Volume 112, Issue 1

Empowering students to think critically and creatively since 1913

VOLUME 112, ISSUE 1

SEPTEMBER 11, 2025

REBUILDING ALTADENA

Tiger examines the challenges Altadena is facing in its reconstruction following the Eaton Fire and the possible damages of gentrification. Page 7

PHISHING ATTACKS

Read how scammers compromised SPUSD accounts, what happened to a student who clicked the scam link, and how tech cleaned up. Pages 8–9

RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Tiger explores the recruitment process for high school athletes, spotlighting the difficulties they undergo for the chance to play at the collegiate level. Page 15

New staff join SPHS

STORY UMA CHAKRABORTY & GAVIN BARTOLOME PHOTOS LUCINDA ERNST

SPHS starts the new school year welcoming five new staff members in the Social Science, Physical Education, and World Language departments; as well as Alyssa de la Torre working in the attendance office and Stephanie Miller working in the counseling center as a substitute for Joyce Ku-Rodriguez on maternity leave.

Joseph Zelidon is excited to join SPHS staff as the new AP U.S. History teacher. Zelidon graduated from California State University, Los Angeles with a major in world history and a minor in Latin American history.

With three years of prior experience teaching history, his first year teaching at SPHS marks his fourth.

“Teaching has always stood out to me, ever since I was in high school,” Zelidon said. “I was going to work in the museum industry … but I quickly found out that the thing I like about working in museums is teaching people about history.”

Christa Kojima hopes to encourage students to try different sports as she joins SPHS for her first year teaching physical education. Kojima takes inspiration from her mom, who is also a teacher.

“I knew growing up that I always wanted to do something to help people,” Kojima said. “I started substitute teaching at my old school [and] started my teaching credential program, and then when I did my internship, that kind of confirmed … this was for me.”

Kojima has worked with children while obtaining her teaching degree. With this as her first year officially teaching, she feels ready and excited to get started.

“In physical education, you get a really wide range of skill abilities [and I] wanted to help the students who maybe aren’t into being as active [and give them] the opportunity to try things that [they] maybe haven’t before,” Kojima said.

Hannah Peng joins SPHS staff as a Chinese teacher, marking her third year of teaching.

Since she was a child, Peng has always been drawn to being a teacher.

“I have always enjoyed the idea of helping younger generations grow into their best selves … [for me] it’s a way to guide, encourage, and empower students to discover their potential,” Peng said.

Peng decided to teach Chinese because she is drawn to its rich language and culture. Beyond the curriculum, she hopes to foster new ambitions and talents in her students.

The deadline for sophomores and juniors to register for the PSAT is Friday, Sept. 12. The PSAT is on Saturday, Oct. 11.

“I feel grateful to be part of the South Pasadena community and excited to continue growing as an educator here,” Peng said. “My hope is that students leave my class not only with language skills, but also with an expanded worldview and the confidence to pursue new challenges.”

Joseph Ryan starts his first year as the English Language Development instructional assistant this year, assisting students who are developing their English language skills and aiming to support the classroom environments he enters to the best of his ability.

Ryan attended Biola University, and he taught fully up until 2024 before spending a year as a substitute teacher and finally becoming a teacher’s aide at SPHS.

“The students I encountered genuinely cared for their education, and also cared for one another,” Ryan said. “It is a lovely environment to learn in, and I am glad to be a part of it.”

Ryan enters the new school year hoping to provide all the assistance students need to succeed in their education.

“I have worked with special education, in low income to high income areas, and many different school subjects. I try to approach teaching with a mindset of making it accessible to everyone, regardless of your background,” Ryan said. “The greatest gift one can receive is an education, and I believe that wholeheartedly.”

COLLEGE REP VISITS

Representatives from various colleges and universities will visit SPHS during the week of September 15.

COLOR DAY

The annual Color Day assembly will take place on Friday, Oct. 3. The football game is at Monrovia at 7 p.m.

OPINION

The dangers of confiding in AI

STORY RUBY FOUDY ILLUSTRATION KRISTEL HOUNG

In 2023, over 49,000 people committed suicide, around one death every eleven minutes. Although there is still no official number yet, the suicide rates of 2024 and 2025 are predicted to have a similar trajectory. It is no secret that people are struggling, but there is currently no feasible way for everyone to access the help they need. The lack of mental health professionals, high prices of therapy, and general apprehension around opening up to another person are all roadblocks that can make mental health support inaccessible. One of the most common ways people have been getting this help is by confiding in AI, or more specifically, ChatGPT.

FEATURE

Love Island draws global attention

STORY EVELYN DIAZ & MIRIAM ELGHEFARI ILLUSTRATION DIANA LOPEZ

This summer, Peacock, an American streaming service operated by Comcast, brought viewers to Fiji with the newest season of Love Island USA. Known for its mix of romance, competition, and dramatic twists, the show remains among Peacock’s most popular series, drawing millions of viewers around the world. Contestants from all over America fly to Fiji with the hopes of finding love, forming connections, and winning a cash prize within a six-week period. With its addictive combination of charm, rivalry, and emotion, Love Island dominated streaming charts and social media conversations alike with the introduction of “fan voting” for contestants.

The season kicked off with a lively mix of new contestants, each bringing unique personalities and strategies to the villa.

See full article on Page 12

Clockwise from top left: Joseph Zelidon, history; Christa Kojima, PE; Joseph Ryan, ELD; Hannah Peng, Chinese; Alyssa de la Torre, attendance office New staff fill positions left by Maryann Nielsen and Emily Chiang’s 2024–25 retirements.

STORY OWEN HOU & MAXINE MESSINEO

PHOTO EMIKO ESSMILLER

South Pasadena High School’s annual Club Rush from Wednesday, Sept. 10 to Thursday, Sept. 11 features over a total of 50 clubs. Club Rush allows students to explore the wide range of clubs available to them, helping students to enhance their educational experience and find their personal interests.

Science Club, Literature Club, United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), and Asian Pacific Islander Student Union (APISU) are just a few of the many clubs SPHS has to offer.

Science Club focuses on STEM topics that go beyond topics SPHS science classes teach, such as Astronomy or Entomology, the study of insects. They also host activities to educate younger children on different scientific topics to attempt to further garner interest in the future. The club meets for lectures and activities every Friday in room 912, and meetings include student-led lectures and out-of-school activities such as a lab tour at the California Institute of Technology and Girls in STEM at the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens.

“Last year, [Science Club] hosted an activity in the cafeteria that was meant for elementary to middle school kids to experience different things … to teach them a little bit about the different types of science,” senior Wings Zhang, the president of Science Club, said.

Literature Club is a welcoming space for anyone who loves to read, write, or study works of literature. The club meets every Thursday during lunch in room 121. It teaches different genres, including romance, horror, and queer literature. Screenwriting — the writing form for entertainments like movies and television shows — is also taught in Literature Club.

“We are also going to focus more on individual works of writing instead of focusing on [a specific] genre [each] single month,” sophomore Joanna Lin, the secretary of Literature Club, said.

A look into this year’s returning school clubs

SPHS hosts more than 100 clubs that enrich students’ academics and personal hobbies.

The UNICEF Club aids students through providing volunteer hours and new experiences. Club meetings occur on Mondays every two weeks and are located in room 213. UNICEF provides chances for students to manage and participate in fundraising events. The oncampus club is part of the larger nonprofit that globally protects children’s rights and their futures through humanitarian and developmental aid.

APISU focuses on heritage, culture, and the celebration of tradition. Meeting in room 512 every other Wednesday, the club plans events and brainstorms ways for

students to interact with their community and immerse themselves in Asian Culture.

“People should join APISU, even if you’re not Asian,” senior Vice President Isabelle Huang said. “You can always join and just have fun connecting with the API community and partaking in events and volunteering.”

The wide range of clubs SPHS has to offer can help students with their academic journey by providing a way to explore topics and ideas beyond what a traditional school curriculum offers.

Tiger Den opens for 2025–26 school year

STORY EVELYN DIAZ & MIRIAM ELGHEFARI

PHOTO MAC SHROPSHIRE

The Tiger Den officially opened to SPHS students on the first day of school, Wednesday, Aug. 13, offering extra space for students to work. This new area in the school library offers students a fresh, flexible area to gather and study in.

The word wall towards the back of the den features phrases tied to the high school’s mission and vision, standing as a point of pride.

The entryway arch, which was designed by professional muralist Miriam Hellman, incorporates architectural details from all around campus.

The project involved the contributions from parents, district staff, and a generous anonymous donor who helped fund furniture and the den’s finishing touches.

“There’s all these people that are heavily invested in the outcome [of the Tiger Den] and making sure it’s the very best that we can provide for our students,” Principal John Eldred said.

The Tiger Den is designed to provide a safe, welcoming environment for students who may not have previously had a place to go.

“We’ve got [the] Wellness Center, we’ve got benches, we’ve got spaces all over campus. But some kids don’t have a space,” Eldred said. “That’s my primary goal: creating a space for kids that need one.”

Eldred additionally sees the place as somewhere students can go to collaborate and do presentations.

“So if you want to do presentations, or a teacher wants to do a lesson, we’ve got all the desks, kids can sit down and, boom, it’s right there,” Eldred said.

In future updates of the Tiger Den, there may be upcoming technology upgrades, such as a large TV that can be cast on from a Chromebook, along with a “juice bar” around the central pillar in the den where students can charge their devices, ensuring the space is both practical and convenient.

The opening of the Tiger Den has additionally influenced the rest of the library. While some areas, such as the

nonfiction reference section, were reduced, the library has become more flexible and student-friendly.

The number of desktops has been decreased, and new seating areas encourage both collaborative and individual work.

Despite the changes, students continue to check out books at a high rate, particularly the fiction genre.

“Our students are pretty savvy. They’re pretty smart and they’re pretty good at figuring out what works best for them,” Eldred said. “I have every confidence that kids will be able to utilize [the] space in the way that best benefits them.”

The new Tiger Den area has seen various students since its opening. They can be seen doing homework, talking with friends, or reading books. So far, the Tiger Den is expected to be a helpful space for students at SPHS.

“It’s gratifying to have this space finally available to students after it being sort of off-limits while we were doing construction,” Eldred said. “It’s nice to be able to finally have an extra space for kids on campus.”

Tiger Den.

Club Rush grants clubs the opportunity to advertise themselves and gain new members. Photo taken during 2024–25 Club Rush.

Librarian Maida Wong retires from public library

Wong spent most of her career in the Children’s Services and gave students the opportunity to learn work skills.

STORY CLAIRE MAO & ELLIE SONG

PHOTOS SEBASTIAN GUTIERREZ & CATHY BILLINGS, Contributor

M

aida Wong concluded her time at the South Pasadena Public Library on Aug. 1. Working at the library since 1998, Wong has increased positivity at the South Pasadena Public Library by introducing new books to numerous individuals who visit the library and assisting other librarians.

“I feel grateful that I found something that I enjoyed, would be a challenge in the diversity of activities each day, and that I could make a difference by connecting people to the information they needed,” Wong said.

Wong learned how preschool teachers shared stories with children before her time at the South Pasadena’s public library.

“That led to my interest in children’s books and a children’s literature class at the local college, which led to an internship at the local public library,” Wong said.

Wong originally started her career as a librarian in Los Angeles before working at South Pasadena Public Library.

“I was interested in working at a small community library,” Wong said. “South Pasadena had a reputation for having a long history of support for their library. Although I would miss the resources of the large system [County of Los Angeles Public Library], where I [was] working, I was intrigued by the prospect of autonomy that would enable me to be creative in providing services.”

Wong planned library programs that aided student growth at South Pasadena Public Library. During her 37 years with the library, Wong contributed to differing areas of the library. Wong additionally aided the library through space, money, and staff.

highlight of Maida Wong’s time at the library included the encounters with students, especially those at South Pasadena High School.

She spent most of her career in the Children’s Services, where her main goal was to encourage reading among children and hope to instill the belief of reading as a fun activity. Wong gave high school students an opportunity to help out in the library and learn work skills to aid them in work experience and in building skill sets for the future.

Wong now plans on taking a year to decide what she wants to do after her retirement from South Pasadena’s public library.

Wong started planning international trips with her family, binge-watching shows, reading and listening to audiobooks, as well as spending time with her dog since her retirement.

She plans on doing activities that she never had time to do when she was working as a librarian.

“It is definitely a mix of feelings to leave, but I’m looking forward to the next adventure,” Wong said. “Though it may sound corny, I really believe that reading opens minds to different worlds and experiences. I hope everyone finds their way to engage through reading. Thank you for the opportunity, I appreciate being able to meet and work with so many interesting and kind people.”

A

Librarian Maida Wong has worked at the South Pasadena Public library for 37 years.

The closure of stores is impacting the community

Local retailers are closing down due to rising prices and fewer customers.

Rite Aid closure lengthens trips to nearby pharmacies

STORY JULIA GILDERSLEEVE & KHLOE YUEN

PHOTO HELENA EASTERBY

S outh Pasadena residents are experiencing changes after the closure of Rite Aid on Fair Oaks Avenue. Since 1996, Rite Aid has provided the town with prescriptions, personal care products, and food such as Thrifty Ice Cream, drinks, and snacks.

The store has initiated events throughout California, including a youth mental health program established in May 2023, which helped teens and children. The program, being a public charity called Healthy Futures, raised funds to support activities within communities.

Healthy Futures has focused on the health and wellness of the neighborhood. The charity has three national partners and 371 neighborhood grantees as per the Healthy Futures website. However, not long after, Rite Aid filed its first bankruptcy in October 2023.

“ ”

Rite Aid was a great central drugstore. The Thrifty ice cream was really good.

Olivia Hanway, sixth grader

Rite Aid’s pharmacy shut its doors on Thursday, July 31. The store’s full closure followed on Sunday, August 24. In 2019, Rite Aid was accused of packaging products containing opioids like fentanyl and oxycodone, leading to its bankruptcy in 2023. Since the accusation six years ago, Rite Aid’s sales have declined. Due to the company’s rocky financial status, Rite Aid’s ability to restock its shelves with quality products was restricted, further contributing to its declining sales.

Rite Aid, a retail drugstore chain, closes its doors after 29 years in South Pasadena.

Rite Aid’s struggles with competition and shifting consumer habits led to its decline, leaving South Pasadena residents to find another pharmacy. Once considered a convenient stop for prescriptions, affordable products, and personal care items, Rite Aid began losing customers to competitors such as CVS and Walgreens.

Rite Aid lost its distinctive appeal in South Pasadena, and many customers found that their off-brand products were undesirable. Customers started to shop

at more popular and well-known makeup stores instead of Rite Aid, decreasing their sales further.

The closure of Rite Aid affected both parents and students throughout the district.

“It’s made it harder for me because I have to drive farther away to get my medications and have to go to farther grocery stores that aren’t as close to my house to buy snacks,” freshman Berit Beebe Read said.

Claire’s, a Santa Anita mall staple, set to close 290 stores

South Pasadena Middle School sixth grader Madeline Kendall said.

Online stores like these produce products quickly and cheaply, ensuring they can keep up with trends. Though many find these online shops to be problematic with their poor quality goods and sources of labor, Claire’s has generally upheld a reputation of being a staple for kids to find accessories and a reliable place to get ears pierced.

“[Claire’s] was a good ear piercing [place] and [it had] good service,” Kendall said. “I have a lot of cute earrings I got there. One of my favorite pairs are pop tarts and they’re adorable.”

The preteens and teenagers that Claire’s used to cater to are often chronically online and are exposed to ads for stores that can keep up with the maturing market and videos on products such as makeup and jewelry that come from competing stores. Claire’s sells jewelry that is now less likely to appeal to the consumers they aim to attract, though some in the community will miss the store for its appealing products for children.

Claire’s represented a small part of my childhood. I’m really sad it’s closing. “ ”

Madeline

Kendall,

sixth grader

Claire’s is leaving a gap in the retail business for preteens. Once a store known for earrings, hair accessories, and ear piercings, Claire’s is now going out of business. With its closure, families are finding fewer options tailored to styles for children in recent times.

Claire’s is a nostalgic place for many. Memories of the store include getting one’s ears pierced for the first time or getting one’s first piece of jewelry.

“When I got my ears pierced, I got a few free packs of earrings, and it was a really memorable experience,”

The company reached success quickly during the 1990s and 2000s. At its peak, Claire’s made over $1 billion in annual revenue. Now that they have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, which is typically used to help a business reorganize, Claire’s is set to close over 290 stores, in debt $500 million.

A rise in new competitors contributed to the financial struggles Claire’s faced. Customers turned to other wellknown retailers, such as Nordstrom or Saks Off 5th. Several new, cheap, foreign retailers, such as Temu and Shein, only added to the problem.

“I loved to go to Claire’s at the mall [and] I remember it being difficult to choose just one item. I was really sad when I realized it was closing,” an anonymous middle schooler said.

Claire’s is currently set to close over 20 stores in Southern California, including locations in Oxnard, Long Beach, Newport Beach, and San Jose. While around 290 stores are set to close, many stores will remain open, and once the company restructures itself after filing for bankruptcy, they may reopen stores after initial closures. For now, the company will continue to downsize in an effort to preserve the brand and recover from the financial difficulties.

The closure of Claire’s impacts the shopping style of young children. STORY MAXINE MESSINEO PHOTO HELENA EASTERBY

THE TIGER

ESTABLISHED 1913

NSPA FIRST CLASS 2024

CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2023

CSPA SILVER CROWN 2022

CSPA SILVER CROWN 2021

CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2019

CSPA SILVER CROWN 2018

CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2017

CSPA CROWN AWARD 2016

CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2015

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

SONYA SHIMPOCK

MANAGING EDITORS ZOE CHEN, Print

EMIKO ESSMILLER, Online

NEWS

CLAIRE MAO, Editor

OPINION

RAFA ESTOLANO-SRIDHARAN, Editor

FEATURE

RUBY FOUDY, Editor

SPORTS GAVIN BARTOLOME, Editor

DESIGN

OLIVIA CHIN, Editor

LANAH KIM, Editor

PHOTOGRAPHY

HELENA EASTERBY, Editor

COPY

OWEN HOU, Editor

SOLANA SINGER, Editor

STAFF WRITERS

UMA CHAKRABORTY EVELYN DIAZ

MIRIAM ELGHEFARI

JULIA GILDERSLEEVE

HARRIET GODSON

LEIGHTON KWOK

ANNA MCDONNELL

MAXINE MESSINEO ELLIE SONG KHLOE YUEN

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS

LUCINDA ERNST

SEBASTIAN GUTIERREZ

MAC SHROPSHIRE

STAFF ILLUSTRATORS

KRISTEL HOUNG

DIANA LOPEZ

JAYDEN ZUMBA

PAGE DESIGNERS GABBY FERRI PAISLEY PARK

ALISON SCHRADER

VIDEOGRAPHER

THEO THOMPSON

BUSINESS AND ADS MANAGER

PASCALE WILLIAMS

SOCIAL MEDIA SPECIALIST

ISABELLA JONASEN

FACULTY ADVISOR KAREN HAMES

VOL. 112 NO. 1 DISTRIBUTED ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2025.

DISTRIBUTION: 1460 STUDENTS; 70 COMMUNITY. 1200

COPIES PRINTED. DISTRIBUTED BY TIGER STAFF FREE OF CHARGE.

TIGER IS PRODUCED BY THE ADVANCED JOURNALISM NEWSPAPER CLASS AT SOUTH PASADENA HIGH SCHOOL, 1401 FREMONT AVE, SOUTH PASADENA, CA 91030. LAYOUT AND PHOTO IMAGING ARE COMPLETED ON-SITE.

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TIGER’S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE A RELIABLE NEWS OUTLET FOR SPHS AND THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. THROUGH A VARIETY OF COVERAGE, TIGER EMPOWERS/ENABLES STUDENTS TO THINK CRITICALLY AND CREATIVELY, COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY, SOLVE PROBLEMS, SET AND REACH GOALS, AND WORK COOPERATIVELY AND INDEPENDENTLY AS RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS. TIGER IS A FORUM FOR STUDENT FREE SPEECH, IN ACCORDANCE WITH CALIFORNIA ED CODE 48907.

ALL REMAINING CURRENT TIGER NEWSPAPER POLICIES ARE ONLINE AT TIGERNEWSPAPER.COM INCLUDING: CONFLICT OF INTEREST, LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, CORRECTIONS, AND SOCIAL MEDIA.

STAFF EDITORIAL

OPINION

SAT accommodations often abused

SAT accommodations are vital to those who need them, but problems arise when others abuse them.

As countless upperclassmen gear up to take the SAT this year, some are also applying for test accommodations. The College Board offers a variety of accommodations for students with a documented disability, including extended time, test breaks, and a range of other adjustments. While these accommodations are crucial for those who need them, they become a problem when exploited by those who do not in order to gain an unfair testing advantage. This issue came into the limelight during a 2019 college admissions scandal in which wealthy parents, among other things, secured test accommodations for their children by faking different learning disabilities.

Test accommodations are provided to those who have a documented physical or mental disability, such as diabetes, cerebral palsy, dyslexia, or ADHD. Documentation can be in the form of a psychoeducational evaluation or a doctor’s report, depending on the disability and requested accommodations.

To get accommodations, students can apply through their school or directly through the College Board. Students are required to provide documented proof of a disability, a history of treatment and previous accommodations at their current school, and a description of why they need the accommodations they are applying for. A teacher survey is also required to confirm the student has needed accommodations prior to the relevant exam.

While most students who are given these accommodations need the extra support, there is a growing number of students and parents that are abusing the right to these special arrangements. Wealthy and influential families have been known to manipulate the system to increase their children’s chance of admission to elite institutions. Affluent families are able to do this by seeking out private evaluations that often cost thousands of dollars. These assessments usually diagnose conditions like ADHD or dyslexia, both of which qualify students for extended time on the SAT that they normally would not be able to get.

In 2019, a host of wealthy and famous parents, including Lori Loughlin, who rose to fame on Full House, and Felicity Huffman of Desperate Housewives, were accused of taking part in a scheme to get their children into elite colleges through cheating, bribery, and fraud in an FBI investigation dubbed Operation Varsity Blues. Part of the scheme involved securing a false diagnosis in order to secure unnecessary accommodations on standardized tests for their children. This scandal focused attention on the fact that wealthy students are much more likely to obtain accommodations for the SAT because their parents can pay their way to a diagnosis. An analysis by the Wall Street Journal found that in wealthy high schools, 4.2 percent of students are eligible for accommodations, while at low-income schools, only 1.6 percent are eligible.

Not only does this discredit the concept of standardized testing by giving a select few an unfair edge and propagating the idea that tests like the SAT are overrun with cheaters, but it also creates a significant problem moving forward for lower-income individuals who truly need accommodations. Lower-income students with conditions that qualify them for accommodations already struggle with getting the resources they need to get diagnosed. Now, even if they get these accommodations, they will likely face undue scrutiny due to the dishonesty of other people. This also creates a considerable challenge for students who receive high scores based on merit, but now have to compete with students who cheated their way to the top in college admissions.

The importance of test accommodations for those who need them cannot be understated, but as past incidents have demonstrated, there is potential for widespread abuse. Accommodation seekers who have no history of learning challenges or other conditions should face more scrutiny, while those who do need them should be afforded more time and aid when applying for accommodations. The accommodations process must be reformed so that it is kinder to those who truly need them, but also dismissive of those who do not.

Tiger’s cheers and jeers for the month of September

BOO to Kendra. Take your meds, not your psychiatrist.

BOO to Sigmund Freud. Don’t project your mommy issues on me.

BOO to Trump’s 3-day disappearance. Getting my hopes up for what?

BOO to 7th period. Free me.

BOO to studying. I didn’t want to pass that test anyways.

BRAVO to Boos. I love being a hater.

BRAVO to Nutter Butter’s tiktok intern. Just remember, the number is 988.

BRAVO to the Crumbl Cookie CEO. The closet was glass. BRAVO to the PSL. Unlocking my true white girl potential.

BRAVO to Sabrina’s Tears video. The Lord sure did not forget my gay awakening.

Boos & Bravos

BRAVOS

BOOS

Sabrina, Sydney, and selective outrage

Women do not owe society role model behavior, so policing expression using feminism as an excuse must stop.

STORY ANNA MCDONELL & SONYA SHIMPOCK ILLUSTRATIONS JAYDEN ZUMBA

I

n early 2024, Calvin Klein’s campaign starring Jeremy Allen White was released and greeted with nearunanimous enthusiasm: for almost a minute, the Emmy award-winning actor climbed over a rooftop wearing nothing but a pair of white briefs and sneakers, lounging across a couch in between gratuitous shots of his lower body. Social media exploded in a straightforward embrace of White’s sexualized image, and the ad soon racked up millions of views.

About a year and a half later, actress Sydney Sweeney released a limited-edition Dr. Squatch soap bar made with her own bathwater. This time around, the public’s response skewed toward moral panic, even though the soap sold out within minutes. The wave of concern for propriety continued when singer Sabrina Carpenter teased the cover for her upcoming album “Man’s Best

Friend” days later, which featured Carpenter posed on all fours in a black dress, hair held in the fist of a man mostly off-screen. Critics claimed the album cover had a blatant disregard for both feminism and faith, prompting Carpenter to release a “God-approved” version that was less suggestive.

The difference in reception to these advertisements was clear: White’s ad was cheeky, Carpenter’s and Sweeney’s products were social problems.

When men participate in sexualized advertising or art, they are lauded for their confidence and charisma. When women do the same, their dignity, morality, and intelligence is questioned. This critique is often masked as a cultural or feminist concern, but is at its core an attempt to manipulate the choices women make about their bodies and their work.

Feminism is about agency, not control. Women must be allowed to make decisions about their bodies, labor, and lives without being forced to capitulate to consumer “sensibilities.”

Sexual imagery has been an essential aspect of entertainment and advertising for decades. The ethical dilemma is not whether this style of advertising should be “allowed,” but rather whether it is based on coercion and dehumanization instead of consent and authorship. When women are treated as objects for someone else’s gratification without power over the terms, that is exploitation — when the woman at the center sets the terms, that is expression.

The public routinely grants male artists and athletes the presumption that they are strategists of their own image. White’s Calvin Klein ad, for example, was interpreted as a strategic career move: an opportunity to branch out of Hollywood and into the fashion world.

Women are not extended this same benefit of the doubt. Where men are praised for sexual boldness, women are penalized. This narrative narrows the range of acceptable self-presentation for women and burdens individual choices with the responsibility to represent an entire gender.

Assuming that a woman forfeits her self-respect by presenting herself sexually enforces a binary where women are either “virtuous” or “fallen” based on their appearance; a binary that in no way aligns with the “feminist ideals” that critics preach in defense of. Instead of assessing intent and effect, the public’s reflexive outrage to women participating in sexually suggestive marketing decisions defaults to character judgements that have long been used to police women’s images. A consistent standard of evaluation should celebrate or critique sexualized imagery on the merits of its artistry, coherence, and effect — and be applied to every artist, regardless of gender.

The dangers of confiding in artificial intelligence

STORY RUBY FOUDY

ILLUSTRATION

KRISTEL HOUNG

Continued from Page 1

Although sharing one’s struggles with ChatGPT seems like an easy, quick fix, it can be extremely dangerous and lead to devastating consequences.

ChatGPT is an ever-present force in today’s world: from drafting an email to donning the role of makeshift therapist, it is used for anything and everything. However, the greatest problem lies in the latter. ChatGPT is an impressive, ever-evolving tool, but generative AI is meant to answer questions and write essays, not fill in the role of a mental health professional. Dangerous or life-threatening

I’m applying to McGill. For those of you who haven’t started the college search process, or for those of you who have little to no knowledge of Canada at all (I’ve clocked myself), McGill is a Canadian university located in Montreal.

In 2019, I liked to joke that I was going to move to Canada and abandon my American roots. Abroad, when asked where I was from, I’d lie and say Vancouver, then pronounce “about” like “aboot” to get into character. At first, that was all it was — a joke. Things were dire,

situations — where a user expresses the desire to hurt or kill themself — are something it is simply not equipped to handle. Additionally, although ChatGPT has installed safeguards surrounding its user’s safety, they can be easily circumvented.

ChatGPT is programmed to discourage behaviors that threaten the user’s safety, like self-harm, and encourage them to seek professional, real-world support when they express suicidal intent. However, in long conversations where the AI is being treated like a therapist or trained listener, the model’s safety features begin to degrade.

There have been multiple instances of people, mostly young adults and teens, who after talking about commiting suicide to ChatGPT for extensive amounts of

sure, but I was a proud American citizen; I put my hand over my heart during the national anthem and everything. But the deeper we get into Trump’s second term, the more embarrassed I become of my country. Please do not misinterpret this as a failure to acknowledge my privilege: I was incredibly lucky to be born in the United States. This is a country of freedom and opportunity, which is why I am so distressed to see its key morals and principles mangled by a government seemingly incapable of rational thought or empathy.

In a moment of sheer frustration a few months ago, I decided I would submit an application to McGill. I had an entire fantasy: I’d move to Canada for college, buy a cheap apartment in Montreal, marry a Canadian woman, and then — after five years of permanent residency — become a Canadian citizen. I’d keep NYT alerts on my phone just to laugh at the struggles of Americans under Trump’s fifth term, safe in my cozy Canadian apartment with a Tim Hortons latte and a framed photo of Justin Trudeau over my mantel (I would throw away my pretend Canadian marriage for one shot with Justin Trudeau).

Unfortunately, I cannot bring myself to truly solidify plans to permanently escape the United States. There’s a quote

time, followed through with the AI’s help. Adam Raine, a 16-year-old boy, committed suicide in April 2025 with the help of ChatGPT. In extensive conversations with the AI, Raine asked for suicide methods and tips in executing those methods through the guise of fictional writing, and ChatGPT supplied them. The active role ChatGPT played in his death is alarming and only proves the dangers of confiding in it.

The fact that ChatGPT has easily surpassable safeguards is extremely hazardous, but fortunately, there are other alternatives. Some non-generative AI chatbots are specifically designed to be mental health resources, with more advanced and strictly regulated safety protocols. One model in particular, Woebot, stands out among others.

Woebot is developed to operate as a supplement to regular therapy, so the user does not become completely dependent on the AI. Unlike ChatGPT, which is generative, Woebot has specific coding regarding its responses and a limited range of responses. It was recently shut down due to regulatory and business factors, but it still serves as an example of how an ideal mental health chatbot should operate.

The way ChatGPT handles mental health issues is hugely concerning and dangerous, but hopefully, with the surge of new, mental-health-specific chatbots like Woebot, those who use ChatGPT as a therapist will shift to safer options.

that defines this feeling: “When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty.” As wonderful as it sounds to abscond across the border to maple syrup and a country that somehow outsourced Elon Musk to us, we have a duty to the United States.

I have a complicated relationship with patriotism. I can name more Avengers than presidents, and I’m still not 100 percent on the electoral college, but the reason I’m so outraged about the state of this country is because I love this country. The United States is by no means perfect; we have a bloody, deeply flawed history, but at least we used to have a purpose and a vision. We cannot allow decades of progress and activism to be erased while idly standing by.

As high school students, it’s easy to feel small — but small is not the same as powerless. Volunteer, educate yourself, advocate for others who can’t speak up for themselves, preregister, then vote! Refuse to back down.

It seems hopeless, but the answer (no matter how much I wish it was) is not running away to Canada. It’s staying here and fighting for what we know this country could be. I’m still going to be applying to McGill, but Canada isn’t going to be my home.

Altadena begins to rebuild despite barriers

Big businesses are purchasing land in Altadena — with devastating consequences.

STORY MIRIAM ELGHEFARI & OWEN HOU ILLUSTRATION LANAH KIM

In early 2025, the LA wildfires tore through Altadena and the Palisades, uprooting lives and ravaging over 57,000 acres. The Eaton Fire hit close to South Pasadena, igniting in the hills above Altadena on the evening of Jan. 7.

From there, infernos blew into the foothill communities below, where they consumed homes, lives, and infrastructure. The aftermath was devastating, with 19 dead, over 9,000 buildings gone, and irreversible damage to the Altadena community.

However, the impacts go beyond physical damage. Aside from homes, businesses, and landmarks, other cultural hotspots were torched and permanently lost. Vulnerable people — such as the elderly and financially unstable — faced major barriers to recovery such as financial issues and predatory property scams, which targeted desperate homeowners with unlawful, below-market offers on damaged properties. However, one group was especially impacted by the fires: Altadena’s Black community.

In the 1960s, Altadena’s population was far different that what it is now. With a majority white population due to redlining, a practice where financial aid services were denied in specific neighborhoods due to ethnicity, few minorities were able to afford housing in Altadena.

After the Civil Rights Movement however, these discriminatory policies no longer were enforceable, allowing people of color to move into newly accessible housing. What followed was the emergence of one of LA’s first Black middle-class communities.

Although the January neighborhood in 2025 did not have as many Black residents as it did during its peak, Altadena still remained as not only a pillar of Black culture, but also one of the most diverse neighborhoods in Los Angeles. Even so, prior to the fires, Altadena was already significantly impacted by gentrification, displacing long-standing Black residents and eroding culture through rising housing costs and expensive development.

With the destruction of the fires, many of these previously built structures and homes are now gone, and the risk of this rich history being erased is now greater than ever.

Now, as a result of the Eaton Fire, small areas of land where homes previously stood are barren. These small areas, or “lots”, are perfect for large real estate businesses hoping to purchase land — and not always for a good reason. Many real estate companies hope to purchase these lots

with the intention of building large-scale developments and capitalizing on the devastation. Although helpful for residents who are in dire need of financial support, the selling of these lots will result in the creation of lifeless, multi-story buildings and retail stores. This process also prices Altadena residents out of the area, because as a result of these big companies acquiring land in small neighborhoods, other homes will become significantly more expensive due to less land available and competition between sellers.

The true life of Altadena is carried through its history. Real estate developers, especially those who intend to build on land where unique homes once stood, will destroy Altadena’s charm. Altadena’s long-standing communities of color will lose their existing communities that stand as a reflection of Altadena’s beautiful past.

Many relief groups are working tirelessly to provide aid. Among these groups is My Tribe Rise (MTR), a Black-owned nonprofit based out of Altadena. Owned by Heavenly

Hughes and Victor H, the nonprofit works with local Altadena residents to help those affected to find their footing. According to their website, MTR “creates programs that meet the immediate needs of working-class, elderly, and disabled Black residents in Altadena and Pasadena.” MTR has assisted Altadena residents in times of trouble for years, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. After the Eaton Fire, they worked with residents to clean debris and recover personal belongings.

“We are the community, we are the culture of Altadena, we are the people of Altadena. And we’re not going to get erased,” Hughes said in an interview with the LA Times. It is the hope of Altadena residents that friends and families will be able to recover from this tragedy. However, it will be extremely difficult to rebuild alongside businesses hoping to capitalize from this loss. By educating families and friends, donating to aid and relief groups, and directly volunteering with organizations, everyone can help Altadena families to heal, one by one.

The performative man epidemic and male desperation

STORY ISABELLA JONASEN & LEIGHTON KWOK

PHOTO HELENA EASTERBY

The performative male archetype, widespread across social media, has been taking over the social space. Put simply, a performative male is a man who calculates what he believes women want in a man and, with self-serving intent, attempts to embody that completely.

Performative men can be seen wearing baby tees, treating their astrological birth chart as the gospel, listening to Beabadoobee, or swearing up and down that they read feminist literature. These are some of the many traits these men believe women connect with, relate to, and want in a man.

As look-alike contests continue to prosper worldwide, their range of themes has expanded into more and more niche territory. The self-explanatory Timothée Chalamet look-alike contests are beginning to evolve into broader, more abstract social media terms and aesthetics. These contests have never been all that serious; rather, they have been considered a novel bucket list item that one might bring up whilst suffering through especially dry small talk. The new “it” event, performative male contests, is used as a way to create a bit of spectacle online as well as to convince the people who live in Reddit threads to dress up and go out to a park for a chance to win a tiny prize.

Initially, this was a simple, lighthearted joke on social media, but it represents a much larger issue of how the media has begun to unintentionally normalize this behavior behind the veil of a silly contest.

Performative men balk at the idea of toxic masculinity, meaning aggressive behavior, dominance, and emotional suppression. In fact, they aim to embody the exact opposite traits. Cursing period cramps, stating Clairo is their number one artist on Spotify, and extolling the works of bell hooks, they cultivate a facade of sensitivity, empathy, and consistency. These ideals are created by pretending to understand

women’s issues that they may not fully grasp. Performative men embody a fake personality to please an audience. These personas create relationships between men and women that are built on illusions predicated on preconceived notions of what a woman wants.

Personalities tailored just for the female gaze produce a neverending problem of what is real and what is just an “aesthetic” more curated than the museums performative men pretend to go to.

Because of the widespread influence of social media, it is more common to see men engaging in conversations about feminism, equality, and emotional intelligence. As of now, men feel like it is a cool trend they can just “hop on.” On the surface, it seems like a win for the future, and in many ways, it is. But when engaging in conversations that become more performative than genuine, these men risk drowning out the very voices they are trying to boost.

Women’s empowerment has been a sore subject when it comes to performative men. They tend to believe that reading one Jane Austen novel will tell them all they need to know about women. In group discussions, these men are more likely to speak over women who try to voice their own opinions because they think they know better. This ultimately suppresses and undermines the thoughts and opinions of women. When men try to relate to women despite having limited knowledge of the female experience, they can unintentionally silence women’s voices and experiences.

There is nothing wrong with men enjoying things that are deemed feminine — go get that matcha, matcha lovers. However, it becomes an issue when there is an ulterior motive. Namely, trying to attract women through false personality traits. And sometimes, it actually works, which is why performative men are dangerous. This is more than a funny meme or silly competition, but rather an overlooked version of sexism that needs to be stopped.

Matcha

What really happened during the

Tiger talked to the district director of technology and a student who clicked the scam link; collected screenshots a monitored email address in hopes of getting a response from the scammer. This spread is Tiger’s summary

STORY UMA CHAKRABORTY, ZOE CHEN, JULIA GILDERSLEEVE, MAXINE MESSINEO, & ELLIE SONG

Basic overview of the phishing attacks

Over the summer, on Wednesday, July 2, a suspicious email posing as if it were from Principal John Eldred was sent out to SPHS teachers requesting email credentials, including their username and password. Some teachers entered their information, compromising their accounts.

Scammers used the teachers’ email credentials to log onto those teacher accounts. The same scammers then sent “paid internship” phishing emails from those accounts to SPHS students. The student phishing emails included a link to “enroll” in the paid internship, which when clicked brought students to a Google Script, usually used for Google-integrated business applications, asking for personal information.

Since students received the “paid internship” emails from legitimate SPUSD accounts, some believed the emails to be legitimate internship opportunities. This led to at least one student providing phishers with their personal information. That same student received a phone call from the scammers that attempted to secure banking information.

The district’s technology department was notified immediately about the issue and the phishing emails were erased from all student and teacher accounts.

The three articles below detail the scammers’ entry into SPUSD teacher accounts, the technology department’s clean up process, and the experience of one student who provided her information to the phishers.

Compromised teacher accounts

On the afternoon of July 2, two emails were sent to SPHS and select SPMS teachers. One was sent under the principal’s name, John Eldred’s, and another under former superintendent Geoff Yantz’s, but neither had sent the emails. Instead, a scammer had created email addresses that mimicked those of Eldred and Yantz. The scammer claimed to be those individuals in an attempt to trick email recipients into willingly giving up personal information.

The teacher emails included a link that requested the teachers’ email addresses and passwords for “financial reasons.” The emails were well written but contained key identifiers of scam emails, including a different district’s name within the email. Still, multiple teachers were tricked into giving the scammer their account login information.

In an interview with SPUSD Director of Technology Derek Aoki, he said, “In a computer network, you have your firewall, but there’s a human firewall. If your human firewall fails, then you’re penetrated, and it’s a weak point. You’re only as good as your weakest point.”

The scammer used the login information that teachers had given up to log into those teachers’ accounts. From the teacher accounts, scammers accessed SPUSD email lists and blasted students with similarly convincing phishing emails about a paid internship. The phishing emails sent to students were actually sent from legitimate SPUSD accounts, whereas the emails sent to teachers came from outside the district but had been forged to look genuine.

The scammer or group of scammers was never caught due to the use of VPNs to hop countries. A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, creates a private way to exist on the internet by hiding one’s IP address and protecting their data by encrypting internet traffic, directing it to a private server, and then sending it out to the internet. This is why catching a scammer may be difficult; if the scammer used a VPN,

then they may not be in the country, and they are practically untraceable due to their IP address being kept private.

The SPUSD system raises a red flag whenever an account is logged into from outside of the United States. However, the scammers evaded this system using their VPNs, resulting in the district not receiving an immediate alert of the fraudulent logins.

SPUSD was not the only district that this group of scammers targeted with phishing emails. San Marino Unified School District and San Gabriel Unified School District and, per Aoki, likely every other district in the area, were also sent identical emails by the same scammer or group of scammers containing the same link to the “paid internship” Google Script.

How did district

People who work in the district technology office were alerted to the first wave of phishing emails, sent to teachers, around 5 p.m. on July 2, the day the emails were sent. A few teachers, wary of the phishing emails, alerted SPUSD’s Human Resources team, and upon the teachers’ alerts, HR notified the technology department. The tech department is fully staffed over the summer.

SPUSD pays for the Plus Edition of Google for Education, which among other things is the tool used to protect student SPUSD email addresses from receiving emails from outside of the district. The tech department staff, working from home for the night until they could meet in person in the office the next morning, used tools in the Plus Edition to immediately recall and delete all of the emails sent to teachers from outside of the district.

“It’s no fault of anyone. People fall for phishing all the time, because phishers are getting really good, and sometimes you’re just in a hurry to get through your inbox,” Aoki said. “We’re going to try to move forward and train and reinforce the importance of trying to tell what’s real and what’s not … and we’re going to ramp up anti-phishing training.” JULY 2, 5 P.M. JULY 2, LATE AFTERNOON

Spoof emails from outside the district that mimicked Eldred’s and former Superintendent Yantz’s names are sent to teachers. The emails request teachers’ passwords, and a few teachers willingly give up their information. Similar phishing emails are sent to other school districts across the San Gabriel Valley.

A teacher flags the teacher phishing emails to the SPUSD technology department. They recall all emails sent to teachers, but are unable to wipe information that some teachers have already given to the scammers.

“I can guarantee that San Marino Unified and San Gabriel Unified both got the same phishing emails, and they had teachers compromised in the same week. Their emails were exactly like ours, [from the] same phishing group. Those districts fell for it as well,” Derek Aoki, the SPUSD Director of Technology, said. “The bad side for them was they don’t pay for Google Education Plus. So for those districts to recall their phishing emails, it takes about one to two hours. And so San Marino and San Gabriel had a lot more casualties in their districts, whereas we pay for it, and we could hit a button and recall all the phishing emails in five seconds.”

However, any information that teachers had already entered into the Google Form remained despite the SPUSD email recall. The information that teachers had already given up, which included all necessary credentials to log onto those teachers’ accounts, continued to live on in the scammers’ possession.

Phishers use passwords that teachers mistakenly gave up to log onto those teachers’ accounts. From those accounts, phishers send “paid internship” phishing emails to students.

the summer phishing attacks?

screenshots of texts, emails, and websites from students and staff; and signed up for the “paid internship” with summary of the summer phishing attacks. For coverage on the more recent set of emails, see tigernewspaper.com.

Tips to protect yourself from phishing

The phishing emails that were sent over the summer targeted high school students’ vulnerability. In general, it is good practice to not to enter any personal information into unknown websites.

“I think most of us, having interacted with technology for as long as we have, have good, built-in, natural heuristics about triggers that will indicate that something is off. I think trusting that is important,” Assistant Principal Chad Bryant said. “If it feels wrong, ask a question ... That’s oftentimes the greatest tool that we have for prevention: when somebody starts setting off the alarm bell.”

Phishers typically emphasize a problem to worry the victim. The recipient is often of the impression that they owe money, there is a virus on their computer, or that they will be missing out if they do not act quickly. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. For example, it is highly unlikely that a student would be selected for a vague, high-paying internship that they did not apply for.

The SPUSD technology department additionally recommended that both students and teachers use multi-factor authentication, which is when the user needs multiple devices to log onto their account (for example, both password and phone number).

“Phishing happens to everybody. If it hasn’t yet, it will, and we just have to be weary,” Director of Technology Derek Aoki said. “If you have any doubt, you should reach out and have a second pair of eyes on whatever’s in question … you never know who’s behind the screen.”

district tech respond?

“At that point, we just recalled the staff emails and waited to see what the next steps were going to be,” Aoki said.

The technology department was informed the next morning, July 3, that phishers had managed to log on to multiple compromised teacher accounts and blast students with “paid internship” emails. Tech performed the same steps as they had with the teacher phishing emails, purging all student phishing emails as soon as possible. They then worked with the teachers whose accounts were compromised to lock those affected accounts. They later changed account passwords and added multi-factor authentication.

Principal John Eldred, after hearing from sophomore PeiChen Ng’s parents that the scammer had attempted to phone Ng, alerted the technology department. The technology department began drafting the letter that was eventually sent to students of all grades, teachers, and parents via StudentSquare on July 4. The letter was proofed by Superintendent Angela Elizondo Baxter before it was sent.

“We cannot have strangers calling our students, and so at that point we put in another gear and tried to make sure we got the communication out,” Aoki said. “There are always going to be phishing attempts, and people are going to fall for them. But unfortunately, it did happen that way.”

All information in both waves of phishing emails, to both teachers and students, was wiped as the district recalled emails. Because of this, it has not been possible to run reports or analyses on the information due to the data deletion.

“We’re always trying to protect the students and do what’s right. Sometimes things happen, and we just have to learn from them and move on,” Aoki said.

JULY 2, EVENING

The technology department is informed that phishers logged onto teacher accounts. They recall all student phishing emails and temporarily lock compromised teacher accounts.

What happened to the student who clicked the link?

Sophomore Pei-Chen Ng, like many other students, received the phishing “paid internship” email. More notably, Ng actually clicked the attached link and entered her personal information into the site the link led to.

“I trusted [the email] because it came from a teacher I knew, and I knew she had a thing for sending emails. At the same time I was thinking ‘this is probably a scam,’ but I felt like there might be a sliver of a chance that the internship could be legitimate, so I was like, ‘What do I have to lose, right?’” Ng went on to add that she would not have clicked the link had the email not come from a teacher Ng knew personally, especially because the email seemed in character for that teacher.

The link took Ng to a Google Script. The website had a header titled “Staff and Student Internship Program,” and said underneath “Looking for a flexible, remote opportunity to earn steady income while managing your studies or daily

The technology department works with teachers to secure accounts and change passwords. The department begins drafting a letter to students, parents, and staff. The letter is approved by Baxter and sent out through ParentSquare on Friday, July 4.

routine? We’re offering a home-based internship that pays $300 weekly, with a light commitment of 2–3 days per week, up to 3 hours per day.”

The website continued, “This role is supported in collaboration with school HR and has successfully helped students and staff in both Australia and the U.S. in various ventures and investment-related activities. Operations resume in the U.S. by the 28th of next month, overseen remotely from Australia.”

The internship also claimed to provide interns with health insurance, student loan support, and credit card bill assistance. Embedded in the website was a form that asked for Ng’s name, phone number, grade, address, email address, password, and whether or not she had a bank account, among other information.

After Ng had entered her information and submitted the form, she asked a group chat of friends whether the site seemed suspicious or not. Her friends responded that the site was not legitimate and Ng should not enter any other information into it.

The scammers attempted to call Ng using the phone number she had provided, but Ng did not pick up the call. The same number texted immediately after. Ng blocked the number and alerted her parents, who contacted SPHS Principal John Eldred, who turned the situation over to the technology department. As a result, Ng did not have any accounts compromised or sensitive bank information stolen. In reflection, Ng advised other students not to make the mistakes she had.

Ng allowed Tiger Newspaper to use both her name and experiences for the purpose of this story.

Two months after the first phishing attacks, another phishing email is sent to some SPHS students. The September emails link students to the same internships webpage as the summer phishing emails did. More phishing emails are sent the next evening.

FEATURE

The issue with personal ancestry

Personal DNA testing is a fun pursuit mired with ethical concerns.

SHROPSHIRE

I n the early 2000s, multiple companies like 23andMe and AncestryDNA emerged, offering personal DNA testing that would allow consumers to find their ancestry and previously unknown family. Naturally, this prompted both consumer curiosity and ethical concerns. There are benefits to personal DNA testing: one could find relatives or gain a better understanding of their family’s past. However, there could also be drawbacks. When one submits to a personal DNA test, they are giving their information to a private company that can, by and large, use it for whatever purpose the company wants.

Using these services, customers are able to connect with their ancestry and place of origin to better understand their family history and culture. Having a deeper sense of one’s ancestry can help strengthen an individual sense of identity and purpose, as knowing who one’s ancestors were and how they lived can help develop connections to one’s culture of origin. It can also help preserve and impart cultural traditions to future generations.

Being able to discover previously unknown relatives in only a matter of four to six weeks could be a lifechanging experience. Through 23andMe, people can contact possible unknown family members through the use of consumer genetic testing.

Although the DNA tests available to consumers are not diagnostic tools and should not be used to diagnose a condition, they can be useful in identifying possible issues to bring up with a medical professional or lifestyle changes specific to one’s genetic makeup.

Giving a company one’s DNA for these reasons may sound ideal, but there can be several drawbacks. For one, through DNA testing, one could discover some hard-to-swallow truths about their family. It may be that

a grandparent is not actually genetically related, or an uncle has a checkered past that nobody knew about.

The more obvious negative is that once one gives their genetic information to a private company, they do not have a lot of control over what is done with that information, and, with a few limitations, the company can use it for whatever purposes they see fit. Ancestry can be deeply personal and require a great amount of sensitivity, and although there are laws to protect against the misuse of genetic information, many experts have voiced concern that they are not broad enough and cannot keep up with the rapidly developing DNA testing industry. Even more concerning, if the company begins to fail, it may consider selling private genetic information just as 23andMe did in early 2025. This did not end up happening, but nevertheless brings up questions about the safety of users’ information.

Another risk is the possibility that law enforcement will subpoena genetic information for a criminal investigation. In 2018, police used genetic data taken from a private company to find the Golden State Killer, a serial murderer and rapist who was active in California during the 1970s and 80s. Clearly, it is not a bad thing that this man was put to justice for his crimes, but the moral issue of whether or not the police should be able to seize a private citizen’s genetic information is still a topic of debate.

It will not always be the case that the unauthorized use of private genetic data will yield positive results like those in the case of the Golden State Killer. There is the possibility that genetic data will not yield results or that it will give false results, potentially incriminating innocent people.

Personal DNA testing is a relatively new innovation, and as such, there are myriad questions surrounding it. There are clear benefits, but above all, it is simply fascinating. But this new technology also provides some ethical dilemmas. With the technology being so new, it is hard to tell which of these concerns are valid and which are the unsubstantiated protests of those who refuse to adapt to the constant change of modern life.

SEMICOLON

EMIKO

ESSMILLER

#Anti_Holden_ Caulfield

Oh, how the turns have tabled. I, Emiko Essmiller, the glorious (and insecure) senior, return to Tiger for my final year, with my own little column in the newspaper. I like to consider myself an extremely modest person, of course. I’ve wanted a column since my freshman year, and although I had frequent daydreams of seeing my column in print and random shower thoughts of genius ideas to write about, I suddenly find myself at a loss for words. Not because I am stunned, but because I truly feel like I have nothing to write about anymore. I’m suddenly the most boring person on Earth.

Thus, I’ve decided that I’d like to spend my first column talking about other people. Specifically, Holden Caulfield (ew), and my friends (yay!). Holden Caulfield — the 16-year-old protagonist of The Catcher in the Rye, an AP Lit summer reading requirement this year — absolutely infuriated me. I was a breath away from ripping the pages out of my copy. “He’s in his teen rebellious era!” “He’s just trying to find a place where he belongs!” “He’s a virgin … but not because he wants to be, he just respects women’s consent. He could have anyone, in any way he wanted, if he so chose.” Yeah, right At best, he’s a representation of a considerably unstable, mentally ill, idiotic teen that has fallen into the pitfalls of toxic masculinity and arrogance. He’s a virgin for a reason, I fear, and it’s most definitely not voluntary. Despite his opinions on the superficiality of people, I have never seen any interaction I’ve had with someone as superficial. Everyone means something to me. To summarize, I’m a much better person than Holden.

In contrast, my friends are absolutely wonderful people. To clarify, I am in no way comparing them to Holden either — that would be like comparing an angel to a pebble. One option includes saviors whom I basically pray to every day, and another is a man. Point proven. As far as the saviors go, I went to watch a sing-along version of KPop Demon Hunters with them the other day. You better believe we were cooking with that Golden riff. Looking back and forth at my friends, chanting out lines, and harmonizing with Rumi on screen, I was yet again at a loss for words. This time, it was because I was stunned. Middle school Emi, who struggled to find friends and was afraid to raise her hand in class, would’ve been horrified to see me singing the lyrics to What it Sounds Like by Huntrix (“We broke into a million pieces and we can’t go back, but now I’m seeing all the beauty in the broken glass”) in the middle of a movie theater surrounded by the side-eyes of many young kids. But in the moment, I felt absolutely no shame. I was simply struck with a deep-rooted appreciation of my friends. Holden Caulfield could never.

To the few people who read Tiger Newspaper, and the even fewer who are reading my column, I appreciate you. I hope that you can relate to something I’ve said, whether it’s harboring a vehement hatred for Holden Caulfield, or singing along to Golden from KPop Demon Hunters, or having a passionate appreciation and love for your friends. Even though I may be boring, my friends aren’t. At the very least, they give me something to write about, and at best, they give me a reason to live. I dedicate my very first Tiger column to my friends, and to a public hate campaign for Holden Caulfield.

STORY RAFA ESTOLANO-SRIDHARAN & KHLOE YUEN PHOTO MAC

Personal ancestry has its pros and cons. DNA testing can be an interesting exploration of oneself, but it is steeped in ethical concerns.

Gunn’s Superman inspires new filmmakers

The newest installment in the DC franchise, Superman paves the way for filmmakers hoping

STORY MIRIAM ELGHEFARI & JULIA GILDERSLEEVE ILLUSTRATION JAYDEN ZUMBA

J

ames Gunn’s Superman recently passed $600 million at the worldwide box office, being the only comic-bookbased movie to do so this year. Finding fame both on theater screens and social media, the smash-hit superhero movie is rife with stunning visual effects and character development that champions the importance of kindness and the power to do good.

Since the release of the first Superman comic in 1938, Superman has remained a classic American icon that embodies principles of justice and freedom. Serving as a symbol of courage and support, he first saw a surge in popularity during World War II. To children and adults alike, Superman represented the effort of the U.S. government in the war, where he was utilized to instill feelings of patriotism and heroism in the public, encouraging them to continue to support soldiers fighting abroad.

The appeal has not waned in the modern era, as Superman remains known for his devotion to justice, peace, and maintaining safety both locally and globally. Superman represents how much change can be brought to a community through an individual’s and a group’s thoughtful actions. This idea of a superhero comes from the need for a community to have someone who is constantly lending a hand to make situations and lives better, manifesting as a “cure-all” to any issues that feel unsolvable. However, the movie makes it clear how anyone can change the world for the better — especially without being super-powered — empowering ordinary citizens to endeavor to improve their own lives and communities.

Superman’s popularity continues through James Gunn’s adaptation that stars David Corenswet, who brings a sensitive aspect to the role lost in other past adaptations that were more focused on an all-powerful Superman, such as Zack Snyder’s interpretation in the 2013 film Man of Steel

The setup to the 2025 Superman, however, is consistent with the comics and past movies: Superman’s alter-ego is Clark Joseph Kent, a journalist for the Daily Planet who saves the

community as Superman. Superman was born on Krypton, but was shipped to Earth by his parents with a message when the planet was destroyed. The holographic recording was damaged in transit, but the first part was clear: Superman was destined to protect and serve the Earth.

The storyline deviates from other adaptations through the machinations of Lex Luthor, the antagonist of the story, who convinces society that Superman should not be accepted because he is an “alien.” Motivated by his jealousy of not being worshipped like Superman, Lex Luthor attempts to kill him, with his efforts eventually causing significant damage. Even when the community is against Superman, his loyal companion Krypto — who arrived on Earth from Krypton — is always by his side. Krypto consistently saves Superman from the minions of Lex Luthor with his own powers, one of which notably being sonic speed.

An interesting aspect of James Gunn’s Superman that further differs from other explorations of the character is the addition of the Justice Gang — Green Lantern, Hawkgirl, and Mr. Terrific — who stand with Superman in his battle and fight for what is right.

One of the many great aspects of the movie was its ability to be captivating and humorous, yet also convey a serious sense of emotion. One memorable scene from the movie was when Superman and Lex Luthor came face-to-face. The meeting evolves into more of a cheeky debate than a grand confrontation; it is moments like these that make the movie both light-hearted and entertaining to watch.

As well as being a fun watch, Superman explores greater political themes, some of which are especially relevant in today’s political climate. Throughout the movie, one of the most evident messages in Superman was the not-so-subtle call for social change. The current U.S. administration, led by President Donald Trump, has instated a slew of policies and proposed laws that have drastically impacted the lives of people around the country, especially those who have immigrated to the United States. Widespread deportations have disrupted communities and torn apart families, despite values that these communities have brought to America, being why it is so beautiful today.

to inspire change.

Superman, having been born on another planet, is described as an “alien” by both the United States government and Lex Luthor. He is hated simply for not being from Earth. Gunn’s use of this plot line draws a parallel between the film and the current topic of immigration in the United States. Superman, a so-called “illegal alien,” saves the lives of countless Americans and does so while fighting hatred from the very people he wants to help — a scenario that mirrors countless situations in the United States today.

Superman paves the way for future filmmakers by fearlessly addressing present-day issues in humanity. One can only hope that more films that are released do the same, regardless of the topic. Superman, an “illegal alien,” was the best thing to happen to Earth. The heartwarming nature of the 2025 reboot of Superman drew attention from viewers all over the world, and rightfully so.

Violent media does not always lead to violent children

STORY SONYA SHIMPOCK

PHOTO SEBASTIAN GUTIERREZ

In December of 2012, following a school shooting in Newton, Connecticut at Sandy Hook Elementary School, Wayne LaPierre — the then-executive vice president of the National Rifle Association (NRA) — hosted a press conference to discuss how such tragedies could be avoided in the future.

LaPierre’s conclusion: eliminating the “callous, corrupt and corrupting shadow industry that sells and stows violence against its own people … through vicious, violent video games.” LaPierre went on to further point fingers at “blood-soaked films aired like propaganda loops on Splatterdays” and music videos that “portray life as a joke and … portray murder as a way of life.” Of course, the NRA’s advocacy for increased gun ownership completely avoided culpability.

LaPierre’s argument is part of a much larger trend that attempts to shift blame from broader societal problems that are difficult to fully address — such as gun control or generational patterns of violence — to more contained forms of media that can be addressed, like the video games, music, and films that he speaks on. For example, much of LaPierre’s rhetoric concerning this violent media is echoed in parenting blogs and PTA threads. Mainstream pediatric guidance typically advises families to exclude violent content from their children’s “media diet” and

carefully monitor what video games they play — all for fear of creating an aggressive and violent child. This becomes problematic when policy reform is glossed over in favor of instead tackling video games like Call of Duty

However, the true effects of these forms of media are less dramatic and more nuanced: media violence can create aggressive thoughts and feelings — especially when it appears realistic with repeated and unpunished depictions (think Dexter) — but triggers that appear aggressive in the lab often do not translate clearly to realworld acts of violence. The strongest and most consistent predictors of actual violence remain factors like family violence and antisocial risks, not a Halo account. Content does matter, but it is also essential to consider context, a child’s pre-existing characteristics, and how figures of authority react to violent media.

Songs that contain violent or aggressive content largely have more short-term effects. In controlled experiments, individuals who listened to songs with violent lyrics tended to show more hostile interpretations to ambiguous word situations provided to them by researchers. These effects appeared across various genres and still manifested even when the violent lyrics were obviously intended to be comical. However, this was only confirmed over a short period of time, with no proof that it could influence longterm behavior or thought patterns.

Similarly, meta-analyses on dozens of studies on violent video games have only found a modest link between gameplay and aggressive tendencies, though they have noted a momentary dip in self-control. Longitudinal studies that track specific children over the years fail to find a permanent link once controlled for other, outside influences — meaning that if there is a causal effect from violent video games to the real world, it is negligible when compared to better-established risk factors.

It is still important to consider that several perpetrators of violent, gun-based crime have been confirmed players of violent video games. Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, the perpetrators behind the Columbine High School massacre that occurred in 1999, were both frequent players of violent video games such as Doom, a first-person shooter (FPS) game that helped popularize the FPS format.

In fact, as outlined in the 2004 report conducted by the United States Secret Service and the United States Department of Education, 12 percent of perpetrators in school shootings had shown interest in violent video games. It is unclear how this number has increased as video games have evolved in both immersion and popularity. However, researchers suggest that this statistic may be due to violent video games attracting aggressive children, not creating them. This is further supported by the fact that although the production of violent video games has shot up in the past decade, the rate of youth-committed violent crime has not.

Television, movie, and news violence, however, has a marked effect on children — one that may even manifest in their behavior years later. Separate from violent video games and music, even if a family atmosphere shows no tendency toward violence, children who may possess learning, behavioral, or impulse control problems can be severely influenced by on-screen violence. Through repeated exposure to televised violence, children may begin to develop a numbness to it that can lead to a gradual acceptance of violence as a way to resolve problems. Due to this, extensive exposure can prompt the manifestation of greater aggressiveness in some children.

Researchers L. Rowell Huesmann and Laramie D. Taylor claim that the overall effect of violence in media — whether presented through music, video games, or a TV screen — is “large enough to place it in the category of threats to public health.” Studies have shown that this is largely an exaggeration, but also not a complete falsehood. At the end of the day, it is up to parents how they wish to raise their children, but fear-mongering and shifting attention from policy efforts aimed at reducing violence — such as guncontrol efforts — to video games, music, and television is not a legitimate way to protect America’s youth.

PAGE DESIGN SOLANA SINGER

The fall of creativity in the movie industry

Some studios, with a skewed perception of what audiences want, prioritize profit over artistry.

STORY UMA CHAKRABORTY & ISABELLA JONASEN ILLUSTRATION KRISTEL HOUNG

F rom an outsider’s perspective, it is evident that the movie industry is hesitant to take risks on new creative storytelling. Audiences have fallen victim to the repetitive formula movies seem to follow nowadays. Traditionally, film was considered the most immersive form of storytelling. When movies came straight from the filmmakers themselves, their priorities were their creativity and vision. That said, moviegoers are now feeling a shift as what audiences want moves away from overproduced sequels and superhero movies. Audiences are now noticing that the movies that studios are releasing today tend to build off of previous ideas and storylines. Production companies are beginning to value profit over quality, which has been reflected in several recent unnecessary sequels such as Freakier Friday and Jurassic World.

This interpretation of what these studios seem to think audiences want is what many consider flawed and can pose a threat to the production of movies with new or unique perspectives.

The cast of The Breakfast Club, a prime example of when cinema was primarily driven by true passion, reunited for the movie’s 40th anniversary and discussed the lasting impact it has had on the movie industry. When asked if the film could ever be made today, actor Emilio Estevez stated, “Movies today are

concept-driven; they’re not character-driven. Trying to pitch this movie today — it’s about five kids sitting in a library all day in detention — the studio executives would march you right out the door and say, ‘Where are the monsters? Where are the car chases?’”

This highlights how even with films that were incredibly groundbreaking for their time, the movie industry is shifting focus away from character development and toward action movies that produce more profit. Creating a thoughtful, compelling piece of cinema can be seen as too much of a risk, as it poses unpredictable box office numbers.

With this assumption in mind, executives will continue to release an abundance of sequels for films that decrease in cultural value from their originals. Rebooting culture within the film industry is unrealistic, as the majority of the time, filmmakers are pressured into releasing sequels, especially if the original film did well and still has a dedicated fan base.

While not all sequels are made with passion, some are successful in capturing the essence of the original, like Inside Out 2 , sequels to Toy Story , and Frozen 2 . Instead of following the same pattern as the first movie, as most sequels do, they branch off with new, exciting storylines while still retaining the lovable characters and overarching themes.

Unsuccessful sequels are a result of little creativity in the writers’ room, leading to less excitement on set.

This lack of energy is difficult to conceal and weakens the overall impact of the movie.

What these companies are doing may even lead to a change in the lasting impression the first movie gave. This can make the experience of the entire duology unmemorable and disliked. Some things deserve to be left in their original form, loved and untouched.

When producers do not put care into each piece of media they create, it simply becomes media. If audience members are not walking away from films with a new perspective, inspiration, or excitement, it is not art anymore.

Art enthusiasts are not consumers of art; one cannot consume art, but one may interact with it. Therefore, releasing movies that do not provide any substance or challenge anything can turn out to be a waste of time for both the audience and the uninterested filmmakers.

This style of media will not continue forever, as there are only so many sequels that one can make. To alleviate this issue, it is important to support independent theaters that feature non-mainstream films in protest of passionless media.

Instead of film studios continuing to release uninspired sequels, it might be best for them to take a step back, revisit their old ways, and give creating truly exceptional cinema another chance.

Love Island draws attention from around the world

Continued from Page 1

From charming suitors to the strategically timed “bombshells,” the arrivals immediately stirred excitement and tension among the original islanders. Notable bombshells made an instant impression, creating new pairings and challenging existing relationships. The combination of flirtation, rivalry, and emotional highs and lows set the stage for a season filled with drama, romance, and moments that quickly become talking points across the internet.

In the first episode, 10 original islanders arrived. Huda, Chelley, Olandria, Yulissa, and Belle-A were the first introduced female islanders, joined later by Nic, Ace, Austin, Jeremiah, and Taylor, the first introduced male islanders. As the show and the connections

progressed, it became clear to Love Island viewers that the internet’s opinions mattered to producers — a lot. This was due to greater amounts of screen time as well as provocative challenges. Some islanders also saw significant increases in their fan bases.

For instance, Nic and Olandria began the show in separate couples, only interacting in an occasional challenge. Unbeknownst to them, the internet believed they would be better suited with each other. “NicOlandria” fans, as they called themselves, made edits and left swaths of comments on Love Island pages. When Nic and Olandria eventually coupled up towards the end of the season, they were given an undeniably greater amount of screen time, much to their fans’ delight. As another example, Huda and Jeremiah, one of the most controversial couples

throughout the season, received a mix of hate and support online. Thousands of fans called for the couple to be split up, believing it would be better for both islanders. Eventually, a fan vote was introduced where viewers could vote on which couples would be split up. As a result, Huda and Jeremiah were re-coupled with other islanders.

Both of these examples show instances in which the internet’s perspective directly influenced the outcome of the show, undermining the original delight of reality shows: not knowing what will happen.

Known as “America’s Sweetheart,” islander Amaya experienced similar ups and downs throughout the season. Despite this, the fondness that Love Island viewers had for her never wavered. After her fair share of rough couplings and even rougher men, Amaya went on to win the season alongside her partner Bryan. In second place were Nic and Olandria, with third place given to Huda and Chris, and finally, fourth place given to Pepe and Iris.

Among many other dating shows, Love Island has had an effect on dating culture by further pushing a narrative that a romantic connection with someone else is something that can be destroyed and forgotten just as easily as it is acquired. The most popular contestants of this season were loved by millions due to their ability to be open and honest about their struggles; they were able to both make and forget such meaningful connections in a short period of time. This season also saw a massive increase in social media attention, with some unfortunate consequences, such as some contestants receiving a slew of hateful posts online.

Peacock’s Love Island continues to top streaming charts and consistently gains social media attention, especially due to sequel shows such as the Love Island Reunion and contestants’ social media posts. Different people from all over America came together on the island of Fiji for six weeks of fun and romance, and despite the emotional rollercoaster, all of them left with friends for life. Living up to the hype and captivating viewers throughout the season, Love Island paves the way for future reality shows to garner success.

TAAGLAA: 626 Night Market

TIGER’S AWESOME ADVENTURES IN THE GREATER LOS ANGELES AREA

STORY HARRIET GODSON, ANNA MCDONNELL, & ELLIE SONG

PHOTOS ZOE CHEN & MAC SHROPSHIRE

Every year, on select weekends in July and August, the 626 Night Market fills the Santa Anita mall parking lot with live music, booming crowds, and mouth-watering food. Harriet, Ellie, Zoe, Mac, and I came to the market eager for a new experience, excited to spend the night at one of the largest Asian-inspired markets in Los Angeles County, despite the long lines, high prices, and jampacked walkways. Not only did it offer unique food, but there were also many vendors selling clothes, posters, and other knick-knacks.

Ticket prices range from $5.90 to $6.93 (with free parking), and children under three years old get in for free. Contrary to the low entry prices, everything else in the market was extremely expensive.

We had high hopes as we walked through the security gate, attempting to find our way around the sprawling venue. We did not know what to expect as we pushed our way through a sea of people, all under the spell of the trained vendors trying to draw attention with loud music, flashy signs, and eye-catching goods.

“All natural, all authentic metals and stones!” I heard more than a few vendors yelling to the crowd as we meandered around the jewelry stands. We took some selfies at a backdrop and went headfirst into a chaotic night filled with delicious dishes and countless memories.

Bumping shoulders with everyone as we made our way to the slightly more spacious food section, we were met with plumes of smoke and vendors calling out people’s order numbers for foods including $30 deep-fried alligator bites and $15 roasted pig noses.

We had not eaten dinner before, so we were eager to find some food. After walking past various vendors, we found what we were looking for: a wide array of sweet and savory dishes and a welcoming curb to sit on. Ellie and Harriet got

dirt cups for $10 each. Mint chip ice cream, topped with crushed Oreos, gummy worms, and a sprig of mint, was placed cleverly inside a seedling cup to look exactly like a mini garden. I had $17 deep-fried piggy buns filled with red bean paste. The sweetened condensed milk that was drizzled on top cooled my tongue from the scalding ricebased bun and grainy red bean.

We watched from the curb as busy crowds came and went, laughing, eating, and roaming around the alleys of canopytents and food trucks. Each shop we passed had a new smell, sound, and flashy visuals to accompany it. The deepfried food truck was smoky and loud, whereas the ice cream stand was bright and cheery. No matter which stand we went to, there were competitive crowds elbowing to get in line; it was every person for themselves.

I ate my $20 chicken kebabs and rice as I people-watched, observing the crowd. The chicken was spicy and grilled to perfection. The sauce dripped onto the rice and made it soggy in the puddle of salt; I immediately scarfed it down.

Though the food was delicious, some of it was clearly for show. Many stands sold drinks in various flavors, which came in large plastic containers shaped like gummy bears and baby bottles that could be shown off on a large lanyard around your neck. Large portions made it difficult to take the last bite, like half of a pineapple stuffed with fried rice and umami sauces or the crunch of crispy tanghulu, covered in a shell of sugar. Seemingly everyone was walking around with a striking potato wedge spiral on a kebab with sriracha.

The other half of the market was dedicated to vendors selling items like jewelry, stickers, clothing, posters, and other knick-knacks. Anything imaginable, from finger chains to permanent bracelets, hair pieces, brooches, and pins, could all be found in most stands. Leo, one vendor we met, has been helping his wife Roseline sell products for her business, Little Women Goods, for many years now. They sell stickers and pins with feminist-themed designs.

Another vendor sold socks, some cute with lace and pastel colors, others fun and whimsical with arms and magnets,

designed so the two socks could hold hands. They cost $5 a pair, and for me, socks that can hold hands are worth every penny.

Lastly, no festival is complete without an array of carnival games. Human claw machines, trampoline swings, and stick catchers seemed to be the most popular. We also spotted classics like ring toss, balloon darts, and bean bag toss. All cost around $15 to play, and most resulted in a fun prize. None of us tried any of the games, as we were filled to the brim with food and did not feel like spending the extra money on a game.

The human claw machine strapped contestants into a moving arm that lowered them into a large pit of stuffed animals. Players had to try and grab as many as they could before the claw pulled them back up. At another attraction, the trampoline swing, people were harnessed to two taut ropes above a trampoline. They could jump high, do flips, and even swing in a full circle. Lastly, the viral stick grab tested people’s reflexes and was featured in the middle of the game arena. The game has players stand under a machine as they try to catch rods that are placed in a circle around them. If a player caught all of them, they won, but people rarely did, and bystanders laughed as contestants tried and failed to grab the falling sticks.

We were stuffed with food and tired out from spending three hours scampering around the festival, so we sat down in a patch of grass next to a live EDM performance to debrief and wait for our ride. Once the car arrived, we gathered our leftovers and $5 treasures for a sleepy car ride home and the big food hangover waiting for us the next day.

It was a great experience to see all the different flavors and cultures in one large parking lot for the community to enjoy. All the vendors put their own twist on everything they were selling, like the rainbow grilled cheese or the Hot Cheeto corn dog. The swirl of culture around us, the wide variety of products offered, and the feeling of community all made for a unique night. Although the 626 Night Market tested our temptations and emptied our wallets, we hope to come back next July when it is due to return.

Meet the new coaches coming into play at SPHS

Five new coaches for volleyball, tennis, and water polo are ready to lead SPHS athletes to great seasons.

STORY JULIA GILDERSLEVE & ELLIE SONG

PHOTO HELENA EASTERBY

SPHS welcomes three new volleyball coaches, a tennis coach, and a water polo coach for the school year. Each is ready to pass on their knowledge to SPHS athletes.

Head volleyball coaches Mirka Granoble, Ajiah Davis, and assistant coach Emily Smith are prepared to fill the shoes of the past head coach, Ivy Chew. The coaches’ main goal is to help the volleyball teams improve the skills they already possess, as well as introduce new ones.

“The season has started off good, but we hope good is just the start. We feel it’s just getting started and we have yet to unlock our full potential as a team,” Davis said.

Granoble was an assistant coach at Cerritos College and coached JV volleyball at West Covina High School before coaching at SPHS. As well as coaching boys’ varsity volleyball at University Preparatory Value High School, Granoble is coaching for her second season at Crown City Volleyball Club.

This is Davis’ sixth year coaching. Last year, she coached at Crown City Volleyball Club in San Marino and had previously coached in Oklahoma.

“I came to visit, and I loved it,” Davis said. “I learned about how great of a school district South Pas is, so we decided to move. I chose to coach here because my kids are in this school district, and hope to be here through their time in high school.”

Before joining the coaching staff at SPHS, Davis attended the University of California, Santa Cruz for two years, where she played on the club volleyball team. She later transferred to Pitzer College where she is currently pursuing a degree. In addition to her studies, Davis has been coaching with San Gabriel Elite Volleyball Club since 2021.

Alex Muresan is elated to be the head coach of the SPHS tennis program this year. He has decades of experience in teaching and playing tennis under his belt.

“My mission is to positively influence this next generation and be a solid role model and leader for anyone I encounter in my life through this sport,” Muresan said.

Muresan played all four years as the number one boys’ varsity singles player for Ramona High School in Riverside, California from 1997 to 2001. His teaching

career started at a private country club shortly after he graduated. After becoming certified through the United States Professional Tennis Association, he began teaching tennis athletes across Southern California and Florida.

Muresan also played tennis professionally for a few years, attending Azusa Pacific University (APU) in 2005. During this time, Muresan competed at entry-level professional tournaments, and his team won the first National Championships for the school during his first year at APU. After, Muresan transferred to the University of La Verne for two extra seasons before moving to Florida to live and work. However, in 2011, he moved back to California and has been coaching students of all ages and skill levels ever since.

His hopes for the SPHS girls’ and boys’ seasons are to continue encouraging and developing the returning players, integrating new players, and getting players to a consistent level of high performance within both the varsity and JV teams.

“The success of the tennis program made me feel very special and proud to be a part of [it],”Muresan said. “I hope to continue investing into the lives and future of each student athlete here at SPHS for years to come.” Paul Lopez is exhilarated to join SPHS as a water polo

coach. Lopez has past experience playing water polo for years, including collegiate and National League play. Lopez credits much of his success, skills, and training methods to his role model coach, the National League coach with the Nashville Channel Cats Pro Team, Jake Cavano. Cavano taught Lopez a large amount of advanced skills and strategies that have led to his success in coaching thus far.

When searching for a coaching position, Lopez was motivated to coach at SPHS due to the resilient athletes and the city’s love for the team.

“The way this city rallies around our [water polo] team is amazing to watch,” Lopez said.

Although a majority of the varsity water polo team grad uated last year, Lopez aims to increase the skill level and competitiveness of their young players.

“The season is going well and we are learning a lot of skills and developing quickly. The team is beginning to connect as teammates and develop a new style of play,” Lopez said.

The addition of these five new coaches marks a promising start to the SPHS athletic season; the Tigers are poised to achieve strong performances.

Shevon Nieto, the two-time Olympian in our midst

STORY HARRIET GODSON

PHOTO THEO THOMPSON

“When I look back at my high school years, I remember that my dreams and my goals as an olympic athlete started here,” said sprint coach Shevon Nieto.

As a two-time Olympian, Shevon Nieto uses her knowledge, expertise and experience to skillfully coach the South Pasadena High School sprinters. As a ninth grade runner, which at her school was still junior high, she was moved up to run with some of the fastest high schoolers in New York.

“I kept my eye on the person that was in the front of the pack and just trained hard until one day, I saw myself in the front of the pack,” Nieto said.

She continued to push herself during this momentous freshman year. Her hard work paid off when she finished the season ranking third in New York state. She then set her sights on reaching the pinnacle of track and field: the Olympics.

When fifteen-year-old Nieto confidently told her coach that she was going to compete in the Olympics, he was skeptical. He warned her that making an Olympic team would be “like winning the lottery.”

“Well then, I’m going to win the lottery,” Nieto said. Nieto’s dream was set from this point on, driven by her unwavering confidence and faith in herself. Nieto went on to earn a full scholarship to the University of South Carolina, which at the time had the number one track and field program in the U.S.

Nieto got the opportunity to try out for the Olympics in her junior year of college. To qualify for the Olympics, athletes are required to place in the top three and run the A-Standard time. In other words, even if athletes finished in the top three, they would be cut if their time was not fast enough. Unlike some athletes who reach the A-Standard time years before they qualify for the Olympics, Nieto had not. However, she was confident in the dream she had as a ninth grader and was positive she was going to make it happen.

Getting to the Olympic level takes thousands of hours of hard work and discipline, but what goes unseen is the mental strength it takes to get to that level.

Nieto received the news that she would be in lane one on the day of the Olympic trials. Many runners view the inside lane as a disadvantage because it is the tightest lane and therefore requires more technical cornering. The news immediately shook her, but rather than letting it tank her spirit, she let it fuel her.

“I got upset, but I was like, you know what? Nothing’s going to stop me,” she said.

Nieto describes the “elite mindset” as being able to adapt to every challenge, including things outside of one’s control. This mentality that she adopted was a focal point in her success in her track career, helping her overcome countless challenges.

“If someone tells you the likeliness of you doing something is really small, that means you have a shot. As long as it’s not zero, then you have a shot,” Nieto said. “[I asked], why not me?”

Her unwavering confidence and determination led her to representing Jamaica, her home country twice: the first time in 2004 in Athens, Greece, and then again in 2008 in Beijing, China.

Being born in Jamaica before moving to New York at the age of five, Nieto was proud to return to Jamaica to earn a spot on their Olympic team.

“It felt that it would be good to go back and see home, and have my family there be able to see me represent Jamaica,” Nieto said.

After competing in the Olympics, Nieto became a coach, sang on America’s Got Talent, married two-time Olympian Jamie Nieto and started a family. Her undying grit and determination carried Nieto through her dreams and beyond, serving as a role model for future aspiring athletes.

Decades later, Nieto said, “I never had any doubt I could achieve it.”

From left are Mirka Granoble and Ajiah Davis.

Shevon Nieto, SPHS sprinting coach, is a two-time Olympian.

The recruitment process for high school

High school athletes put in hours of hard work for the opportunity to play at the collegiate level.

STORY EVELYN DIAZ

PHOTO HELENA EASTERBY

R

ecruitment is the process by which colleges and universities identify and attract talented athletes to join their sports programs. It allows schools to find students who excel not only in athletics, but also meet academic and character standards.

At SPHS, a notable number of athletes are recruited each year, particularly in sports like cross country and track and field. The recruitment process gives student-athletes the opportunity to continue competing at a higher level while potentially receiving financial assistance for college through athletic scholarships.

“From the outside, recruiting may appear as simple as playing well and getting noticed,” the National Scouting Report (NSR) said. “But for those walking through it, it’s an emotionally demanding process filled with uncertainty, waiting, and hope.”

The recruitment process typically begins when coaches or scouts identify promising athletes through game footage, statistics, tournaments, and recommendations from high school coaches. Interested schools may invite students to attend summer camps, showcase events, or official visits to evaluate their skills in person.

When interested high school athletes are fighting for the same spots, scholarships, and attention, the pressure to constantly be at their best becomes intense. A lot of students end up stressing over whether they are doing enough, training longer, joining extra club teams, and spending weekends at showcases just to stand out. It can feel like there is no room to breathe, and balancing school, sports, and a social life becomes almost impossible. For some, that nonstop cycle leads to burnout, and the fun of playing the sport they love can start to fade.

UPCOMING GAMES

“It’s no longer about being good, it’s about being chosen, selected, and being better than someone else,” the NSR said.

Recruitment often includes discussions about scholarships, which can cover tuition partially or entirely, depending on the athlete’s talent and the program’s budget. To get recruited, students must maintain strong athletic performance, academic eligibility, and often a public profile that highlights their achievements, such as a social media account or highlight reel.

“Evaluation includes more than just skills on the court or in the field. Coaches evaluate all aspects of the student-athlete — academics, attitude, character, work ethic, and even parents,” the NSR said.

While the opportunity to be recruited can be life-changing, it does come with costs. Students often pay for travel to

tournaments, recruitment camps, and training programs to increase their visibility to college coaches. Some families invest in specialized coaches or showcase events to improve their chances, which can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars per year.

Despite these expenses, the rewards — such as scholarships, exposure to college-level competition, and personal growth — make recruitment a worthwhile goal for many SPHS athletes. With dedication, preparation, and support, student-athletes can navigate the recruitment process and potentially secure opportunities to compete at the collegiate level.

“Eventually, some athletes receive the call or the email that makes it all feel worth it … an offer to play at the next level,” the NSR said.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 16TH @ 5:30 PM, GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL VS. LA CAÑADA AT HOME

THURSDAY, SEPT. 18TH @ 4:00 PM, BOYS’ WATER POLO VS. SAN MARINO AWAY

FRIDAY, SEPT. 19TH @ 7:00 PM, FOOTBALL VS. FRANKLIN AT HOME

Freshmen visit Japan with club baseball team

STORY ZOE CHEN & LEIGHTON KWOK

PHOTO BRANDON HOM, CONTRIBUTOR

This past summer, one team of the South Pasadena South Pasadena Pride baseball club traveled to Japan to visit former teammates and play against Japanese youth baseball teams. Most of the team’s 17 players are currently freshmen at SPHS.

South Pasadena Pride is associated with South Pasadena Little League, but Pride teams practice and play baseball year round, whereas the Little League season is typically limited to March through May. The particular group of players on the Pride team began their baseball careers in the Little League.

After winning the district All-Star tournament for ages 11 and under in 2022, the boys, with heightened team chemistry, advocated for their Little League team to become a Pride team and gain the opportunity to play during the baseball offseason. In need of someone to coach their prospective club team, the players set their sights on Joe Mathews.

“They lobbied me because I was one of the All-Star coaches and have been doing baseball a long time … I’ve been a youth baseball coach since I was an eighth grader,” Mathews said. “Now, I’ve never liked club baseball. I basically said no, but [the players] worked on me, and eventually I said, ‘Okay, we’ll do it.’”

Mathews and the players decided that their team, typically averaging around 20 players, would not hold tryouts. They formed a tight-knit community through baseball.

Between 2023 and 2024, two of the players who had worked hardest to start this particular Pride team moved with their families to Japan. The remaining members of the team, missing their friends, pitched the idea of overseas travel to Mathews. At that point, the team had not even collectively traveled to an overnight tournament in San Diego or Las Vegas, let alone to a country 5,400 miles away.

“We never had much interest [in travel] from parents or kids. We were a team of homebodies,” Mathews said. “Then, we crossed an ocean. I think that’s because we had two players there, and people wanted to see them.”

Over a year’s worth of fundraising yielded nearly $15,000 to cover trip expenses. Players raised money through garage sales, car washes, and bake sales. The team partnered with a Japanese restaurant in Pasadena, and players asked their relatives and neighbors for donations.

Mathews was the primary planner of the trip, and he created an itinerary by reaching out to friends and team members. Along with the help of the two Japan-residing former teammates’ families and past Japanese contacts from Mathews’ job as a journalist, Mathews was able to communicate and plan with the teams abroad.

On July 23, 17 players on the team, Mathews, and one other team coach embarked on their 10-day trip to Japan. With the first two scheduled games happening the morning after they arrived, the team packed up their gear and headed to a local field.

The Pride team won both games that day and celebrated at night by exploring Tokyo before preparing for their next games the following morning. The team made the trip enjoyable by bonding with each other, getting to see the Tokyo Yakult Swallows — Japan’s equivalent to the Chicago cubs in terms of fanbase— at Meiji Jingu Stadium, and spending time exploring Japanese convenience stores.

On the third day in Tokyo, an elite team, the Mizusawa Pirates, walked the South Pas team through a Japanesestyle baseball workout. That Japanese Little League team has been to the International World Series multiple times, and it used to be the team of Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani in his youth.

“The teams who played are much more disciplined in a certain way,” Mathews said. “They run their own infield. They maintain the fields themselves entirely, not the coaches … [The players] bow and tip their cap to the other team’s coach. I suggested to our players that they do something similar, that they could bow to me. And they all rolled their eyes.”

Over the course of the 10 days, the Pride team played eight baseball games in both Tokyo and Okinawa. The team was able to travel throughout Japan predominantly via public transit, meeting with their former teammates and creating new friendships with the teams they met along the way.

With the students all entering high school, Mathews stated that the trip was a final hurrah in their four-year journey.

“We might come together and play the occasional game when it serves us, since almost every one of the team is going to high school,” Mathews said.

With SPHS baseball seasons jam-packed, the Pride team has officially come to a bittersweet end. Mathews is beyond proud of the team’s accomplishments, and as the SPHS baseball team starts to gear up for the season, there is promise in the air for the new freshman players.

South Pasadena players pose with an opposing Japanese team after a tough game.

DESIGN GABBY FERRI

Student athletes go through a complicated process to get recruited by colleges.

Changes in the Rio Hondo League create obstacles

Junior Lorenzo Jones scores a touchdown against the El Segundo Eagles in the 2025 Rio Hondo League season.

STORY HARRIET GODSON & ANNA MCDONNELL

PHOTO EMIKO ESSMILLER

The Rio Hondo League is a high school athletic league within the CIF Southern Section of California (CIFSS). It has promoted competition and sportsmanship throughout the San Gabriel Valley and the Pacific League since its founding in 1962.

Recently, school administrators throughout the Foothill area voted to merge the West San Gabriel Valley area of the Los Angeles region with the Pacific League, Marshall Pasadena, and Gabrielino League.

The main reason for this adjustment is to reduce lopsided scores in league play and create a more exciting and competitive environment for athletes and fans. Additionally, adopting a conference model reflects a nationwide trend in high school and collegiate athletics. Another reason is to address current inequities in the league, such as imbalance of skill from school to school. Still, this proposition was heavily discussed and criticized before it went to vote.

Representatives and coaches in the leagues all pitched proposals on how to handle dividing the schools. In the end, voting was between two versions of the Pacific League Realignment Proposal: versions A and C. Version C included 16 total teams, while Version A had 10 teams and notably did not include the Rio Hondo League. The Pacific League Realignment Proposal C won after voting, finishing 34–30.

Once in effect, the Pacific/Rio Hondo Conference will be split into three leagues per sport. The top 5–6 teams in League A, the next 5–6 teams in League B, and the final 5–6 teams in League C. For the first year, CIF-SS computer rankings from the previous season will be used to determine league placement based on competitive equity.

The impact of the league changes will vary from sport to sport. According to cross country and track coach Michael Parkinson, some sports, like cross country, will not see much of a change. However, the football

and track and field teams may face obstacles, as they will be entering a more competitive group of teams.

“This could destroy traditional cross town rivalries,” Parkinson said.

The decades old rivalry between the San Marino Titans and South Pasadena Tigers may be affected by the upcoming changes. Due to the addition of many new teams, scheduling conflicts may lead to less face offs between the rivals. Going forward, SPHS students should expect to see less of their favorite cross town competition.

“Its going to be a little bit sad that we’re not gonna see [San Marino] every year,” SPHS varsity football coach Jeff Chi said.

Both the cross country and the football coaches are left with many uncertainties as to what the future will bring, but are confident that the Tigers will be able to rise to the challenge.

“Ultimately, we don’t know the future yet. This could just be a one year trial and completely change again,” Parkinson said.

Another benefit of the upcoming league changes is that athletes will be able to connect with peers from other athletic programs. This will also be helpful as players will already have had experience competing against or with athletes from schools being added to the league.

Varsity girls’ soccer coach Jeremy Gonzalez added that “[t]he majority of [SPHS] players play in fall soccer programs with teammates that attend other schools in the greater Los Angeles area, so even though [the] geography [of play] may expand, [SPHS will] retain familiarity with the opposing players and teams [they will] play in the 2026–27 [season].”

Some coaches and athletes are optimistic about the change, and are excited to face new teams and improve the level of play. Additionally, this change may promote sportsmanship and camaraderie with students, coaches, and athletes from other schools in California.

Evelyn’s Rants

EVELYN DIAZ

Evelyn’s

matcha madness

Okay, okay, listen up, because I am about to spill the truth about the absolute best thing in the entire universe: matcha.

And I don’t care who tries to argue with me, because nothing, literally nothing, compares.

Like, people always say things like, “Ew, it’s bitter,” or “It tastes like grass,” but honestly, that just proves they’ve never really experienced pure magic in a cup.

Matcha is literally the perfect balance of everything you could ever want in a drink. It’s not bitter, it’s not too sweet, it’s just … perfection.

One sip and suddenly you feel like you could do your homework, you could finish your chores, make it through your life, and defeat your whole existential crisis.

And even after all of that, you still somehow have the energy to literally run a marathon without dying from caffeine jitters.

How? How does this one little green powder have the power to make your brain feel awake but calm at the same time?

I don’t know. It’s sorcery, I swear.

And let’s talk about the vibes. Like, the aesthetic of matcha is unmatched.

That green color? Are you kidding me? It’s literally the most satisfying, Pinterest-worthy, Instagramready green you’ve ever seen.

You don’t even need filters; with matcha, it’s just naturally perfect.

Hot matcha in the morning? Calm, cozy, sophisticated vibes.

Iced matcha in the afternoon? Refreshing, trendy, giving full “I have my life together” energy.

Matcha lattes, matcha cookies, matcha smoothies, matcha in literally anything, it makes it instantly 10 times better.

The flavor is smooth, slightly sweet, and kind of grassy in the best way possible, and it just hits different from literally anything else.

Honestly, people who say it tastes like grass? They’re clearly haters, because real ones know it tastes like happiness mixed with productivity mixed with “wow, I’m fancy without even trying.”

And the versatility? Stop, please do not even get me started.

You can have it hot, cold, blended, whipped, baked, sprinkled; matcha literally transforms whatever it touches into a masterpiece.

You can drink it, eat it, bake with it, put it in chocolate, cereal, or smoothies — you name it, matcha will make it better.

Somehow, no matter how you take it, matcha never gets old.

You could drink matcha every day for a year, and somehow it would still feel special every single time. Matcha is just that good, and although it may be expensive, it’s always worth it.