Author: Amber Chen

An exploration of Yubo culture

Story by Amber Chen Online managing editor Illustration by Martin Walsh Illustrator Yubo, a social networking application, markets itself as “a space where anyone can belong,” that it’s their “mission to socially inspire and enable a new generation to find out about the world and themselves.” On its website are a plethora of other generic indicators […]

The food industry is to blame for America’s obesity problem, not the individual

Story by Amber ChenOpinion Editor Illustration by Talulla ChowCo-Design Editor Americans get new solutions to obesity every day — a new pill, a new superfood, surgery — but people keep getting bigger. In 1990, less than 15% of the U.S. population was obese. Today, about one fifth of children and adolescents and one third of […]

Cherry-picking distracts from necessary change

Story by Amber ChenOpinion editor Illustration by Terry SongStaff Illustrator Professor Greg Patton of the University of Southern California (USC) faced backlash following a now viral lecture he gave about Chinese filler words. Common filler words in the Mandarin are “nà ge” or “nèi ge,” which both translate to “that,” but when enunciated sound just […]

On being “almost white”

Story by Amber ChenOpinion Editor Illustration by Alicia ZhangStaff Illustrator My transition to South Pasadena Middle School was rough, more so than the expected awkward pre-teen experience. Perhaps it was because I had spent the summer before internalizing outcast-protagonist young adult novels and proudly displayed this newfound sense of individuality in a navy American-flag sweater […]

‘SAWAYAMA’ is a genre blending tribute to self identity

Story by Amber ChenStaff Writer Illustration by David SohnStaff Illustrator 4.5/5Artist: Rina SawayamaLabel: Dirty HitGenre: Dance Pop, Contemporary R&BLength: 13 tracks, 44 minutes Rina Sawayama’s debut album SAWAYAMA is a stellar genre-blending tribute to her upbringing and identity. In it, Sawayama explores her identity as a queer Japanese-born and London-raised woman. The album is politically […]

Believing survivors should not come out of convenience

Story by Amber ChenOpinion Editor Illustration by Nicholas FormanStaff Illustrator This article contains descriptions of sexual assault that some might find disturbing. Tara Reade, a former Joe Biden staffer, initially came forward with allegations of sexual misconduct against Biden alongside several women in the spring of 2019. On March 25, 2020, Reade came forward with […]

Students respond with mixed feelings to Joe Biden’s nomination

Story by Amber Chen Staff Writer Illustration by Nicholas Forman Staff Illustrator Many SPHS students were disappointed at the news of Bernie Sanders’ campaign suspension on Apr. 8, leaving Joe Biden as the presumptive Democratic party nominee. Now, SPHS students are debating whether or not to support Biden in the upcoming general election. “I was so […]

Senior soccer player Andrea Castellanos earns full-ride to Texas A&M

Story by Amber ChenStaff Writer Photo by Sean JinStaff Photographer Senior Andrea Castellanos announced her commitment to Texas A&M on a full-ride soccer scholarship on Wednesday, Apr. 15, where she plans to study kinesiology. After playing a year in Mexico’s top flight professional league, Castellano transferred to South Pas to prepare for collegiate soccer. She […]

Junior wrestler Devin Peries named All-Area Second Team

Story by Amber ChenStaff Writer Photo by Katelyn HernandezStaff Photographer Junior wrestler Devin Peries joined 14 wrestlers as a San Gabriel Valley All-Area Second Team selection on Wednesday, Mar. 25. A third-year varsity wrestler, Peries climbed to the CIF Masters competition. At CIF Divisionals, he placed fifth in Division 12, qualifying him for Masters where […]

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