March 23, 2012
Singapore American School
Vol. 31 No. 5
Sophomore Evan Porter greets Thai children before playing a game of duck-duck-goose. The Habitat for Humanity Thailand group visited a school in Udon Thani, for a day, bringing school materials for the children. On other days, students built houses on the other days. Photo by Kelsa Kazyak.
New interim criteria results in cut trips, mixed feelings Changes made to program try to deepen student immersion in learning without walls
By Ash Oberoi Recent changes to the Interim Semester program disappointed science teacher Simon Bright, cosponsor of this year’s “Swiss Bliss” trip. In the four previous years, Bright sponsored “New Zealand: Muddy Wheels, Mountain Biking.” Planners pulled both courses from next year’s list of offerings. The new eco-adventure category
now encompasses a full-blown immersion in nature, with the emphasis on outdoors. The new guidelines say students “should spend the majority of nights in tents or other rugged, ecofriendly accommodations.” Neither of Brights’ trips include sleeping outdoors. “If you’re burning huge numbers of calories biking, skiing, surfing etc. for 6 hours each day, is it
really necessary to sleep in a tent to experience the ‘outdoors’? You’re tired, sore, banged up from all the exercise so you just need a place to sleep and recharge,” Bright said. Science teacher Jay Kumpel sponsored “Australia: Learn to Surf/ Ocean Safety” for seven years, another skills-based trip that did not make the cut for next year. Kumpel said that his trip should
have fallen under the eco-adventure category since its “action-packed” itinerary is set completely outdoors. Kumpel’s course faces the same problem as Bright’s - the students return to a hotel or apartment at the end of the day. “To be quite honest with you, I have sort of a problem with that stipulation,” Kumpel said. “I was in the military, I was in the Peace Corps,
and I can tell you what it’s like to be cold, wet and hungry for long periods of time. If the spirit of interim is taking students out of their comfort zone and exposing them to things they can’t do here in Singapore, then I think this trip does exactly that. I don’t know why we have to put a very strict ‘you can’t stay in a hotel’ clause. I just hope we don’t get hung
continued on page 2
www.saseye.com • 40 Woodlands St. 41, Singapore 738547 • www.sas.edu.sg/hs • (65) 6363 3404 • MICA (P) 091/05/2011
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theeye
March 23, 2012
RISHIKESH, INDIA ORPHANAGE. Sophomore Christina Lee plays with children in an orphanage, visited on the Himalayan Getaway in Rishikesh, India course. Students helped set up a new dorm for 11 girls. All of the orphans are children of lepers who are no longer able to take care of them. Photo by Zarima Greco
Questions raised over value of learning “lifetime skills” and mandatory service courses continued from page one
applies to next year’s entering freshmen. Current classes are exempt. Some argue that students should not be forced to take part in service, that the requirement defeats the altruistic nature behind service. Oms offers the flip side of this argument, that exposing students to service learning will inspire them to contribute to their society. “We have to introduce kids that
‘please don’t interrupt my time on Facebook’.” “I feel that it is our duty, as educators, to make sure that we understand how to be a good global citizen and that requires nudging people into uncomfortable zones where this type of learning creates a more globally-aware citizen,” Began said. English novelist Arnold Bennett
are targeted by the new criteria. Dawn Betts, co-sponsor of “Switzerland: Winter Sports”, said that a fourth category should be created for those interim trips. “Lifetime skills is not even a category anymore,” Betts said. “You have to ask yourself, do you think Interim should build life-time skills? I do.” As of now it appears, Betts’ and Kumpel’s courses have both been canceled. “I don’t know [if I get time to modify my trip]. I’m confused by it to be quite honest with you,” Kumpel said, “It sounded
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up on a little nuance of a rule.” Tico Oms, Chair of the Interim Review Committee, and high school principal Dr. Timothy Stuart made the decisions on which trips would stay, which ones are within reach and which are “fatally flawed.” One list includes trips that will be maintained on the books for two years giving potential sponsors the time to rewrite those to fit the criteria, in order to fall under one of the three categories: global issues, service learning or eco-adventure (“Interim Revolution,” The Eye, Feb 10). Some students worry that the fun of interim will be wiped away by the inflexible application of the new criteria. Oms said he wants to assure these students that Interim will not Students on Interim’s Swiss Bliss course. Photo courtesy of Islander lose its fun factor. wrote, “Any change, even a change “It should be memorable, it should aren’t doing service to the beauty for the better, is always accompanied be a special, enjoyable experience,” that is service, and hopefully it will by drawbacks and discomforts.” This he said. “There should be bonding actually encourage them to keep situation is no different; most of the with other students. I don’t want to doing it,” Oms said. changes are well-founded, justifiable take away any of those great things Martha Began, head of Service ones, but there will be some casualties away, but I still have to make sure Council, said that the act of service - namely, the trips that get cut out of there’s learning involved.” should be ‘authentic and sincere.’ She the program entirely. Service requirement begins with added that by enforcing one year of Skills-based trips take the rising freshmen service for interim, “it pushes people, biggest hit Another worry that students share who otherwise might be spoiled, Kumpel said that all interim is a new rule requiring all students to sitting on the couch and playing courses that include a “skills do at least one service Interim in their their video games or, you know, component” or teach lifelong lessons high school years. That requirement
You have to ask yourself, do you think Interim should build lifetime skills? I do. Dawn Betts Swiss Bliss sponsor
like, when Mr. Oms came and first talked to me, that it was canceled - along with a number of other trips.” However, Oms said that no trips have been completely written off yet. “If there’s a course that a teacher thinks should go through, then they have a chance to appeal for it,” Oms said. Paul Terrile, who has sponsored “Switzerland: Winter Sports” for 11 years, argues against the cancellation
of his trip, which he says teaches a lifelong skill. “A lot of these kids have never seen snow before,” Terrile said, ”Even some great athletes have never been on ski’s before. My father, who’s 79, and I, still ski every Christmas.” Terrile said that he has not been offered the option to “save” his trip. He said that as far as he knows the main reason for the cancellation of his course is that it is stationary and does not travel from one skiing destination to another. Interim changes lack transparency A number of faculty are frustrated by the interim modifications. They say that the changes may have been too much, too fast. “I think it’s a lot of change in a very short time and I think people are anxious, understandably anxious, that they’ve invested a lot of time and energy into developing trips and then they’ve been, kind of, axed,” science teacher Craig Olsen said. “Perhaps some of the communication about that hasn’t been as good as it could have been.” Junior Stephanie Slaven was one of two students chosen to be on the Interim Committee. Slaven said that her opinions were listened to and taken into account. She added that some of the final changes stemmed from her ideas. Slaven said she is optimistic about the direction that Interim will be taking and hopes that the student-body feels the same way. “Overall I think maybe there are some changes that kids won’t particularly like, but I think that their disagreement with it is just teenagers being unjustifiably annoyed, which is bound to happen with all of us,” Slaven said. oberoi16616@sas.edu.sg
theeye
March 23, 2012
Interim courses categorized for action
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Majority of courses meet new criteria, while others offered time for reworking content These do not fit the new criteria The Big Scuba AUS Surfing NZ Ultimate Adventure NZ Muddy Wheels Swiss Bliss Winter Sports Indonesia Bintan China C, C, & CS
Poland & Czech Republic Portugal Spain Exploration SA Drakensberg Taiwan’s Treasure Island TH Sea Kayaking China B
Swiss Bliss. Photo courtesy of Islander
These courses have 2 years to meet the new criteria SA Kruger BH Thunder Dragon China A Myammar Sri Lanka Adventure TH North Thailand
Greece. Photo courtesy of Islander
Turkey Greece Japan London Theater Russia India Rishikesh
These already meet the new criteria Tanzania BH Adventures Cambodia China Leaping Tiger India Trekking Dharamasala Sabah Sea to Sky Nepal Adventure Nepal Annapurna PH Changing Lives PH Housebuilding TH Habitat TH River Kwai
Tibet Australia Cycling in the West Western Australia Adventure France Immersion Spain Immersion NZ Milford Trek NZ Routeburn Trek India Rishikesh India: South India SA Cape & Coast NZ Meeting of Nations Dan Rama on South Africa Cape and Coast. Photo courtesy of Islander
We’ll thank them later Despite bumpy transition, Interim changes an improvement By Tyler Stuart Sweeping changes to the Interim Semester program baffled teachers and students who failed to understand the motivation for the changes. Principal Dr. Timothy Stuart and the Interim Semester review committee, lead by Interim coordinator Tico Oms, devised three categories with criteria to guide teachers and vendors in revising and creating interim trips: eco-adventure, global issues and service learning. An evaluation by Oms and Dr. Stuart determined that 15 interim trips on this year’s books do not fit the criteria, 12 trips must be revised in the next two years, and 23 meet the criteria set by the new standards. Most students and teachers believe that progress is good, but the moment progress mandates change, especially to a cherished program, opposition rises.
According to its official page on the school website, Interim Semester is intended to “enhance the curriculum by providing high school students with diverse educational experiences beyond the traditional classroom.” The lack of learning-focused trips hindered the potential of Interim Semester because students equated Interim with a much-needed vacation from school work. Because education is bolstered by enthusiasm, the current mindset must change in order to do justice to Interim Semester. If students and teachers express a greater willingness to learn, not only will the trips be fun and engaging, but the intent of the program will be achieved. Interim Semester experiences have the potential to influence students and teachers by shifting paradigms through new experiences. When wealthy, educated
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The current mindset must change in order to do justice to the Interim Semester program.
students get down on all fours and play with an impoverished child, the true spirit of Interim reveals itself. Dr. Stuart and Oms have emphasized the importance of defining and adhering to learning outcomes for each trip without losing the magic that students and teachers experience on Interim. The implementation of the Interim changes could have been more smooth and transparent, but none of that matters. The idea that Interim should educate in a way not possible in the classroom has been pitched and accepted. Time to embrace it. Follow Tyler on Twitter @tylerestuart
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theeye
March 23, 2012
An Eye Staff Editorial
American prom tradition an increasingly fractured fairy tale
Tighten reins on service clubs Last year, 436 students in 49 service clubs accumulated almost 27,000 service hours and raised tens of thousands of dollars. But do these numbers represent our students’ genuine passion to benefit others or the fluff with which they plump their resumes? That requires assessment beneath the surface clutter of statistics and names In order to climb those golden stairs and reach the hallowed gates of Ivy League-hood, it is no longer enough to be just another member of a club, an extra set of hands to sell smoothies at Food Fest or an additional body to man the bake sale booth. Officership is now a resume must-have. After all, serving colleges a fancy title on a silver platter will surely sway their minds, but if that fails, starting a new club is an equally acceptable alternative. Some students think they can beat universities at their own game by pursuing quantity at the expense of quality. But, as admission officers and counsellors will caution, there is no substitute for transparent, genuine compassion. Reforms to the process of awarding service hour have already been made. Those reforms are not enough. An even stricter system should be implemented, one which will weed out the tepid participants and resume buffs, making way for those who volunteer and work without service hours dangled in front of their noses as bait. Clubs should be held accountable for the character of their actions, rather than their numbers, and be forced to maintain a certain standard. Reducing the number of existing clubs by combining clubs with similar agendas would be an encouraging first step. It should be followed by the establishment of sunset laws that require clubs to undergo annual reevaluation. The criteria for this reapplication would consider the nature of a club’s activities, the level of interactivity and the magnitude of impact. While PTA events offer clubs opportunities to raise funds for their various causes or activities, blending milkshakes and spinning cotton candy do little to change the world, beyond satisfying community sugar cravings. This is a call to rethink motives and revise actions to work towards tangible community benefits, thereby leading all concerned to rediscover the integrity of service at SAS.
Campus ‘toons
Klara Auerbach
I always had a vision of what my prom would be like. Dressed in a Cinderella-like gown, I would walk arm-in-arm with my dapper Prince Charming into a ballroom setting not unlike Beauty and the Beast . It would be like a scene out of my own personal fairy tale. From what Disney movies, Barbie Dolls, and TV shows have taught me, how could an event like prom be anything but perfect? I am old enough now to know that by having such high expectations, I am simply asking to be disappointed. What if my Prince Charming does not ask me? What if my princess says no? Although prom itself changes from year to year, it has elements and traditions that seem to be set in stone. According to recent SAS custom, guys are challenged to come up with an extravagant and creative “promposal,” finance and organizing the tickets, dinner and transportation. As boys take their traditional, active role, we girls remain passive while waiting for an invitation and making the necessary beauty arrangements. At SAS, these traditions remain strongly intact. For girls, there is a
Quin Reidy
Singapore American School 40 Woodlands Street 41 Republic of Singapore 738547 Phone: (65) 6363-3404 Fax: (65) 6363-6443 eye@sas.edu.sg
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Editors-in-chief: Anbita Siregar, Megan Cosgrove, Managing editors-in-chief: Monica Chritton, Tyler Stuart, News Editors: Tyler, Features Editors: Olivia Nguyen, Op-Ed Editor: Klara Auerbach, A&E editor: Kate Penniall, Sports editor: Erica Huston, Photo editor: Pamela Chan, Copy Editor: Emily Nelson, Megan Talon Reporters: Klara Auerbach, Pamela Chan, Monica Chritton, Megan Cosgrove, Theresa Ellsworth, Erica Huston, Edward Khoo, Sanjna Malik, Emily Nelson, Olivia Nguyen, Ash Oberoi, Kate Penniall, Quin Reidy, Danni Shanel, Kiran Siddique, Anbita Siregar, Tyler Stuart, Megan Talon, Sana Vasi, 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, 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.
very enchanting element to prom. The idea of being publicly and creatively courted by their Prince Charming and tradition stops most girls from doing the asking. The thought of putting themselves in the public eye and facing possible rejection would make any girl forget about taking the initiative to ask a guy to prom. Some American high schools are starting to take a stand against these traditions. Instead of a conventional prom, an increasing number of schools have been adopting morp (prom spelled backwards), an anti-prom where traditional roles are reversed or ignored. Morp, or anti-prom follows no predetermined format. As there are no expectations to amp up the glitz and glamour, morp allows students to determine for themselves how they want to experience prom. Students are therefore not confined to a set of rules that tradition has established and are not denied this right of passage. While SAS is an American international school, there is a significant effort to make students
and their families feel as if they are still part of the community they moved away from. Arguably, SAS is more determined to uphold American traditions, such as prom, than are most high schools in America. SAS, as well as its students and families, go to extreme financial lengths to make sure this sense of home is preserved. The cost of last year’s prom rounded out at roughly $43,500; a luxury that most American high schools cannot afford and we are lucky to have. Along with ticket, dress, tuxedo, dinner, and transportation expenses that students are responsible for taking care of, prom can end up being a very costly affair. For most at SAS, prom’s financial demands are of no worry. For some, it is an extravagance that cannot be spared. Upholding the traditions of American schools is a way for many Expats to feel as if they remain connected to their communities at home. Yet, the financial extravagances and social demands of such events cannot be met by all who wish to attend. auerbach31736@sas.edu.sg
If you can’t beat them, join them: make SAS a school-year home
By Danni Shanel
All-American
Morp, the anti-prom reaction, targets expense and pretence of annual event
HDBs for dorms, food courts for three square meals, Causeway Point for rare entertainment
It is time that we face the elephant in the room. As a collective, we are now spending almost all of our time at school through taking on more responsibilities in clubs, after-school sports, heavy course loads and other volunteer commitments. The largest issue we face as a school now is that students still have time to themselves. The simple solution is to move high school students on campus and make it their home until graduation. Twentyfour hours a day, seven days a week, students will be totally immersed in the real work of students, unhampered by the interferences of family and similar non-school distractions. Only on holidays, or with a school approved pass would parents be allowed to directly interact with their children. Housing for 1200 high school students is not the problem it might seem. Since SAS seems to have access to lots of cash, they can buy the surrounding HDB flats to provide housing for students - and teachers. Roommates can be assigned much the same as interim trips, since we’ve mastered that system. Teachers will act as surrogate parents and floor managers, making sure that students behave and feel loved, and helping with homework. A meal plan could be introduced, so students can practice living like real adults, buying food at the local markets, stalls and school-sponsored
cafes. SAS could expand the “I would have kids sit with me, cafeteria on campus to host a variety drink copious amounts of coffee, read of local and fast food and triple the and discuss Confucian and Taoist size of Subway to reduce wait time. philosophy, and groove out to some The current bus system will be ‘hot jazz’ in 10-hour sessions,” he said. 1200 students lighter reducing I asked physics teacher environmental and noise pollution. Fred Crawford what he would Students will be spending so much think about living in the same time learning and participating in environment as his students. teacher“I think sponsored this is why programs, Twenty-four hours Singapore there would has gunday, seven days a be no need to control laws,” go anywhere week, students will Crawford said. else. Every H e be totally immersed necessity compared my is within in the real work of dorm proposal w a l k i n g proposal to students distance Soviet Russian dinner at the g u l a g s . Wo o d l a n d s When asked what he thought courts, dental needs from the 7-11, of my proposal, a high school shoes from Causeway and so on. counselor said, “Are you serious?” Underground passages will connect As it stands right now, the only the dorms to the academic buildings, maybe even to nearby stalls and stores. way that SAS can improve as a Unstructured entertainment will be academically high-achieving school replaced with SAS-approved sports and community is to have its students and recreation activities sponsored withdraw from the distractions and by teachers who now have the temptations beyond our barbed wire time to connect with the students. crowned fence. It wouldn’t be a Social studies teacher Clay Burrell tough transition for most of us. We suggested that weekend time could already live here most of the time. reidy40650@sas.edu.sg be filled with extensive culture seminars that would be designed to mold students into modern intellects.
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theeye
March 23, 2012
Is KONY 2012 the real deal or just propaganda hype? Kate Penniall
Viral video offends many, but creates widespread awareness of LRA’s Joseph Kony
March 5
March 6
Graphics by Klara Auerbach With cool graphics, graffiti posters, t-shirts and catchy music the 30 minute long video released on March 5, 2012 is a visual barrage of propaganda. Directed by Jason Russell, one of the three founders of Invisible Children, the video targets the social network generation of teens and young adults who sit on their computers, scrolling through 9gag, their newsfeeds, their dashboards or their twitter feeds avoiding homework, looking for something better to do. Kony 2012 gives them something better to do. Jason Russell exposes a war criminal who has been around for 26 years, Joseph Kony. Joseph Kony originally stationed in Uganda, is the leader of the Lords Resistance Army. The LRA abducts children and forces them to fight and commit acts of torture and murduer, including brutally killing their own people. The LRA has abducted over 30,000 children and since it’s beginning has spread from Uganda to the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan and the Central African Republic. While most watching KONY 2012 couldn’t even point these countries out on a map, they are undeniably fired up about putting a stop to Joseph Kony and the LRA. Who wouldn’t be after watching such a cleverly packaged campaign? While everyone was spinning themselves into a tizzy, ordering action packs and bracelets (the merchandise sold by Invisible Children in support of the KONY 2012 campaign) and posting on every wall they could navigate to, a blogger by the name of Grant Oyston had something else to say. University student calls KONY 2012 a hype campaign A sociology and political science student at Acadia University in Nova Scotia, Oyston published a site on March 6, 2012 in response to the “hype” KONY 2012 had created. “I do not doubt for a second that those involved in KONY 2012 have great intentions, nor do I doubt for a second that Joseph Kony is
a very evil man. But despite this, I’m strongly opposed to the KONY 2012 campaign,” Oyston wrote. Oyston breaks down Invisible Children’s annual expenditures, which are available to the public on the Invisible Children website, revealing that only about 32 percent of donations had actually reached Africa for direct aid. The other 68 percent were spent on staff salaries, travel and transport and film production.
The Ugandan Army as Corrupt as the Man They Seek “Both the Ugandan army and Sudan People’s Liberation Army are riddled with accusations of rape and looting” Oyston writes. In February 2011, a report by a Sudanese NGO worker told of two Ugandan soldiers who took a 15 year old Congolese girl named Marie to a clinic in Nzara, South Sudan. The girl was reportedly “rescued” from the LRA by the two soldiers. Unfortunately, before they dropped her off at the clinic, “nearly dead,” they allegedly gang-raped and impregnated her. Another similar report from August 2011 recounts the story of a young girl who at age 14 was abducted by the LRA in the town of Obo, CAR. Upon being rescued in May 2011 at the age of 16, the girl was raped by a UPDF soldier at the army base in Obo. The solider later returned to Uganda after impregnating the girl and left her in the custody of another solider who continued to abuse her. In response to these allegations, Col Felix Kulayigye, the army’s spokesman says, “That report is unfortunate. It’s from masqueraders who are trying to earn bread from our blood and sweat. The UPDF is one of the most disciplined forces in Africa and we are pro-people. Anyone can check our record.” Oyston reiterates that the LRA is no longer operating in Uganda
and has not been since the year 2006. He poses the question of why Invisible Children targets this army to be responsible for the arrest of Joseph Kony? Invisible Children defends the UPDF claiming that out of the Central African Republic, Congo and South Sudan armies, they are the most organized and well equipped force to handle this task. Can you Really Make a Difference? After the publication of Oyston’s article, many felt duped. In a world with a population of over seven billion, it’s easy to feel small and unimportant. With the KONY 2012 initiative, Invisible Children gave young adults a way to feel more important, to feel that they belong to something big, that they could make a difference. Then Oyston comes along and shoves us back into our small and unimportant roles. But does this have to be the case? The movement to stop Joseph Kony is huge and the fight to bring him down isn’t going to be as simple as clicking like or re-tweet. These simple acts of sharing however, are good first steps. Any movement this large has to start with baby steps. Informing as many people as possible about the evils of Joseph Kony and the LRA is what needs to happen now. “Our goal is to change the conversation of our culture and get people to ask, Who is Joseph Kony?” Jason Russell says in the KONY 2012 video. The way this happens is buy clicking like or re-tweet, posting on people walls, re-blogging, texting, making phone calls, emailing, posting flyers or wearing t-shirts or bracelets. There are many easy ways to spark this conversation and that’s all that KONY 2012 is asking us to do.
Take Your Own Stance Invisible Children may have flaws with distribution of money or leadership, but that doesn’t mean Joseph Kony isn’t a real person. Kony is a real war criminal who is committing real crimes. The LRA is very real and there is a way to stop it. It’s a long and tedious journey as foreign policy works nowhere near as the speed of the Internet, but it is possible. Collecting and raising money for donations is fine and dandy, but that’s not the step that needs to be taken right now. What needs to happen now is the circulation of knowledge. The more people who know, the faster a solution will come. That’s what this KONY 2012 campaign needs to be about, knowledge not money. This campaign has made it cool for our generation to care, but it’s even cooler when we are informed about what it is we care for. How do you get informed? Watch the film, read articles, listen to both sides and get informed. Then find your own stance based on how you feel and take a stand. The Kony 2012 campaign simply asks the public to spread knowledge about Joseph Kony, to Make Him Famous. The public needs to understand that just making him famous isn’t going to solve the problem, but it’s a step in the right direction. It’s the first baby step we need to take to stopping this man. penniall40721@sas.edu.sg
KONY 2012 video swells, breaks, subsides in one week
By Tyler Stuart On March 4, Joseph Kony was a little-known war criminal; four days later he was the most famous man on Earth. On March 5, a video named KONY 2012 was released by the organization Invisible Children. Within 48 hours, the video had gone viral through YouTube and Vimeo, was trending worldwide on Twitter and cluttered students’ home pages on Facebook. Social media facilitated the swell and break of the KONY 2012 movement, but organizers could not sustain the hype that subsided within the week. The minute the video was uploaded to YouTube, its views began to climb, the Kony 2012 wave swelling as individuals shared the video in their communities. The movement percolated as social media caught hold of the video, expediting the process. Several students posted links to the video as their Facebook status trying to contribute to the new movement. Within 48 hours of the release, hash tags about the video were trending world-
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There’s another step we can take though. After sharing the film or spreading the word among your friends or among the school, it’s time to go bigger. If we really want to see change, we’ve got to get, as the video states, both pop culture and political leaders in the know. It’s as easy as writing a letter or sending an email.
wide on Twitter. Not only did social media facilitate the big break of KONY 2012, it also snuffed out perspectives that conflicted with the movement. For the first 24 hours after the release, Facebook blocked the sharing of the blog Visible Children, which questioned Invisible Children’s budget and practices. Acadia University student-blogger Grant Oyston noted that only 32 percent of funds raised in 2011 were allocated to their African program. After one week, the Kony wave subsided. While the video achieved over 80 million views, the rate of views leveled out. On Sunday, the wave briefly swelled when Jason Russell, the video’s director, was arrested and hospitalized for a public drunken escapade, reportedly, after a break of psychosis due to the overwhelming stress he faced after the video’s brief success. The movement’s next swell should arrive April 20 when the Cover the Night campaign. Follow Tyler on Twitter @tylerestuart
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theeye
March 23, 2012
Gra
phic
by E
By Emily Nelson Junior Sachith Siriwardane recited a love poem during poetry slam during the last few days of Cultural Convention. As he finished, he asked fellow delegate and friend, junior Sonia Parekh, and asked her to prom. The audience members of Cul Con applauded this romantic gesture, not knowing it was an inside joke. “It was just a fun thing to do to get the crowd on my side,” Siriwardane said. Parekh’s boyfriend, junior Nikhil Nilakantan was also in on the joke. Parekh and Nilakantan will attend prom together this year. “It was a good closing touch to Cul Con, very nice and funny,” Nilakantan said. A few weeks before the big day, prom takes the student body by storm, it becomes a constant topic of conversation: Where to go? Who is wearing what? And most importantly, who is going with whom? Boys have taken to asking girls to prom in ways both romantic and very public proposals at SAS. Last prom season, then senior Viraj Bindra had a creative asking. Bindra recorded a short video that got onto the morning show. In his video, he didn’t talk and people were curious to what was going on. Slow, melodious music began to play and Bindra held up a series of A3 note cards, he was asking friend Hannah Goode to
dK
prom. Each card held a different statement, portraying how amazing of a person she was and appreciating their friendship. The cards outlined Goode’s characteristics that Bindra liked and stated how wonderful of a person she is. When the video finished, Bindra walked into Goode’s classroom with flowers and asked Goode in person. “Hannah’s a good friend and I wanted to make my proposal very sweet,” Bindra said in a Skype interview. “I actually gained inspiration from ‘Love, Actually’.” Vincent Wu, a junior last year, had a creative asking. After spending his entire spring break to individually handcraft 1000 paper cranes, Wu asked junior Rin Okumura to prom. Wu laid out the cranes, creating the message: “Rin, prom?” Okumura accepted and Wu’s asking became one to go down in promposal history. “It was a lot of work, but definitely worth it,” Wu said. Each new promposal sets the bar a little higher for boys who have yet to pop the question. From Wu’s romantic crane display to Bindra’s creative “Love, Actually” inspired cards, promposals progressively get more elaborate. Although some boys build up the courage to ask their dates publicly, like Wu, others admit that asking a girl to prom is not as easy as it sounds.
Prom on a dime By Kate Penniall Prom, the Oscars of high school, where students dig deep into their wallets to make this night go down in history. With a ticket, dress, h a i r , makeup, dinner and transportation on the bill, expenses for one night can rack up quickly. There are ways to avoid breaking the bank account though and still keep your night extravagant. Start with the ticket. There’s only one way into prom and it is with this little piece of paper. Prom committee sets the price of the tickets; this year it will be $90 for singles and $170 for couples. If the ticket itself is out of budget, start thinking ahead now. Asking parents for odd jobs around the house to earn money can be a great way to earn a few extra bucks. Instead of buying that new shirt or another drink while out during the weekend, save the cash. Unfortunately, some peopleare incapable of holding onto their money, if that’s you then there’s still hope. This year the Prom Committee will be holding a competition for the best Promposal where the winners
hoo
Ways to keep prom experience grand but price low
receive free tickets to prom. If you have a special person in mind to ask, find a new and creative way to make that proposal and not only will you maybe get a yes but also a free ticket. A win/win situation. The perfect dress is possibly the single most important part of the night for the girl. A dress can make or break the night.There’s a perfect dress out there for everyone and not all of them come with a hefty price tag. Make sure to ask your school or family friends if they or their siblings have old dresses that are good for another wear. Since your dress will not currently be on the shelves, you eliminate the problem of showing up to prom with the same dress as someone else, which is a girl’s worst nightmare. You can also organize a dress swap. Invite a bunch of friends over and have them bring their old dresses, or dresses they have gotten from other people and trade. This is a great way to see everyone’s dresses, open up your options and save money on not having to buy a brand new dress. If you still cannot find the perfect dress, look around in the sales racks or visit a fabric shop and make your own. By making your own dress you’re assuring originality and getting exactly what you want. All the same goes for guys. Make your own suit, borrow your dad’s or a friend’s or arrange a suit swap. As for the hair and makeup to match, do your own or get a friend to help. A friend can often make you
Boys’ thoughts By Megan Talon
“Last year, it wasn’t that fun. No one does anything. Everyone is just sitting around talking at tables, and there isn’t really anything to do. It’s awkward.” Peter Hunt, senior
“I am a cheeseball, so I’ve considered a morning show walk-in or buying half a mile long paper and hanging it up
“I am excited for prom itself, like dressing up and stuff. I look good
“I’m just scared I won’t have enough courage to ask someone” George Bock, senior
when I go to prom. I always do.” David Doolittle, senior
“I think it’s fun, sweet, and enjoyable to watc Noble said. “But I’m not sure I would do some Some critics say the only reason boys ask in ways is because they are afraid to get turned ing, “the bigger you go, the more they can’t sa “It’s just more sweet to me when you ask yo face-to-face and not with some elaborate prom While some boys might prefer the less extra there are boys who still go all out and ask pub come through and execute elaborate prompos seen before. “It’s a once in a lifetime thing, so yeah, make and make it awesome,” senior Jason Li said. Last year, senior Bryan Lee asked his girlfrie giving her a bouquet of flowers at the Chili’s lo off of Orchard Road. “Prom is cool and all, but I don’t see the poin one night,” Lee said. “I would much rather jus another way.” n
from the fourth floor.” Liam DuPreez. junior
look better and more like yourself than a high-priced p Next on the agenda comes dinner. Traditionally the gu out to a big fancy dinner with several courses and a lar instead of making the guy pay for the whole dinner, or dine at a less expensive restaurant. There are many Singapore that serve delicious cuisine at an attractive cuisine does not have to be purchased though because meal can be just as good. Gather a bunch of fr 5-star atmosphere i ing room and eat times, having f over a home can be a lot mo pressures of ma ners at a hoityProm should memories. This ye ries do not have t and a leg. You can dime and still have penniall407
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Ed & Anbita dine out
March 23, 2012
ch,” senior Cameron ething so public.” n such elaborate down, the theory beay no.” our girlfriend or friend mposal,” Noble said. avagant proposal, blicly. Many boys sals in ways never
e a big deal out of it
end Stefanie Chan by ocated in Tanglin Mall,
nt of going big for st show my affection
nelson14475@sas.edu.sg
professional can. uy takes the girl rge check. Girls, split the check y places around price. Delicious a home-cooked riends, create a in your own dint at home. Often fun with friends e-cooked meal ore fun than the aintaining man-toity restaurant. be a night of ear your memoto cost an arm n do prom on a e a grand time. 721@sas.edu.sg
Restaurant, dish recommendations for the big night
asafé, Pietr oor c r a lb o outd ry C legenda harming h an c e a th h it m o fr nt w sign wit e street restaura orary de econstructed p Across th te is an Italian m te n o lends c ade of d toran anta Ris interior decor b ral tables are m niture. ve Its fur terrace. talian touch - se ang above the Rish I trasanta r c ts ti ie o n p P e , r u e th en au dition flow of No M . The Italian tra nu l xes and e o e b f e d e in me w ok ish home-co more refined fin rominent in the e th e k Unli oast a mains p dishes b sauce re torante’s ese, dough and nt folhe to eggpla ature a m to of rich c d esan an eir sign had Parm rack of lamb, th lle served as though. e w r, e wed petiz gliate As an ap f carpaccio. Ste -based truffle ta e e m b a y by a cre lowed b mpanied o c c a , h dis dish. our main e sauce ht Cours nd cream a s Highlig e fl f u Tr d lle with Tagliate aters an hearty e
h for rich dis , k c i h t The a is dish. h “This is s.” - Ed t t u o b elle, say a over e tagliat d I can h truffle l a t b h t g i n i w nbita fectly s noth “There’ sauce goes per ing better.” - A ryth eam thick cr s just make eve fle and truf
This mo soft lighti dern French resta ng and q uiet atmo urant, settled on parties c Pu sp an rent o ut which here. There is a p rvis Street, feels prom. rivate roo would be posh wit h its m in the perfect fo While w b a r c k that larg five or s ix couple and a tem e were ordering, s to share er the waite pu for r offered for the siz ra amuse-bouche us some . Though able bill b re we paid, th prom-go a e d servings on a silv the slick ers wh e were dis ambianc proportio r platter We decid o do not mind dig e a n d n e a x ll g q e ys in u d is g a little on carabine deeper in ite cuisine are fitt mall ro gamba cold angel-hair to ing for the pas s and tom for the m ato rice a ta with caviar fo ir pockets. ain cours nd a tend r an app es. As fo rum raisin e e r dessert ice cream , we opte rloin steak with b tiser, roasted . d for the ordelaise ir signatu sauce Highligh re apple t Course tart with Fine app le tart “à la dragée s,” Havan a rum rais “It looks in ice cre disg am
“It’s like
usting, an apple but I can’t stop e -flavored a cookie in ting it,” - Anbita the shap e of a piz za. ” - Ed
un restaurant. of this family-r e ac sp ith w d restaurant d fille ily-run Italian esh, baked brea m fr fa , of nt a ai om qu ar a e is ge with reet, hts and th Piedmont villa on Boon Tat St r ct ei ri The dimmed lig th st in di ss nd hi ne si be bu aurant they left ed away in the . uch like the rest No Menu, tuck d framed prints m an d te ns ra pa co d de an e ts ar s po er om pp ro co , whose dining n of Vinyl LPs ” Ed said. rsonal collectio e and buratta he Godfather ’, ‘T the family’s pe of t ou ht white wine sauc ig e ra ol st ng nt vo ra au in st re ato sauce. - clam “It looks like a lobster and tom two appetizers ith ed w ar a st sh d pa ha lle e e night, w eek and tagliate By the end of th - stewed beef ch s se ur co n ai m o cheese - and tw een salad. tomatoes and gr ry e er rs ch ou s, C he ht ac Highlig caramelized pe companied with ac se ee ch ta at Bur y soft,
reall cheese itself is e h T l. el w es the peach nbita complemented es to a m to e texture.” - A ic d ic n a te together ea “The aci cr but all coming e salad helped er th th o f o e th ch g n u in cr st so the ch contra ix of tastes, ea m ic ct le ec n a “It was d spoonful.” - E e n o in y sl u io delic
Girls’ thoughts By Erica Huston
“This year I heard they are actually planning on actually having something to do at the prom, and it’s a really good idea when they invest more money
“I’ve heard that no one really dances and that it’s awkward, but everybody likes getting
“I’m sure many girls in our grade are afraid about not being asked, and I’m pretty sure that’s what determines who won’t go. ” Antaara Chhabra, junior
“I like the idea that it’s something that connects back to the States, and it might be a way of home” Sonia Parekh, junior
and time into that.” Amélie Bouckenooghe, junior
dressed up, taking pictures” McKenzie Moore, junior
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Counseling losing long-time member Secretary Linda Lajim, family head to Australia after 11 years at SAS
Counselling office secretary Linda Lajim (on the right) participates in last July’s Tri Factor Half Marathon. Lajim and her family will move during Spring Break. Photo by Faizul Lajim. By Monica Chritton Senior Vincent Wu visited the Counseling Office to say goodbye to Linda Lajim, who was the aide in his third grade class nine years ago, and today is the person responsible for taking care of his college paperwork. Exchanging a hug and memories, Wu and Lajim laughed about his time in third grade. Counselor Frieda Dietrich said it was “a touching moment to see them reminiscing.” Lajim started her SAS career 11 years ago as a third grade aide and moved to the high school six years
ago taking the counseling secretary’s position. She oversaw more than 200 college visits per year and made sure every senior’s college applications, ACT and SAT scores were accounted for on time. Lajim said she will be moving overseas for the first time to Melbourne, Australia to seek a more relaxed setting. “We are looking for a change in environment,” Lajim said. “Singapore is so crowded, and we want a slower pace of life.” From her desk behind the counter sited on the entrance of the Coun-
seling Office, Lajim is usually the first to greet incoming students, parents or teachers. Counselor Dawn Betts says there are times, however, when Lajim’s desk act as more of a barrier. “She kind of protects [the counselors] when we are super busy and having a tough time,” Betts said. “As a counselor, I can’t even tell you how many times she has helped me.” Lajim’s job description embraces much more than directing traffic. “She has to make sure critical documents are sent on time while keeping not only students on schedule but
also counselors on schedule,” Betts said. “There are crying kids and kids emailing her at crazy times; she is just incredibly patient.” Counselor Frieda Dietrich said Lajim excelled at keeping up with the mounds of paperwork she was responsible for. “She was behind the scenes making sure everything worked like clockwork,” Dietrich said. “She did it all with a wonderful sense of humor and was able to run down the hallways in her favorite pair of Charles & Keith high-heeled shoes” Dietrich said. Senior Maya Kale, a frequent visitor to the Counseling Office, credits Lajim with aiding her in both Peer Support and college applications. “For seniors and anyone that is going to college at our school, she literally does everything,” Kale said. “I would not have gotten into college properly if not for her. She gets everything in on time and it’s perfect.” Senior Jacqui Geday says she bonded with Lajim during the college application process in conversations whose topics ranged from life issues to their shared love of food. “Sometimes I go to the Counseling Office only to see Linda,” Geday said. Lajim’s last day at SAS is Friday. Her husband, Faizul Lajim, worked at SAS as a system engineer since 1997 until switching to Marina Bay Sands in 2009 and has now already found a job in Melbourne. Lajim, who has two teenage children, said she is resigning before the school year’s end so that the family will not be separated over the course of the move. Lajim said she would miss SAS but is excited for her first move overseas. “I think I have the best job.” chritton17911@sas.edu.sg
SAVE persuade admin return to recycled paper By Theresa Ellsworth Over 15 years ago, SAVE Club members proposed that all campus photocopy machines use only recycled paper. The administration adopted the proposal and followed through until the beginning of this school year when SAVE students noticed a change. “[This year] everybody noticed that the paper was white and higher quality,” SAVE Club sponsor Martha Began said. “They all said, ‘Huh?’.” High school principal Dr. Tim Stuart said the recent change was purely a financial decision. “The business office suggested that there was a cost difference between paper that we were using and suggested that we look at using a different type of paper that was cheaper.” SAVE Club responded to the change by writing a letter requesting a reevaluation of the decision from an environmental point of view. The pulp and paper industry requires extremely large amounts of water and often entails the use of toxic chemicals. The most problematic are the chlorine compounds used in bleaching pulp to make white paper. According to U.S. government figures, the pulp and paper manufacturers are the fourth largest industrial emitters of greenhouse gases. After discussions among the administration about the effects of virgin paper, they came to a conclusion. “We just made a decision that we are not going to be continuing with the paper; we’re going back to recycled paper and it’s effective immediately,” Dr. Stuart said. This is just a high school decision. ellsworth31719@sas.edu.sg
New committee relieves Junior Council of prom planning Admin kicks in funds to relieve classes of fundraising rush; Regent Hotel site of carnival themed prom
Prom Commitee president Angela Wang leads the committee’s weekly meeting with members Yana Demeester, Juhee Lee, Rachel Jackson, Andrew Lydens and sponsor Karen Olah. Photo by Megan Cosgrove. By Sana Vasi Traditionally, Junior Student Council spends most of their year raising money. The fundraising process generally begins for a council in its freshmen year and continues up to prom day itself. From selling fruit punch to cotton candy, one of their main objectives involve planning and organizing for prom in April.
“It kind of made student council more of a party planning committee than a student body government,” last year’s Junior Council president and this years Executive Council president, Bo Hamby said. “It wasn’t necessarily difficult; it was just time consuming.” A decision made by the combined senate last year led to the creation of
a separate Prom Committee to relieve Student Council of this burden and free up more time for them to get more involved with their respective classes. “I’m personally impressed by last year’s student council, because I don’t see how they managed to [raise money for prom], and still do....student government,” junior Prom Committee member Andrew Lydens said. “Apparently Student Council... spent [so much] time raising money that they couldn’t do what Student Council is supposed to do,” Junior Prom Committee adviser Karen Olah said. “Now that pressure is off, and they can work on other things for the student body population rather than just raise money for prom.” Prom Committee consists of five juniors who meet every Monday to plan every aspect of prom, from hiring DJ’s to planning and arranging lighting, decorations, food and gifts. One of their first and most important tasks is find a location. “We’ve spent a couple weekends going around looking at hotels, trying to get a feel for them,” Olah said. “We knew what we wanted in our heads. We had to see it in
person to see if it would work.” This year, prom will take place at the Regent Hotel on 1 Cuscanden Road, off Orchard Road. The theme is “Carnival” and ticket prices range from $90 dollars for singles and $170 for couples during the first week. A second significant change from last year is that, unlike Student Council, Prom Committee is not required to raise funds for prom. The school gives them some money to start off with, and the ticket sales cover everything else. Prom Committee is going to try to maintain their prom budget so that it does not exceed last year’s. Unlike previous proms which tend to cost more each year, they want to keep the budget from increasing. “We’re not going to try and do anything too crazy,” Prom Committee president, Angela Wang said. Last year, prom cost $42.5 thousand and the money made from tickets were between $30 and $40 thousand. The majority of the money used for prom came from the sale of tickets, while the rest was earned through multiple fundraising events. Now that Student Councils don’t
need to worry about prom, they can focus more on student activities and charity events. Survivor, completed in the beginning of the year, is an example of this; the winner was presented with a thousand dollars to give to the service club of their choice. “Throughout the next couple of weeks we have five activities coming up including Lipdub,” Hamby said. “The money we have raised so far we’re giving to...service clubs.” Student Councils also had to decide what to do with the money they had previously fundraised for prom, since it was no longer needed with the establishment of Prom Committee. They decided to combine all their funds into a single bank account, containing $30 thousand from all councils. While raising money is no longer as much of a necessity as last year, the Student Councils do not want to lose money either. Although they still continue to fundraise at events like County Fair, individual class councils can use the money from their account to host specific events, as long as it benefits their grade. vasi32302@sas.edu.sg
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Shorts to be un-cuffed, branded next year Proposed uniform changes aimed at stopping alterations to girls’ uniform bottoms
Female students have altered current school shorts where they are cuffed too high, violating dress code. Photo by Pamela Chan. By Olivia Nguyen Starting in August, the SAS logo should be clean with no holes, tears on the girl’s uniform bottoms will or frayed areas; shorts and skirts Every morning sophomore Libe relocated from the back of the should be mid-thigh or longer.” anne Adamopoulos walks out of her belt line to the bottom of the shorts house to the bus with her shorts at Female students break dress code above the hem. This logo will be emschool-appropriate length. By the rules by wearing unauthorized sweatbroidered in order to prevent girls time she gets off the bus, her shorts ers and jackets, rolling waistbands on from rolling or altering the shorts. are cuffed twice just like her peers. skirts, and cuffing school bottoms. Deputy Principal Doug Neihart “I hate the awkward length that Teachers, parents and staff memthe school shorts are at,” Adamo- bers have reported school shorts changes are minute and will not have poulos said. “I don’t see many girls cuffed multiple times, shortening the a tremendous impact for the girls. walking around with their shorts length from the mid-thigh to the thigh. “There is no change to the length rolled down, so I guess I just feel Because of repeated dress code of shorts; it’s what they currently more comfortable rolling mine up.” violations and complaints made by are, and it is how they’re manufacThe student handbook states parents and faculty members, Dr. tured,” Neihart said. “We did not that “students are required to wear Tim Stuart has modified the de- ask them to increase the length.” the official school uniform, which sign of next year’s school uniforms. Junior Antaara Chhabra feels
that the proposed uniform chang- fit, and actually the middle school es were inevitable due to students is going to that,” Neihart said. “The consistent violation of dress code. style will be different though, and that “I feel it is pretty fair because would be phased in. I think that everysome of the shorts do get really body would agree that in this climate, short, and sometimes it can get out that would probably be a good move.” Junior Andrew Blackof control,” Chhabra said. “But I feel like it’s a waste of money and mon is looking forward to next time for all the people who have al- year’s change in gym uniforms. ready bought uniforms this year.” “I like the uniform changes beFreshman Sharlene Martin said that cause dri-fit is more comfortable and adding new uniform bottoms and dis- absorbs the sweat better,” Blackmon said. continuing the current ones Other stuwill be ineffecdents such as There is no change tive. She feels sophomore that despite the Zach Fairto the length of shorts. changed reguclough are It’s what they currently lations in dress not as thrilled code, students about it. are, and it is how will still violate “I don’t they’re manufactured. school rules. think the Deputy Principal Doug Neihart “If student’s new unidon’t like what forms would they’re wearing, they’re going to make any difference in my athfind a way around it,” Martin said. letic ability whatsoever apart from Along with changes made to the fact that it will make us more the girls uniform bottoms, the ad- uniform and look like ‘Mao’s litministrators have discussed a pos- tle children’,” Fariclough said. sible switch from the current PE While the PE uniform changuniform to a Nike dri-fit style. es are still undecided, the girl’s Dri-fit is a high-performance micro- uniform bottoms will be alfiber polyester fabric created by Nike tered and put in action next year. that pulls sweat away from the body “The change is a really and transports it to the fabric sur- small change, but we hope it face. This allows the sweat to evapo- has a big impact,” Neihart said. rate and leave the skin cool and dry. nguyen35543@sas.edu.sg “We’re looking at going into a dri-
“
Construction prompts Summer Program moratorium Major summer work on campus poses safety hazard; hiatus could last three, four years
By Kiran Siddique mayed,” Began said. Singapore American School anThe summer program had been nounced this year the suspension of halted previously during the conits summer program to allow mainte- struction of the high school nance and remodelling projects dur- in the 2003-2004 school year. ing the summer break. The announceConstruction in the past few years ment led to the surprise and dismay did hinder the activities of the sumof students who stayed in Singapore mer program. Children had to be careduring the summers to participate in fully watched in the swirl of constructhe summer program and raised question activity and tions of loysome activialty to the sumties were almer program. tered to avoid The school construcwebsite extion around plains that the the campus. school is “placA number ing a moratoriof SAS alum um on the sumand current mer program”. students work The normally in the sumfive-week long mer program. program is exJunior Wendy pected to stay Sung-Clarke suspended for a worked in period of three last year’s to four years program. Martha Began as a part of the Sung-Clarke Summer Program coordinator school’s tensaid it was a year facilities good summer job. plan. The website reassures school “If the summer program reopens members that the school will “continwhile I’m in college, I might come ue to evaluate the feasibility of holdback to work with them,” she said. ing a summer program in future years” The program employs students and Summer program directeachers who dedicate their summer tor Marth Began said that she to working. Alumni members come had no knowledge of the deciback in the summer specifically to sion to cancel the 2012 program. work at the summer program. The “I was surprised and dis-
“
My deep concern is that after working really hard to build [the summer program] up, and to publicize it, there might be a real difficulty in building that up again after three or four years.
Alumnus Connor Murray and Senior Ameya Benegal accompany Summer Program attendees to a field trip to Jurong Water Park. The program has been suspended due to campus construction. Photo courtesy of Martha Began. moratorium of the program signals the end of work opportunities for high school students in Singapore who do not have the opportunity to become employed elsewhere. SungClarke said she is “upset because [she will] have to find another job” The Summer Program’s offers opportunities for similar programs. United World College South East Asia (UWCSEA) is starting a sum-
mer program to rival SAS’s this year. “My deep concern is that after working really hard to build [the summer program] up, and to publicize [the program], there might be a real difficulty in building that up after three or four years.” Began believes that the distinguished reputation of SAS will ensure its Summer Program’s success in the
future. An SAS parent said “It will be simply because school sponsored things will always be popular with the student body and secondly because SAS students are transient--people typically come and go--and so the program will always be something new.”” siddique40880@sas.edu.sg
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March 23, 2012
Cultural Convention 2012 Enlightened delegates return from Taipei and Bangkok Senior Ed Khoo places a scrap of fabric, creating the top of a dress with the aid of an ISB delegate. During the two workshop days, delegates tailored dresses and crafted rings. Photo courtesy of Ed Khoo
Junior Anna Kook and Senior Jimmy Yoon, music delegates. Photo by Jimmy Yoon
Senior Jisoo Lee, drama delegate. Photo courtesy of Kate Penniall.
Senior Jisoo Lee, drama delegate. Photo courtesy of Kate Penniall.
Sophomore Min Kyong Kim accompanies senior Albert Stanley during his third Cultural Convention performance. Music delegates took part in an open mic night as well as master classes. Photo by Jimmy Yoon
Senior Jacqui Geday and senior Cameron Noble act out a scene from “We are Lucky to Have a Turkey�. Drama delegates also participated in a fashion show with art and dance delegates. Photo courtesy of Kate Penniall
Freshman Sid Iyer-Sequira and senior Athelia Pauli. Photo courtesy of Kate Penniall
Junior Will Kingan, junior Clare Kang and senior Matthew Koh, music delegates. Photo by Jimmy Yoon
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March 23, 2012
Junior Rachel Liem and sophomore Jackie Benfield are healthy cells in a dance titled “Infected”. Dancers mimicked the process of replication and healthy cells overcoming a virus. Photo by Pamela Chan
Sophomore Alex Koncki, sophomore Jackie Benfield and freshman Bailee Jo Sorenson, dance delegates. Photo by Pamela Chan
Senior Abby Quick, junior Rachel Liem, freshman Bailee Jo Sorenson, sophomore Jackie Benfield, junior Alexis Hiles, sophomore Alex Koncki and junior Carrie Dwyer, dance delegates. Photo by Pamela Chan
Senior Alistair Chew and senior Abby Quick, dance delegates. Photo by Pamela Chan
House keeping staff honored with luncheon
Facilities and The Help club organize appreciation lunch for school’s house keeping staff Clockwise from Left:
Hamidah Ismail and coworkers read messages written by students over the course of a week, organized by The Help club. Rosidah Jaffar and Munawarah pick food. Assistant House Keeping Manager Wong Bee Bee serves serves her coworkers curry puffs. Front row left to right: Rosnani Hassan, Masirah Ahmad, Siti Fatimah Marjuri, Rahimah Abd. Rabhid. Second row left to right: Ita Irawati, Tanno Rengasamy, Kaliamah, Hamidah Ismail. Third Row: Noryati Kechot, Latipah Ismin, Munawarah Abdul Ghafar, Rogayah Muhd. Nur, Naemah Hitan, Juraimi Shah and Rosedah Abdul Majid Photos by Hyojin Park
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March 23, 2012
Student Council amends forgotten document
Two formal Senate meetings incorporate 6 of 7 proposed amendments
Students use the whiteboard at the from of room H211 to track the argument by weighing pros and cons, tallying ayes and nays and adding subclauses to the proposed amendment. Council members considered seven amendments and adopted six of them by the end of the meetings. Photo by Tyler Stuart. By Megan Cosgrove with Tyler Stuart Student government members poured into H211 after school on March 13. Council representatives exchanged casual conversation as they
found their seats with their respective councils but were promptly hushed as Executive Council president Bo Hamby approached the front of the room and brought out the authoritative gavel, calling the Senate to order.
Last Tuesday’s gathering marked the first of two Senate meetings where all four class councils met with Executive members and sponsors to debate proposed revisions to the SAS Student Council Constitution, an antiquated document last amended in the nineties. A followup meeting was held the next day. The idea of conducting a formal constitutional revision was entertained by previous councils, but the current Senate decided to turn this notion into action after last year’s creation of a separate Prom Committee. Executive Council sponsor Eric Burnett notes that this change was intended to relieve Student Council of its traditional “party-planning” obligation, consequently freeing up more resources to organize activities that would benefit the general student body. “There are no groups that going to change their peer group at prom, so we haven’t raised spirit, we haven’t changed the demographic, we really weren’t improving the school at all. We were just making money to throw a party,” Burnett said. Amendments to the constitution aim to give Student Council a makeover, addressing everything from the implementation of a more comprehensive election process to a redefinition of titles and jobs. The Constitutional Revision Committee, one of the Senate’s twentyseven new committees, was formed at the beginning of this year and,
under the leadership of Senior Council vice president Max West, has spent months revising the SAS Student Council Constitution and drafting a list of the most urgent issues, which was presented to the grade councils during Tuesday’s meeting. West says he hopes the changes will provide the Student Council process with a new transparency to hold members accountable for the nature and quality of their actions. “Before, many students, those in Student Council included, didn’t know we even had a constitution,
much less know what was in it, and so we are trying to hold ourselves more accountable within Student Council itself, as well as giving students and teachers outside of student council a way to hold us accountable,” West said. “We feel this new constitution will do just that.” The updated constitution will be published online and accessible to students and faculty next year after the revisions are approved by the administration. cosgrove31540@sas.edu.sg stuart42156@sas.edu.sg
Discussed amendments and voted status: PASSED: Altering position titles from current model (Secretary, Communication Director, Treasurer, Secretary and President) to (Vice Presidents and one president) a. All candidates run for top 5/6 spots with top vote getter becoming president and remaining elected council members becoming vice-presidents. PASSED: Altering grade level designation of Exec from current model (usually exclusively made up of seniors) to (One senior President, 2 senior VicePresidents, 2 Junior Vice-Presidents, 1 Sophomore Vice-President) a. Passed model: 3 seniors, 2 juniors, 1 sophomore PASSED: Altering timing of elections from current model (Exec + 4 grade level presidents in the spring; all other positions in the fall) to (Exec in the spring, all grade level positions in the fall). PASSED: Altering meeting days from current model (inconsistent Tuesdays and other breaks/after school periods) to (Tuesdays and Fridays 3:15 to 4:00 with Tuesdays being structured/agenda-based Senate and/or grade level meetings and Fridays being work days for grade levels/committees) DID NOT PASS: Altering number of sponsors from current model (2 Exec + 8 grade level) to (2 Exec + 1 grade level) PASSED: Moving from grade level cabinet structure to as-needed committee structure PASSED: Creating new method of impeachment for concerns initiated by council members, sponsors and general student body
Alumni appreciate shove of stress, but counsel balance Suggetions include limit APs, do away with APs, exercise to de-stress, manage time better
Alumni Viraj Bindra ‘11, Phil Anderson 11, Naima Kimura ‘97 and Laura Imkamp ‘06. By Fidella Darmawan, Eye Online Alumnus Viraj Bindra said SAS students were stressed past the point where it was healthy. Bindra graduated from SAS last year and is now a freshman at Stanford University. “Certain atmospheres are naturally competitive,” Bindra said in a chat interview. ”That means you have a lot of motivated kids with their sights set on top-notch colleges. Students stay up too late and get sick more easily. They skip school days to rest, stop eating or start popping pills.” Bindra said that although junior and senior years [at SAS] were the two most stressful years of his life so far, stress has been a great motivator for him. “My parents stressed me out sometimes about grades, but that drove me to study a bit more some days,” Bindra said.
Alumnus Phillip Anderson considers stress as a positive force, as long as it does become too self-consuming. Anderson is in his first year at George Washington University. “Be busy, and be smart about it. If you get too caught up in it, it will sweep you away,” Anderson said. “But if you ride the current, you can easily make it out alive and maybe even get ahead.” Naima Kimura, class of 1997, said that stress is both a friend and an enemy. “Besides acne showing up all over my face, I lose my appetite causing weights loss,” Kimura said. “Plus, I get cranky, easily irritated. But stress is something that I have been dealing with for a long time. I know I can live without it, but life without stress means less challenge, thus a bit boring to me. I do not like to have a lot of it,
but I need some to spice up my life.” Bindra said he handled the stress by channeling the drive into things he really cared about. “I ended up doing a lot of graphic design in high school, just because I loved it, and I loved SAS’s school spirit so I got involved in StuCo, and I had a secret love of math so I really liked Math Club,” Bindra said. “I also took APs I was really interested in, rather than ones that might ‘look good’ and that served me pretty well because I was more motivated to do the work.” Bindra said the most important thing he did was structure free time into his days. Instead of going to meetings or doing work during breaks, he would choose to spend time with friends. At least 30 minutes of video games or TV after school kept him sane. Laura Imkamp, class of 2006, relies
on exercise as a way to manage stress. “When the work gets too much, I go for a run, or a bike ride,” she said. Imkamp said she believes in working hard and playing hard. “If you work really hard during the week, you deserve—and usually need—some time off on the weekend to prevent yourself from burning out. Otherwise, you’ll end up hating everything you do and that’s a terrible feeling.” Bindra thinks the academic culture at SAS could be modified to reduce its rigor without jeopardizing its status. “There are steps I could foresee SAS making that could potentially improve things, and that’s not being done, which is troublesome and perpetuates the stressful environment,” Bindra said. Bindra said there are private schools in the U.S. that put limits on the number of APs students are allowed to take. They still offer all the possible AP subjects, but restrict students to picking a maximum of two, or three AP classes in a given year. “Since college admissions are all about determining if students have maximized their potential in a given environment, it’s shown that this hasn’t harmed students’ abilities to get into good colleges,” Bindra said. Bindra said there are schools that have done away with APs entirely. He thinks this works well because it allows students to explore subjects and fields they are inter-
ested in with a lot more flexibility. Principal Dr. Timothy Stuart said while SAS does not encourage students to take huge numbers of AP courses, the school believes students and parents should have the choice to determine their accepted level of stress for themselves. He said SAS caters to an environment where it is okay to be competitive—where it is okay to succeed and reach a student’s highest possible potential. “That is why we are not necessarily into putting a cap on personal excellence or rigor. We believe kids should be allowed to push themselves as high and as far as they choose to go,” Dr. Stuart said. Though AP changes are not expected in the near future, Dr. Stuart said the administration is reviewing policies to minimize stress. The high school is looking to change the value placed on homework and mandate a policy where students are only allowed to take two tests on any given day. Dr. Stuart said, right now, too many students are nervous about getting their homework correct. In his opinion, homework is just practice and should not be assessed for grades. “It will not be about busy work, rather about competency. We are moving towards demonstration of mastery of the concept or skill and moving away from busy work,” Dr. Stuart said. darmawan40839@sas.edu.sg