson noted that this is the only major office break-in that she has witnessed in her time at SPHS; the most recent infiltration was a minor break-in in 2011.

“Nothing about this is acceptable,” Anderson said. “We will prosecute if we figure out who did this. It’s so disappointing, and it’s a real shame.”

After a historic victory over the seniors last year, the Class of 2013 team rushed the field after grabbing a second consecutive win at the annual Powderpuff game on March 8. Rain did not mar the seniors’ spirit or success and the final score was 28-6 in their favor.

Senior captain and running back Sammy Amido set the tone for the game with a touchdown less than five minutes in. After some confusion with the clock and an abnormally short first half, Rachael Garner the manleaders performed renditions SENIOR TRIUMPH: Senior Kate Farnworth shoots down the field during the annual Powder- of “Harlem Shake” and “Gangnam puff game on March 8. See Pages 10 and 11 for additional Powderpuff game and GQ coverage. Style.” Senior Janty Woojuh was named GQ King following their dance.

“It was surprising. Ashim [Shrestha] is preposterously nice, and everyone knows [Ryan Stone]. It was kind of intimidating. I didn’t feel like I was socially dexterous or capable enough,” Woojuh said. “But it was fun hanging time between the South Pasadena

By Madison Amido Middle School and High School,” out with kids that I normally wouldn’t.”

Staff Writer After halftime, seniors Jessica Gonzalez said.

By Petra Barbu Moog and Angelique Ulmer each added Gonzalez stated that he can Staff Writer City Manager Mr. Sergio Gonzalez appointed Mr. Art Mill- appoint Miller permanently after a touchdown, bringing the score to 22-0 Although former South er as South Pasadena’s Interim reviewing his work and collabo- in the final minutes of the game. However, during the last minute of playing Pasadena High School English Police Chief on February 25. He rating with city staff.

“An interim appointment time, junior Ryann Ramirez dispelled teacher Barbara Ercek endowed a will serve as the successor to for$300,000 grant to the high school mer Chief Mr. Joe Payne, who re- gives me the flexibility to evaluate senior hopes of a shutout with a touchhis performance and gather com- down. Moog immediately followed suit before she passed away four years signed at the end of January.

Miller has thirty-four years munity imput before making a fi- with a touchdown of her own, securing ago, the scholarship money has just a senior victory and ending the game. been made available to current se- of experience in law enforcement nal decision,” Gonzalez said.

“The girls were committed to the Miller looks forward to niors. The Barbara Ercek scholar- from the Los Angeles Police Deship offers $2,000 a year to selected partment. He intends to begin his working with the city and listen- game,” senior coach Liam Hise said. term by meeting with school rep- ing to possible concerns residents “Our hard work showed on the field.” college-bound seniors.

The GQ Assembly introduced The scholarship recipients resentatives in the coming weeks may have.

“I just want the community the Court that morning. Homecoming are classified as diligent students to discuss safety on campus.

“One of his first tasks is to to know that I’m here to solve the Queen senior Isabel Chin interviewed who may not be at the top of their class but constantly strive to im- meet with school representatives issues they think are important,” freshman Omni Lott, sophomore Branprove. In future years, the schol- to hear from them about the safety Miller said. “I like the challenge don Shahniani, junior Andrew Wong, arship may increase to $4,000 or concerns and to get input before any leadership position provides and seniors Shrestha, Woojuh, and $5,000 per student and be present- reinstating a full time School Re- and working here is sure to be a Stone about bad jokes, model poses, and who would play them in a movie. source Officer, who will split his fun experience.” ed to multiple recipients.

The Scholarship Committee, consisting of faculty Ms Denise Gill, Mr. Mike Hogan, Mr. Terrance Dunn, and Mr. Casey “This money will actually do Shotwell and five juniors chosen By Jordan Xiao ta lunch. through faculty recommenda- Staff Writer Although most classes cur- something beneficial,” said Shapiro. tion, will select the recipients and rently average less than one dollar “It’s a much better use of my money present the scholarship during The annual Pennies for Pa- per student, several students have than just buying a DVD.” Tomorrow is the final day the annual Senior Awards Night tients fundraiser has accumulated contributed large donations to comin June. an approximately $3700 for the pensate for the lack of participation. to donate. Cash, checks, and spare “I think it’s a great oppor- Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Junior Joey Shapiro gave $50 dollars change will be collected for the last time during fourth period. tunity for students who may not as of Wednesday, March 13. This to the cancer research society. have considered college other- sum is 53 percent of the Associated wise,” said Gill. “It serves as that Student Body’s final goal of $7000. extra push that some students “I really appreciate all the need, and the fact that students support the school has shown toward this cause,” senior CommisSee “Scholarship Fund” on Page 2 sioner of School and Community Isabel Chin said. “The money will definitely make a difference.”

If the school reaches its goal Sports: Feature: of five dollars per student, ASB will Swimming Virtual Busiextend lunch on Friday, March 29. wins season ness preThe one-hour lunch period would opener, girls track pares for its Oakland dominates Alhambra include music, food, and activities.

Competition, the Art 93-34, and the baseball Reach Club works In addition, the fourth period class Matt Winkel seniors prepare for their on a mural, and the that raises the most money will win Commissioner of School and Community Isabel Chin sells blood final season together. movie Oz disappoints. a complimentary Olive Garden pas-

in this issue

6 Opinion: 12 Why makeup tests should not be more difficult, it is society’s duty to help the homeless, and Homecoming should be more lighthearted.

Barbara Ercek Art Miller selected as new scholarship South Pasadena Police Chief established

Pennies for Patients raises $3700, ends Friday

20

drive and SPEX shirts for $1 to raise money for Pennies for Patients.

News 2 Tiger - Thursday, March 14, 2013

News

Around Campus

The California Distinguished Schools Award visiting committee will arrive to tour South Pasadena High School on Tuesday, March 19. The purpose of the visit is to confirm the programs and activities listed on the Distinguished School application. The Associated Student Body will lead the committee around campus, and the committee will meet with various students and staff throughout the day in order to evaluate SPHS and its programs. /Shine Cho

Poppy the therapy dog visits SPHS

FBLA places in three section competitions

By Jason Wang Business Manager

By Andrew Shults Staff Writer

Appropriately dressed in full business attire, the South Pasadena High School Future Business Leaders of America Club attended its first competition on February 23. The team placed in three competitions and juniors Matthew Schexnayder and Michael Ruan will continue to the state level for Entrepreneurship.

Five hundred students competed at the twelve-hour Mission Valley Section Leadership at Gabrielino High School. Categories ranged from Impromptu Speaking to Health Care Administration.

Senior Diane Huang and junior Ted Kim ranked fifth in the Marketing Competition, alongside the team of Schexnayder, sophomore Oscar Garcia, and freshmen Jacob Benowitz, who took home a fifth place title in Management Decision Making.

Students also voted on the 2013-2014 FBLA section executive board. Junior SPHS FBLA Club President Michael Ruan was elected section president for the Mission Valley region. The section president oversees seventeen schools and over one thousand members and plans local, section, and state conferences.

“I was elated when I heard not only the results for President, but also those for the other officers,” Ruan said. “I look forward to working with a dependable and interconnected team.”

The state level FBLA competition is scheduled for April 20.

Siria Medina

The South Pasadena City Council discussed a Multimodal Transportation system at the March 6 meeting. Paul Leon was selected for the Metro Gold Line Board of Directors.

City Council appoints Leon to Metro Board of Directors

By Madison Amido Staff Writer South Pasadena City Council members unanimously appointed Ontario Mayor Mr. Paul Leon to the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority Board of Directors during the March 6 meeting, replacing former board member Mr. Keith Hanks. Hanks will not be running for reelection, according to Transportation Manager Mr. Dennis Woods.

“That leaves an opening for the city of South Pasadena to appoint a new person to that board of directors for the Gold Line Foothill extension,” Woods said. “The Board of Directors has suggested to you the Mayor of Ontario, Mr. Paul Leon.”

Leon has been on the Ontario city council for fourteen years and has worked with the Gold Line extension for eight years.

“I look forward to representing you on the construction authority,” Leon

said. “I think that I have the experience; I know what it takes to get the job done and to be a good [representative] there.”

Mayor Mr. Richard Schneider explained South Pasadena’s support for a Multimodal Transportation system, as found with the Gold Line.

“Our multimode position was fostered mainly by an opposition to the 710 because we didn’t want the freeway coming through our city, so we had to come up with alternatives to those transportation problems,” Schneider said.

After Leon was appointed, the South Pasadena High School varsity boys soccer team received a certificate of recognition for winning the 2013 Rio Hondo League Championship. Both the team members and coaches attended the meeting. “[Head coach] Juan [Zurita], thank you so much… I just want to say congratulations and it’s well deserved,” councilmember Mr. Bob Joe said. “Thank you for bringing the Rio Hondo title back to South Pasadena High School.”

A furry new face has recently joined the ranks of regular South Pasadena High School visitors. A black standard poodle named Poppy and her trainer Ms Therese Molina have begun making weekly visits to South Pasadena High School. Poppy, the therapy dog, was first intended to aid students with special needs, but has since migrated to South Pasadena High School students as a whole.

“We are just feeling our way around; I didn’t expect everyday kids to like her [so much],” said Therese Molina. “It’s great to see the kids welcoming her with such open arms.”

Molina and Principal Ms Janet Anderson began the program after discovering research showing that dogs like Poppy help reduce stress and anxiety levels.

Students and faculty have already begun to take advantage of Poppy’s bright demeanor, according to Anderson. There have been several reports of students who do not normally feel compelled to talk opening up and having conversations with the dog.

“Many people have told me positive things and light up when they see her,” said Anderson. “It’s definitely encouraging.

Hopefully this dog will be able to make a difference in the students’ lives.”

According to Molina, a second dog will soon begin to make regular visits to SPHS. The two dogs will be alternating trips every week to give Poppy a rest from the excitement.

“I think bringing Poppy the ‘comfort dog’ to the school was a good idea since it lightens up the heavy, monotonous atmosphere,” sophomore Stanley Tan said. “Most students want to pet a dog after they see one, and it has been scientifically proven that touch reduces the amount of stress a person feels.

For that reason, bringing Poppy on campus should have a positive effect on the school.”

Measure S passes with 73% approval rate Sophia Arriola

Junior Michael Ruan was elected FBLA Mission Valley Section President.

From “Scholarship Fund” on Page 1 can use it for purposes other than tuition is a major plus.”

The Barbara Ercek scholarship differs from other SPHS scholarships as the money is given directly to the student, not the university, so it may be used for purposes other than tuition. Ercek created the scholarship as motivation for students who may not have considered college without financial assistance.

The Ercek endowment is the largest scholarship donation that SPHS has ever received; the account will sustain and replenish itself indefinitely through several thousand dollars in interest every year.

“The scholarship and the extra money coming to SPHS will definitely be useful, and it’s something I will consider applying for,” junior Isaac Ynn Huh said.

By Kea Hudson Staff Writer South Pasadena Measure S officially passed Tuesday night by a significant lead of 4,442 to 1,614. The measure will renew the city’s parcel tax in support of quality public schools and stable property values.

The current tax, passed in 2008, will expire in June 2013. 73.35% of voters approved the new measure, which will go into effect for five years and will increase the annual tax from $288 to $386 per family.

Measure S guarantees local funding for the school district to support South Pasadena’s high level of education.

“Measure S helps our schools by retaining qualified teachers and maintaining manageable class sizes,” junior Spenser Atlas said. “It also helps to continue art programs, which is especially important for me as an art student.”

Mrs. Helen Lauderdale served as

the treasurer for the “Yes on S” committee, which depended upon the efforts of around two hundred volunteers to publicize and fundraise for Measure S through precinct walks and weekly phone banks run by volunteers.

“It was very rewarding to be part of such a large, positive, and hard-working group,” Lauderdale said. “And it is very gratifying to see the South Pasadena community pass Measure S with such strong support.”

south pasadena measure s parcel tax reactions According to the Measure S official website, the state of California has cut $18 million from the South Pasadena Unified School District budget since 2008. The measure ensures that all funds will be spent on retaining highly qualified teachers, maintaining manageable class sizes for all grade levels., and improving classroom instruction and technology.

YES:

“Measure S passing proves that voters recognize that our great public schools benefit all residents and are an essential part of what makes our community so strong.”

– Brad Hudson, resident

NO:

“An 11 percent increase in payment per year seems a bit excessive to me. I certainly was not receiving 11 percent increases these past three years under the Measure S passed in 2008.” – Holly Hobart, resident

Tiger - Thursday, March 14, 2013

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Geometry benchmark results increase, Algebra II scores decrease

By Shine Cho Assoc. News Editor Assistant Superintendent Dr. Steve Seaford presented the benchmark assessment results from the first semester at the South Pasadena Unified School District Board meeting on March 5.

Seaford’s presentation focused on South Pasadena High School student Geometry and Advanced Algebra assessment results from the first and second quarter.

Geometry assessments showed significant improvement.

In the first quarter, 7% of students tested above the proficient level.

Second quarter results showed a 57% increase, with 64% of students

passing proficiently.

“This reflects the best work to date in terms of really aligning everything. This is a refining process over time,” Seaford said.

“All the curriculum planning, sharing best instructional practices and tools to analyze student achievements, it all paid off. This is really encouraging.”

The Advanced Algebra department did not experience the same success. First quarter results show that 33% of students passed proficiently. In the second quarter, the department faced a decrease of 6% of proficient scores, resulting in 27% of students scoring with proficiency.

Seaford outlined four steps

in which the Geometry and Advanced Algebra departments will move forward. The departments will hold meetings to examine the next benchmark assessment results and will continue to align the pacing of their classes to the assessment.

Teachers will also collaborate on implementing effective curriculum strategies in their classrooms and increase the use of structured assessment to shape their instruction.

“One of the biggest hurdles is time,” Seaford said. “Principals have done a great job of utilizing their time to leverage some of this work. We need time to go into depth of variables of intervention.”

Anastasia Velicescu

Board members discussed the first semester Advanced Algebra and Geometry benchmark results at the March 5 meeting.

Urban Sustainability builds aquaponics system

By Pooja Vyas Staff Writer

Matt Winkel

The Urban Sustainability Club clears the area for an aquaponics system.

A group of students gathered early in the morning on March 2 to clear an area near the student store for a complex agricultural system.

The Urban Sustainability Club cleared and leveled out the planter near the student store during its first work day to install an aquaponics system in the area.

An aquaponics system circulates used water from fish tanks through plants, whose roots extract by-products as

nutrients. The purified water is then sent back to the fish with next-to-no water loss.

Club founders seniors Ella Hardy, Austin Kahn, and Angelise Slifkin as well as ten other club members worked to clear out invasive, non-native shrubs and plants, such as the agapanthus, from the planter area.

Club members were able to level out the area after nearly four hours of digging.

Students worked under the guidance of AP Environmental Science teacher and club advisor Mr. Don Wielen-

Spaghetti Dinner Night raises money for band and orchestra

By Jenny Wang Staff Writer

junior Samuel Chen emceed the fundraiser and introduced the performances.

In addition to enjoying the food and the music, attendees were also able to participate in a silent auction throughout the night. Local business such as Bristol Farms, Trader Joes, and My Sweet Cupcake donated merchandise featured in the auction.

“I really enjoyed Spaghetti Dinner Night. The music was great, the auction was exciting, and the food was even better,” said sophomore Michael Ozaki.

“I enjoyed watching my friends perform and being able to support them and the music department.”

An unusual combination of Italian food, small ensemble music, and gift certificates came together in the South Pasadena High School gym on February 28 for the annual Spaghetti Dinner Night. Hosted by the South Pasadena High School Instrumental Department, this community concert raises money for instrument repairs, instructor salaries, music scores, and music scholarships.

Twenty-six small groups of band and orchestra members performed pieces.

The compositions ranged from classical music to pop songs to original arrangements put together by SPHS musicians and instructors. One group honored the British rock band Queen with a composition of “Don’t Stop Me Now,” “You’re My Best Friend,” “We are the Champions,” and “Somebody to Love.”

“This is our biggest fundraiser of the year,” said junior Amanda Wen, who performed in three ensembles. “What makes it so wonderful is that it brings together the South Pasadena community and SPHS. It has pretty much become a tradition.”

Doors opened at 5:30 P.M., allowing attendees to fill their plates with food and sit down beSophia Arriola fore the music began half an hour later. Band President Senior Wen- SPHS Band and Orchestra hosted the dy Tsai and Orchestra President annual Spaghetti Dinner Night fundraiser.

ga and urban farmer and club mentor Mr. Andrés Ramos.

“The day was very successful, and we were very effective in getting the site cleared efficiently on that hot morning,” Hardy said. “It was also a great bonding experience for all the club members.”

They also discussed plans to build a mini-learning center with infographics next to the aquaponics system to allow future science classes and other interested students to learn more about aquaponics and sustainable farming.

After confirming their

plans with the maintenance department, the club members will begin constructing the system in March and hope to receive a supplies donation from The Home Depot.

In future meetings, the club will choose which crops to farm and later sell at the local South Pasadena Farmer’s Market.

Though the crops will not be ready to sell soon, club members will still run a booth at the Farmer’s Market to increase awareness about the project and gain support from the community.

4 Thursday, March 14, 2013 - Tiger

News

Upperclassman girls honored at annual Powderpuff banquet

By Rachel Newhall Online Staff Writer Senior and junior Powderpuff participants gathered in the cafeteria on March 7 to prepare for the girls football game the following evening.

The annual banquet commenced at 6:00 P.M. and honored the upperclassmen coaches and players.

The event featured a potluck style dinner open to all attendees.

Senior and junior coaches awarded their respective players with roses and certificates for Powderpuff participation and delivered the Powderpuff sweatshirts and jerseys.

“Although some parts of the banquet were a bit unorganized, it was an overall enjoyable event and it placed the players in the mindset they needed to get ready

for the game,” senior coach Nick Klinger said.

The senior and junior captains ended the night by presenting team gifts to the coaches. The senior coaches received candy, personalized hats, and a signed football; the junior team thanked their coaches with $10 gift cards to Panda Express, Chipotle Mexican Grill, and In-N-Out Burger.

“The Powderpuff banquet was a great way to ease tensions between the senior and junior teams,” junior running back and team captain Chelsea Hong said. “We were completely separated for our practices and during the game, and having a collective dinner reminded us that we aren’t enemies; rather, we are two teams excited for the following night.”

Spring blood drive scheduled for tomorrow, sponsored by Kaiser The Associated Student Body is collaborating with Kaiser Permanente to run the 2013 spring blood drive. Approximately one hundred students will give blood in the South Pasadena High School practice gym from 8:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M., with each donation potentially saving three lives. Commissioner of School and Community senior Isabel Chin organized the event; the 2012 Fall blood drive she set up with the Red Cross collected 84 pints of blood.

Spring blood drive requirements: • •

•

Students must be at least 16 years of age and weigh at least 110 pounds in order to be elibible Participants must have turned in a parent blood drive consent form to the SAC Room by Wednesday, March 13 Students must have signed up for the drive by Wednesday, March 13

blood drive newbie: sophomore hannah winnie

Rachael Garner

“I really like the idea that you can help save people’s lives without having to donate any money or barely any time. When we are so lucky to be healthy and live in South Pasadena, I feel like we should give to those who aren’t as fortunate. Having parents that both work in the medical field, I have seen some things that really inspired me to donate for the first time. It’s such an easy thing to do and it saves three lives so why not? Good karma!”

returning donor: senior annie toffoli

Rachael Garner

Coaches present junior Patricia San Pedro with a rose and a certificate at the annual Powderpuff banquet on March 7.

“I was motivated to donate blood because I think it is a really simple and easy thing to do that could make a huge difference. I know that if someone in my family needed blood I would be really thankful to all the people who had donated. Although it seems really daunting before you begin the process, it feels great when you finish. I would encourage everyone to give it a try.”

2013 AAEDE Scholarship Opportunity Who’s Eligible?

1) Must be Graduating High School Senior, Class of 2013 2) Demonstrate financial need (to be eligible for financial aid, applicant must have submitted a FAFSA form by the March 2013 deadline.)

3) Cumulative high school unweighted GPA (out of a 4.0 scale) must be 3.0 and above.

4) Only U.S. Citizens are eligible to apply. (Please note, affiliates of AAEDE are not eligible to apply.)

Award Amount: There will be (3) awards of $500 each and (3) awards of $1000 each.

A total of 6 scholarship awards will be offered.

Requirements: *1) Complete the AAEDE Scholarship application.

2) Include the required 500-word essay on one of the chosen topics below: A) Please describe an instance, event, or permanent condition of adversity in which you have overcome (or are still overcoming). What did you learn?

B) Name and describe the one person (famous or not famous) who has significantly influenced who you are today. What did you learn from him/her?

C) If you could change the world, what would you change?

D) What is your dream, vision or hope for your life, career? *3) Provide one Letter of Recommendation. The recommender must fill out the recommendation form and attach a letter and seal/sign over the envelope flap. Applicant’s name must appear on the front of the envelope.

4) Provide an official sealed copy of your high school transcript.

5) Please include a copy of your FAFSA SAR Report. (Please refer to sample report on our website.) *Scholarship application and recommendation form are posted online at www.aaede.org and also distributed to high school administrators/counselors.

Please check your high school website or ask your scholarship coordinator for more information.

216 W. Garvey Ave. Ste. #E, Monterey Park, CA 91754-1688 • (626)572-7021 • info@aaede.org • www.aaede.org

Rachael Garner

Tigers

Military Tigers

Tiger - Thursday, March 14, 2013

5

in Arms

While most students were stressing over college apps or perfecting art school portfolios, these eight students decided to embark on a different journey. Adopting the concepts of freedom, bravery, and honor as their own, personal mantras, the following students are currently aspiring to pursue a career in the U.S. military. Each has a back-story all their own—individual histories of inspiration that compelled them to rise up and fulfill their roles as protectors of the land of the free.

Managed by Jessica Moog. Design by Sofi Goode. Text and Reporting by Jessica Moog, Natalie McLain, Pooja Vyas, David Yang, Kira Gabriel, Emily Markese. Photos by Rachael Garner.

Daniel Kwak

Grade: 12 Intended Position: Marine “When I tell people that I’ve joined the Marines, they usually don’t believe me. But once they realize that I’m not joking, they worry for me because they don’t want me to die,” Daniel Kwak said.

However, Kwak, who ships off this summer, will be working with multimillion-dollar electronic equipment, out of harm’s way.

“I’m not qualified to go out and shoot guns, so I won’t be in that kind of danger. I am just enlisting as a private, E-1. It depends what I will be working with, but I am going to be dealing with a lot of electronics,” Kwak said.

After he serves for five years, Kwak would like to continue his education. He will receive four years of college tuition after his service, and would like to get a master’s degree.

“Also, while I’m in the military, I will have job experience that will help me get a better career once I am out of the military,” Kwak said.

Grade: 12 Intended Position: Air Force pilot

Paulina Darett

Grade: 11 Intended Position: Navy Judge Advocate General Corps When Paulina Darett was a child, her father served in the military and found himself facing injustices that he had never imagined he would come across. Ever since then, Darett has wanted to become a lawyer to advocate for the men and women in uniform.

“It was not until later that we learned about the rights and opportunities that [my father] had. I just want to make sure that the men and women who are serving for our country are educated on their privileges,” Darett said.

Darett currently plans to begin her career at the Naval Academy, and then join the officers program. After completing her military training, Darett will attend law school and graduate from the Judge Advocate General program.

After her extensive training, Darett will be qualified to become a JAG lawyer and stand up for those who bravely serve the country.

Devna Desai

Grade: 12 Intended Position: Marine

Devna Desai has always known that she wants to help people, but few would guess she is willing to lay her life on the line as an Air Force pilot.

“Looking at me, people would never think a person like me would want to be in the Air Force because I’m so tiny.

Since I am so fragile, there’s no way I could do combat, so this is one of the only ways I can help out,” Desai said.

She has always been interested in aviation, and feels she can couple her sincere desire to aid others with a career in the Armed Forces. Desai plans to go to Glendale Community College and then hopes to transfer to Baylor University in Texas. Desai acknowledges that she will need to put on weight and pass fitness and anxiety tests before she can command the skies.

“Despite the obstacles, I can at least try...I know I can do it, I just need to push myself forward. I just have this will deep within me to help. It’s almost like that’s the purpose of my life: to help people that are in need,” Desai said.

Woo Sub Kim

Grade: 12 Intended Position: Naval officer Since he was a child, Woo Sub Kim has been surrounded by military veterans.

His father and older brother both served in the Navy, and he has known from a young age that he wants to follow in their footsteps.

Kim plans to enlist immediately after graduation this June.

He plans to attend boot camp this summer, after which which he will apply to the Naval Academy. From there, he hopes to pursue a career as an officer for around 20 years.

In his remaining months in high school, Kim hopes to clear some of the misconceptions that many students have surrounding the military.

“Most people are misinformed on the military and have never even thought about the military in the first place because they are set on college,” Kim said. “I have a feeling that many people at South Pas think that going to the military is actually going to be war but most people that enlist don’t ever even hold a gun.”

Pablo Centeno

Grade: 12 Intended Position: Air Force Bombardier The military always appealed to Pablo Centeno, but it wasn’t until high school that he moved past the excitement of stories like Pearl Harbor and numerous Tom Clancy novels and started doing serious research.

Centeno’s family has military history, with grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins who all served the country. As a bombardier, Centeno would be heavily involved with technology and would learn to aim and release missiles.

“I’d be riding along in the planes, which are pretty big, and I’d be responsible for flipping the switch,” Centeno said.

He plans to be a part of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program while either attending UCLA or St. John’s University in New York. He aims to serve his country for six to ten years, and then find a career that utilizes his newfound expertise in technology or computers.

“I want to give myself to something, also knowing it will benefit me. You definitely can’t join if you don’t love your country,” Centeno said.

Michael Heberlein

Michael Heberlein is more than prepared to serve his country.

For Heberlein, the Armed Forces are a family tradition. His grandfather was in the U.S. Army and served in Vietnam, and his father served in the Marines for five years and the Army for another three.

Heberlein is not shy about his plans to embrace a career as a jarhead and is looking at 20 years of service.

“If I was to get out in eight or ten, I would say that that I would truly be looking towards LAPD or NYPD homicide detective or FBI hostage teams, because I kind of like action but I also like helping people,” Heberlein said.

Once Heberlein enters Military Occupation Specialty School, he has eyes on being part of Presidential Security, Nuclear Weapons Security, or Fleet Antiterrorism Security teams. He also looks forward to the chance to deploy at some point in his enlistment, and has no qualms about the possibility of being in the center of military action.

“I hope that Marines can give me more to learn, more experience, more hands-on skills. I just feel like I have a purpose to serve my country, to be there and help people,” Heberlein said.

Jovanie Reyes

Will Nader

Grade: 12 Intended Position: Marine

Grade: 12 Intended Position: Navy fighter jet pilot

Jovanie Reyes has always had unique role models. When other boys and girls were aspiring to be like Superman or Wonder Woman, Reyes was more interested in following the heroes who didn’t need animation or CGI to bring them to life: the men and women of the United States military.

“The reason I’ve always wanted to join, from when I was a kid, was because I looked up to them. They are always fighting for us, and we’re at home being safe. I was inspired, because they’re always on the front lines defending the nation, so I decided to give back,” Reyes said.

Reyes hopes to specialize as a computer technician once he has joined the Marines. He is still considering a career in the Army, but feels he would be more challenged as a Marine.

A calm demeanor will serve Reyes well during the rigors of testing, but for now he is just proud to have the opportunity to join the men and women he has looked up to for so long.

Will Nader is awaiting responses from UC Davis and UC Santa Cruz before he makes any official plans for taking to the skies. Nader often flies up the coast from El Monte to San Luis Obispo in a Bulldog plane, a Scottish model used to train RAF pilots during World War II. Nader is considering parlaying this passion for aviation into a career in the Navy. If Nader does not attend a UC, he will be headed to the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to receive his pilot’s license. Nader wants to apply to the Navy as a commissioned officer and eventually become a fighter jet pilot.

“That’s where the excitement is. I want to challenge myself, and I like to fly and go fast, so [I want to be] a fighter pilot” Nadar said. “It’s like Top Gun. I’m a little bit different from Tom Cruise, but just a little.”

If Nader chooses not to attend flight school, he still sees himself getting his pilot’s license at some point in his life.

6 Tiger - Thursday, March 14, 2013

Opinion

Opinion

Yeah Boi

B

oo to whoever’s been injecting growth hormone into Pep’s hair bows. If the bows get much bigger, the school will need to purchase orange and black neck braces.

B

to the commissioner packets for requiring 100 signatures. My autograph has never been so coveted. ravo

B

to Raisels. Considering something with 28 grams of sugar per box a “better-for-you alternative to candy” is right up there with Congress calling pizza a vegetable. oo

By Sofi Goode Editor-in-Chief

B

ravo to Sir Paul McCartney for refusing to do a performance with Justin Bieber.

He was like, “baby, baby, baby, no.”

B

to the timing at Powderpuff. Maybe you need to spend a day or two with Ms Moonesinghe, because last time I checked, a quarter and a half weren’t the same thing. oo

The Tiger Established 1913

CSPA Gold Medalist 2005 CSPA Gold Medalist 2006 CSPA Gold Medalist 2009 CSPA Gold Medalist 2010 CSPA Gold Medalist 2011 Editor-in-Chief Sofi Goode

Reaping the benefits of Tiger Bingo

Managing Editor Jessica Moog News Remeny White, Editor Shine Cho, Associate Opinion Natalie McLain, Editor Kira Gabriel, Associate Feature Rhian Moore, Editor Sarah Stukan, Associate Sports Christian Miyamae, Co-editor Clem Witherall, Co-editor Copy Editors Amber Laird, Shyam Senthilkumar, and Heather Vaughan Photography Rachael Garner, Editor Matthew Winkel, Associate Photographers Sophia Arriola, Siria Medina, Anastasia Velicescu Senior Staff Writer Kelsey Hess Staff Writers Madison Amido, Petra Barbu, Matt DeFulgentiis, Andrés García, Kea Hudson, Brandon Kim, Andrew Shults, Pooja Vyas, Jason Wang, Jenny Wang, Jordan Xiao, David Yang Tiger Online Writers Karen Hsueh, Talia Wun-Young Staff Illustrators Evan Davis, Rachael Lee, Annie Lu, Amanda Stewart

Staff Editorial Imagine a fictitious agrarian community in which everyone is expected to contribute to the sowing and reaping of crops. Now imagine that only a fraction of the constituents in said community actively participate in all steps of the agricultural process. Yet when the harvest has been reaped, it is divided evenly among all members of the society, regardless of their level of contribution.

One of the main problems with theoretical communism is that eventually someone figures out that they don’t have to do his or her share of the work to reap the rewards. This same problem parallels the current status of the South Pasadena High School Tiger Bingo, coordinated by the SPHS Tiger Booster Club.

The club donates over $35,000 to the high school to fund various extracurricular activities, and another $1,000 in scholarships for graduating seniors. The generous funds that they donate to the school are primarily generated through Tiger Bingo Nights.

Given this, it is surprising to note the extremely weak support for the program from the SPHS students and parents. At least sixteen students and twelve parents are necessary to properly coordinate each Bingo night.

Managers Marcy Kuo, Ads Jason Wang, Business

Vol. XCIX. No. VI distributed on March 14, 2013.

Distribution: 1528 students; 70 community. 1600 copies printed.

Distributed by Tiger staff free of charge.

Tiger is produced by the advanced journalism newspaper class at South Pasadena High School, 1401 FremontAve, South Pasadena, CA 91030. Layout and photo imaging are completed on-site.

Printed by American/Foothill Publishing Co., Inc., Tujunga, CA. Signed articles appearing in Tiger represent the writer’s opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the staff, student body, faculty or administration of SPHS. Contact the publications office at (626) 441-5820 ext. 2615 between 8:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. for advertising rates and subscriptions.

Tiger welcomes articles, letters or rebuttals for publication in the print and online editions. All letters must be signed and verifiable, but names will be withheld upon request.

Tiger Newspaper’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 California Ed Code 48907.

Visit Tiger Online at www.tigernewspaper.com for additional content.

But as of now, only about one in five students actually contributes to the Bingo program. The workload is unfairly falling upon the few, while all continue to reap the rewards.

Because of the relatively low participation among students, those who do take the time to volunteer and contribute end up having to double or triple up their work to cover for their less motivated peers.

The student body, including Tiger, has a rich tradition of criticizing the administration for its actions and inactions. However, in this specific instance, the blame falls solely on the students. The Bingo system currently in place has the potential to be fair and beneficial to all students and the school at large.

However, students must step up to be a part of the program and put in the work to reap the rewards. If every student worked Bingo setup or cleanup a measly two Saturdays per school year, the issue at hand would be completely resolved.

If Tiger Bingo is to be effective, the lack of participation must end immediately and students must, for once, address a school issue through their own actions, rather than through the criticism of others’.

Bullying isn’t always to blame

Webmaster Michael Xu Faculty Advisor Mike Hogan

Amanda Stewart

As an upper-middle class neighborhood that is no stranger to first world problems, South Pasadena is, ironically, a breeding ground for cynicism. Students constantly criticize their teachers, the administration, and the world around them based on nothing more than their own, limited perspectives.

Pessimism and rejection of others are often expected of the modern teenager, but the current level of cynicism for the sake of cynicism has become damaging.

About a week ago, I walked past two seniors discussing their plans for the afternoon.

One told his friend that he were planning to attend a Yosemite workout, and in response, the other mmediately started in on a rant. The Yosemite Institute is overpriced. Who would pay a thousand dollars to spend a week in the woods?

Regardless of whether or not his argument held weight,the second speaker clearly implied that the first speaker was wrong in wishing to go on the trip at all.

The interaction was negative for both parties involved—the aspiring hiker felt like his desires were unjustified and the critic lost an opportunity to have a stimulating discussion and possibly gain a new passion—yet scenes like this occur at South Pasadena High School every day.

It is impossible to abolish cynicism, but negativity at the expense of others is inexcusable. As we struggle to find ourselves in a jumble of classes, athletics, and extracurricular activities, many high schoolers are sensitive about things that truly interest them. Having those passions openly criticized by another student can be incredibly discouraging.

In a famous speech, Teddy Roosevelt once proclaimed, “It is not the critic who counts… The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena… [whose] place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

Recently, students, especially seniors coasting through their second semester, have lost their place in the arena and joined the ring of critics on the outside. High school and college are a chance to explore your interests, and only the worst kind of commenter discourages others from their passions simply because they are passionate. It is time to reclaim our place as promoters of interest and abandon this cynical path that leads to neither victory nor defeat.

By Natalie McLain Opinion Editor Two Friday afternoons, about one year apart. On February 10, 2012, and March 1, 2013, two boys, Drew Ferraro and Campbell Forrest Taylor, jumped to their deaths from the third floor of their respective high school campuses.

Before his body had been officially identified, rumors were already circulating La Crescenta High School that Ferraro’s death was the result of extensive bullying. However, Ferraro left four separate suicide notes, none of which, according to authorities, identified bullying as the reason for his tragic decision. Autopsy re-

ports confirmed that Ferraro had a history of mental health problems, but that aspect of the case received almost no media attention. La Cañada High School is now facing an eerily similar situation, in which rumors, not yet based on solid evidence, are circulating that bullying was the primary motive for Taylor’s suicide.

As it currently deals with cases of teen suicide, society makes anyone with issues that do not stem directly from bullying feel ignored, unimportant, and not even worththy of mention.

Without attempting to demean the movement to eradicate bullying in schools, the kind of premature finger pointing that is taking place

after Taylor’s tragic death is completely reckless.

Teenagers struggle with a myriad of complex issues, ranging from mental health problems, like Ferraro, to instances of family troubles or even sexual abuse.

To assume bullying is the root of any and all issues is to completely disregard alternate ordeals that a student may be undergoing and alienate individuals already suffering. Bullying is prevalent; that is true. But it is only one of many catalysts that cause individuals to feel as if their only escape from unbearable pain is suicide.

Taylor took his own life on a Friday afternoon only two weeks ago. He was interested in

theatre and was an avid newspaper aficionado. While it breaks my heart to hear of such events, and I have the greatest compassion for the families and friends of those passed, I also must point out the injustice of only giving attention or importance to bullying as a motive for suicide.

Using bullying as a catchall explanation for tragic events is disrespectful to the deceased and to those struggling with similar issues, whether they are open about them or not. Out of respect for those who have passed, and in an attempt to prevent tragic events of the same nature from continuing, we need to address the wider spectrum of issues that prompt teen suicide.

Opinion

The human element of education

By David Yang Staff Writer Flipped classrooms are products of the digital age. They have the potential to refine the learning process by placing control of each lesson into the hands of the student. By allowing students to learn at their own pace at home and evaluating active application in the classroom, school is made more productive and learning is less stressful.

Lear ning through video has the advantage of being flexible to the varying speeds at which different students learn.

Students who are unable to follow along with the lesson can replay sections that they find confusing or pause the video and Google the information. Due to the possibilities of editing, lessons delivered through video are also typically clearer and more concise than a conventional faceto-face lesson would be.

Students who normally sit in the back of the classroom find themselves with a clearer view and those in the front will be pleasantly surprised to find that video contains 100 percent less spittle than reality.

Students who know themselves and their peers too well fear that the flipped classroom will grind to a dysfunctional halt due to laziness and procrastination.

This apprehension of apathy away from the classroom is why some teachers who implement flipped classroom formats also choose to create online student discussion forums. Activity in these forums, which can potentially have a grade value attached, can be a measurement of each student’s engagement in learning the material.

In addition, these forums facilitate peer discussion that can clear up many

Tiger - Thursday, March 14, 2013

7

Embracing student-based learning

questions before students enter the classroom the following day.

A perceived advantage of having teachers guide lessons in person is the relative ease of the learning process for students. When abstract concepts become too difficult in the classroom, teachers often provide formulaic and pragmatic approaches to the subject that will ensure success on little else but the final. Learning at home, however, denies students a teacher “genie” with the textbook answers. It forces students

By Heather Vaughan Copy Editor

to consult books, their peers, or internet sites to clarify material within a broader context.

Even if students don’t reach a clear-cut answer to their question and wait to ask the teacher during class, self-guided learning is valuable preparation for college.

It’s hard to imagine that whipping and paddling students were once both widely accepted forms of “teaching.” Like the move away from corporal punishment, the switch to online flipped classroom videos provides a less “physical” education—a reform that benefits teachers, students, and the quality of education.

vironment in which students have immediate access to a living, breathing teacher, and lesson plans which revolve around an individual’s reaction to and comprehension of a subject.

This idea is being challenged, however, by the concept of a flipped classroom, in which lectures are viewed via the Internet at home, and worksheets and questions occupy class time. It’s safe to say that the typical high school class, especially an advanced placement or honors class, requires extensive explanations of concepts. Subsequently, lessons should be taught in class, with the students present, for maximum comprehension.

In a traditional classroom setting, a teacher lectures, and students listen and take notes. Over the years, this has evolved, and with new methods and new technology, the traditional classroom has transformed from something standard to an interactive setting in which students can get the most out of what their teachers have to offer.

The modern classroom is a dynamic en-

It is sensible, commendable even, for educators to strive to integrate technology into their curriculum. A variety of media is available for teachers to take advantage of and use to more effectively explain a concept.

Resources range from simple ideas such as video and pictures to more unique concepts such as using a Slinky to demonstrate wave movements in a physics class. However, while using this supplemental media in class actively engages students, an online lecture is easy to watch without forcing any real comprehension, or to skip altogether.

In addition to media, class lessons usually require student participation, whether in the form of discussion questions, group work, or class debate. This causes students to be more dynamically involved in the lesson being learned and makes them more likely to understand the material on a deeper level.

Teaching lessons in the classroom also helps students utilize the most important resource of all: their teacher. Teachers possess immense amounts of knowledge and have the ability to rephrase and reconfigure lectures based on student comprehension.

The lesson can be extended Annie Lu or shortened in direct response to the students. Paired with students’ natural curiosity and desire to learn, lessons are more vivid, interactive, and meaningful when delivered in person, and the teacher can cater to the students’ interests while still covering the necessary material.

At a school with such readily available resources as South Pasadena High School, every tool should be utilized to its full potential, especially teachers. To make efficient use of everything the school has to offer, lessons should be taught in the classroom with both students and teachers present whenever possible.

Being absent doesn’t merit unfair treatment

By Jenny Wang Staff Writer Students sound off on the little things that make their skin crawl, give them the heebie jeebies, and just plain drive them insane. Did your pet peeves make the list?

“I hate it when you see a kid crying and you can’t tell him to shut up.”

-Parker Van Loan, 9th “[I hate] people who won’t blow their nose in class. Just get up and blow your nose, it’s that easy. The tissue box is literally ten feet away and class has just started. Please don’t tell me that I have to listen to your sniffling all through this chemistry test.

If you’re worried about sounding gross, I’m sorry, but that ship sailed long ago when you assaulted my eardrums with the sound of snot cycling through your nasal cavities. Don’t come crying to me if your next sneeze leaves you slimed like a celebrity on the Kid’s Choice Awards, you had plenty of warning... Grab some tissues, use your sleeve, excuse yourself to the bathroom. We couldn’t care less. Alcoholics Anonymous says that the first step to solving a problem is admitting you have one, and if you can’t muster up the ounce of courage it takes to blow your nose in class, we are definitely going to have a problem.”

-Lena Gavenas, 10th “When people misuse literally. It makes me feel figuratively insane.”

-Julian Sanudo, 12th

The most essential elements to the success of our education system are the concepts of fairness and equality.

These statutes are meant to be embedded in how each student is treated and how his or her work is judged. However, teachers who administer more difficult make-up tests are challenging this fundamental value by punishing students who cannot attend tests.

Teachers have every right to be concerned about students who miss test day—high schoolers have been known to skip out on a period when they feel unprepared or wish to get tips from students who take the test before them.

However, a policy that utilizes significantly more difficult makeup tests ignores students who are ill or have legitimate reasons to not attend school.

By offering extremely difficult make-up tests, teachers are putting students in a bind: either take a test while sick or take a test that is nearly impossible to pass.

Either way, students are doomed to receive a lower grade due to circumstances completely outside of their control.

In lieu of giving hard tests to all absent students, teachers should give more difficult make-up tests to repeat offenders and truant students.

This avoids punishing students who are legitimately sick by giving them a test of similar difficulty to the original while still punishing those who are simply avoiding the test. A policy like this would encourage students to stay

home when sick and come to school when well to avoid the more difficult make-up for skippers.

Whether or not the aforementioned suggestion is implemented, some change needs to be made. Instead of planning make-up work with the assumption that all absent students are irresponsible, teachers should adopt a system that allows some amount of leeway for everyday colds, fevers, and family tragedies while still discouraging students from being truant to avoid tests.

“I don’t necessarily think that the make-up test should be harder than the test that the other students took—I think it should be different...If a student is taking advantage of the situation…and the teacher feels that that’s the case, I think that [giving harder tests] might be a legitimate thing to do. But if it’s a person who just happens to be absent, and that happens sometimes, I think it’s okay to give them a similar test, but not necessarily one that’s more difficult.”

-Mr. Greg Ring, SPHS science teacher “A more difficult make-up test encourages students to be present on the day of the test. It’s different for the reasons stated above… I also prepare a different make-up test to minimize any cheating or spreading of test information… It’s always better and easier when students are present for the class test and take it together. ” -Ms Maryann Nielsen, SPHS Social Science teacher

8 Tiger - Thursday, March 14, 2013

Opinion

Students weigh in...

It is becoming an increasingly common practice for teachers to implement make-up tests that are more difficult than the original test administered. This is meant to discourage ditching by unprepared students, and to make sure no one has the unfair advantage of insider knowledge before taking a test.

STUDENT VOICE: “I think that making the make-up tests more difficult is a justified thing to do. Many kids do skip or ditch test days because they obviously don’t know the curriculum very well. Giving the student a harder makeup test really puts the fate of the student’s grade in their hands, and sparks the question, ‘Do I want to get an even worse grade than I would on the normal test?’”

-Tru Pierone, sophomore “I think it would be unfair if make-up tests weren’t more difficult. Bad students who skip school on test day should have some sort of ramifications, and good students who happen to be absent will still be able to do well on the tests. I think it discourages those who are worried about their grades to ditch.”

-Jake Levy, freshman “I think it’s unfair because it’s not always the student’s fault and it could make a student feel like they have to come to school...It does discourage ditching though. Maybe if more than three students miss a test day, a teacher could set up one date for a make-up test, and students who miss that could be given a harder test.”

-Priscilla Hur, senior “When people miss tests, they are usually either sick or they skipped. It’s fair to make the makeup tests harder because there are many cases in which students skip the day of the test because they want more time to study.”

-Nathan Louie, junior

Societal stigmas against acknowledging menstruation

By Kira Garbiel Assoc. Opinion Editor In its most recent issue, Seventeen Magazine ran a Tampax Radiant tampon ad that read, “New Tampax Radiant helps keep your period invisible. How you stand out is up to you.” The pseudo-feminist slogan implies that the only thing that can identify a woman on her period is her period. A national magazine that targets teenage girls, run in a country that fights a daily battle for women’s rights, is subtly promoting that women are useless while menstruating, and must therefore hide their periods, which demonstrates how even our progressive country needs to focus in on the menstrual taboo.

In India, it is believed that cooking while menstruating will pollute the food, and that

It may not be as obvious touching idols will defile them.

Often times, girls in India drop or profound, but the same stigout of school when they hit pu- ma and embarrassment exists berty because periods are simply in modern Western society. Altoo much of a hassle and an though the West considers itself embarrassment. In some tribes to be at the forefront of equality, throughout the world, women there is an inherent shame that girls feel about are forced to their periods. stay in huts for The current taboo It is reasonable the duration of to assume that their period, against menstruaevery girl in to keep their tion tells women that South Pasa“uncleanly” an essential part of dena High b o d i e s away their nature is disSchool has at from everyone gusting and needs some point else. Leviticus to be hidden. had to covertly 15:19, which is ask for a tamacknowledged pon, slip said

by Christianity and Judaism, says, “When a tampon up her sleeve, and dash woman has her regular flow off to the nearest bathroom at of blood, the impurity of her least once.

The stigma is obvious in monthly period will last seven days, and anyone who touches popular culture; the only menher will be unclean till evening.” tion of periods on TV is about

premenstrual syndrome. A blue, rather than accurate red, liquid is used in pad commercials, girls in skirts are often the only thing featured in tampon commercials, and euphemisms like “the tears of a disappointed uterus” all avoid actually discussing what happens during menstruation.

The embarrassment that accompanies growing up is an indignity for every female. The menstrual taboo is outdated, arbitrary, and asinine, and needs to be addressed and abandoned.

The current taboo against menstruation tells women that an essential part of their nature is disgusting and needs to be hidden. It is imperative that society accepts that, in order for it to continue, women must menstruate. Shaming them for it is a detriment to everyone.

By Ms Kim Kadletz SPHS English Teacher The teacher says brightly, “Today I am introducing this quarter’s research paper,” and the announcement is greeted with loud groans and rending of garments. And yet, here is the reality: writing a research paper in high school may be the single most important task you accomplish in your preparation for college and the world beyond.

College classes regularly assign research papers, both short and long. You will probably be assigned a research paper within weeks of the start of your Freshman college year.

Libby Rainey—SPHS Class of 2012, now a freshman at UC Berkeley—said in an email that SPHS should place more focus on research papers; in her college classes, research papers are heavily weighted in her course grades. In her first semester she wrote three research papers, and has another one coming up this semester.

SPHS Class of 2009 student Krystal Tung, who is a Senior at Harvard, wrote saying that Freshmen write their first research-based paper one month into the school year. Many papers that are not technically termed research papers still require three to five cited sources. For her finals last year, she had four major papers due: two extensive research papers, one short research paper, and one non-research paper.

Two experiences, from two schools. Here is my advice: look on the research paper not as a burdensome task, but as a true learning experience in which you learn to think creatively as you search for sources, learn to be detail-oriented as you write the in-text citations and the entries for the Works Cited page, learn to write coherently and cogently as you synthesize and present information, and last, learn to think scientifically as you scrutinize the evidence you have researched and draw conclusions.

Research teaches you to think, not just surf the net. And when you have gathered your evidence, it teaches you to draw valid conclusions. These two skills can take you far, both in academics and in the work world. So do not cringe when you are assigned that SPHS research paper—view it as an investment that will generate a big pay-off in your future.

Girls should be seen, not heard

By Amber Laird Copy Editor

Amanda Stewart

This year’s GQ assembly featured humorous videos of the GQ nominees, a quick and witty question-and-answer session, and costumed escorts. Much to the dismay of many, it did not include the usual dance number starring all of the gentlemen. Still, it retained the usual fun and lighthearted atmosphere for which the GQ assembly is famous.

Now picture the GQ men being handed flowers, sitting on blocks at the back of the stage, holding stuffed tigers, and keeping their mouths shut for the duration of the assembly. It sounds strange, yet that is a near-perfect description of the Homecoming Court during their assembly, essentially the female-centric version of GQ. As a rule of thumb for identifying societal gender roles, if something sounds strange for one gender but not for the other, some kind of gender bias is at play.

Further discrepencies between the two assemblies lie in the stricter escort regulations for the Homecoming assembly. 2011 senior Homecoming princess Erin Chan requested to be escorted by her twin sister and, according to her,was told, “it would be a little weird, and…[the Associated Student Body] preferred [her] to find a guy.” Compared to what is allowed for GQ—multiple escorts of the same sex, inflatable fat suits, and dance routines—being escorted by a twin seems pretty tame.

The ladies of the Homecoming court are expected to be passive and traditional. Unlike the guys, they don’t get to directly showcase their humor or dance skills, or even speak. This stark difference in assembly setup perpetuates the gender stereotype that women are traditionally not meant to be funny or express themselves in the same way that men are. Women used to be seen as the ones who sat back quietly, giggling politely while the men made the jokes. While society

has progressed beyond this outdated outlook, the South Pasadena High School assemblies appear to be stuck in the past.

Many probably view the structure of the Homecoming assembly as a formality. The Homecoming game is a serious event while the Powderpuff game is all about having fun. However, assemblies have always been designed to entertain and amuse, no matter the purpose for holding them. Given that, it’s strange that the Homecoming assembly seems to focus in on portraying girls as pretty, quiet princesses, rather than giving them time to talk, dance, or do much of anything, really.

Ultimately, these assemblies are perpetuating gender stereotypes. The lovely ladies of our school certainly do have senses of humor, and they should be given the same opportunities to express them as the men do.

It shouldn’t simply be accepted that the GQ nominees dance and make witty remarks while the Homecoming Court is seen and not heard.

Opinion

Tiger - Thursday, March 14, 2013

By Katherine Uriarte SPHS Sophomore

Rachael Lee

Amanda Stewart

The dangers of watering down literature

By Petra Barbu Staff Writer From Reader’s Digest to Cliff ’s Notes to No Fear Shakespeare, simplified novels have infiltrated American society over generations.

They seem innocent enough, flaunting an “easy to read” nature meant to appeal to those less versed in complex literature and language.

However, while these watered down novels may be convenient for the busy, story-oriented adult reader, they are hardly appropriate for a class focused on critical reading. They’re a skewed kind of censorship that removes students from the benefits of difficult, close reading and dumbs down the English classroom.

As soon as a novel passes through school gates, it is often subject to immediate and violent censorship. Despite the constant bombardment of sexuality, violence, and profanity that the average student receives daily on campus and from media sources, schools seem convinced that students, just a few years short of being adults, are yet unsullied. Words are taken out that set the entire mood of the piece;

phrases that define the moment and add depth to the author’s style are taken out. Removing these aspects eliminates the experience of analyzing the author’s intent and figuring out why that phrase or scene was deemed necessary.

Instead, students are being raised on 140 characters and are forgetting how to read real literature, favoring speed over substance.

Schools reinforce this mentality by spoonfeeding students versions of books that make concepts “easier to understand.” They are not only taking away valuable opportunities to learn analysis skills that improve writing and comprehension, but also greatly underestimating their students.

You wouldn’t reduce a Van Gogh to paint-by-numbers; you wouldn’t add more definition to an impressionist piece to make the subject clearer. Simplifying detracts from meaning and educational value. There are modern books, even young adult books, of literary merit that could easily be taught in full. Schools need to teach the classics as they were written, or find viable substitutes that lend themselves to critical analysis as originally printed.

9

enriching for both parties.

Many of the less fortunate have been forgotten by friends and family, and thus finding someone willing to listen to their story can drastically swing their life in a new, better direction.

The Two Dollar Portrait Project allows two strangers living two very different lives to connect on a common, human level. The stories shared by Hawk and fellow participants have inspired me not only to donate money, but to donate my time to get to know these neglected individuals.

It has shown to me just how important human interaction is, and that truly, behind every picture, there is a beautiful story.

Photographer Thomas Hawk embarked on an adventure he called the “Two Dollar Portrait Project” in 2008. After noticing the sheer mass of panhandlers he passed by and ignored in his daily routine, Hawk resolved that every day he would offer two dollars to each person who asked him for money in exchange for their portrait, shared online with their permission.

The aim of the project is not to merely sustain the homeless or to snap a photograph, but rather to turn a grim situation into a positive social interaction between two fellow human beings.

Even in our quiet suburb off Los Angeles, we pass by beggars on the street on an almost daily basis. Many of us see them and assume the worst, avoiding and disregarding them as we subtly pick up our pace. We often alienate them, dehumanize them, and ignore their plea for help, but why?

Our society has labeled the homeless as drug-addicted, uneducated, dangerous people, simply because they do not follow social norms.

We pass unfair, unsubstantiated judgments, assuming that the money we give them will be misspent or that their lack of employment stems from laziness. It is the plague of our age to be so over-involved with our own lives that we forget the lives of others.

To think lowly of these people is the easiest mindset to be trapped in, Katherine Uriarte yet few of us take the time to stop and This is Harold, the subject of a recent $2 empathize with the less fortunate.

Portrait. He won second place in kickball in These people—people, just the 2012 Special Olympics, and is now raislike us—are so often overlooked. But ing money to participate again this year. For simply taking a few minutes to talk to more $2 Portraits, please visit: http://www. and understand their situations can be flickr.com/groups/2dollarportraits/

Tiger Newspaper Asks: The idea of a “flipped classroom” is currently being tested and considered in a handful of SPHS classes. This set up essentially entails having students learn lessons for a class at home, using tutorial videos and other such instructional material, while class time is spent doing problems and worksheets that would normally be used as homework. Do you think this is a good system? Or do you feel that the current system is better suited to the learning needs of students?

Austin Chee, Grade 12 The flipped classroom is essentially how college works...However, highschool students tend to be lazy, and undoubtedly most high school students would skip a lot of, or altogether not do the learning required beforehand. In addition, students spend far more time in class in high school than they do in college, which affects how material will be learned and taught. I feel as if the flipped classroom would be a little better for some upperclassmen classes as it would better prepare them for college, but it would not be as suitable for underclassmen...In addition, particularly arduous classes such as AP Calculus should not use the flipped classroom because students need as much guidance as possible in those types of classes.

Henry Sue, Grade 11 This “Flipped Classroom” idea is both a good method and a bad method.

The pros of this method are that the student is tasked with learning on his or her own, which eliminates the possibility of a sub-par teacher. Another positive outcome is that the student has an instructor present to oversee work done, which allows for the student to receive the help that he or

she needs. The downsides, however, are solely based on the student. If a student is unable to complete the at-home lessons, the at school period will be either wasted, or the student must obtain further assistance. In my opinion, the flipped classroom would be a new experience to try, if only to motivate students who lack the motivation to do their homework on their own.

Amy Choi, Grade 10 This system would be effective if a form of strict discipline was applied requiring students to show proof that they tried to learn at home on their own. Without that rule, students would feel no pressure to stay on top of their work and would sit idly by during class time while the teacher only focused their attention on some students. Besides that, this system might be a good idea because the best way to learn is through practice. And what better way to practice than with the instant aid of a teacher?

Raymond Gilmartin, Grade 9 I think this might be a good idea, but only under the right circumstances.

This would work best in honors or AP courses...[Students] have chosen to

take honors or AP over regular courses, demonstrating their motivation and commitment…There is a certain logic to this method. Teachers who teach more than one period of the class would be able to present lessons once and videotape them to be shown again...

This method might enable students who learn faster to spend less time learning material because students can learn at their own pace. The downside is that teaching and learning also happen when students interact with their teacher and each other during the lesson. For example...Ms Toth had an interpretation in mind for a passage from “Romeo and Juliet,” but we, her students, suggested that the passage might be sarcastic instead of straightforward. We ended up agreeing that both views were possible, so all of us learned something. This kind of interactive learning happens in my math class all the time, too.

Alison Farrar, Grade 11 It seems to me that “flipping” leads both parts of the education system to be weaker than in a traditional classroom. Teaching is weakened because if I wanted to watch boring videos instead of being a part of a (hopefully) engaging lecture, I would drop out of school and study full time on Khan

Academy… In addition, homework would not be as effective when the teacher is there to be of assistance any time the work gets difficult. Most work in college and beyond will not come easily, and learning to work through difficult problems using the information you learned in class and through your own research is a valuable skill.

Although I admire the teachers’ intentions to try something new, “flipping” just weakens the educational process rather than enhancing it.

Mehek Desai, Grade 10 Even though it’s great that teachers are looking for ways to improve the learning system, I think that [this] is not effective. Not for me, at least.

Seeing as many students seem to procrastinate, or find excuses to not do their homework, this is just an addition to that pile of things they do not want to do. If learning the basics at home is expected of you, and you are not doing it, who’s to say that you are going to follow along with what the teacher is going over in class? If you are working on the worksheets in class, and have absolutely no idea what is going on, how are you supposed to do your work? This way of learning is time consuming both for the teachers and the students.

10 Tiger - Thursday, March 14, 2013

Thursday, March 14, 2013 - Tiger

11

Powderpuff 2013

T

he senior offensive line breathed out steam and the players set their knuckles on the damp ground. With the shrill blow of a whistle, the silence was broken, and the 2013 Powderpuff game began. Spectators turned out in the rain on March 8 to see the showdown between the junior and senior flag football squads. The two teams did not disappoint, providing a game full of forceful flag tugs and dramatic touchdowns.

Senior Nick O’Brien and junior Noah Anselmo bantered back and forth from the announcer’s box throughout the game. At halftime, manleaders from both grades performed, and several seniors disrobed to reveal senior Janty Woojuh as the GQ King.

The game eventually finished with a decisive 28-6 victory for the seniors, making the class of 2013 back-to-back champions.

Page by Rachael Garner Photos by Rachael Garner and Matt Winkel Text by Jessica Moog

Omni Lott

Brandon Shahniani

Andrew Wong

Ashim Shrestha

Ryan Stone

Janty Woojuh

12 Tiger - Thursday, March 14, 2013

Feature

Feature

Out and About The Hope for Haiti club began selling friendship bracelets today for one to two dollars. The fundraiser will take place at lunch on the Tiger Patio on Thursday for the next two weeks and proceeds will benefit the charity Hands Together. /Rhian Moore

Virtual business preps for Oakland

By Jenny Wang Staff Writer

Sophia Arriola

Senior Jackie Huang is one of many SPHS artists and photographers who have had their work spotlighted in the front office. The display board both beautifies the school entrance and allows artists to receive feedback.

Main office display features student artwork

By Kea Hudson Staff Writer Wall decorations are usually not the first thing on a student’s mind when entering the main office, but the observant eye will notice that the South Pasadena High School office is adorned with a display board of student artwork. The board features drawings and photography from

Past Features Shizue Iwayanagi Paul Messana Amber Laird

AP and second-year art students, giving the young artists an opportunity to receive feedback and recognition from the public.

In the fall, the display featured work from selected art projects, such as the self-portrait project and the Rhode Island School of Design Bicycle Project. The RISD project challenged students to create a graphite drawing that involved a bicycle.

In the self-portrait project, students had the freedom to express their appearance in their preferred medium.

The board then converted into a display for senior art shows during the spring semester, spotlighting creations from a different student each week.

“The idea was to showcase the talent of individual senior artists, showing the range of their work as it’s developed throughout their high school years,” art

teacher Ms Aimee Hultman said.

Hultman selects senior artists for the display based on the quality, quantity, and readiness of their work. This week’s featured artist is senior Jackie Huang, whose selected pieces explore the depths of feminism and her personal conflicts over family struggles and identity.

“I try to locate patterns shimmering with the intricacy of lighting, orchestrating the disparate struggle between light and dark,” Huang said. “I mainly get inspiration from movies, which spark my own cognitive activities [and force] me to construct, devise, and process from an idea to the birthing of a creation.”

Next week’s board will feature work by senior Flora Leung; a different senior will be featured every week throughout the semester.

After dominating at the Bakersfield competition, the South Pasadena High School Virtual Business teams quickly shifted gears from celebrating victories to preparing for their upcoming competition, the Bay Area Trade Fair, on March 17 and 18.

The varsity team is currently working with the feedback it received at Bakersfield to perfect its company. In lieu of the Business Plan competition, which will not be taking place in San Francisco, there will be a competition entitled Venture Capital, in which business teams have two minutes to sell their company to a group of venture capitalists interested in making an investment. Seniors Ashim Shrestha, Pooja Vyas, and Tyler Armstrong were selected by Virtual Business teacher Mrs. Cathy Mason to represent SPHS in Venture Capital.

“Oftentimes people will be focused solely on aspects related to their department. However, what will set our team apart is how well we can tie in our company’s philosophy to our competitions,” said junior Michael Ruan, vice president of the Expedition Operations department. “When making a sales pitch to a judge, we’re not just listing benefits; we want them to understand how [Expedition is] leading a revolution in outdoor education.”

Due to limited transportation, only a select number of team members from each junior varsity team, Cilk and Óneiro, will compete in San Francisco. Nevertheless, members of both companies are optimistic they will be able to adequately represent their companies. “[We have] been working very hard to put [our] best effort into preparing for these competitions, so I’m confident we’ll all do well. Since a large portion of Cilk isn’t able to go to San Francisco, those of us going will make sure to represent and spread word about our company. Hopefully we’ll be able to place in the competitions we’re participating in, too,” said Megan Srisutham, marketing specialist in Cilk.

Following the Bay Area Trade Fair, select seniors from the varsity team will join members of Cilk and Expedition’s business plan teams in April for their final competition of the year, the national Youth Business Summit in New York City.

Personality Profile: Mac Goldwhite

By Amber Laird Copy Editor Most high school students have only vague ideas of what their true passions are, but senior Mac Goldwhite has never really cared for the path most high school students take. After a brief but highly technical and jargon-filled explanation of the functions of GLSL, a computer programming language he taught himself, Goldwhite realized that he had lost his audience and decided to amend his answer: “It does pretty things fast.”

Goldwhite is an entirely selftaught computer programmer, but he considers himself a primarily artistic person. While this combination may seem unusual, it makes perfect sense to one who sees math, science and art as not separate, but complementary.

“Not many artists use math as a medium for art,” Goldwhite said, “but there are lots of possibilities with algorithms that haven’t been explored.”

He has always known the joy of art, making detail-focused pen drawings from a young age. His innate understanding of shape, physics, and mechanics is apparent in his intricate drawings. But Goldwhite now prefers to make art on the computer, where the limitations of hand-drawn art cease to exist.

His discovery began in the sixth grade, when he began creating animations on a now-outdated program called Flash MX on the middle school’s computers. From there, Goldwhite discovered ActionScript, with which he created simplistic computer games. One of his earlier creations was a maze with a series of walls that the cursor was not allowed to touch.

Goldwhite’s skills have grown significantly since then and the tech enthusiast has taught himself multiple computer programming languages, beginning with C++.

Learning one of these languages is a process that takes a month or two of consistent practice. Despite his proficiency, Goldwhite admits that

no one ever really knows everything because there is always a faster way of accomplishing something.

“It’s a lot like learning another language,” Goldwhite said, “except that it always follows the rules, which is why I like it more than Spanish.”

Goldwhite hopes to use his knowledge of these multiple languages to become a video game programmer. This growing field will allow him to combine his loves of art, computers, and science, working with physics behind video games.

To him, seeing a building crumble or an object act as a gravity well is fascinating.

He hopes to graduate from a university with an esteemed game programming or computer programming degree, enter the industry with a job designing the physics of games for a video game studio, and one day become independent and create his own games. Goldwhite’s detailed and long-term life plan integrates well-developed and selfAnastasia Velicescu taught passions that he has had since Senior Mac Goldwhite combines artistic and programming talhis youth.

ents in his work, and aspires to create games as a career.

Feature

Tiger - Thursday, March 14, 2013

Personality Profile: Allison Lo

Siria Medina

Though sophomore Allison Lo moved to America only seven months ago, she has branched out at school by participating in the talent show.

By Emily Markese Staff Writer Many students at South Pasadena High School have gone through the scary and sometimes difficult experience of moving to a new school, but moving to another country is on an entirely different level. Despite initial hardships after moving from Taiwan to America just seven months ago, sophomore Allison Lo has managed this incredible feat with relative ease.

Lo admits that feelings of being unable to fit in overwhelmed her when she first moved to the United States. School, especially English, was very hard for her as she struggled to accustom herself to a new language, new teachers, and new classmates.

But slowly, with the help of her English Second Language teacher, Mr. Richard Martin, whom Lo describes

as “a father” to her, Lo began to find herself again.

“Allison is very bright and speaks many different languages. She has a special way with people from many different cultures. She is constantly learning how education systems are very different, yet how so many things are universal,” Martin said.

Lo’s gradual adaptation to a new society has allowed her to resume one of her universal passions: music. From learning piano at three years old to teaching herself how to play the guitar about a year ago, Lo has had a passion for the art all her life. In Taiwan, she was the keyboardist in a band with four of her classmates. The band, called “5 Souls,” performed many times, even playing for an audience of over one thousand people.

Lo’s musical talent isn’t just limited to instrumental skills; she also en-

joys singing. She is very influenced by strong female artists such as Beyoncé and Adele, and many may know her from her rendition of Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep” in this year’s talent show.

“I chose ‘Rolling in the Deep’ because it is one of the most powerful songs that I’ve ever heard,” Lo said. “I was really nervous during my performance and I made some mistakes, but I felt that I expressed the song in an emotional way.”

Through her performances in Taiwan and her adjustment to America, Lo has found that performing is the best way for her to express herself.

“I performed for the school not to gain recognition but to step out of my shell and regain my confidence. I just kept telling myself that I could do it,” Lo said.

Although Lo enjoys performing in front of others, she does not plan to pursue music as a career. Even as a sophomore, Lo is very sure of her future and plans to major in Hotel Management. As a freshman, Lo attended a hotel management high school in Taiwan and participated in an outside internship, both of which influenced her to make a career out of the profession. Currently, Lo hopes to attend the University of Las Vegas to get her degree.

Her long-term plans are set in stone, and to reach her goals, Lo is currently focused on completely adjusting to her new surroundings and using performance to become comfortable in a society almost 7,000 miles away from home.

n w o t y t n a h S At a glance: When?

March 16-17, 2013 6:30 PM - 8:00 AM

Where?

La Salle High School Pasadena, CA 91107

What to bring Cardboard boxes Duct/masking tape Signed forms + $35

More info sgvhabitat.org Text by Jason Wang, Jordan Xiao, & Rhian Moore Illustration by Evan Davis

Emperor is entertaining but distracted

By Andrés García Staff Writer 3.5/5

General Bonner Fellers isn’t a familiar name in United States history textbooks, but those who have heard of his heroics in the Second World War may not know the larger role he played in the war’s aftermath. Fellers’s part in Emperor Hirohito’s exoneration is spotlighted in Emperor, a film that delivers a unique glimpse at post-World War II Japan but falters with a lack of focus.

Fellers (Matthew Fox) is a United States officer under the service of General Douglas MacArthur (Tommy Lee Jones) and is assigned to investigate and sentence Emperor Hirohito for his crimes. Hirohito, however, is seen as a god in the eyes of his citizens, and his execution would lead to widespread revolt. Fellers discovers that he must choose between keeping order in Japan and following the orders of his general and his country.

Director Peter Webber presents elements of history, personal struggle, and romance. Fox delivers a compelling performance as a tough but compassionate general troubled by the traumas of war and lost love. Jones complements him well, adding necessary spark and comic relief despite occasionally forced acting.

Emperor’s fault comes in its unclear direction. Writers Vera Blasi and David Klass write in too much of a love story, and the story feels cluttered with frequent flashbacks to Fellers’s romance with Aya, a Japanese foreign exchange student. The historical film fails to strike a healthy balance between entertainment and education. It often dwells too much in the historical details and information, losing the sense of heroism and the audience’s attention in the process. These obstructions keep Emperor from reaching the level of grand contemporary historical films such as Lincoln and Argo.

Although its strong, diverse plot is derailed by the details, Emperor is an interesting look at an important and often forgotten chapter in post-war Japan.

shan ty town: (n) a deprived area consisting of large numbers of crude dwellings; an event that gives one the opportunity to experience the world of the homeless with one night in a cardboard box

“I’ve worked with Habitat since sophomore year. Each year has gotten bigger and more fun, because we have more experience and publicity. Last year was a blast, though! It’s like a huge sleepover party and you meet new people!”

Christina Luo Who’s going?

SPHS Mayfield FSHA Arcadia

St. Francis Pasadena La Salle Maranatha

Kei Shao

“The most inspiring part of the night would have to be when a family that has been helped by Habitat comes up to tell us [its] story. We stop all we are doing and care about what’s important: those around us [who] aren’t fortunate.”

Where the money goes: The Desiderio Project builds houses for families of military veterans in Pasadena.

“Last year, there was a family there who talked about their homeless experience and about living in their relative’s garage. That reminded me of the small apartment in Korea I used to live in with my whole family.”

Shizue Iwanayagi

13

Angela Jang

“It’s stepping out of my comfort zone and getting a taste of real life, and not taking life for granted. I will probably bring a flashlight, water, sleeping bag, lots of blankets and jackets, and lots of cardboard boxes and some money.”

14 Tiger - Thursday, March 14, 2013

Feature

Oz is overwhelmed with special effects

collider.com

James Franco stars as Oscar Diggs, a conman and magician who goes on an adventure that will transform him into the famous Wizard of Oz.

By Petra Barbu Staff Writer 3/5

Oz the Great and Powerful boasts color that would have awed in the technicolor age of The Wizard of Oz, but lacks the script, characters, and plot that made the original a classic.

Similar to the wizard’s antics, Oz relies on visual tricks to try to cover the lack of substance. While at times the film’s smoke and mirrors are almost enchanting, the movie lacks the ruby

slippers sense of magic.

The prequel to Dorothy’s wellknown adventure focuses on a playboy conman, Oscar Diggs (James Franco). As the magician is whisked away to another world and encounters witches and talking monkeys, Oscar puts on a performance of a lifetime with his elaborate tricks to save the emerald city of Oz, and learns that goodness is better than greatness along the way.

The movie features an all-star cast of James Franco, Mila Kunis, Michelle Williams, and Rachel Weisz

in a beloved make-believe, magical world. Unfortunately, or perhaps luckily, overdone special effects overshadow Franco’s half-hearted performance and a lack of character development and emotion throughout the movie. The most endearing characters were the ones brought to life by computers, such as a China doll and a flying monkey.

As a prequel to The Wizard of Oz, this film’s attempt to use visual effects to replace a strong story and compelling characters is only more noticeable. Without the magic of the original, the audience is left to focus on the psychedelic surroundings and painfully obvious dichotomy of good and evil.

Though Oz’s color and effects are exceptional, the story fails to bring the audience under its spell. In the true spirit of modern Hollywood, the creators opted to create a wonderful, vibrant, but ultimately unconvincing illusion.

They say that beauty without virtue is a rose without a scent, and unfortunately, this rose, for all its CGI, 3-D, and D-Box, smelled of nothing memorable.

EOVER heard Illustrations by Amanda Stewart

By David Yang Staff Writer Folded away in her beautifully curated home, surrounded by walls covered with art, English teacher Ms Audrey Toth set about preparing a fresh vegetarian fried rice while richly textured vinyl music wheezed from a nearby record player. She had chosen to whip up simple fried rice with a recipe that she had found on an online fashion blog and modified to her own taste. Toth began cooking by slicing a brick of tofu into bite-sized triangles and transferring the pieces to a skillet over a low flame.

“Dry frying tofu dehydrates it for soaking up the marinade,” Toth said. “Cooking the tofu before hand also prevents it from breaking up when it’s stir fried.”

While the tofu triangles cooked, Toth squished some soy sauce, lime juice, vinegar, sesame seed sriracha, and honey together in a ziploc bag as a marinade. The honey is Toth’s own touch.

“The thing with this marinade is that it’s definitely savory, but you have to add something sweet to even it out,” Toth said.

With the tofu off the stove and marinating in the Ziploc bag, Toth wasted no time chopping vegetables, preheating steamed rice in the wok, and making sharp and insightful observations about the progression of her cooking and eating habits.

“I do a lot of cooking just for myself, which is weird,” Toth said. “When you’re a kid you have dinner with your family, and when you have a family you cook dinner for your family, but when you’re in this weird in-between stage, you’re only really cooking for yourself.”

Once Toth had completed all the preparatory chopping, snapping, and shredding, the chopped asparagus, grated ginger, finely chopped garlic, marinated tofu triangles, sliced yellow squash, chopped onion, and bite-sized trees of broccoli at last careened into the wok. After allowing the first round of ingredients to cook for ten minutes under medium flame, she sautéed slivers of red bell pepper, mushrooms, eggs, cashews, cilantro, and rice with the rest of the ingredients. Finally, the wok was brought off the stove and the dish was served hot.

Fried rice is normally flavorfully chaotic, with different ingredients simultaneously fighting for the attention of your palate. In addition to having the typical earthy flavor profile of normal fried rice, the vegetarian fried rice was also texturally complex.

“You are what you eat, so it feels good to put a little time into something that isn’t a Trader Joes frozen whatever,” said Toth. “It feels good; it feels so good.”

And indeed, it was good.

Club Spotlight: Art Reach school year—it has many exciting ventures planned for the near future.

McLain, club secretary of Art Reach, Jackie Huang is currently orThe Art Reach Club will begin to make Huang’s unique ganizing and design for the Orange Grove Park mural a reality in April. designing craft classes at the South Pasadena Convalescent Home. OffiBy Pooja Vyas cers attempt to help members with their art Staff Writer endeavors and inform them about volunThe members of South Pasa- teering opportunities dena’s Art Reach Club have a goal that around the neighborgoes far beyond attending meetings to hood.

The club’s bigpaint and draw together. Through their current and upcoming projects, they are gest project on the striving to break conventional artistic bar- horizon is a sportsriers and aim for the unorthodox and themed mural in Orange Grove Park. wildly captivating.

Art Reach currently has 36 members Club members plan to and is led by senior officers Jackie Huang, begin work on the deErini Katopodis, Natalie McLain, Chris- sign for the 8.5-by-22tina Luo, and Candace Louie. Though Art foot painting in April Reach is a relatively new club—founded and aim to complete it

by Jackie Huang at the beginning of the by May 31.

“This would not be possible without our generous sponsor, OSH, who donated all the supplies necessary to complete this project, and the City of South Pasadena, who provided us with this amazing opportunity,” Huang said.

Art Reach is a group of passionate students who are eager to encourage the student body to use art as inspiration.

“It can be as simple as creating your own unique style or keeping a scrapbook of meaningful events,” Huang said. “We hope to help those who have never felt a connection with art to discover their creative side in all aspects of their daily life.”

Siria Medina

Be sure to visit tigernewspaper.com for the complete recipe in this issue’s Food for Thought.

Like this comic? View it in full color at tigernewspaper.com.

Feature

Snitch suffers from lack of excitement

Tiger - Thursday, March 14, 2013

15

How to get to Bunker Hill:

1. Take the 110 Freeway to Chinatown.

2. Take Hill St. towards downtown L.A. 3. Park at the corner of Hill and 3rd St.

By Kelsey Hess Senior Staff Writer 1.5/5

For a ninety-minute movie centered on covert federal operations and the dangerous inner workings of the drug world, Snitch presents its typically exhilarating topics with amazingly little finesse. Following only a mildly interesting theme that showcases a father’s dedication to his son, Snitch’s overall execution falls miles short of its potential.

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson plays a divorced father and owner of a construction business, John Matthews, whose son has just been sentenced to ten years in jail on false charges of drug possession. In an attempt to shorten his son’s prison sentence, Matthews teams up with the city attorney (Susan Sarandon) and the Drug Enforcement Administration to go undercover and arrest the people who faked his son’s possession.

He enters the cartel under the image of a struggling corporate businessman whose construction trucks provide transportation for narcotics and money, and he slowly begins to climb up the ranks. By the time Matthews finds that he is in too deep, he realizes there is no turning back.

Snitch ultimately suffers from poor direction and a lack of character development. The movie’s textbook “defensive father” angle was played out long ago and the plot loses any chance of retaining audience interest by putting too much effort into keeping viewers updated on the storyline.

For a film about the dangerous operations of the drug cartel, true danger is rarely implied. Snitch does not bother with a romance or comedic relief, nor does it try to pack itself with action scenes—a surprising disappointment, seeing as former stuntman Ric Roman Waugh co-wrote and directed the film.

Action scenes are canned and feel more tragic than they do0 fun, and few plot twists manage to keep the audience engaged. An attempt to reuse old plotlines, Snitch can only be described as a dull cinematic experience, and fails to reach the energy level required of a modern action film.

By Sarah Stukan Assoc. Feature Editor An urban jungle of glass buildings and skyscrapers, downtown Los Angeles is infamous for rush hour traffic and relentless congestion. We spent an early Saturday afternoon exploring an area in the city nicknamed Bunker Hill and discovered its series of hidden gems that offer relief from the hustle and bustle of the crowds.

Our first destination in the maze of one-way streets was Grand Central Market. The open-air shopping center boasts aisles upon aisles of fresh produce, vendors selling unique cooking ingredients, and a court of ethnic food stands.

We opted to try two savory Salvadorian pupusas, thick corn tortillas stuffed with cheese and a choice of meat or vegetables, with a bowl of mildly spicy tomato salsa.

After completing our survey of the market and with cones of cookies ‘n cream ice cream in hand, we ventured up a flight of steep steps to Angels Knoll Park, home to the landmark bench from the film 500 Days of Summer. We sandwiched ourselves between two wedding processionals to take pictures on the small but sunny patch of sloped grass and shady cotton trees.

We then swapped in fifty cents for a one-way ride aboard the historic Angel’s Flight Railway, which, at just 298 feet long, is appropriately dubbed “The Shortest Railway in the World.” Taking a bumpy and unexpectedly speedy ride is a quirky step back in time to 1901.

Finally, we unloaded and scouted the California Plaza Watercourt.

Rachael Garner

We were pleasantly surprised to find a quiet concrete oasis featuring fountains, streams, and a stage with amphitheater seating to host outdoor concerts. Floating heart-shaped flower gardens and generous outdoor seating created a beautiful space to relax.

Bunker Hill offers a peaceful retreat from the chaos of downtown L.A. From picnic spots to gourmet sights and smells, this area of the city will appeal to locals just as it does to those new to the City of Angels.

To see what has happened in the story so far, visit tigernewspaper.com.

16 Tiger - Thursday, March 14, 2013

Inside the Lunchbox

Cafeteria Addition It may seem like the cafeteria has been serving the same dishes since freshman year and you’ve tried them all, but interesting combos can shake up your average lunch.

Try these combinations of flavors and be surprised what you can find on campus.

$3.00 Chicken Burger

Soft Pretzel

Capri Sun

$4.75 Parfait

Mac ‘n’ cheese

Mixed slushie

$3.00 combo price

Almonds

Chortles

Terriyaki Chicken

Available at: Bristol Farms Price: $6.49 Description: orange chicken nuggets in fried rice with egg, carrots, and green onions Tiger Review: For those with access to a microwave, the slightly bland orange chicken and surprisingly flavorful rice make for a good, though not necessarily Chinese, lunch experience.

Pesto Pasta Salad

Available at: Bristol Farms Price: $6.99 Description: a fresh pesto pasta salad with pine nuts and tomatoes Tiger Review: This premade dish is meant to be eaten cold, a bonus for those who don’t have access to a microwave. However, the pasta is on the saucy side, so eaters are advised to have water to balance out the garlicy pesto taste.

Available at: Trader Joe’s Price: $3.99 Description: falafel, pita bread, hummus, and tabouleh Tiger Review: This platter provides a balanced meal of vegetables and hummus. The pita bread is surprisingly good for packaged food, and it’s a flavorful and healthy meal.

East Feast Maui Onion Chips

Pizza Bagel

Push Up

Page by Sofi Goode. Managing by Jessica Moog.

Reporting by Sarah Stukan, Heather Vaughan, Madison Amido, Matt DeFulgentiis, Kelsey Hess, Pooja Vyas, Shyam Senthilkumar. Text by Sofi Goode. Illustrations

by Amber Laird, Rachael Lee, and Evan Davis . Photos

by Rachael Garner, Matt Winkel and Sofi Goode.

Fiore Market Café Roast chicken on homemade bread with basil, walnut pesto and burrata cheese $8.75

Pro-tip: It takes about 15 minutes for Mamma’s to prepare a whole pizza to go, so check out the menu ahead of time and bring some back for friends.

Garlic knots $1.75 (6 pieces) $3.50 (12 pieces)

Chocolate chip cookie $1.95 Red velvet cupcake $2.50 Pro tip: Wait times at this charming Europeanstyle café can be a little long for a school lunch period. To avoid being late for class, order ahead by calling 626-441-2280.

Hawaiian barbecue mix (Chicken, beef & ribs) $8.49

Spam musubi $1.39 (1 piece) $2.49 (2 pieces)

Unique Lunches

Mamma’s Brick Oven

Tempeh bacon, lettuce and tomato on homemade bread with vegenaise $8.25

Pro tip: Save yourself a risky drive to Cha for Tea; this venue also serves a limited selection of boba teas without the fear of being tardy.

Shrimp Spring Rolls

A packed lunch doesn’t have to be a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and generic snacks.

Several local supermarkets sell extravagent pre-made lunches at good prices. Bring one of these gourmet dishes and be the envy of your lunch group with your fancy food.

Pro Tip: The cafeteria and canteen serve pizza from different locations on different days of the week.

The pies are from Papa John’s on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and Round Table on Tuesday and Thursday.

Hawaiian Garden BBQ

Available at: Trader Joe’s Price: $4.29 Description: fresh shrimp spring rolls in rice wrappers with peanut dipping sauce Tiger Review: These spring rolls are surprisingly authentic and enjoyable. Dipped in a peanut sauce, all of the flavors combine together into a savory treat. We recommend unwrapping the rolls and eating them like a salad, but you might need two packages to ensure you have enough food.

Gourmet Prepackages

Middle

$3.00

Orange Chicken

White Pizza: sun dried tomato, ricotta, fresh mozzarella, fresh garlic and basil $3.25

La Monarca Bakery Traditional Mexican mollette with vegetarian style chorizo: toasted slice of bolillo bread, covered with original chipotle-infused pinto beans and melted asadero cheese, topped with vegetarian Mexican style chorizo Traditional cazuelas: A healthy take on huevos rancheros, this pie is appropriate for breakfast or lunch. It’s conveniently portable, so grab one in the morning and have it for lunch.

Photos courtesy of yelp.com

Pro tip: This Mexican bakery specializes in pan dulce, so pick up a snack for after school while you’re there.

Quick off-campus purchases Now that it’s March, senior privilege cards have lost their new shiny sheen and most users are sick of runs to Pavilions and Starbucks. These four locations and some of their best dishes are quick, close, and delicious new ideas to spice up an off-campus lunch excursion.

While everyone else unpacks their regular brown bag and discovers a fairly average meal, there always seems to be that one students with something unique. Check out these SPHS students and their extraordinary lunch habits.

The healthy alternative

Traditional Persian

Name: Ady Friedman Grade: 11 Lunch fact: Friedman’s lunch always includes a cut up apple and carrots. Instead of a sandwich, her typical main course is quinoa with tempeh—a less processed form of tofu. Despite having a senior privilege card, Friedman has never bought lunch either on or off campus.

“I’d much prefer to eat this than anything packaged,” Friedman said. “No matter where you’re eating, there’s always options and you can always choose to eat healthy.”

Name: Vesta Javaheri Grade: 12 Lunch fact: Javaheri’s lunches typically alternate between a poptart and granola bar and traditional Persian cuisine. Whenever she goes over to her grandmother’s house for dinner or feels like cooking, Javaheri brings a rice-based dish.

“It’s not like an everyday thing, it’s just when it’s there,” said Javaheri. “But my favorite is called ‘zereshk polo’ because it’s a mix of sweet and sour that’s really good.”

Five years, same lunch

Sandwich Sales

Name: Tyler Halley Grade: 11 Lunch fact: Halley has eaten the exact same lunch every day since fifth grade. His lunch features a pita bread turkey sandwich with provolone cheese along with apples, a lemonade juice box and cookies, both from Trader Joe’s. Though he fell off the wagon once, Halley quickly returned his typical lunch. If you were to do the math, Halley will have eaten approximately 1,080 pita bread sandwiches by the end of this school year.

“I’ve gotten to the point where I just really enjoy my same old lunch every day,” said Halley. “You are what you eat, and I’m a turkey-pita bread sandwich.”

Name: Nathan Lee Grade: 12 Lunch fact: For years, Lee has been bringing his lunch to school with the intent of selling it. During lunch, while everyone is busy conversing and enjoying whatever edible delicacies they purchase or bring that day, Lee can be found migrating from group to group trying to sell his sandwich for an average price of $3-$4. And he is usually successful. Lee once made $26 in two days from sandwich selling alone.

Lee’s sandwiches are known as some of the best on campus usually featuring roast beef, pastrami, or turkey and stacked with lettuce, tomato, and mayo.

Sports

Thursday, March 14, 2013

17

Laura Elbaum Krishna Mocherla

By Shyam Senthilkumar Copy Editor Although his time spent at the back of the court cracking jokes and playing pranks may make him seem like a slacker, senior Krishna Mocherla is a critical member of the South Pas team.

Mocherla began playing tennis seriously in 6th grade when he became a member of the U.S. Tennis Association. With the organization, Mocherla was able to sign up for numerous youth

Anastasia Velicescu

Senior Krishna Mocherla is captain of tennis and plays number two doubles.

tournaments to improve his game.

He joined the junior varsity tennis team his freshman year and played a significant role from the start, holding the number two singles spot. Mocherla made the transition to varsity his sophomore year and began playing doubles with fellow senior Scott Richards.

“What I love most about the sport is that it’s very solitary. When you’re on the court all responsibility falls on you,” Mocherla said.

Mocherla has stepped to be a team captain for his final season. Although his skill as a player is great, his most valuable asset to the team may be his positive attitude. Mocherla uses his sense of humor to keep the team lively.

“He often comes off as laid back but when it’s time to play he is always the most competitive.

Our team needs him to provide results, and if he does we have a good chance of doing well,” said Richards.”

Mocherla’s dedication to tennis is especially remarkable given his rigorous schedule off the court. He played water polo at SPHS for three years, is an Eagle Scout, and is a member of the varsity virtual business team at SPHS. He plans to attend a four-year university and major in business, but as far as tennis goes, Mocherla’s future is uncertain. Although he doesn’t plan to play competitively in college, Mocherla is sure he will always be able to find time for the sport.

Siria Medina

Senior Laura Elbaum is a four year varsity player and hopes to lead softball to CIF.

By Andrew Shults Staff Writer If not for a lonely friend and a strong sense of compassion, senior Laura Elbaum would not have discovered her passion for softball, and the South Pasadena squad would be without one of its critical players.

Elbaum was first introduced to the sport in second grade. Her friend wanted someone to play with in little league, and Elbaum agreed.

“I had played soccer before and was a pretty athletic and active kid, so I naturally enjoyed playing softball,” Elbaum said.

Playing on South Pas varsity since ninth grade, Elbaum has worked with three coaches in four years yet has seen great improvement in the team, going from winless in league in sophomore year to barely missing CIF last season. This year, Elbaum has higher goals for the squad.

“It would be nice to go to CIF,” Elbaum said. “But we need to improve from the past years and improve on our mistakes, move

forward and to play as a whole.”

Elbaum’s favorite aspect of the South Pas squad is the camaraderie.

“We all have a common goal of doing well each year and this goal pushes us to come together and use our individual skills to play well as a team,” Elbaum said. “My team also knows how to joke around and have fun at practice while still staying focused enough and motivated for important games.”

The senior accredits her success to her dedication to the sport and her communication skills. Nicknamed “the fairy,” because of her optimism, Elbaum is constant reminder to her teammates to stay positive and motivated.

Though she does not plan to play in college competitively, she wants to continue in the sport at the intramural level. “[Elbaum] is always at practice working hard and is always there for her team. At practice she helps the younger players learn what to do in different situations,” said senior Ashley Gentry. “Laura is one of the back bones of our team.”

18

Tiger - Thursday, March 14, 2013

Golf secures first win

By Marcy Kuo and Andrés García Tiger Staff After starting the season with consecutive losses to Pasadena Polytechnic, the South Pasadena boys golf team won their first game of preseason on Tuesday against Glendale High School, 214-228.

This was the Tigers’ second game at the Almansor Golf Course this week and the familiarity with the course showed in the team’s results. Senior Cole Teague shot best for the Tigers with a total of 38, while junior Henry Sue finished the day with a 41.

“After yesterday’s game, as a team we feel a lot better prepared to face the difficult challenges ahead in league. We did see great improvements in many of our players yesterday and we are optimistic about season even though we have a young team,” senior Kenneth Rodriguez-Clisham said.

The Tigers’ second game against Polytechnic High School last Thursday resulted in a loss in which the team fell 40 strokes short of the Panthers. South Pas shot decently at the Almansor Golf Course, but ultimately failed to match the Poly’s consistent shooting. Sue played exceptionally well, shooting an overall score of 37.

Although it is still early in the season, the Tigers are looking to improve their game. The team aims to have several players advance into the individual rounds of CIF. “Though we started out rough, we think that we will be ready to take on Temple City next week and come out with a strong win,” Rodriguez-Clisham said.

Sports

Girls track anticipating success

By Jason Wang and Pooja Vyas Tiger Stafff With a dominant 93-34 victory against Alhambra High School, South Pasadena girls varsity track is ready to take on the Rio Hondo League and claim back-to-back league titles.

A standout performance last Tuesday came from the young 4x100 relay team, consisting of freshmen Rebecca Liston and Leah Schexnayder as well as sophomores Nina Acebo and Jazmin Jackmon. The quartet easily clinched first with a time of 49.6 seconds.

“I’m super excited about what is to come. As a freshman, I feel really lucky to have a chance to compete on such a high level,” said Liston South Pas took first in all three jump events. Acebo took the long jump with a mark of 17’1” while junior Sloane Mitchell dominated triple jump with a mark of 35’ flat.

Senior Anastasia Velicescu took the high jump

with a leap of 4’ 8”.

The Tigers reigned victorious in nearly every running event. Junior Nina Parson earned five points by taking first in the 300-meter hurdles, as did Liston in the open 400.

“Everyone is starting to find their niche,” Parson said. “Our biggest competition this year is definitely Monrovia. We have to give it our all in every race we run.”

The distance team, led by senior Anika Renken and junior Helena Van Loan, continued to rack up points. Renken placed first in the 800-meter while Van Loan came in ahead at 12:10 in the 3200. In a display of dominance, Renken and Van Loan tied for first in the 1600, crossing the line with a time of 5:40.

“Distance has done well,” coach Patrick McGrail said. “I think the top girls have been improving as a group and it’s not just one person that’s really succeeding.”

The girls will compete against Blair in their first league meet this afternoon.

Rachael Garner

Freshman Emily Ye won second place in the 800-meter dash on February 28.

Boys track looks to distance to lead the way

By Remeny White and Kira Gabriel Tiger Staff Despite losing several key seniors to graduation, the South Pasadena High School boys track team is off to a fast start and ready to win back the league title lost to Monrovia and Temple City last season.

The team demonstrated its depth in an 85-42 victory over the Alhambra Moors on February 28. Although the squad lost the 4x100 meter relay at the beginning of the meet, it gained momentum and dominated the rest of the events.

Distance captain senior Paul Messana led the team with a first place finish in the one-

mile, coming in at 4:40. Junior Josh Wilson placed first in the two mile later in the meet with a time of 10:15.

“The top boys on the entire track team, Messana and Wilson, come from the distance group,” head coach Mr. Pierre Hernandez said.

“The [Alhambra] meet was a good confidence boost for the rest of the season. The boys will have their toughest opponent in Monrovia, but every other dual meet should be a success as long as the team can withstand any injuries.”

A strong batch of underclassmen will also support the team this year and will be looking to lead the program in the following seasons. Sophomores Kevin Yonami and Timothy Lee placed second and third in the pole vault event, vaulting 10’ and 9’6”, respec-

tively. Freshman Esteban Suarez claimed first with a vault of 12’6”.

“The truth is that we are a young team and are slowly building back up,” Messana said. “However, we also have some very talented individuals who are able to make a difference in the outcome of these races and motivate the rest of the team.”

The team’s energy throughout the meet culminated in the 4x400 meter relay race, when the Tigers beat the Moors with a swift time of 3:35. Messana, senior Hector Fernandez, and sophomores Justin Fernandez and Sam Anuakapado comprised the winning team.

The Tigers will compete in their first league dual against Blair High School today at 3:00 P.M. at home.

Volleyball making a statement in preseason

By Matthew DeFulgentiis Staff Writer

Rachael Garner

Senior Jason Qiu spikes the ball over his opponent.

The South Pasadena boys volleyball team continued its strong preseason with a 3-1 win over Village Christian High School this past Tuesday.

The Tigers came out of the gate serious yet relaxed. In the first set the boys were relentless with their offense. They made virtually no errors and completely overpowered the Crusaders, taking the game with a score of 25-10.

The Tigers’ effort in the second match was much weaker, and South Pas found itself down 12-9. However, the boys rallied after a key block by senior Quinn

Hutchings and were able to take a 14-13 lead and eventually won 25-20. Hutchings finished with 7 blocks over the course of the day.

Though the first two matches ended favorably, the Tiger faltered in the third round. They came out unfocused and would go on to play with the same overly confident approach that riddled last week’s defeat against the La Salle Lancers.

The Crusaders capitalized on the laidback attitude and exploited many South Pas errors, resulting in a 25-17 Tiger loss.

“It wasn’t pretty,” South Pasadena head coach Ben Diaz said. “Sometimes you get a little too cocky, thinking the other team won’t fight back. But it doesn’t

work like that; you’ve got to play it out all the way from beginning to end.”

The boys didn’t make the same mistake twice and regained their momentum.

The Tigers would go on to dominate the Crusaders in the fourth and final game, winning by a score of 25-8.

Sophomore Richard Yu led the Tigers with 12 kills matched by his teammate, senior David Barker, who contributed 33 assists.

This game brought the Tigers’ record to 11-3. With league play rapidly approaching the boys intend to fix a few kinks and find their groove, starting with today’s home game against El Rancho High School.

Baseball concludes preseason strong

By Jordan Xiao Staff Writer Despite a slow preseason start, varsity baseball clinched two wins in its final games before the beginning of the Rio Hondo league season.

The South Pasadena High School squad defeated Cathedral and Glendale High School in two consecutive away games. Monday’s game against the Phantoms resulted in a 7-3 Tiger victory, and on Tuesday South Pas downed the Nitros 11-7, bringing the team’s preseason record to 5-3. “[On Tuesday] we started off hot, but as the game went on with an 8-0 lead, we took our foot off the gas. We need to make sure we don’t

do this [in the future] because we let them back in the game,” said senior Alec Keeling.

While Glendale’s comeback surprised the Tigers, it was not enough to give them the win, and the victory served as a morale boost for South Pas. “These wins have brought a lot more confidence to the team, and we are playing more as one,” said Keeling.

Conference play officially begins with a home game against San Marino tomorrow afternoon.

“For Friday I think we just need to stay focused and driven throughout the course of the game,” said sophomore Paul Amerine. “It

feels good winning two in a row and I just hope we keep this up.”

The team is optimistic but hesitant, as last year’s promising preseason led to a brutal thirteen-game losing streak that culminated in a tie for last place in league competition.

Despite the disappointment last year, head coach Mr. Anthony Chevrier has high expectations for his squad.

“All we really want to do is not have any regrets. We want to do what we can on the field to be able to look back and see that we did everything humanly possible to be successful,” said Chevrier about the season’s goals.

“We just want to get out there and compete; at the end of the day that’s all you can really ask for in sports.”

Rachael Garner

Junior Noah Anselmo pitches in the Tigers’ third win.

It was a 17-3 victory against Bellarmine-Jefferson.

19

Thursday, March 14, 2013 - Tiger

Sports

Swimming wins opener Girls team prepared to be a force in league

By Heather Vaughan Copy Editor The South Pasadena swim team dominated its season opener against La Salle High School on Thursday, March 7, bringing the boys and girls teams to a record of 1-0. The meet, held at the Santa Anita Pool, showcased the two teams’ talents and promise for upcoming meets.

The final girls’ score was 136-0, due to the fact that La Salle had no varsity girls competing.

The boys also won with a score of 110-60.

Outstanding performances came from the boys team’s three captains: senior Zach Magaña and juniors Andrew Wright and Michael Chang. However, some of the less experienced underclassmen were much weaker against the more experienced Lancers. “[The La Salle meet] was a big learning

Notable Times

Garet Tse 2:03 min.

Brennan Yu 57.8 sec.

200 m.

Individual Medley

100 m.

Butterfly

experience for all of our new swimmers,” Wright said. “ Overall, we are strong this season and are working really hard in practice and we hope to do well in our upcoming meets.”

Three-year varsity swimmer junior Tyler Halley also performed exceptionally: he placed first in both of his individual events: the 500 yard freestyle and the 100-yard backstroke. He also lead the 200-yard and 400-yard medley relays to victory, swimming the backstroke leg of each race.

“I feel we were disorganized at the start of the meet, but still came to perform,” Halley said. “We have a lot of team camaraderie and it’s going to be a great season. We’re really young with Magaña as our only senior, and we’re really going to have to prepare ourselves for some of the more difficult meets.”

The girls team is the strongest it has been in years, with a slew of capable underclassmen and experienced returners. The captains led the team on Thursday, greatly assisted by the freshmen and sophomore swimmers. Sophomore Kate Iio placed first in her two individual events, with a time of 26.40 in the 50-yard freestyle, an event in which she holds the school record.

Siria Medina

Freshman Isabel Edens backstrokes her way to a victory in the 200 medley relay against La Salle High School. The quartet finished with a time of 1:59.95 “I’m proud of the girls for bringing their “A-game” even though La Salle only had a few swimmers,” said Iio. “As long as everyone keeps going to the practices, we can bring home the title of league champs once again.”

Both varsity coaches also remain optimistic about the team’s prospects.

“The whole group has a really great attitude, a great approach to being a part of the

team,” boys head coach Mr. Tyrone Brown said.

“No one is bigger than the team.”

Girls head coach Mr. Robert Echeverria is also confident in the team’s ability.

“The team is deep all around; we have no weak events,” Echeverria said. “I see us winning league and breaking some of our own records.”

The Tigers will face Flintridge Preparatory School tomorrow.

The Squad Nick O’Brien

Bryan Bednarski

“These past years have been awesome playing with each other, but I think it will be a good last year. I’m ready to go out with a bang. Hopefully one day I’ll find a wife, have some kids, and coach some little league.”

Skyler Anselmo “I couldn’t have asked for a better group of characters to end high school baseball with. It’s a shame to see it come to an end, but I’m glad it happened.”

“Playing baseball with these boys has created some of the greatest memories over the last decade. I know it’s just the start to our long lasting friendships.”

When the South Pasadena varsity baseball team takes the field on opening day of the 2013 season, there will be six seniors on the team who have been playing baseball with each other since the ages of five and six years old. The end of the season in late May will be their last time on the baseball diamond together. Not all the players started their careers in South Pasadena, as some came from different cities, but fate and circumstance brought them all together at one time or another in the South Pas Little League.

Looking at this group today, they are some of the funniest and most social students at SPHS. Just getting the group to stand still for a

“serious” Tiger photo-op proved to be a strenuous challenge. Along with their skills and camaraderie, baseball has taught them how to overcome personal obstacles and be mentally tough when life throws them a curveball. Going out to the diamond has served as an escape for many of them, a place where they can distance themselves from everything else and just unwind.

It’s also been the place to learn about everything from girls, to teachers, to which courses to take and avoid. In other words, a place of trust and friendship, where bonds of brotherhood formed long ago will continue long after graduation. ~Matthew Defulgentiis

Will Rygg

Mark Swanson “It’s been a blast playing with the boys. I’ve had a lot of fun over the years and I can’t imagine playing with anyone else.

Even though this will be our last season together, they’ll always have my back.”

Christian Miyamae

“These guys were some of my first friends in South Pas. We’ve all become so close because of baseball. Its going to be hard next year after having them by my side for the past ten years.”

“It’s important for baseball teams to have a feeling of commraderie and brotherhood. ‘The Squad’ keeps the boys together and really helps us play as a unit.”

Photos by Matt Winkel

20 Tiger - Thursday, March 14, 2013

Sports

Sports

South Pas Stars

Johnny Karalis (12) Karalis had 2 hits, 2 RBIs, and 2 stolen bases in baseball’s 7-3 victory against the Cathedral Phantoms.

Rebecca Liston (9)

Henry Sue (11)

Liston ran her way to first place in the open 400m and was part of the 4x100 relay team which took first against Alhambra.

Despite the golf team losing to Poly, Sue shot one over par at Brookeside with a score of 37 to lead the Tigers.

Freshman prepares to play in Holland

By Clem Witherall Co-Sports Editor

Rachael Garner

Senior Erika Rodriguez prepares to hit in the Tiger’s game against Arroyo High School. Rodriguez had one hit in the game.

Softball hopes to improve for league play

By Andrew Shults Staff Writer As South Pasadena High School girls softball heads into league, the Tigers will have much to build on from preseason play. Coming off a 5-3 win against Arroyo High School last week, the Tigers appeared to have clinched Wednesday’s game against Maranatha High School but lost focus in the final inning, resulting in a heartbreaking 8-5 loss.

South Pasadena came out aggressively on defense, but was shut out in the first two innings. The Tigers capitalized on Minutemen weakness in the third, with senior Cynthia Ream-Garcia, junior Chelsea Hong, and sophomore Cassie Baca all scoring. Baca and Ream-Garcia also scored in the fifth, stretching the Tigers’ lead to 5-0. However, with only three outs left in the game, Maranatha began to

pull off a miraculous comeback.

The Tigers lost their intensity, and crucial errors cost them the game.

Maranatha willingly capitalized on the mistakes and scored five runs to tie the score. South Pasadena could not muster a run with bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the seventh, forcing the game into extra innings.

The momentum shifted towards the Minutemen as they were gifted three more runs off of two more errors by South Pasadena. Maranatha then shut down the Tigers in the bottom of the eighth, resulting in joyous celebrations for the Minutemen. The dejected Tigers ended the game with six errors to Maranatha’s two.

“It was pretty bad and it stinks that we had the game and let it go with a couple of errors,” Baca said.

The loss brings softball’s record to 1-2, with the 5-3 win against Arroyo

High School the week as the Tigers’ only victory.

The Tigers open league against San Marino on Friday, and will have much to improve on before game day. South Pasadena will need to work on fielding in order to reduce the number of errors and continue to play aggressively in order to stay competitive against the favored Titans.

Although disappointed about yesterday’s results, head coach Mr. Ted Mureau is confident that his team will be able to bounce back.

“If we play our game on defense and pitching, we will be in it,” Mureau said.

8/31 SPHS v. Arroyo 5-3 W

3/13 SPHS v. Maranatha 8-5 L

Tennis finishes preseason with 2-2 record

By Brandon Kim Staff Writer After a shaky first match, the South Pasadena boys tennis team was able to clinch a 11-7 victory against Alhambra High School on March 7, bringing the squad to an even 2-2 record in preseason play. Even without senior captain Scott Richards and sophomore star Kartik Raju, the Tigers were able to win several sets and control the game.

In singles, senior captain Shyam Senthilkumar was able to win a pair of sets 7-6 and 6-0. Junior Derek Wang pounded his way to a 7-6 victory, and fellow junior Jason Wang claimed two sets, 6-0 each.

The doubles teams were even more successful against the Moors. The pair of senior David Liu and freshman Casey Corvino clinched two of their sets with 6-4 and 6-0 victories. Senior Roy Lee subbed in for Liu in the second set and the duo won a 6-4 victory. The pair of seniors David Kim and Matt Yeung was able to pull off a 7-5 win while the duo of senior Krishna Mocherla and freshman Sagar Raju dominated two of

Anastasia Velicescu

Freshman Sagar Raju returns a hit in South Pas’s match against the Moors. their sets 6-1 and 6-2.

In their previous match on March 4, the Tigers experienced a brutal 16-2 defeat at the hands of the Arcadia Apaches. The boys were soundly defeated in the singles matches but South Pas rebounded in doubles play. The team of Richards and Corvino was able to

win a set 6-3 and the other victory came from the duo of Mocherla and Raju, who won one set with a score of 6-2.

“This Arcadia team was very strong with no weak links. Overall, we were outplayed, but we managed to scrape some sets under our belt,” Richards said.

In the 2013 season, captains Senthilkumar, Richards, and Mocherla aim to bring a balanced squad to CIF. With a combination of experienced seniors and skilled underclassmen, the team is hoping to perform well against tough competition in the Rio Hondo League.

The Tigers will start league play on Friday against the San Marino Titans at home.

“We have a young team with great team spirit and great captains,” senior Abe Song said. “I am confident that we will have a memorable season.”

3/1 SPHS v.

Poly 14-4 L

3/4 SPHS v.

Arcadia 16-2 L

3/7 SPHS v.

Alhambra 11-7 W

Freshman Andrew Gregory will travel over 5,000 miles for the biggest try-out of his life next month. After a successful first season on the South Pasadena varsity soccer program, the fifteen-year-old will pursue his dream of playing professionally when he flies out to the Netherlands in April. If the freshman makes the cuts, he will live for a whole year in Holland training with the elite club AFC Ajax.

“If I do make the team in Holland, I’ll miss the high school squad but I know I can’t skip an opportunity like this,” Gregory said.

This adventurous trip isn’t the first time the talented freshman has played soccer overseas. Two years ago, Gregory trained with the Bolivia youth national team while staying with a host family for two weeks.

“The same coach who recommended the Bolivia trip also discussed with my dad the possibility of trying out in Holland,” Gregory said.

Gregory was the only freshman on South Pas’ varsity squad in the 2012-2013 season and solidified his role by working tirelessly on the right wing. Gregory’s only goal this season was an important one. With South Pas trailing against the Blair Vikings in the second half of a game that would guarantee the Tigers a CIF berth with a victory, Gregory pounced on a loose ball in the box and tied the game at 2-2. The goal sparked the Tigers into life and the boys went on to secure a 4-2 victory.

In addition to being a member of the high school team, Gregory plays for Golden State FC and is in the top division for his age group. The freshman also plays for the United States’ Olympic Development Program, which assists in scouting for the U.S. National team.

Gregory has prepared for his trip to Holland by leaving school and enrolling in a computer-based program. “ I t ’s n o t t o o b a d b e i n g h o m e schooled,” Gregory said. “I still get to see my friends after they’re done with school which is nice.”

If the try-out is unsuccessful, Gregory is contemplating a trial in Brazil although no set plans have been made.

“If I don’t make it in Holland then I will stay homeschooled for the remainder of the year and then come back and play my sophomore year,” Gregory said.

Although realistic about his chances, Gregory is confident in his abilities. After all, not many teenagers possess a résumé that would offer them a chance to play soccer halfway across the world. As they say in Dutch, “Veel succes,” Andrew.

Vo l l e y b a l l clinches sixth preseason victory

page 19 Anastasia Velicescu