Dec 15, 2010

the eye Singapore American School

www.saseye.com

Eating disorders Media principal, but not sole culprit stories on page 8

December 15, 2010

Vol. 30 No. 3

December 23, 2010

Musicians launch season to be jolly photo by Leo De Velez

Gay suicides focus attention on homophobia

By Ash Oberoi Of the many emotions a child may feel, the most pervasive is fear; fear of the unknown, fear of being different, fear of not being accepted. “[Acceptance] was definitely the biggest issue. I was terrified; [coming out] was probably the scariest thing I’ve ever been through. And probably one of the scariest things I’ll ever go through,” senior Phil Anderson, who is openly gay, said.

In September, six gay males in the U.S., ranging from ages 13 to 19—all of whom suffered a ruthless stream of taunts by their classmates–ended their own lives.

“It kind of hit me like a blow because it was just one after the other and they were all so young,” Anderson said.

This recent wave of gay teen

“

I guess people do say ‘that’s gay,’ but they don’t actually mean it in a derogatory way.

”

senior Dineth Siriwardane

suicides captured the world’s attention and forced school counselors, administrators and teachers to overtly address the issue of anti-gay bullying and the vulnerability of gay adolescents.

“I think it’s really sad that these kids felt like they weren’t accepted for who they were,” junior Kat Joyce said.

Attitudes toward homosexuals changing, but slowly The “Daily Star,” a British tabloid, reports that because of religious norms and gender roles in our society, there is a large amount of stigma over sexuality.

Junior Lucy Howard said that while the student population is moving toward acceptance of homosexuals, students still have a long way to go.

Homophobia on Page 2

My Body Student contends uniform My Rules rules inspire body art

By Michael Too Ian Wu is taking AP Calculus BC, AP Spanish, AP Statistics and AP Physics C. He has made every high school Honor Roll. He is applying to Harvey Mudd College, a liberal arts school with a concentration in mathematics, science.

What fellow students may not know about Wu is that he has his ear lobes gauged (the type of piercing that gradually stretches the hole to accommodate larger jewelry), a lip piercing, and a recent tattoo of a bass clef on his middle finger. Never judge a book by its cover.

continued on page 5

Myth or Fact?

You can get MRSA on the turf field. myths busted on page 15

www.saseye.com • 40 Woodlands St. 41, Singapore 738547 • www.sas.edu.sg/hs • (65) 6363 3405 • MICA (P) 130/04/2010

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theeye

December 15, 2010

Homophobia from Page 1

GAY RIGHTS: Senior Philip Anderson speaks for Gay Straight Alliance during Peace Initiave Assembly.

Photo by Jasmine Timan

“I think some people still discriminate against homosexuals,” Howard said.

The problem is that students often grow complacent and utter anti-LGBT slurs without actually meaning them in a disparaging manner. A school-wide survey taken in November, revealed that half of the student body hears anti-LGBT slurs, not specifically directed at an individual, several times a day.

“I guess people do say ‘that’s gay,’ but they don’t actually mean it in a derogatory way,” senior Dineth Siriwardane said.

Although this innocent ‘slip of the tongue’ may seem harmless, some find it hurtful and tactless.

Freshman Summitt Liu organized a Purple Day at SAS on Friday, Nov. 19, to support gay rights. Students were encouraged to sign a petition which allowed them to wear purple in a show of support.

Purple is the color of kings, of royalty; it comes from a blend of

red which signifies passion and blue which symbolizes serenity.

This day was dedicated to taking a stand against gay bullying and promoting equality.

Same-sex marriage debated by individuals, governments “No matter what gender you choose to love, I don’t think it changes how much someone can love another,” Liu said.

The Singapore government agrees with the 45 of 50 American states that do not allow gay marriage.

“Anyone should be allowed to legally and officially marry the person they love,” junior Ian Go said.

Sophomore Ritika Malkani said that any two people who are in love should be allowed to get married.

“It’s all the same. Guy-guy, girlgirl—it doesn’t make a difference,” Malkani said.

Conversely, some students agree with bans on gay marriage. “[Homosexuals] have the right to love, but I just don’t think that they can create a normal marriage.

Because it isn’t,” junior Gabriela

Sandino said. “It’s just two people that are in love with the same sex, and they have the right to be together but to create a family…I don’t think that’s possible.”

This prompts the question as to what, in this day and age, is a “normal” family? The answer to that is personal and entirely different for each individual.

Adolescents who struggle with their sexuality find themselves in a society that is increasingly more tolerant of difference, but school psychologist Dr. Jeff Devens cautions against a too narrow focus on sexual identity.

“A big part of adolescence is about trying to understand who you are. To this end there are a number of components that make up ones’ identity, of which sexuality is one,” Dr. Devens said. “[However] if the pinnacle of a persons’ identity is wrapped up in just their sexuality, then that’s a danger. We are more than just sexual beings.” oberoi16616@saseagles.edu.sg

Earliest grads of Class of 2011 taking little time off from studies

By Anbita Siregar

Photos by Megan Cosgrove and Megan Talon

Best and brightest not cleanest and tidiest

Lyda Long Some students only dream of going to their first-choice school, but for senior Lyda Long, that dream became a reality. Long plans to attend Melbourne University, her first pick, this January.

First attending their foundations program next year, Long will then continue her studies in the university. She aspires to become a marketing major in the near future.

Long’s parents urged her to go to a university in Melbourne, Australia, and she chose this school.

“I think it’s [Melbourne University] is one of the best universities there,” Long said.

Long has attended SAS since seventh grade. Her favorite SAS memory was during her Surfing in Australia Interim her junior year.

She loved having free time and bonding with her friend, senior Natassia Siu. “I was there with my best friend, so the two of us just did nothing all day,” Long said.

Long plans on working for her parent’s shipping company, Long Meng PTE LTD, after finishing school.

Soyeon Oh Senior Soyeon Oh moved to Singapore from Korea when she was five, attending a local, Chinese school before moving to SAS in third grade.

“I was actually in the same third grade class as Retika Mahjed, another early graduate,” Oh said.

Oh is now graduating early to attend Yon Sei University in Seoul, Korea. Her term starts in March 2011.

Weighing her options between attending university in America or Korea, Oh decided her junior year to take a challenge and chose Korea.

“I’m Korean, but I’ve never attended school in Korea before...I don’t have a strong root to the background of Korean education,” Oh said.

Staying rooted to her origin country is important, and although she knows how to read and write in Korean, Oh said she plans to truly learn the Korean language.

Oh was accepted into Yon Sei’s Department of Human Ecology and chooses her major after one year of general studies.

“I’m thinking about industrial design,” Oh said.

Retika Majed SAS only offers two psychology courses. For senior Retika Majed, a future psychology major, that was not enough.

Majed will take a psychology course in the U.K. in January. Majed said it was difficult to get accepted into U.K. universities because of SAS’ American system.

“Since it’s the AP system here and not IB, it’s harder for me to get into a U.K. university, but if I do that course, it’ll be easier,” she said.

The course is eight-months long, ending in September. That is around the time when the rest of the class of 2011 will be starting college.

“It’s right when everyone in my grade will start university, so it ends perfectly, and I don’t have to be held back,” Majed said.

After the course, Majed will attend David Game College in London. David Game was her firstchoice school.

Although certain she wants to major in psychology, Majed is unsure of what to do after receiving her degree.

“Whatever it takes me to.” siregar14018@saseagles.edu.sg

council members using the room,

By Megan Talon If your mom never made you council members installed a combiclean your room, it would look like nation lock on the door.

“Cleaning up is a hassle, but necthe Student Council’s office on the third floor by the Japanese classroom. essary, and we have planned to do a Three sections of the walls of major clean-up along with a room the former language lab were badly renovation in December. So we’ll painted slightly different shades of see how that goes,” sophomore class red at different times and a fourth president Megan Cosgrove said.

Sophomore Communication Disection is the original white.

The walls are spray painted with rector Annika Hvide said the room is the names of past members - “Belal” a good place for council members to (Hakim, ‘07), “Amanda” (Tsao, meet up before and after school and “07) and “Riady” (Brian, ‘07) are during breaks to complete last minute the oldest - the word “do” repeated projects. And, it doubles as a study musically numerous times, “Student hall and lounge for members.

“You will definitely catch a couple Council” written large on one wall.

The carpet is dirty, stained and members in there doing homework or littered with dozens of scraps of paper, sleeping during their free,” she said.

A fea couple of male stuhalf-full Pepsi dent said bottles and that she a paintbrush had to pick thick with up a t-shirt dried paint. from the T h r e e OFFICERS’ DEN. The StuCo room grew so messy that Exec sponsor Kent Knipmeyer told room, but old couches, the cleaning ladies not to vacuum the room. on entering a few tables and did not and chairs even want fill the room. to progress A basketball further. She hoop hangs said that on one wall. the room K.C. Dat was “nascardboard ty.” boxes lie in “I think stacks on the carpet drawing silverfish, an insect people shouldn’t necessarily judge that eats carboard, paper and glue. student council on our room, but Other K.C. Dat boxes contain objects rather on all the hard work we put in to events for the students,” Executive used in spirit activities.

“Anybody who has eyeballs can Secretary Hannah Goode wrote in an tell it’s messy in there,” Executive email. “We are all teenagers attending Council adviser Kent Knipmeyer a challenging high school with busy said. “The thing that ruffles my feath- schedules, so yes, the room is someers would be when people leave food times a bit messy....but we do the best in there, and when non-student coun- we can and are working to improve cil members go in there and mess as always. talon35526@saseagles.edu.sg things up and leave.”

To reduce the number of non-

theeye

December 15, 2010

Choices parents make not always best

3

Parents’ over-involvement causes some students additional stress

By Viraj Bindra cess. the strain of conflicting projects or of autonomy in picking the courses he A father tells his daughter what “There is a perception that the col- exams, it has successfully reshaped wants to take, and in setting his own classes she is allowed to take next lege you get into defines your path of academic policies in several school standard of academic rigor.

“Parents should trust their kids to semester. A senior’s mother writes life,” Dr. Levine said, “when really districts and modified the way that all of her son’s college application there is no correlation between the parents interact with and place de- choose courses that best suit them,” Yenko said. essays for him. A father arranges an school you go to and how happy you mands on their children.

Sophomore Christopher Couch appointment with his son’s English are later on.”

Might these policies be effective teacher to go over a grade of “B” on At SAS, students feel the pres- at SAS? According to guidance coun- says that his parents have been inan essay. sure to apply to colleges ranked well, selor Mario Sylvander, parental pres- volved with his course selection, and All of these cases may be ex- evidenced by the recent issue of col- sure is not as intense as many may that he does not disagree with their amples of the phenomena known as lege clustering. In addition, they feel think. Sylvander acknowledges that choice to do so.

“I think that parents are, and helicopter parenting. This condition, a pressure to apply to a large number there are parents who feel that it’s common among many affluent house- of institutions. Among students in an “almost like they are the ones apply- should be involved in your choices to holds, involves parents who “hover” Eye survey who cited parents as a ma- ing to college.” But, giving a rough a certain extent,” Couch said.

Dr. Levine pushes for a middle over or are excessively intrusive in jor source of stress, approximately 20 figure, Sylvander asserts that out of their children’s lives, especially when percent are applying to the maximum the more than fifty students he works ground in parenting. The end goal it comes to academics. of ten colleges, while the same rate with, “maybe two to four have par- should be to achieve a balance that In a phone interview, Dr. Madeline among others is 12 percent. ents who are over-invested in their optimally reduces stress for everyone involved. Unfortunately, in many casLevine, author of “Price of Privilege,” Dr. Levine has co-founded an ini- college choices.” spoke to the Eye about the well-inten- tiative called Challenge Success in an Senior Christian Yenko claims to es, that isn’t the case at SAS. Forty-four percent of tioned burdens that well-off parents polled high school students can place on their children. She said Parents make a big mistake when identified parents as a major that parents often believe they are actthey try to divert a creative child. stressor in their lives. These ing in their child’s best interest, but in same students are self-retheir demand for excellence in a few Their artistry is like a river. You can portedly 13 percent more specific fields, they often overlook throw a big rock in the middle, but stressed than others who are other significant talents or abilities. not as affected by their parThey occasionally have a tendency, the water will just keep flowing ents. she says, to over-involve themselves around it.

“The healthiest parentin their children’s lives and stifle their - Dr. Madeline Levine child relationship is one of child’s individuality and creativity in Author Dr. Madeline Levine spoke to Eye reporter Viraj Bindra in a phone interview supportive autonomy, which the pursuit of academic success. is not to say that parents “Parents make a big mistake when should be excessively permissive,” they try to divert a creative child” Dr. attempt to counter this kind of unnec- be part of that minority.

Levine said, “Their artistry is like a essary stress. The program, based in “In choosing colleges, my parents Dr. Levine said, “Parents should be river. You can throw a big rock in the Stanford University’s School of Edu- have been pretty influential. They ba- authoritative without creating a really middle, but the water will just keep cation, aims to broaden the perception sically gave me a list, and told me to rigid family. Moderation is always the flowing around it.” of success, both for adolescents and choose which ones I liked from that best road.” bindra41049@saseagles.edu.sg The pressures parents put on their their parents. Encouraging student- list,” Yenko said. children can be particularly visible parent-teacher dialogue, revising On the other hand, Yenko claims Graphic by Viraj Bindra during the college application pro- homework policies, and moderating that his parents give him a great deal

“

“

IPAU: A Showcase of Talents Musicians come together to create club dedicated to their passion

By Rachel Jackson Hidden away near the band rooms along a hallway behind the Drama Theater, is the jam room. A space set aside for musicians to hang out and play in. The room is filled with sound equipment and guitars, drums, basses and the walls are covered with posters of famous musicians and bands like The Who, Deep Purple and Eric Johnson.

Independent Performing Artists Union (IPAU, pronounced eye-pow) members use the jam room to practice for upcoming gigs or to hang out and play with friends.

IPAU was brought to SAS by Paul Koebnick and former English teacher Brian Coole. About ten years ago Koebnick had the idea of forming a group for aspiring artists. At the same time there was a group of students who wanted to start the same type of club with Coole. Koebnick proposed the idea to Mimi Molchan and joined with them to create IPAU. “It’s for fun; it’s a social club.

The premise of this is that you are supporting artists in pursuit of their

own interests” Koebnick said.

Even though Koebnick supports them he says “usually it is the musicians who really keep it alive.” IPAU holds break gigs in the atrium where musicians perform for their fellow students.

There are around 60 members who help organize events at County Fair and Food Fest, and put on the yearly PAUFEST. Although members are the ones who put on these events, break gigs are open for anyone to sign up, not just members. IPAU members also perform at Coffee House.

Koebnick said he had wanted this club to be something that all types of artists, not only musicians, could support.

“The beauty of SAS though, is that you also have Art Club and Film Society and Dance Club and all these others who help to do this. You’ve got Tri-M and things like that and so here was a group that really just wanted to sponsor the jam studio and really wanted to keep this alive to do their own thing.” jackson17872@saseagles.edu.sg

BREAK GIG. Senior Alexander Ellsworth sings “Dani California”

by Red Hot Chili Peppers. Ellsworth has been playing the guitar since he was a freshman and has been active in SAS music scene since.

Photo by Leonel De Velez

Sports school food poisoning never danger to SAS students

By Rachel Jackson The Singapore Sports School attributed 106 cases of food poisoning among their student population to cafeteria concession operated by ISS Catering Service. Students experienced abdominal pain, headaches and nausea.

ISS operates two food services at the high school, Spago’s Mediterranean and Eagle Zone, in addition to three smaller outlets in the middle school. Food served in these outlets are prepared in a central kitchen in Jurong. The food poisoning at the Sports School was traced to the kitchen there.

Richard Hogan, SAS Food Services Coordinator said there should be no risk of food poisoning here.

“Here, at SAS, we have our own processes and systems to check for hygiene as well as regular, quarterly microbiological tests.”

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theeye

December 15, 2010

Well, that’s Pinteresting

An Eye Staff Editorial

Can you hear me now?

Let students have a voice in school policies This has been a year of change. Some changes were anticipated, like the one-to-one initiative. Others, like the attendance policy, the Breathalyzer at prom, and most recently no-free-dress-on-exam-day materialized with no warning. But, common to all of these changes was a top down implementation. At one time in SAS history, the principal had monthly breakfasts with executive council members to talk about upcoming policies and discuss student opinions. No more.

Administrators observe what goes on in the classroom every day; students live it. But for some reason the administration seems hesitant to ask students their opinions about upcoming changes. Consider the recent controversy over the Breathalyzer at prom proposal. What few upperclassmen know is that if tested positive for alcohol, they will be suspended. This means that if a college application asks about suspensions, as the Common App does, their college will be informed even if the App was submitted before prom. At least that was the most recent position put forth in the November parent’s forum.

The reaction at this meeting was hardly the applause the proposal originally gained at the October parent’s forum. But the problem with both forums is that they are PARENT forums. Where was the student voice? If you want to know how students will react to decisions, ask them!

Sure, if asked their opinion on school policies there will always be the die-hard students who fervently believe that abolishing homework should be a top priority, but most students will have reasonable suggestions.

Oh, the angst that could have been avoided if the students were given a voice!

Take the one-to-one initiative for example. Page 41 of the student handbook says, “Technology serves as a dynamic tool for learning that optimizes productivity, connectivity, collaboration and creativity.”

Hurry! Buy a laptop; you wouldn’t want your kids to miss out on all those benefits!

But last year, students talking among themselves about the future one-to-one initiative had little positive to say. They discussed with each other how Facebook hardly “optimizes productivity” and that computers might weaken student-teacher relations instead of fostering “connectivity.”

When Dr. Tim Stuart addressed the student body on the first day of school he said he didn’t know what goals he had for the year but that, “I hope that we will be able to develop those goals together.”

Together. As in a two-way conversation. Yet here we are, almost halfway through the year still with little influence over the policies that affect us most.

If the administration is reluctant to talk to the student body as a whole, who then will inform them of student opinion? Should it be the Student Council members who stressed in their election speeches that they’d listen to student ideas and concerns? Should it be the school newspaper that interviews students about stresses we face? Or should there be some sort of Student Forum?

The school could use some student voices.

Campus ‘toons

the eye Singapore American School 40 Woodlands Street 41 Republic of Singapore 738547 Phone: (65) 6363-3404 Fax: (65) 6363-6443 eye@sas.edu.sg

by Becky Kreutter

All-American International First Place

Gold Award

Following paths of Jobs, Gates, Zuckerberg, 2010 graduate drops out of university to seek wealth, fame

These days, ideas and innovation are where the money is.

Tools like Tumblr, Tw i t t e r, Facebook have undoubtedly Jennie Park revolutionized our society, making it one that is closer than ever-- whether we like it or not.

This era of rapid digital innovation is special in that success is attainable for anyone. You don’t have to have money to come up with a great idea.

We very well know (thank you “The Social Network”) that Mark Zuckerberg was just a testosterone-charged college boy, seeking vengeance when he came across his soon-to-be billiondollar idea (how accurate the movie is however, is debatable.) Guys like Zuckerberg are a testament to the opportunity still present in America.

Despite an unemployment rate of 9.8 percent, there is still hope in the promise of an ever-expanding Internet.

Enter Sahil Lavingia, ‘10. You might remember him as the guy who created iPhone applications Dayta

and Taxilah. Lavingia went on to at- your Pinterest page. Friends can view tend USC. your boards, and re pin the things Well, he just dropped out. Before they like you imagine a rag-clothed, cardPinterest is already picking up board-sign-brandishing Lavingia, let speed. me dispell the rumors. Lavingia made “It doubles in traffic every month,” the decision to drop out of college Lavingia said. “Tens of thousands of upon receiving an offer too good to hits every day.” pass up.

Right now, the site is only accesWhen Lavingia visited San Fran- sible to those who were sent an invisisco over his fall break to attend in- tation, but Lavignia said it would go terviews for potential jobs, he met a public this month. handful of webDespite Pintersavvy guys. est’s bright future, After this I’m probably Despite his inLavingia had his going to start my own own ideas about terviews going extremely well, company. With things what he would do he didn’t accept after Pinterest. any job offers. like this, a lot of people “After this I’m think they’re risky.

Instead, he deprobably going to cided to embark start my own comYou still get paid. on a new project pany. With things Sahil Lavingia, 2010 with the creator like this, a lot of of Pinterest, Ben Silbermann. The people think they’re risky. You still website, Pinterest, is “like a catalog get paid. You’re not, like, on the street of things you like, your interests,” if you fail.”

Lavingia said.

Lavingia seems to be living his Pinterest is almost a combination dream. of Tumblr and Facebook. It’s a profile “I don’t regret coming to USC of your interests, where you can re- first semester, but working to me is so pin things you like from other people, much more fun.” similar to Tumblr’s “re-blog” option.

The most exciting part? Freedom.

If you come across a picture you re“I get to cook my own food, run ally like on a website, you can “pin around my house naked,” Lavingia it” and it will automatically be pinned said. “But I have to pay rent.” to one of your respective “boards” on park32567@saseagles.edu.sg

“

Student mourns deaths, death

Raw emotions only possible response to incomprehensible I did not cry when both my grandparents died a few months ago.

I wasn’t that close to them.

B u t when Sophia Cheng friend ofa mine died, I cried and cried and cried.

It was then that I finally understood what it really means when a person passes away, finally understood what it feels like to lose someone you care about.

I also realized I’ve never understood the meaning of death, and never will be able to.

It’s ironic how death – one of the most common concepts – is a concept and word that human beings will never fully comprehend. Death is one of the few things that we all share in common.

Maybe it’s because we live in a death-denying society. Maybe it’s because faced with something so arbitrary we get scared. Or maybe it’s just because we live in denial. Is it because like illness, it strikes indis-

criminately? Because it doesn’t care lief and shock – shock at how brittle about your importance to mankind, life is, shock that even people who are the number of people who depend on healthy, strong and supposedly had you, your power and status in your so many more years of life ahead of community? Or is it because we’re them could die in a blink. A disbelief too afraid to face a question that no of how vulnerable human beings are. man can ever answer – the question But death is a natural and inevitaof what happens to people when they ble part of life. Eventually every one die? Or is it because death reminds us of us will have to confront our own of the power of nature, that despite our departures. technological advances, we still have In thirty-four days, SAS has exto bow down perienced three to nature in the unexpected losses end?

– an alumnus, who In thirty-four days, SAS was a friend, a priWe cross paths with has experienced three mary school teachdeath everyer and a parent of a unexpected losses – day. We read student. about it in the I cannot bring an alumnus, who was newspapers; we myself to imagine a friend, a primary learn about it the pain that those school teacher and a closest to them in history; we “wish” that perwere suffering. parent of a student. son who ratted I’ve learned that us out for cheating would “die.” But, when a person dies, the relationship despite all this exposure to death, we – memories, conversations, emotions are raised to think that we will live till – doesn’t get erased. It stays there forold age and die naturally, after we’ve ever. grown old, wrinkly and barely able to I try to be grateful for every breath walk, at the end of long, happy lives. I take – in bad times and good times.

I think that is the reason why I was I am thankful for the memories of so nonchalant about my grandparents’ a friend. Thankful that I was fortunate deaths. enough to meet a person like him.

It is also the reason why, when cheng32355@saseagles.edu.sg someone dies young, it inspires disbe-

“

Editor-in-chief: Sophia Cheng, Managing editors-in-chief: Phil Anderson, Gretchen Connick, Anbita Siregar, Op/ed editor: Becky Kreutter, A&E editor: Olivia Ngyuen, Sports editor: Hannah L’Heureux, Layout editor: Jennie Park, Photo editor: Leonel De Velez, Design chief: Leonel De Velez, Reporters: Phil Anderson, Viraj Bindra, Sophia Cheng, Gretchen Connick, Leonel De Velez, Erica Huston, Rachel Jackson, Becky Kreutter, Hannah L’Heureux, Emily Nelson, Olivia Ngyuen, Ash Oberoi, Jennie Park, Anbita Siregar, Tyler Stuart, Megan Talon, Michael Too, Adviser: Mark Clemens

The Eye is the student newspaper of the Singapore American School. All opinions within these pages are those of their respective writers and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Singapore American School, its board of governors, PTA, faculty or administration. Comments and suggestions can be sent to the Eye via the email address, eye@sas.edu.sg. At the author’s request, Pacemaker names can be withheld form publication. Letters will be printed as completely as possible. The Eye reserves the right to edit letters for reasons of taste and space.

theeye

Veteran primary teacher dies in car accident

Primary IT teacher Edd Brown and wife Pat.

By Liz Quick Primary IT coordinator Eddie Roy Brown, a 16-year SAS teaching veteran, died in a traffic accident the day before the Thanksgiving holiday

when his car ran into the back of a bus. Brown had turned in his resignation the day before and planned to retire to Oklahoma at the end of this school year.

Brown started teaching at Singapore American School’s Ulu Pandan campus in 1995 with wife Pat Brown.

Pat was teaching choir at the middle school when she resigned in 2009 for health reasons. She had been in Oklahoma preparing for Ed’s retirement, but flew into Singapore to celebrate Thanksgiving with Edd the night before his accident.

Brown was born in Hollis, Oklahoma April 25, 1945. He graduated from Southwestern Oklahoma State University with a BS in Education in 1970. He earned his masters degree in education there in 1973. He first teaching job was 9th grade math in Cyril, Oklahoma. He was a principal in Buena Vista where he and Pat raised their two sons.

His first overseas job was at the Saudi Arabian Airlines school in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The Browns fin-

ished two years there before moving to Singapore to teach at SAS. Primary students often described Brown’s computer class as their favorite, and he was always willing to help any teacher in need of computer assistance.

A memorial service was held on Dec. 2, in the SAS Elementary Theater. Over 200 colleagues, parents and former students attended.

Brown leaves behind two sons.

Dr. John-Edd Brown and his wife Kathy live on the farm in Oklahoma where Edd grew up. Major Robert L. Brown, and his wife Jane live in Las Vegas. The Browns have five grandchildren - Elizabeth, Sophie, Lauren, Jack and Sarah. Another is expected in May. Junior Meghna Lall, started school at SAS in second grade. She remembers Edd Brown’s computer

December 15, 2010

5

classes and was upset on hearing new of his death.

“I was really shocked, he was like a grandfather figure to everyone he taught,” she said.

Emails from former students and colleagues poured in from all over the world, testimony to the impact that Brown had everywhere he taught.

Diane Sheesley, who worked with the Browns when they taught in Colorado, wrote an email to Pat Brown that was read at the memorial service: “To know Edd Brown was to know the true meaning of friendship.

He was a teacher among teachers, and a leader among leaders, but most of all, he was a friend. Very few people are blessed enough to have an ally as loyal, fun, entertaining and just plain enjoyable in their lives as those of us whom Edd invited into his life.” quick14519@saseagles.edu.sg

Tattooed, pierced students just want to express themselves H i g h school students are getting tattoos and piercings done.

These students aren’t punks either. Walk into the A u x i l i a ry Michael Too Gym during an Honor Roll lunch or into a National Honor Society meeting, and plenty of piercings and a handful of tattoos can be found.

Some students think wearing plain uniforms forces individuals to express themselves through body art, while some think these tattoos and piercings are just another trend in fashion and not a reaction to school dress restrictions. “[Students] often times get tattoos under their uniforms – even belly button piercings – so uniforms don’t play a part in getting them at all,” junior

Shane Soetaniman said.

Sophomores Lexie Chadwick and Xeve Basilla share Shane’s opinion and don’t feel like they are limited by the uniform. Chadwick has ten piercings - three on the lobe and one in the cartilage in her right ear, two in the lobe, one in the tragus, and one in the rook of her left ear, a belly button piercing and a tongue frenulum (the part that connects the tongue to the bottom of the mouth to keep from swallowing it) piercing. She bears a tattoo of the infinity symbol across her lower hip. Basilla has one piercing in his left ear lobe - a common place for males to get a piercing.

“Ear piercings are a trend [for guys]. I thought it looked cool, and I was influenced by my older brother,” Basilla said.

Some students do think that the uniforms and dress code policy limit their expressions of individuality.

“There are no ways to stand out,” senior Kelly Schuster said. “In my old school, Jakarta International School, we didn’t have uniforms, and I didn’t have any piercings. We expressed

ourselves through our clothing, our own style.”

Schuster has seven piercings: three piercings on her right ear, two piercings on her left ear, a belly button piercing, and a nose piercing. She is currently planning to get a tattoo on her right shoulder blade.

“I wanted an easy way to change without permanence and feel bad ass,” she said.

The dress code policy affects many students’ choices, but another

factor that limits their individuality is their parents. Ear piercings for guys are not restricted by the dress code policy.

“I would get my ears pierced, but my mom would kill me,” freshmen Nathaniel Edds said.

If it isn’t a tattoo or piercing, students have found many other ways to express themselves. Common items that are varied among students are: jewelry, watches, wrist bands and shoes.

Corrections

The following is an excerpt from mail received after the October 7, 2010 article “Student voice heard on small things, like the bells, but not on really huge ones-like the toilets.”

We do agree that on some occasions the toilets, especially those at the High School Library and on the third floor near the math wing, may need additional rounds of cleaning.

Toilets at the High School are now spot cleaned more often daily, and scrubbed down fortnightly instead of monthly. As more resources are dedicated to housekeeping, this exercise will be rolled out to all areas of the school to ensure overall cleanliness of the school toilets.

The school has also installed air fresheners at the High School toilets to control odors during peak periods.

As was mentioned in the article, at the end of the day cleanliness is everybody’s business. all of us play a vital role and we can start by making use of the amenities properly. Small gestures like picking up tissue we have dropped and making an effort to call the Housekeeping Hotline will go a long way in keeping out toilets clean.

Some students use color in their hair or on their nails to stand out.

“A trend in guys is sagging, but I don’t do this,” freshman Joe Park said. (sagging is the trend of wearing pants below the waist therefore revealing underwear). “There are other ways to express yourself with sports, arts and other activities.”

Students may participate in a variety of fashion trends, but getting piercings or tattoos are things that will stick forever, literally.

By Erica Hustonå

The following is an excerpt from mail received after the October 7, 2010 article “Student voice heard on small things, like the bells, but not on really huge ones-like the toilets.”

Following the article in The Eye, we have: 1.Reviewed frequency of daily spot and periodic cleaning of toilets; 2.Reviewed standards and methods of cleaning with supervisor and contract staff; 3.Flushed all floor traps (drains) to get rid of possible back charge of odor; 4.Thoroughly cleaned the toilet floors especially in H328A and H328F. The dried white effluence (“latince”) was identified as water mixed with small amounts of cement from previous repairs; 5.Installed 27 air fresheners in HS staff and student toilets, to ensure better odor management at peak periods; and 6.Reviewed and rectified ventilation fans where necessary.

The Facilities Office will continue to monitor and work closely with ServiceMaster, our housekeeping contractor, to ensure a high standard of cleaning practices for restrooms for the entire SAS campus.

Thank you for helping us improve SAS campus operations. Please do not hesitate to contact the Housekeeping Hotline (9066 2722) if you see anything that needs cleaning. You may also contact the Facilities Office at extension 6376 or visit us at H208 (behind Subway/across Mr. Burnett’s room).

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7

More numbers next issue in this regular Eye feature

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THEIR STORIES:

Two students, teacher recount their struggles Ana, SAS student For five years SAS student Ana (not her real name) struggled with anorexia that started when she was twelve.

At her lowest point she weighed 32 kg – the healthy weight of a nine-year-old.

She felt like she was starting to lose control of her life – deaths and illness occurred to family and friends and the only thing she thought she could control were the numbers on the scale. Watching the scale read less and less gave her a sense of achievement.

She didn’t realized what she was doing to her body until one day she broke down. She had turned yellow because she was living off a small cup of water a day. Her liver was breaking down. Her hair had grown to thin and brittle; her eyes were glazed over. It was then she realized she needed help.

The hardest thing about recovering, Ana said, was fighting the negative voices. Fighting negative voices for Ana meant battling that person within her who had taken over her body and mind for the past five years – the person that convinced her that she was fat.

It took her about six months to lose all the weight but four years to be healthy again.

Cheryl, primary two student

“The reason I engaged in such unhealthy behavior was because my ballet teacher told me that I didn’t have the right body, and that I should not eat in order to achieve the ideal body type.”

High school dance director Tracy Van Der Linden

Eight-year-old Cheryl Ong, a primary two student in a local, Singapore school, began starving herself after her dance teacher told her she was fat. She hid food behind curtains and in flowerpots in her backyard. She grew thinner and thinner, weighing 27 kg after two months of starving herself. Eventually, she became so weak she fainted at school one day and was admitted to the hospital. She was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa and had to be forced-fed.

During her recovery, Ong worked with doctors and her parents to overcome her disorder.

“You should see my ballet classmates. They are super slim,” Ong said. “But maybe I have to accept that I will never be as slim as them.”

Some more likely than others to develop eating disorders According to counselor Sue Nesbitt, appearance oriented sports such as dance, gymnastics, and figure skating suffer from a higher rate of eating disorders.

High school dance teacher Tracy Van Der Linden, who started dancing when she was three, was a junior at ISKL when she started starving herself to lose weight.

“I chose not to eat a lot, sometimes not more than an apple a day in order to lose weight,” Van Der Linden said.

“The reason I engaged in such unhealthy behavior was because my ballet teacher told me that I didn’t have the right body, and that I should not eat in order to achieve the ideal body type.”

Van Der Linden recovered from anorexia less than a year later when a different teacher gave her a wake up call by pointing out what was actually happening to her body.

For most, the hardest part when a loved one has an eating disorder, is how to deal with the situation.

Early identification and treatment the key to recovery “ If someone is suffering from an eating disorder, it needs to be dealt with earlier, not later. The longer it persists, the harder it is to break the pattern. The key to working through the disorder is to gain the person’s trust which means that as a counselor I need to remain objective. It is about helping the student recognize the problem, and getting parents involved,” Nesbitt said.

The struggle for teens to become thinner is a problem that can’t be solved right away.

“By eating a balanced diet, exercising, and appreciating the body you have,” Van Der Linden believes there are other ways to achieve self acceptance with your body.

Bodies to d

Increasingly younger children, mostly to attain perfect body. Parents, teach

disorders has soared 119 percent between 1999 and 2006.

By Hannah L’Heureux Irish nutritionist and dietitian Anne Collins says that They fight to be thinner. According to the National Institute of mental health more than 1.6 percent of the 50 percent of girls between ages 8-10 are unhappy with entire U.S. population, about 8 million ( 7 million girls their size and five percent of girls aged 9-5 admit to using and 1 million boys), have a serious eating disorder. What their parent’s laxatives and diet pills to lose weight.

“Increasis it that drives ingly over the adolescents to last 20 years, starvation, to younger kids binging and have been expurging, deprivposed to more ing their bodies adult type inof the important f o r m a t i o n ,” nutrients they elementary needs to grow school psyand function chologist Bill normally?

-Dr. Phil, U.S. television psychologist Hanagan said.

In the last “And some of 20 years, the prevalence of eating disorders has not only increased, but that information really pushes that idealized perfection of has affected younger victims. According to government physical form.” data contained in the American Academy of Pediatrics, IMPOSSIBLE TO PINPOINT ONE FACTOR the hospitalization of children younger than 12 with eating

biggest image drive that we have “The is the media, girls are lifted up as icons and they are underweight. Many girls actually starve themselves to death trying to look like posh spice or Nicole Richey.

“

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about a child’s weight and what he or she is eating, the child will likely grow up with the mindset that one can’t be thin enough.

“How you are treating your kids around dinner time, around food in general and their body image [plays a part],” Betts said. “Some parents want their kids to not ever get a little bit chubby, and they start putting them on diets when they are really little - I mean like 9 and 10.

Parents start worrying. “Are they going to get overweight.” because they want this perfect child.”

SIGNS OF AN EATING DISORDER

in the

United States 1.6%

The two most prevalent eating disorders are anorexia, the refusal to maintain a healthy body weight, and bulimia, of the the cycle of binging and purging to lose weight. A victim population has of these disorders may start off by trying to lose weight us- a serious eating ing a harmless diet. Initially harmless, the dieting becomes disorder an uncontrollable obsession over body image. that’s about There is disordered eating, and there are eating disorders. It starts with the yo-yo dieter who is constantly dieting to lose weight. It becomes more serious when the (7m girls person does not have control over what they are doing and 1m boys) anymore; when they are addicted to losing weight. It is hard to pinpoint when a disorder starts.

Katie Metcalfe, a university student in the U.K. had anorexia from 15-19. After being bullied by boys in her class, she made her New Year’s resolution to lose weight.

She continuously cut things out of her diet and started exercising obsessively.

“It became a power thing for me.

I suddenly had this new control and it -counselor Dawn Betts was wonderful,” Katie said.

When Katie had a heart attack, she ended up in a hospital, finally getting treatment for her disorder.

Though there is no black-and-white definition that identifies the precise beginning of an eating disorder, Betts said counseling is easier and more likely to be successful at the “disordered eating” stage.

8 million

honestly more worried “I’m about the eating disorder person than I am about somebody that’s suicidal.

“

SEEKING HELP: IT NEVER HURTS TO ASK

PURGED. Forced vomiting may cause dehydration, anemia and ulcers to name a few effects.

If a student senses a peer having trouble with his or her body image it’s always better to talk to them about it than let it potentially progress. Signs of an eating disorder may consist of constant dieting, visible weight loss, constant talk about food and leaving at lunch time to purge.

Talking to someone if they are suspected to have an eating disorder will not make it worse.

“It’s almost never worse. It’s going to get worse anyways, almost always. The sooner you can treat it, the better chances of recovery,” Betts said.

Posed photo by Kathryn Fischer

A SERIOUS MENTAL DISORDER

die for

by Hannah L’Heureux

y females, lured by media’s siren call hers, peers echo same standards.

There are many factors that can spark an eating disorder. It may be societal measures and media pressure, family pressures, a rigid personality or even abuse. “[An eating disorder] is a way of having control when people lose control,” counselor Dawn Betts said.

The media fills magazines and screens with glamorous images of skinny, “perfect” people to sell gym memberships, exercise machines, weight-loss pills and exciting new diets. The media screams at adolescents and children to be thinner.

“Women are expected to be a size zero because that’s

what you see on TV,” counselor Sue Nesbit said.

It is ingrained in many kids’ minds that to be goodlooking, they have to be stick skinny.

“The biggest image drive that we have is the media, girls are lifted up as icons and they are underweight.

Many girls actually starve themselves to death trying to look like posh spice or Nicole Richey,” said U.S. television-psychologist Dr. Phil.

Along with pressure from the media, family dynamics play a huge role in the way a child thinks about his or her body when growing up. If the parents constantly comment

A study by the South Carolina “ Department of Mental Health found that

eating disorders had the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. For females, it has a 12 times higher death rate than any other cause of death.

“

Students with eating disorders may struggle in school because of their lack of energy. Depression and paranoia about gaining weight are regularly seen indicators. Because it is a serious mental problem, someone who has an eating disorder may not notice what they are doing to their body. A 60-pound, 16-year-old may look into the mirror and see an obese person staring back at them.

“When I was at very low weight, and I was looking at pictures, to be honest, I still saw this fat, blubbery mass. I didn’t see the bones; I didn’t see the thinness or the emaciation. To me it was just a big lump basically,” Katie said.

At SAS alone there is a higher rate of eating disorders than the estimated 1.6 percent of Americans. In an Eye survey of 357 high school students, 6 percent said that they have had or have an eating disorder.

More than half, 55 percent, said they wanted want to slim down, and 22 percent said they have either starved themselves or purged to lose weight. According to the Eye’s survey, only 14 percent of respondents are comfortable with their weight.

A study by the South Carolina Department of Mental Health found that eating disorders had the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. For females, it has a 12 times higher death rate than any other cause of death. Only 3040 percent of all people with an eating disorder will fully recover.

Betts said that there is documented evidence proving that it is more likely that she would be able to help a suicidal person than someone with an eating disorder.

“If I have somebody that walks in and says ‘I’m severely depressed. I’m suicidal’, and if I have somebody that’s in a full blown eating disorder, I’m honestly more worried about the eating disorder person than I am about somebody that’s suicidal.” lheureux10891@saseagles.edu.sg

in

SAS

6%

have said they have had an eating disorder*

55% said they wanted want to slim down

22% said they have either starved themselves or purged to lose weight

14%

are comfortable with their weight

*from an Eye sample of 357 HS students

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One-on-one: Dr. Jeff Devens, school psychologist

Students’ all work, no play claims may be exaggerated “Students have always faced distractions and time-wasters. But computers and cellphones, and the constant stream of stimuli they offer, pose a profound new challenge to focusing and learning.”

- “Growing Up Digital, Wired for Distraction,” by New York Times reporter Matt Richtel

By Gretchen Connick The battle between Facebook and homework continues as difficult-to-attain discipline seems to be the only true solution. School psychologist Dr. Jeff Devens said that technology will most likely win over a teacher.

“The reality is, with the Internet the way it is set up and functions, and the access that students have to it open-ended, teachers are going to lose every time,” he said.

He said that it all comes down to that one word that no one likes - discipline. From the age that children are old enough to use a computer, parents must teach them how to use it responsibly, to be disciplined and honest.

“I am not placing blame on students; I am not placing blame on educators. But what I am saying is that we are recognizing there is a problem. And that is the challenge,” he said.

Some students claim to spend their entire weekend at home studying.

“I don’t buy it,” Dr. Devens said.

According to a study that Dr. Devens did on students taking AP classes, results showed that a student taking one AP class usually showed the same level of stress as one taking four AP classes. He said that this means that students need to learn how to balance their time more efficiently. One of the main distractions is the Internet and social networking.

“I just came form the cafeteria and I know it’s free period, but everyone in that cafeteria, I kid you not, everyone in that cafeteria was on some sort of Internet device. I walked over to two or three computers and just like I’ve seen every other time they are doing one of three things: gaming, social networking or watching YouTube videos. I’m not saying that that’s wrong per se, but I’m saying…what’s going on here?” he said.

Dr. Devens said that every student has a unique set of study skills that they must look at and utilize. A student does not have to spend five hours on homework if they are productive.

He said that it is important to remember that stress varies from person to person. Two hours of homework may be stressful for one student, but luxurious for another. It all comes down to the individual.

At this point in students’ lives, other things are more important than GPAs. “One of the best tools that kids need to take from high school is the ability to be responsible for their lives. My hope is that when kids leave SAS they will have the necessary tools to understand what healthy relationships are and how to respond to other people in positive ways. We hope that they can handle setbacks and that when difficulties occur they don’t have to run back to mom and dad, but they can recognize that hey, ‘I’ve got the tools that mom and dad gave to me to be able to grapple with issues,’” he said. connick35815@saseagles.edu.sg

Not all rules written

Whispered relief for those with three tests or more on same day

By Megan Talon If you have three tests on one day, you don’t have to take all three.

There is a rule, one that has been around for awhile, that students with three-tests can reschedule one. Unfortunately, the rule is not written and a large number of students are not aware.

Sophomore Juhee Lee was unaware of this alternative and said that if the situation comes up again where she has three tests in one day, she will reschedule one.

Deputy Principal Doug Neihart searched this year and last year’s handbooks for the rule, but failed to turn it up.

“It should be in the handbook, Neihart said. “I don’t know if it was purposely left out, but it is also true that if a student has three exams in one day, the student may contact Ms. Mehrbach or I and we will work

things out.”

Neihart wrote a sticky note reminder and stuck onto a page of his personal handbook.

“Since it’s not in the handbook, I don’t know how students will be aware of it,” Neihart said. “But somehow it gets passed on by word of mouth so some people are aware of it.”

Neihart said it will be in next year’s handbook for sure. “ I’m not going to study two hours per test when I have three tests in one day,” junior Aditya Raikar said. “I’ll try to take one in my free.“ Seniors Henry Lee, Ian Wu and Therese Vainius said they were all surprised that this rule existed.

When asked if they had the opportunity to take a test on another day they all responded in unison, “Oh, hell, yeah.” talon35526@saseagles.edu.sg

Students struggle for balance

By Gretchen Connick Between service clubs, dance, music practice, extra classes outside of school and sports, maintaining one’s fantasy GPA can be a stressful chore. Students in an Eye survey report that they are spending up to six hours on homework per night.

“For the caliber of school that we are and the caliber of students that we have, I think that an average of three to four hours a night is probably normal,” counselor Trevor Sturgeon said.

Students said that distractions such as Facebook, food breaks, phone calls and texting add to the hours that they spend on homework per night.

Whether taking five APs or none, of the 368 students surveyed, 157 claim to have an average stress level of four out of five, with five being the most stressed.

Surveyed students reported that 45 percent of them spend more time on their school lives than they do on their personal ones. The habit of putting one’s academic life before his or her personal a n d so-

cial life is not healthy. Sturgeon said that doing too much of one thing never is.

“It is important to have balance in our lives, whether it’s between sports, music, art or academics in order to be well-rounded individuals and not just one dimensional,” he said.

Junior Jake Issenburg manages his time by doing his homework during his free and on the bus to preserve personal time at home. As a result he said is “very content” with his balance. Junior Marcus Campbell who reported being happy with his social and academic life, said that he uses a website that blocks Facebook when he needs to be productive.

Trying to maintain successful study habits, sophomore Stephanie Peralta said she does considerable review in advance and studies with others.

Some are driven by parental pressure to succeed, others by self-inflicted pressure to meet the standards of their dream schools.

Either way, Sturgeon said that GPA is not everything.

“You can have perfect scores and be an academic genius, but if you do not have more to

add to yourself as a person, you’re not getting in,” he said.

Sturgeon said that not every school fits everyone. Harvard, Yale and Princeton are not for each individual, and it is up to the student to be introspective about who they are and what they want out of their experi-

“For...the caliber of students

that we have, I think that an average of three to four hours a night is probably normal

“

-counselor Trevor Sturgeon ences at this point in life.

“You can’t change the fact that teachers must give tests, so start studying instead of complaining about how unfair they are. You can’t control what admissions committees do behind closed doors, so after you’ve sent in your applications, just let it go. People who waste their energy worrying about things they can’t change don’t have enough energy left over to fix the things they can,” wrote Dr. Kenneth R. Ginsburg in his book “A Parent’s Guide to Building Resilience in Children and Teens: Giving Your Child Roots and Wings.”

Homework, tests, projects and, for the seniors, college applications have the ability to increase stress levels. Although Sturgeon said that some degree of stress is healthy and the ability to cope with it leads to success, he said that students should not spend their time in high school being stressed.

“Have fun, enjoy your high school experience and your college experience. You have the rest of your life to be stressed,” Sturgeon said. connick35815@saseagles.edu.sg

Stop wearing running shoes

Chris McDougall says the best way to run is barefoot

By Michael Too Chris McDougall, an avid runner, author and magazine editor, is 48 years old. He is capable of running 50 miles, and he has not sustained any running related injuries in the past few years. What is his secret?

He runs barefoot.

McDougall visited SAS Dec. 2, to talk about his running and his book, “Born to Run.” Modern medical researchers attribute many leg and tendon injuries to running. Major athletic shoe companies such as Nike and Adidas suggest that their products can reduce such injuries and improve running. “[That] is the biggest con in a while,” McDougall said.

Much of McDougall’s running influence has come, not from well known athletes, sportswear companies and magazines, but from a Mexican mountain tribe called the Tarahumara.

The Tarahumaras are known for their above-average running capabilities. To this tribe, 50 miles of running is considered light. Common distances range more from 100 to 250 miles.

Tarahumara runners accomplish these feats without the aid of Nike products or knee braces – they run barefoot.

McDougall’s running career unexpectedly began while on a hunt for a fugitive Mexican pop star in

Mexico. McDougall came across a magazine advertisement that showed a “55-year-old man in a robe” with

a caption that read “[he was] able to run 100 miles at a time.” The man in the picture was from the Tarahumara tribe, and ever since, McDougall has been intrigued with the tribe and their running abilities.

During his presentation in the Drama Theater, McDougall explained how our modern perspective of running is different than the tribe’s.

“[We] don’t need so much technology... The market uses fear to scare us into buying their products to [help] us run.”

“But in fact, running is a natural birthright.”

McDougall presented the analogy: “Running with shoes is like playing the piano with gloves. Without the gloves, you can feel the keys much better.”

With his inspiration from the Tarahumara tribe, he suggests that our society’s running mentality is too competitive. “[The Tarahumara runners] run with the group, not against the group.

Time should be irrelevant.”

McDougall speaks not only to runners; he speaks to all athletes, to push them in whatever they do.

In the past, after suffering from chronic Achilles tendon pain, McDougall once went to the doctor.

“Doctors say that running is bad, that the impact is bad. They say that 90% of marathon runners get injured during the year.”

These words and statistics don’t phase McDougall at all, though.

“Our bodies are more resilient and unbreakable than we realize, “ McDougall said. too15433@saseagles.edu.sg

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11

Teachers weigh in on stress, grading, sleep

“I

t’s stressful when parents have one perception, and that perception is coming generally from a student, and I have a different perception. There are times when you lock heads. And that takes time, it takes energy, and adds to stress...But the daily classroom thing, no, I don’t find it very stressful.”

Science teacher, Michael Cox

“I

f you decide to go to bed instead of finishing a piece of work, there’s a consequence. Whereas a teacher can say, I’m going to get this back to you next time. And they can make some decisions that don’t have as harsh a consequence.”

- Spanish teacher, Pele Hallam-Young

“I

“D

efinitely a couple days a week I’ll be up doing some work until maybe 10 or 11 but at least one day a week I’ll put my kids to bed at eight and fall asleep right away.”

-Social studies teacher, Erik Torjesen

“W

hen I arrived at SAS in ‘81, you taught and that’s really all you were expected to do. You did the best job you could, and I really think that SAS was a much stronger institution then.”

-Science teacher, Michael Cox

“T

eachers at SAS put a lot of pressures on themselves to do well.

Some students don’t succeed as well as you’d like them to and that feels like a failure as a teacher and so you are trying to find ways to improve.”

(on Grading)

n addition to my normal workload, I’m also a father and I have two children that I’m responsible for, and I have a family that depends on me. Teachers have a lot of responsibility besides their schoolwork.”

-Math teacher, Joe Lingle

-Math teacher, Joe Lingle

Before and After: Staff share views on cafeteria mess Lunch. 11:43am

“O

n one hand when I attend the Peace Initiative assembly I’m amazed by the depth that our students can support causes. Right here on our campus we have housekeepers that work very hard and a very easy way of showing respect is just to pick up after ourselves.”

– Deputy Principal Doug Neihart

Lunch. 12:01pm

“I

contrast [high school students] with primary/ intermediate students. Those kids diligently put away their trays. And what happens when you’re in high school? It seems like this skill goes away.”

-Social studies teacher, Erik Torjesen

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More research confirms kids not getting enough sleep

A few schools alter schedules to accommodate students’ body clocks, find results in academic achievement sleep and work can be hard. With the countless sports, clubs, extracurricular activities, shows and more, students feel overwhelmed and tired. As the projects, tests and homework assignments pile up, it seems that sleep loses in the battle with homework.

“I am usually up until twelve or later working on assignments” junior Colin Lo said. “If I need to stay up to finish all of my work, I will. That can be later than twelve some nights” Lo said he does not like the feel-

Senior Henry Lee catches some sleep in the cafeteria during his free period, while senior Catherine Chumakov catches up on some homework.

Wiped out after a long day of work, freshmen David Ries gets some sleep in the library during his free period while listening to his iPod.

Photo by Leonel De Velez

By Emily Nelson Teenagers do not get enough sleep. In fact, 85 percent of them don’t.

According to the National Sleep Foundation of America, only 15 percent of teenagers are getting the ten hours of sleep per night they need to feel rested. Studies done by the National Sleep Foundation have shown, because of increasing homework assignments, Internet distractions, and smartphones, sleep deprivation may be increasing among teens.

In a Nov. 21, New York Times article, “Growing Up Digital, Wired for Distraction,” reporter Matt Richtel says that not only do students get

distracted by Facebook, YouTube and smartphones and stop working altogether, but students are also picking up the habit of using the Internet, watching TV or using some other form of media either “most” or “some” of the time while they are doing homework.

In another Times article, “Sleep is One Thing Missing in Busy Teenage Lives,” the writer found that students are not tired while slaving away on homework at night, but rather are hit by fatigue during class because of the lack of sleep at night. Students are not tired at 9:00 or 10:00 p.m.; their body clocks have been set to deal with later times. However, while students may

FILMS: The Social Network

Aaron Sorkin and David Fincher create a dramatic masterpiece

Zuckerberg (played by Jesse Eisenberg) smirks as he gets revenge against his ex-girlfriend (played by Rooney Mara) through the creation of FaceMash, the site that inspired Facebook.

By Jennie Park Girl breaks up with boy. Girl throws in a few of these for good measure: “It’s not you it’s me,” or the infamous “I need some space.” Boy tries to win girl back. So goes the typical break up scene in Hollywood.

However, in “The Social Network” Boy doesn’t win Girl back with a wilting bouquet of flowers and a box of chocolates. Boy creates the largest social networking tool in the world. But here’s the catch: Boy never wins Girl back.

When Mark Zuckerberg’s girlfriend (played by Rooney Mara) breaks up with him in the first scene

he replies: “Is this a joke?” and continues to beleaguer her. At this point, Zuckerberg’s ex-girlfriend announces she needs to study and attempts to escape the crowded bar where they are sitting.

“You don’t need to study!” He keeps saying to her, begging her to come back. “Why do you keep saying that to me?” Zuckerberg’s ex says.

And then comes the punch line: “Because you go to BU!” In David Fincher’s “The Social Network,” the brilliant opening break up scene resonates in the viewer’s head for the duration of the film.

Paired with a fast-paced and witty

library is too loud,” he said. “We tend to go around and wake the kids up, as it is the rule of the library - no sleeping.”

Freshmen and sophomores suffer only a little less than upperclassmen.

Sophomore Prayuj Pushkarna also finds himself working until twelve almost every night. “[I] have to finish my work before I sleep,” Pushkarna said. “I make sure I am completely done before I get into bed.”

not feel tired, they are not getting enough sleep as they are getting into bed by 1:00 or 2:00 and up and out of the door by 7:00 for school the next morning.

“Tired students have a hard time paying attention, and even if they do somehow manage to focus, they may forget what they were taught because memory formation takes place partly during sleep,” reporter Denise Grady wrote.

Sleep is the time for students to reboot and let their lessons of the day sink in.

For many juniors and seniors who are working on college essays and college apps, taking APs, balancing script written by Aaron Sorkin, “The Social Network” is one part thriller, one part study in psychology. It delves into the mind of Facebook mastermind Mark Zuckerberg (played by Jesse Eisenberg) with intelligent and snarky lines that reveal, ironically, the king of social network’s social disabilities.

Sorkin’s script for “The Social Network” captivates, leaves us yearning for more, and is laden with a residue of loneliness. The film leaves the audience feeling sorry for Zuckerberg, a boy-genius who has created an empire and despite the material fullness of his life, is left unfulfilled and empty.

Sorkin’s script is thoughtful—it may or may not be accurate, but every line is thick with emotion and personality.

“After all, the movie was clearly intended to be entertainment and not a fact-based documentary,” Eduardo Saverin, CFO of Facebook (and original Zuckerberg business partner) said.

How much of The Social Network is true? Is the creator of Facebook really the socially retarded jerk that he is portrayed as in the film? Who knows.

But Zuckerberg assured us that parts of the film had been exaggerated for cinematic reasons. For instance, the touching opening scene, according to Zuckerberg, was fabricated.

“I’ve been dating the same girl since before Facebook. Filmmakers

Photo by Emily Nelson

ing of shutting his eyes and relaxing with unfinished work.

“It feels weird and unnatural,” Lo said.

To finish their work, some students are willing to lose sleep and work into the night. Consequently, they spend the day snoozing in class, in the library quiet room, on hall benches, or a select few in the cafeteria.

Librarian Gary Dwor-Frecaut said that he sees larger numbers of students sleeping in the library in the mornings.

“Kids are asleep, but most kids find it difficult to find sleep in the library during frees and breaks as the

To improve the sleep quality of students, a Rhode Island High School pushed back its starting time from 8:00 to 8:30.

“The delayed start increased the number of students who said they got at least eight hours of sleep from 16 to 55 percent,” wrote Scientific American reporter Cynthia Graber in the July 5 article, “Later School Start Time Leads to Better Student.”

“Class attendance also improved, and there were fewer visits to the health center for fatigue-related complaints,” Graber said. nelson14475@saseagles.edu.sg

Eduardo Saverin (played by Anthony Garfield), CFO and ex-best friend of Zuckerberg, writes a crucial algorithm on the dorm window.

can’t wrap their head around the idea that someone might build something because they like building things,” Zuckerberg said in an interview.

But Zuckerberg did admit the film accurately represented his wardrobe choices. Every North Face fleece zipup that movie-Zuckerberg wore, reallife Zuckerberg had worn at some point as well.

Disregarding the accuracy of the film, “The Social Network” was a gem. It was given a 96 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, a site notorious tfor awarding harsh ratings to

even the most commercially successful films. (“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” was given a meager 78 percent)The fast and smart script and powerful acting by Jesse Eisenberg make The Social Network a film worth watching. park32567@saseagles.edu.sg

Sean Parker, creator of Nabster, (played by Justin Timberlake) stirs up trouble as the hot-shot know-it-all who convinces Zuckerberg to make him his business partner.

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December 15, 2010

Thriller campus zombification big success

Humans vs. zombies sweeps SAS, sock-bearing students gear up for island-wide game

GAME OVER. Senior Elizabeth Conklin throws a tantrum after being converted to a zombie during lunch. Conklin was one of the last humans converted on the first day of Humans vs. Zombies

A HEALTHY DIET. Senior Mckenzie Finchum passes her registration number to senior Samantha Conrad after Conrad converted Finchum into a zombie. Zombies had to “feed” on people every 24 hours to live until the next day.

Photo by: Viraj Bindra

Photo by Viraj Bindra

By Phil Anderson I push open the double doors and run. I reach the Booster Booth only 100 meters away and, heart pounding, ask for two pencils and a pad of paper.

Out of the corner of my eye, I notice senior Michael Too moving towards my general direction.

Sock in hand, I wait for any sudden movements, to see if Too would jump at me. I check his forearms, failing to see a letter, but never once lower my guard. I pay the cashier and slowly back away from Too only relaxing when I’m in the safety of the cafeteria.

The level of paranoia was immense on Nov. 22, when over 40 students played the Humans vs. Zombies game on campus.

The game, originally started by Chris Weed and Brad Sappington in Goucher College in Maryland, was organized by senior Adam Boothe af-

ter he read about it in the Internet.

“It’s played in college more often, but I thought it sounded fun and decided to start a game here,” Boothe said.

Boothe organized the game through Facebook, first finding if there was any interest by posting the link to the Human vs. Zombies as his status. As more people showed interest, Boothe began a Facebook group and the game began.

The main objective of the game is for either the zombies to convert all the humans, or for the humans to survive. Zombies must “feed” on humans by tagging them, and collecting the humans unique ID number, which was assigned to all players when they registered, and that the zombies can then enter into the website. If zombies don’t feed in 24 hours, they die.

Humans could protect themselves by either hitting a zombie with a sock, which would stun them for 15 min-

utes, or by being in a safe zone, which late on the first day and by the time are locations where zombies can- I got there, the game was already not convert humans. The safe zones over,” said senior Megan Trgovich, were the silent reading room, the high who arrived during lunch.

Trgovich was the only student school office, the Counselling Office, when classes were in session and who thought the game was too short.

Senior Kayla Sawhill, even though when you were sitting down.

The cafeteria was also added as she did not participate in the game, a safe zone half way through the I was going to play, but I came late first game. on the first day and by the time I got “ A d m i n said [playing there, the game was already over - senior Megan Trgovich the game] was cool as long as it wasn’t inside the said everyone was already a zombie caf. Plus, a lot of people were being by the beginning of lunch.

In order to extend the length of the tagged in the caf, so we made it a safe zone to make the game last longer,” game, Boothe decided to introduce a medic to the game, who could convert Boothe said.

One of the main problems with zombies back into humans.

“Everyone got out on two blocks, the game was that it didn’t last long enough for the zombies to “starve” so I figured a way to do some damsince all the humans were converted age control would be to introduce a medic, so people could come back to before third period.

“I was going to play, but I came the human side,” Boothe said.

“

“

The medic was only introduced on the following day, in which anyone could join the game, not only those registered. This increased the number of players and even included a couple of freshmen, like Creighton Little.

“I don’t know about the rest of the freshmen, but I only saw two or three of people play out of my friends. I wasn’t intimidated because I know most of the upperclassmen from football,” Little said.

Although the majority of the players seemed to be seniors, Boothe said that the game was not restricted to upperclassmen only, and believes everyone who wants to play should.

“The [seniors and juniors] seemed like the only ones that wanted to play, I don’t know if the underclassmen thought they were too cool or too shy or too disconnected, but everyone should play if they want,” Boothe said. anderson33674@saseagles.edu.sg

Social cliques exclude students separate the school into groups

By Olivia Nguyen When sophomore Kylee Southwell first moved to SAS last year, it reminded her of Gossip Girl. Replicas of Queen Blairs and Serenas glared at her from their tables, pointing at the new girl. She kept thinking: “Where should I go? What should I do?”

Southwell settled on the library, where she spent her free time until this year where she made friends and had a place to sit in the cafeteria.

“I find it really hard to fit into cliques here, people will make you feel awkward or insecure if they don’t know you or don’t like you,” Southwell said. “But you’d think with all the different groups, you’d find a group you click with, but that doesn’t necessarily happen to everyone.”

Finding a place to sit in the cafeteria can be one of the most challenging things to do for some, especially when your placement seems to be predetermined and based on stereotypes, popularity or luck. SAS students have a reputation for being “cold” towards people outside their own social circle; however, most students don’t even realize the behavior they portray

Invisible Lines. Orange are the Freshmen.

Green are the Sophomore. Red is the Seniors.

Photo by: Leonel De Velez

is even cliquey in the first place.

Sophomore Fumie Reyes believes cliques are group of people who share a common interest, and may be the same ethnicity. But students believe that groups and cliques are different based on how much the groups socialize with the rest of the grade.

“I think a clique is a group of people that all have the same dress, do the same things…a clique is based on shared interests, whereas a group can be a random assortment of people that you get along with,” sophomore Aidyn Bradford said.

“Like in my group, we’re all different.

But it works.”

While groups at the school may seem harmless, some students refuse to talk to people outside their “group.”

With groups already being established in the cafeteria, some students believe that groups will rarely allow new people in.

“Everybody has their own group of friends, and they strictly stick to that group of friends,” sophomore Monica Chritton said.

Junior Kate Penniall disagrees that the school’s cliques

FRESHMEN SOPHOMORES SENIORS

prevent people from socializing.

“I think at SAS the cliques aren’t as defined as they are in other schools.

So you can go from clique to clique and talk to each other, but everyone has their group of friends.”

For the people who don’t feel comfortable sitting in the cafeteria, underclassmen believe hostile feelings seem to dominate the vibe of the high school cafeteria.

Girls and boys have stuck to their respective groups since first moving to SAS. The clique -Junior Kate Penniall situation at the school can be related to the satirical movie Mean Girls directed and written by Tina Fay, but senior Rodrigo Zorrilla believes that cliques at SAS aren’t as prominent.

“They exist, and yet they are not as defined as American teen movies would like to portray them… A specific clique of “the jocks” or “the plastics” isn’t as clear as pop-culture America may illustrate them,” Zorrilla said. nguyen33543@saseagles.edu.sg

SAS the cliques “At aren’t as defined...

you can go from clique to clique and talk to each other.

“

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December 15, 2010

In pictures: Breaking Through BREAKING THROUGH. Senior Ingrid Kau’s art piece in this year’s art auction, which took place on Dec. 4 in the art loft above the Volvo Dealerships in Alexandra Road.

Over SGD $10,000 were raised for Caring for Cambodia. All photos by Alistair Chew

WINTER WONDERLAND. Finger food served during “Breaking Through,” included Christmas themed cupcakes.

VISITOR’S WELCOME. Pushing through the door, senior Jem Magbanwa and her mom walk in together.

SETTING UP. Junior Alistair Chew hangs his photo collage of senior Jem Magbanwa. Over SGD $10,000 was raised during the auction.

ONE FOOT IN. Junior Jessica Schult’s 3D piece was one of the

few 3D art pieces being auctioned off. The art auction consisted of the art work of all AP Art classes.

HALL OF FAME. Artwork displayed throughout the Volvo dealership was auctioned off for charity.

JUMP THE BORDER. Acrylic paintings, like Junior Jade Fogle’s artwork, was displayed and auctioned off. All the artwork auctioned had a theme of people or things “breaking through.”

SIGN, SEALED, DELIVERED. AP Art student senior Alix Ryan tears paper to wrap auctioned artwork in. All proceeds go to Caring for Cambodia.

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December 15, 2010

Intermediate, middle schools supply most of new, second season coaches

By Erica Huston Girls Varsity basketball coach Jim Goode coached at Boerne High School in San Antonio, Texas, when his basketball team went up against San Antonio’s Cole High School. It was a close game, but Boerne lost.

Cole High School’s star player was future NBA great Shaquille O’Neal.

In the years that Goode coached Texas basketball, he had the opportunity to coach some great athletes. He coached 12 NCAA Division1 players and five players who play professional basketball internationally.

“I feel like I have had an impact on their lives, and I still keep in touch with guys who are in their mid-thirties and have kids and have jobs,” Goode said. “It’s nice to see I’ve made a difference in their world. I enjoy teaching them life lessons through basketball; I enjoy and love the game of basketball and always have.”

Goode takes on a different challenge this year, coaching the Varsity Girls basketball team. He coaches alongside three additional new basketball coaches, middle-school PE teacher Grant Walker, who coaches JV Girls basketball, third-grade teacher Bart Fabianowicz who coaches freshman girls basketball, and high school accounting teacher Dan Skimin, who coaches JV Boys basketball.

High school English teacher Terry Liepold who coached for 13 years at Shanghai American School before coming to SAS, now coachies boys rugby. This year he coaches alongside Andrew Tewsley who comes to SAS from Port Hope, Canada, where

TIME TO WORK: Lady Eagles coach Jim Goode gives him team a pep talk before a game. The girls placed first in the Hong Kong tournament. Photo by Phil An-

] D E T S [BU

he coached boys rugby.

Leipold said he doesn’t worry about his opponents as much as he does his own players.

“Mostly, our goal is to figure out who our team is,” Liepold said, “and not to worry so much about our opponents but focus on what we do well.

That’s always the on-going goal.”

Dan Skimin loves his job as a

coach and says that it is a rewarding position to be in.

“It’s part of being an educator, one of the things we like doing, as educators, is putting kids into situations, that you know, they do something that they never thought they’d do. The self confidence that that provides to the student-- that continues a lot in their lives and it’s very rewarding to us as

educators to be able to set up those situations.”

Other new coaches this year are 8th grade Social Studies teacher Latham Cameron, the coach of Varsity Boys tennis and 7th grade English teacher Marco Martinez who joins the Eagles swimming team staff. huston16831@saseagles.edu.sg

Myth vs. Reality: SAS handles staph situation, possible cancellation of IASAS

By Tyler Stuart Multiple MRSA myths have emerged recently at SAS, causing conThere have been ten known cases of MRSA in the SAS high school fusion, fear, misunderstanding among students, parents and faculty. since the first infection approximately two months ago. Naturally this Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, more commonly has prompted questions and, eventually, myths about where MRSA is known as MRSA infection, is a strain of staph infection that is resistant coming from and how it is contracted. stuart42156@saseagles.edu.sg to antibiotics, making it difficult to treat.

Myth: Reality:

“If you go to the turf field … staph infection,” sophomore Johnny Goode said.

Myth: The turf field is infected and a source of the spread of MRSA. Both students and teachers have dubbed the artificial field an infected zone.

“Everyone is looking for a scapegoat,” school nurse Shelly Donahue said.

A group of doctors and administrators gathered in mid-November to set the facts straight and make sure that everyone was on the same page. Donahue attended the meeting and presented the MRSA cases.

This myth that the turf field could be causing MRSA is “theoretically possible, but not really probable,” Donahue said.

MRSA can survive without a host body for up to 60 minutes in a chlorinated pool and up to 12 days on a weight bench, table or turf field.

Donahue explained that the turf field, while unlikely the source of the MRSA, is a catalyst for injury, which has in turn enables the spread of MRSA through sport activities.

Myth: Reality:

MRSA is contracted when an abrasion is exposed any surface carrying the disease.

MRSA is often contracted in hospitals, however this particular ‘outbreak’ is a case of Community Associated MRSA (CA-MRSA).

This myth leans toward truth, but CA-MRSA “is spread primarily due to skin to skin contact,” Donahue said.

The MRSA infections have appeared predominantly in sports such as American football and rugby.

Molchan said she has witnessed a dramatic improvement in hygiene over the past month in the SAS high school community. Students are taking precautions to ensure their own and others’ safety. At the Touch Rugby exchange held three weeks ago, every athlete with an abrasion was tended to by athletic trainer Tomomi Tanabe.

“Even ridiculous little paper cuts should have a band-aid slapped on them,” Donahue said.

Precautionary measures are being taken by teachers during school to eliminate the threat of MRSA. “Anybody that gets even a slight abrasion in PE class is immediately sent to the nurse’s office,” Deputy Principal Doug Neihart said.

He added that liquid soap dispensers have been place around campus in strategic places in an attempt to sanitize the school environment.

“I wash my hands a very different way than I did a week ago,” Athletics and Activities Director Mimi Molchan said.

Myth: Reality:

An increase in MRSA cases will lead to the cancellation of second season sports.

The rumor of second season sports shutting down is a “very nebulous threat hanging over our heads,” Donahue said.

MRSA is a new strain of staph to Singapore. The Singaporean government would be forced to take strong measures if MRSA continues to spread within the school population. This is because it would increase the likelihood of an outbreak in the general public.

“The scare of us having our second season shut down, I think woke everybody up.

I think it would be pretty devastating,” Molchan said .

This ‘awakening’ is evident in the recent decrease of cases in the high school.

One month ago, there were three active cases, with six previous cases of MRSA. In the past three weeks, there has been one case of MRSA. This case was contracted through siblings rather than school activities.

“What can you do to replace an IASAS event? A pizza party is not going to do it,” Molchan said.

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Girls Score!

December 15, 2010

First Hong Kong victory in 21 years for Lady Eagles Varsity basketball

SAS

By Gretchen Connick History was made as the SAS Eagles girls basketball team snatched the gold in Hong Kong Thanksgiving weekend. For the first time in 21 years the girls came in first place.

“The team played amazingly,” senior Kerry Remson said. “We all worked together and played like we wanted it. All of our hard work paid off.”

Senior Hannah Goode said the

gold was her team’s dream.

“It was the most amazing feeling because we had all worked so hard to win and this was not just a one year thing. For the seniors especially, it was something we had always dreamed of,” she said.

The boys varsity team did not leave empty handed either. They managed to come in third place and still bring home a trophy.

(Clockwise from top right) MAKING HISTORY. Girls varsity team celebrate taking first place in the Hong Kong Invitational Basketball Tournament. This is the first year they have clinched gold in 21 years. Photo by Karianne Blackmon PERFECT LAY-UP. Senior Andrew Farrell shoots a lay up against Kadena High School from Okinawa, Japan. The boys placed third in the tournament. Photo

by Maria Crema GOING FOR GOLD. Junior Emma Graddy scores from under the hoop.

Graddy was given the award for the Most Valuable Player. Photo by Lori McConaghy ON THE BENCH. Coach Jim Goode watches the game from the sidelines, along with the rest of the Lady Eagles. Goode coached against Shaquille O’neil, when he was in high school. Photo by Karianne Blackmon TAKE A BREATHER. Sophomores Alex McConaghy and Tayla Marsh, and seniors Celester Marsh and Hannah Goode watch another game from the sidelines. Photo by Lori McConaghy FADE AWAY. Senior Rauson Clower took takes a shot from the free throw line, with seniors Andrew Farrell and Peter Zampa watching. Photo by Karianne Blackmon GROUP HUG. The boys team celebrate after their victory by against Faith Academy. Captain senior Rauson Clower particularly enjoyed this victory against their old rival. Photo by Maria Crema BREAKING FREE. Senior Matt Crema breaks through the defense of Faith Academy’s basketball team, the Vanguards. The Eagles beat the Vanguards by 5 points. Photo by Karianne Blackmon

“We could have done better, but with what we had we did pretty well,” senior Rauson Clower said.

Clower said he particularly enjoyed beating old rival Faith Academy. Despite not doing as well as he would have liked for them to do, he has high hopes for the next tournament.

“IASAS will be excellent.” connick35815@saseagles.edu.sg