The Eye Apr 15, 2008

the eye Singapore American High School

April 15, 2008/vol. 27 no. 6

fly high, actors entertain at IASAS cultural Dancers

convention

by Amanda Tsao Clockwise from left: SAS Dancers Ahilya Kaul, Daphne Pan and Abby Murray leap in unison; ISM actors open their play on a construction beam; JIS features a play within a play, set during Armageddon; ISM incorporates Filipino tribal culture in its dance. Photos from IASAS web site.

Fake blood that spilled onto the stage and a twisted circus setting brought audience members to the edge of their seats and moved some to tears. “[The play] sounds cheesy and tacky, but I almost cried. It was so full of emotion, “ Junior Elliot Miranda said.

JIS’ motifs of dark humor interspersed with romance, featured prominently in this year’s cultural convention drama. Every play seemed to have both romantic and dark elements, with TAS’ revolving around the tortured mind in art, and ISM’s centering on two flies discovering their 24-hour lifespan.

ISKL followed the comedy pattern

starting with a summary of the “Glass Menagerie” which lead up to the comedy component: a parody of the “Glass Menagerie.”

“It was very, very funny. But some of the jokes went a little too far,” senior Hannah Groch-Bageley said. “One of the characters was a lesbian and some people thought it was inappropriate.”

SAS’ play was drama, focusing on the web of human experiences that bind all men together. All scenes took place in a train station, the characters all waiting for their train.

“Compared to the other plays, which were comedies, we had to push our limits more because ours was serious,” Senior Luigi DeGuzman said.

When not performing or watching, drama students attended workshops where they learned “suitcase theatre,” an improv. exercise wherein the only props used in a play could fit into a suitcases.

“A lot of what we learned was already in our play. Things like freezes and making transitions without a blackout or scene change,” Miranda said.

Dancers this year took the opposite approach to themes, choosing heavy messages to convey.

ISB used wheelchairs and wound-like costumes to show sickness in “Sick or Sane?” The music was percussive; dancers coughed violently and stomped as they writhed. SAS’ dance, “Is it Right?” addressed the obsession for perfection. The dance was the only one that did not use props, but incorporated the dancer’s own voices and music with lyrics that related to the burden to be perfect.

“If you need to use a prop you have to really utilize it. But we didn’t need to use any because it didn’t apply to our theme,” senior Tina Kirwin said.

ISM took advantage of performing on their home court,

their theme revolving around Filipino culture. They invited “Piniktambol,” a Filipino tribal music band, to play live music. The traditional bamboo game, “kawayan” was also incorporated.

The most unique prop was the finale, when a dancer was suspended in the air using an air harness to display acrobatic movements.

TAS also chose a serious topic: addiction. Segments of the dance ranged from an addiction to cell phones and YouTube, to nicotine and making excuses. Coffee tables, multicolored scarves and signs were used. Dancers linked arms and tried to break away from each other to show bondage to their addictions.

“TAS’ dance was my favorite.

Their dances are always so good,” senior Esha Parikh said. “They give you an idea and really make you think.”

JIS chose the light as their theme. Bright strobe lights, soft blue lights and glow-sticks were used.

Movements ranged from soft, light movements to heavier ones during the moments when stage lights were brightest. ISKL played with emotion, in their dance called, “A Confused Mixture of Things.” The music used was equally as mixed, with fourteen different songs used.

With six of the nine of the SAS dance team being seniors, the end of this year’s cultural convention marks the beginning of a younger team next year. Seniors Abby Murray, Esha Parikh and Esther Lukeman have been in cultural convention for two years or more.

“At the end of the closing ceremony they shut the lights off and we had a huge dance party. And then I realized that I wasn’t going back again,” senior Esther Lukeman said. “I saw how amazing cultural convention was and how much I was going to miss it.” amanda.theeye@gmail.com

Drug counselors find ‘high-risk attitudes’ in campus visit

by DJ Hartman “I’d like to put this up front, I like to be high when I work.”

Freedom From Chemical Dependency counselor George Brown was talking about a natural high. The remainder of his talk would be about highs of the drug induced kind.

Four counselors from FCD Educational Services visited SAS to meet with 7th, 8th, 9th and 12thgraders and impart wisdom gained from personal drug and alcohol abuse.

FCD counselors consulted with the administration about the substance abuse of choice at SAS.

MICA (P) 183/10/2007

Deputy Principal Lauren Mehrbach expressed the particular concern of alcohol to the SAS community.

“Because the drinking age is 18 and the availability of alcohol to the underage, it’s important to discuss,” Mehrbach said. Deputy Principal Doug Neihart also emphasized the relevance of alcohol.

“Obviously, it’s a problem for developing brains and we hoped that it would be addressed,” Neihart said. “The goal was to give students an opportunity to talk about their experiences to trained professionals who know about it first-hand.”

Freshmen were required to meet twice during their free periods in

the Library Media Theater. For anywhere from 45 minutes to the full 90-minute period, FCD counselors spoke to students about their experiences with abuse. On counselor, Terry Lezak told students about one particular event.

“Six months after I left home and dropped out of college, I called my mother at 3 in the morning on valium and alcohol, crying and asking her why she didn’t love me. It was 10 years before I went clean,” Lezak said.

Many SAS students may feel that the topic of drugs has been discussed more than enough, even by their first year of high school,

but others found that that FCD cast the old topic in a new light.

“The meetings were more of the topic that we’re all painfully familiar with, but not too bad, all things considering,” said freshmen Jia Sung.

If freshmen were somewhat jaded by the discussion, the seniors were doubly so.

“It was definitely nothing seniors haven’t seen before, but they were cool and it was pretty interesting anyway,” said senior Abhay Puri, referring to the meetings.

SAS counselors and peer support members also met separately with FCD.

With Peer Support, FCD talked about ways to help friends with substance abuse problems.

“They were encouraged to help, but not to cure someone with substance abuse, to be supportive and encourage them to get help,” said Mehrbach.

The FCD counselors shared some of their findings with counselors in a debriefing on Friday. According to Mehrbach, counselors said they were exposed to “not a lot of highrisk behavior, but some high-risk attitudes.”

Additional Reporting by Amber Bang dj.theeye@gmail..com

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April 15, 2008

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the Eye

Cultural Forensics & Debate

Summer program provides jobs for high schoolers

Triumphant weekend marred by shenanigans in some events

by Jon Cheng SAS delegates broke into chants of “Let’s go Eagles, Let’s Go!” as Ravi Shanmugam and Esha Sondhi won successive gold medals in Original Oratory and Oral Interpretation (OI). Vysak Venkateswaran and Sakshi Agarwal took silver for debate, and Daksha Rajagopalan won bronze in OI. Forensics delegates had to pass three qualifying rounds to get to the finals as one of the top six speakers in their event. In addition to the medalists, Olivia Auerbach (OI) and Abhay Puri (Extemporaneous speaking) made the finals.

Shanmugam clinched SAS’ first Oratory gold in 10 years with a fiery speech satirizing the honesty of politicians.

“It was an exhilarating finale to a fantastic cultural. Mrs. Kett has somehow managed to bludgeon my speech into decent shape; I know it wasn’t easy,” Shanmugam said. “The amount of work she has put in with Amanda, Judy and with me has been phenomenal, we all owe her a huge thank-you. The winner’s plaque is in her room. She really deserves it.”

Judy Kim’s speech was on androgyny in modern society, and Amanda Tsao’s was a vindictive on

the impossibility and ludicrousy of an O.O. speech.

“Amanda’s speech was my favorite. She was basically insulting her own event by saying there’s nothing original about an Original Oratory speech,” senior Hannah Groch-Bagley said. It was very clever and really witty.”

For Oral Interpretation, Nanette from above: group shot of dance, drama and forensic delegates; Sakshi Agarwal Ruhter coached all three of her Clockwise and Vyshak Venkateswaran prepare for an argument; Aisling Leow, Amanda Tsao and Ravi delegates to the finals. Auerbach, Shanmugam at the closing ceremony. who chose an excerpt from “The A close final saw SAS lose to Great Gatsby,” by F. Scott Fitzgerald, in the finals, only making slight defending champions ISKL in a 3-2 lost her voice on the day of the finals, adjustments depending on the topic split decision. and Rajagopalan coincidentally given.

“They were using the blind-them“We were really disappointed,” choose the same excerpt as with-bull approach,” Venkateswaran another delegate. Rajagopalan Impromptu coach Rick Silverman said.

“The mistake was that I tried to read from Gregory David Roberts’ said. “I felt that the spirit of the go after all their arguments instead “Shantaram,” in which the main event was violated. It has happened of attacking their case. I think that’s character, Lin, hilariously encounters before. what gave them the case.”

Forensics events have seen “over-underpants” in India. Sondi’s One of the lighter moments of winning reading from Khaled cheating before. Last year a JIS the debate was when the opposition Hosseini’s “A Thousand Splendid O.O. participant was found to have asked SAS to produce printed proof Suns,” was powerfully dramatic, plagiarized her speech- after she of their evidence. as Sondi conveyed the feelings of took home the gold medal.

“They asked me for it, so I Debate saw each school enter two betrayal and loss felt by Mariam, the decided I was going to throw papers teams, with the “A” and “B” teams heroine. at them,” Vekateswaran said. “It’s Impromptu medalists were not facing those from other schools in just that some of them were in my greeted as kindly. According to the qualifying rounds. Four teams coat and pants pockets.” junior Martis Buchholz, three of the qualified, with Venkateswaran and finalists memorized the same speech Agarwal (SAS team A) beating ISM Additional reporting by staff jontheeye@gmail.com and delivered it word for word team A in the semi finals.

by Ann Lee A long summer day. You’re bored, restless, and in need of some extra money.

The June16 - July18 SAS Summer Program offers recreational activities for pre-K through 8th grade children. About 40 high school student-counselors are needed. Early Childhood Center director Geri Johnson is in charge of this program. She said hundreds apply, but the board only selects 40.

Previous experience with children earns students extra credit. Babysitting for family members or neighborhood kids counts. Applicants with special skills in art, dance and especially swimming are in demand, as are students who are fluent in Korean and Japanese.

There are eight classes in all, and the children come from schools in Singapore, Korea, Japan, Thailand, Bangladesh, India, Germany and the U.S. About half of the children are SAS students, Johnson said. Some families planning to send their children to SAS in September send them to the summer program so that the children can make friends and get used to the SAS environment .

The pay is S$200 a week for counselors, who are expected to work from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The program requires counselors to be with the students all day long. Counselors can work during the first session, from June 16 - July 4, or the second session from July 6- July 18. Counselors can choose to work both sessions. They must provide their own transportation. Applications will be available beginning April 14. (http:// www.sas.edu.sg/Summer/index.html)

More cameras needed to monitor vandalism, theft

by Rohin Dewan At approximately 12:47 p.m on Jan 28, a fire broke out in the boys’ bathroom next to the theatre office, S104. Middle school receptionist Faizah Bte Abdul Aziz called Security and Safety Manager Isaac Benjamin to tell him there was smoke near the theatre office.

Benjamin hurried to the location and found the boys’ bathroom filled with smoke. Benjamin immediately took the nearest fire extinguisher and extinguished the fire and smoke.

Benjamin said that the toilet paper dispenser in the first stall and the garbage can were both producing the smoke. According to Benjamin there was still some fire flickering at the toilet paper dispenser.

The source of the fire has yet to be established, but Benjamin speculated that somebody deliberately ignited the roll of toilet paper in the first stall, as well as the garbage can, with a lighter.

The two burned locations were roughly two meters apart, and Benjamin believes that the arson was a combined effort, suggesting more that one person was involved.

The fire burned for about five minutes, enough time for the flames to reach the ceiling of the bathroom and damage the stalls, totaling $226 in damages.

Juniors Peter Bardon and Billy Fulton were taking a break from Kuester’s English class when they

saw Deputy Principal Doug Neihart down the hall. “[We] didn’t realize that there was a fire until we went talk to Mr. Neihart,” junior Peter Bardon said.

“I can’t believe we have an arsonist at this school. To set a roll of toilet paper on fire in a bathroom is just stupid.”

Since the fire broke out inbetween the middle and high school, it is not clear whether a middle or high school student ignited the roll of toilet paper. The arsonist has not been caught.

There are no cameras in that part of school, making it a challenge for Security to identify suspects.

Benjamin would not give exact figures, but said that there were an estimated 80 cameras throughout the entire SAS campus. Approximately 20 are situated in the high school and another 20 in the middle school.

Benjamin hopes to add an additional 16 cameras, increasing the total number of cameras to 96.

Benjamin said that there were no plans to place cameras in fixed positions outside every bathroom.

Benjamin said that there were too many toilets and unwatched areas in school; that culprits would just keep shifting their locations if cameras were to be placed more frequently throughout the campus.

“I am hoping to get some wireless cameras which will make installation easy and discreet,” he said. The key

ideas behind wireless cameras are that they are versatile and can be moved quickly, as needed.

Benjamin said that because of the fire’s location, alarms were not set off.

“Bathrooms do not have smoke detectors, nor are they connected to the air holding unit,” said Benjamin.

The school follows the regulations of the Singapore Fire Safety Bureau and does not have bathroom ventilation connected to the central ventilation.

No new measures have been taken to prevent future potentially harmful incidents, but Benjamin said that with wireless cameras, threats such as arson could be dealt with quickly and discreetly.

“From the security aspect, investing in wireless cameras will be a quick way to deal with such needs,” Benjamin said. “From the safety aspect, it is important to know that we either have a hose reel or a fire extinguisher every 30 meters apart along the corridors.”

High School Deputy Principal Doug Neihart said that whoever started the fire would be disciplined.

Neihart also added that he would Security chief Isaac Benjamin extnguished this fire in the boys restroom outside the theater recommend professional counseling office before much damage was done. Cleaning and replacing ceiling tiles cost $226.

Photo by Rohin Dewan. for the fire starter.

“I have conveyed my thoughts prank’ which can have disastrous take this particular case and let their to the middle school and hope they consequences to life and property,” students know the dangers of playing with fire.” have spoken to all their students and Benjamin said. impress upon their young minds that “The schools, especially the rohintheeye@gmail.com playing with fire is an ‘uncontrollable middle and high schools should

the Eye

staff editorial

“No one expects the Spanish Inquisition” And we thought no one read this newspaper. Apparently they do, as students who were called in one by one to take “anonymous” surveys on Interim Semester infringements can testify. Anonymity implies privacy. This concept is foreign to the SAS administration. At SAS, “anonymous” means administrators know who takes the survey, what they say, and even question students on why they say it.

The admin’s interrogations were sparked by “Eye” editor Megan Anderson’s March 5 article, “Some trips marked by ills, chills and pills.” Anderson described Interim misdemeanors, which saw some students smuggling cigarettes, paying strippers and drinking themselves into a stupor. The administration decided it had to “triangulate” the culprits, and embarked on a campaign of intimidation.

The culprits deserve to be punished, but catching them was not worth mortgaging students’ goodwill, turning friend against friend and sacrificing the administration’s moral authority.

In a high school, the means are as important as the ends. By forcing kids to “rat out” their friends, the admin invoked a time-honoured tradition: using authority to bludgeon people into submission, sowing seeds of distrust and eschewing rapport for coercion. Joseph McCarthy’s “Red Scare” tactics appear to have provided the blueprint for SAS’ inquisition. McCarthy has no place in this high school.

Students blamed this newspaper for alerting admin to interim transgressions. We never envisaged the lengths to which the administration would go.

We believed the transgressions would be viewed as isolated incidents, bound to occur when 1200 students travel around the world, removed from parental supervision and thrown in with their friends. We

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didn’t foresee the inquisition that followed.

“I may disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it,” Voltaire said. New York Times journalist Judith Miller went to prison for this principle. Miller chose incarceration over revealing her source, holding freedom of speech and freedom of the press sacrosanct.

The Eye’s Anderson was asked to give up her sources, but refused.

The press has a responsibility to inform its readers and report news.

Anderson did that.

The press has an important role to play as an independent observer.

The administration crossed the line in asking us to reveal our sources and to betray the trust invested in journalists—even student journalists.

SAS, as an institution of learning, must attempt not only to educate its students but also to shape their morality. Paying strippers is deplorable, but the admin’s focus on naming names is more galling. What is excusable at 17 is less so at 50.

Some culprits were caught, but respect for the administration, camaraderie among students and the concept of anonymity were unfortunate casualties.

Polarizing the student body might seem like enough, but the admin was far from content. It also had to butcher the idea of a productive studentadmin partnership. Grilling students individually and browbeating them creates an antagonistic relationship.

Administrators serve as role models in schools, using moral authority to instruct their charges. Just as administrators encourage students to adhere to some moral precepts, students expect administrators to practice what they preach.

This is an administration that professes to care about certain values. It should model those with as much alacrity as it names them.

Singapore American High School 40 Woodlands Street 41 Republic of Singapore 738547 Staff: (65) 6363-3404 x537 Adviser: (65) 6363-3404 x539 Fax: (65) 6363-6443 eye@sas.edu.sg

Editors-in-chief: Megan Anderson, sr. editor Amanda Tsao, Ravi Shanmugam News editor: Amanda Tsao Op/Ed editor: Ravi Shanmugam Features editor: Amber Bang Eye In Focus editor: Devin Hardee, Hee Soo Chung A&E editor: Jon Cheng Sports editor: Barbara Lodwick Photo: Megan Anderson, Brian Riady, Melissa Houston, Mika Singh Reporters: Megan Anderson, Amber Bang, Alex Boothe, Jon Cheng, Hee Soo Chung, Rohin Dewan, Devin Hardee, DJ Hartman, Lorenzo Holt, See Young Lee, Ann Lee, Nick Leisiuk, Alex Lim, Barbara Lodwick, Akhilesh Pant, Ravi Shanmugam, Amanda Tsao Adviser: Mark Clemens Assistant adviser: Judy Agusti

The Eye is the student newspaper of the Singapore American School. All opinions stated 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 Internet at eye@sas. edu.sg. At the author’s request, names can be withheld from publication.

Letters will be printed as completely as possible. The Eye reserves the right to edit letters for reasons of taste and space.

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April 15, 2008

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The triumph of brawn over brains

Stanley Kubrick’s classic speeches.

Mass media and the advent of movie Dr. Strangelove ends technology require today’s leaders with a nuclear explosion that to develop other attributes. Being destroys civilization. It is a photogenic is one essential. Excellent scenario only soundbites a select few are another. men can bring President Franklin Roosevelt’s about, and the fireside chats that most powerful won over skeptics among them is in the 1930s have U.S. President been replaced by George W. Bush. one-line populist Although Bush statements (like Jean-Marie le is unlikely to be Pen’s “As a man as clueless as of the people, I his opponents will always be on Ravi Shanmugam claim, it would the side of those be hard to argue who suffer.”) that the world’s most powerful man win votes today. Substantive policy is its most knowledgeable. issues, which (horror of horrors!)

When hosting a dinner for actually require knowledge, are 49 Nobel Laureates in 1962, unfortunate casualties. Politicians President John F. Kennedy control the levers of power: from our economy to which wars to quipped it was “the most fight, decisions are taken by elected extraordinary collection of leaders. Intelligence in a politician is talent that has ever gathered no longer a prerequisite. at the White House, with the There is also power, though, in possible exception of when capturing the popular imagination.

Thomas Jefferson dined alone.” Unfortunately, it seems that this

America’s founding fathers— Alexander Hamilton, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson—were among the greatest minds of their time.

They played key roles in drafting the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, and were renowned for their intellectual prowess. Today’s leaders don’t even draft their own

requires even less knowledge than politics.

Thinking back 500 years, the names of Copernicus, Galileo, and Machiavelli come to mind. In another five centuries, we might be remembered for David Beckham and Tiger Woods. In 2002, an Oxford University Press survey found that 10 times as many British

high school students could spell “David Beckham” as “Jane Austen.”

Beckham may have perfected the art of curling a round ball, but putting his right boot above Pride and Prejudice seems a strange inversion of values.

People idolize physical over mental accomplishments. Preeminent philosophers like Michel Foucault earn a fraction of the amount Tiger Woods gets for one television commercial, because they lack Woods’ mass appeal, and power to move the hearts of audiences around the globe. Foucault laboured for years on Discipline and Punish, only for it to be outsold (3:1 on Amazon.com, despite Discipline and Punish being published 30 years earlier) by footballer Wayne Rooney’s autobiography, written by a ghostwriter and of questionable literary merit. Aristotle will be turning in his grave.

If politicians have authority and athletes have popular adulation, where does that leave truly brilliant minds like Foucault? With pivotal ideas and an ever-shrinking audience.

Which child has not heard that knowledge is power? It justifies the “go to school and learn” statement every parent makes. However, we live in a society where, increasingly, Dickens must play second fiddle to Roger Federer. It is unfortunate, but the next time someone tells me that knowledge is power, I will have to correct him: knowledge was power. ravi.theeye@gmail.com

Student press censorship benefits no one In 1971, the Vance Senior High administrations and faculties. newspaper in Henderson, North But, one has to ask, shouldn’t Carolina was shut down and the those supervising adolescents exercise adviser let go because the same authority as of a satirical article that many parents do in the criticized the school home? No. The best cafeteria. schools are those that are More recently a democratic, those that let high school newspaper students participate in adviser in Indiana decisions about cafeteria was put on paid food, or what they read. suspension after the Students should be paper ran an editorial heard; their opinions encouraging tolerance should matter. Students Megan Anderson of homosexuals. After and adolescents aren’t taking the case to as silly and irresponsible court in 2007 the adviser, Amy Sorrell, as many older people make them out settled with the school and agreed to to be. When given the opportunity or teach in a different district, but she is outlet to express themselves, they are not allowed to teach journalism for enfranchised. When students do not three years in the public system. Sorrell have that outlet they often become is now teaching journalism at a private apathetic, and apathy is a democracy’s school in Indiana. worst enemy.

These are just a few examples of the many First Amendment battles set on high school campuses across the United States. For a nation built on democracy and freedom, the ongoing suppression of the high school press is ironic.

Political awareness is developed in educational institutions. If student newspapers are censored and the opinions of students muzzled, what does this teach them about their rights as American citizens?

Former Supreme Court justice Potter Stewart said, “Censorship reflects society’s lack of confidence in itself. It is a hallmark of an authoritarian regime.” This applies not only to governments, but to school

SAS is not exempt from conflict between the administration and the newspaper, but The Eye has more in common with the best American high school papers because administrations have trusted reporters and editors to conduct themselves in accordance with the best principles and practices of high school journalism.

In the past three administrations, the paper has not been censored. The freedom that is given to The Eye greatly enhances the legitimacy of the school as an American institution.

The Eye seeks to report truthfully, although we’ve proven on a very few occasions that we are not infallible.

We hope be an independent voice in the life of the school. We do not seek confrontation; we seek to inform students about the issues and events that effect them.

Cartoon by Dj Hartman

4 features

T he T rut a touchy issue among SAS

Have you

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Sophomore Adam Jatho agreed.

“It depends on the person,” Jatho said. “Maturity isn’t measured in years.”

When asked to approximate the percentage of students having sex in their grade, 26.7 percent said between 0 to 20 percent, followed by 19.6 percent who said between 20 to 30 percent. While the percentage predicted increased with each grade level, students predictions varied.

According to the survey, 28.4 percent of students have had sexual intercourse and 37.4 percent have had oral sex. The numbers increase with grade level. Of the freshman surveyed 8.3 percent have engaged in sexual intercourse compared to 14.4 percent of sophomores and 15 percent have engaged in oral sex compared to 26.9 percent of sophomores.

The greatest difference is seen between the juniors and seniors. The number of students that have had sexual intercourse more than doubles and the number of students that have had oral sex almost doubles. Of the senior class surveyed, 56.7 percent have had sexual intercourse.

In the U.S., the figure is 62 percent. The majority, 64 percent, have engaged in oral sex.

While most students who have had sex said they use protection, 15 percent have had unprotected sex and 1.5 percent have had an STD. A little more than half worry about contracting an STD. SAS students receive sex education through a critical issues unit in health classes.

“Although health classes briefly cover sex, I think it would make more sense to have a required class,” a female senior said. “I also think it would be good if students had more access to protection.”

According to counselor Dawn Betts a critical issues unit is probably not enough. She said freshman should be required to wait until they are at least sophomores to take a health class and seniors should be given more information regarding sex to prepare for college.

“I wish we had a senior seminar like the one at ISB (International School of Bangkok),” Betts said.

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YES 28.4%

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by Devin Hardee

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eens are defining sex in new ways. Rampant speculation in recent years of the rise of oral sex was confirmed in a groundbreaking study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which found that more that half of all U.S. teenagers aged 15 to 19 have done it. Of the 409 SAS students surveyed in The Eye sex survey, 37.4 percent have engaged in oral sex.

To adults, “oral sex is extremely intimate, and to some of these young people, apparently it isn’t much,” said Sarah Brown, director of the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy in a 2005 USA Today article.

“What we’re learning here is that adolescents are redefining what is intimate.”

The common belief that oral sex isn’t actual sex and that it’s safer than intercourse or a way to preserve virginity has turned it into a “recreational activity” according to David Walsh, author of the teen-behavior book “Why Do They Act That Way?” The same CDC survey revealed that of those that had oral sex, nearly a quarter had never had intercourse.

Other studies verify that more teenagers are having oral sex than sexual intercourse. The Eye survey reported that the number of students that have engaged in oral sex is 11 percent greater.

Another CDC survey found that 47 percent of all U.S. high school students reported having had sexual intercourse.

Many students interviewed predicted that figures in the U.S. regarding sex would be much greater than those at SAS. “Things are a lot different here,” a female freshman said. “I came from a public school in Texas where students were much more promiscuous.”

The Eye survey and surveys conducted by the Life Skills classes confirmed this assumption. While the percentage of those taking part in sexual activity is less, sexual attitudes of SAS students are similar to those of U.S. students.

“I was surprised of how liberal the students’ views were,” Life Skill teacher Charles Shriner said. “I expected the views of students to differ from the views of students in the States because of the distance.”

The survey revealed that 59 percent agreed or strongly agreed that pre-marital sex is acceptable. While the majority of students do not practice abstinence, many respect those who choose to abstain from sex until marriage.

“I think it is a personal choice,” a female junior said.

“People should do what they are comfortable with.”

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April 15, 2008

YES 37.4% Seniors

NO 62.6%

Juniors 22.5%

58.5%

13%

6%

Sophomores Freshmen

* All data collected from a survey conducted by the Eye in February 2008. 409 SAS high school students were surveyed.

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How old were you when you first had sex?

35 30 # of people

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STD’s infectby Heeone i n four U.S. teens Soo Chung A

young couple, both seniors, sat in counselor According to scarleteen.com, a sex education website, 25 Frieda Dietrich’s office, their faces full of percent of new HIV infections are in people aged from 13 to 21. anxiety. They told her that the girl might be pregnant.

Dietrich said that some students, mostly females, do come to Dietrich loaned the girl $10 and told her to buy a talk to her about sex. pregnancy test kit. While the girl was gone, the boy sat “In some years, more than average numbers of students come on the sofa, his face chalk white, his teeth chattering. to talk to me about sex. It depends on the group of students Fists clenched, he mumbled that his and the issues that go on kids’ lives,” mother was going to kill him and Dietrich said. that he did not want to be a dad yet.

Dietrich said many students regret The girl returned and announced having sex because it happened that she was not pregnant after all. when they were drunk and were not Although teen pregnancy has completely aware about the decision always been a hot issue, teenage they were making. pregnancy in the United States “For most of them, it’s like a declined 35 percent from 1991 to 2005 wake-up call, because they watch out according to a survey on teenpregnancy. for what they do in the future.” org.

At SAS, the topic of sex and Behaviors that risk pregnancy also STDs is more hush-hush than it is increase the risk of contracting sexual in the United States. Students are transmitted diseases (STDs). The first sometimes afraid to talk about their national study of common STDs by sex lives and about STDs with their the Centers for Disease Control and counselors. Dietrich said students are Prevention (CDC) in 2008 showed that afraid it will prejudice counselors who one in four girls aged 14 to 19 in the assist them with recommendations United States is infected with at least one and college applications. of the four common diseases.

If students contract an STD, they The data was drawn from a sample of 838 should confirm it by visiting their girls who participated in a national survey in physicians. If it is confirmed, then 2003 to 2004. Extrapolating from the data, students should talk with people in 3.2 million teenage girls are estimated to be their lives, especially their parents, -High School counselor infected with one of the four common STDs. Dietrich said.

Of the girls studied, 18 percent were “In that situation, students should infected with human papillomavirus (HPV), take things step-by-step,” she said. four percent with chlamydia, 2.5 percent with “They should follow the advice that Photo by Malavika Singh & Melissa Huston trichomoniasis, and two percent with genital herpes. The study did not doctors give and take treatments if available. They should know include diseases such as HIV/AIDS, syphilis or gonorrhea. that it is not totally the end of the world.”

Among girls who admitted having sex, 40 percent had an STD. Among girls There are people students can talk to if they face problems who said they had a single sexual partner, 20 percent were infected. STD infection related to sex and STDs. rates were highest among black teenage girls - 48 percent had at least one STD compared to a 20 percent “We have good nurses who students can talk to about anything rate among whites and Hispanics. HPV can cause cervical cancer and genital warts but often shows no and everything,” Dietrich said. “There are also your parents, symptoms. The CDC recommends three-dose HPV vaccine for girls aged 11 to 12 and catch-up shots for friends, counselors and teachers. Many students also talk to ages 13 to 26. female health teachers.”

Chlamydia and trichomoniasis can be treated with antibiotics. Chlamydia often shows no obvious “No matter who you talk to, you should go and seek people symptoms and can cause infertility. An annual screening for sexually active women younger than 25 is recommended. out. Never rely on rumor and try to be open-minded,” Dietrich Trichomoniasis can cause abnormal discharge and painful urination. said. “I’m impressed at how many students at SAS are willing Genital herpes is not curable but can be controlled with medication. It causes blisters on or around the genitals or to look at the consequences of their actions. They are also very rectum but often shows no obvious symptoms. aware of the possible transmission of STDs.” The non-profit organization Guttmacher Institute (www.guttmacher.org) reported that 46 percent of teenagers aged 15 heesootheeye@gmail.com to 19 have had sex at least once. Amongst 18.9 million new cases of STDs reported each year, 48 percent occur among 15 to 24 year olds.

“

I’m impressed at how many students at SAS are willing to look at the consequences of their actions.

They are also very of the possible transmission of STDs.

aware

”

6 features

Promiscuity to abstinence: I

April 15, 2008

by Amber Bang

t’s the one topic in every connection between two people.” teen’s mind at some point, Conversely, a senior male who it’s present in conversations first had sex while drunk last summer in school hallways, and it’s often the said he does not regret having done worry of many a parent. so.

There’s myth and reality. Many “After a few drinks at the are curious the role of sex in the hawkers, I went over to my friend’s lives of SAS high-schoolers. In teen house, and she might have been a vernacular, how promiscuous are little...inebriated,” he said. the sluts, and how chaste are the He referred to his relationship prudes? with the girl Though only as a friends12 percent of with-benefits SAS high school situation, a students who commonly responded to used term a recent Eye among young survey replied adults to that they had describe an engaged in sexual emotionally intercourse, 59 platonic percent agreed friendship that pre-marital with sexual sex is acceptable. attributes.

Yet, it is apparent “I think - senior male that a diverse it was bound spectrum of to happen experiences and between us beliefs exists at SAS. anyway,” he said. “We had hooked One senior male who first had sex up for two to three weeks already.” at the age of 13 said he regrets it. His Though the two only had sex first partner was 15-years old, and twice after their first time, the he had known her for three months senior’s views on sex reflect one before they engaged in intercourse. way of thinking that is shared by “We were drunk, and it just kind many sexually active adolescents. of happened,” he said. “I never really “I think you can have sex with thought about it until a couple years someone without being committed later.” to them or emotionally attached He was 16 the next time he had to them. I don’t think [one-night sex, and only then did he begin to stands] are wrong.” think about his first time.

One-night stands, characterized “I’d like to believe that the first by the stereotypical sequence of time I lost it was in tenth grade to events starting with meeting a someone I really cared about,” he stranger at a bar followed by going said. “It’s the second that you start home with them, is not only practiced to think about the nature of sex and by those in college, but also by a its connections, its implications, that small percentage of high-schoolers it starts to f_ _ _ with your head. at SAS. One sophomore female who It is really important, and it’s a lost her virginity at the age of 14, has

“We were drunk and it just happened...I never really thought about it until a couple years later.”

Have you had sex?

NO 43.3%

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the Eye

had over ten sexual partners over the past year-and-a-half.

“I was sober [my first time], and it was with my boyfriend who I’d been going out with for two months,” she said. “He wasn’t a virgin, and he was like ‘Are you ready yet? Are you ready yet?’ We broke up a few weeks later. I guess you find out what the guy’s like after you do it.”

Following this relationship, the sophomore continued to have a string of one-night stands, all while under the influence of alcohol.

“I think everyone has [had a onenight stand]. I was just exploring, having a lot of fun. During that experimental period, most of them I don’t remember.”

The sophomore did voice some concerns she had about pregnancy.

She said she used contraception every time, but that two of her friends had become pregnant. One had an abortion, and the other miscarried.

“I had this one friend who looked up on the Internet that you have to drink lots of black beer and smoke two packs of cigarettes every day to have a miscarriage, so she did that, and she did drugs. She didn’t want to tell her parents, so she couldn’t get an abortion, because where are you going to get the cash, you know?” she said matter-of-factly.

However, high school students who have had multiple sexual partners are a minority. The Eye survey reported 71.6 percent of the high school students have not had a sexual partner. A much smaller fraction of high school students, 15 percent, replied that they have had only one sexual partner.

One sophomore couple decided to wait to have sex until they had dated for a year. They began dating in early November of their freshman year, but dated on and off for a year

students sexual habits cover wide spectrum

priority in the relationship, and the and a half.

“We broke up three times,” the fact that they simply never had “the sophomore female said. “We’ve talk.”

“I think it’s the guy’s responsibility been dating for a year altogether.”

The couple said that they had [to initiate sex],” he said. “[But] if been each other’s first – from oral she asked, I would’ve given it to her. sex to intercourse. They discussed We never talked about it.”

Concern about the possibility a c c i d e n t a l of having pregnancy further sex and dissuaded him. their levels “I didn’t really of readiness think I could take b e f o r e the responsibility actually if something deciding to happened, you go through know?” he said. with it. Both “And it took us a said they year before we got were glad to third base.” they waited.

Then at the far Their end of the spectrum story is are those who romantic in chose abstinence. comparison A sophomore to many female criticized high school - sophomore female the constant sex-horror pseudo-need to stories. But have premarital the female sex that she sees in said that her relationships today. parents would “Relationships aren’t just about not find it quite so endearing if they sex,” she said. “Sex is something knew.

“My parents would disown me if you do after marriage. It’s when you decide to give your entire body to they found out,” she said.

Conversely, though dating that person.”

The sophomore cited her parnts someone and then waiting to have sex is the path for some, the Eye as well as the Bible as her main survey reported that approximately source of her belief in abstinence one-third of the senior class had not before marriage.

“The Bible says there shouldn’t had any sexual partners.

A male and female, now be sex before marriage. My mom seniors, dated during their freshman and my dad went out for eight years and sophomore years, and chose before they got married without not to engage in sexual intercourse having sex. Once you’ve gone past throughout the relationship. The that last step, does it really mean male listed many factors that were anything after a while?” a part of this decision: timing, ambertheeye@gmail.com consequences, sex not being a

“The Bible says there shouldn’t be sex without marriage. My mom and my dad went out for eight years before they got married without having sex.”

Rounding the bases Second Base: Making out; kissing & groping/fondling; up the shirt.

YES 25.7%

YES 56.7%

Seniors

NO 74.3%

First Base: french kissing

Third Base: Oral sex; everything but intercourse

Juniors

Home: Intercourse

SAS middle schoolers less promiscuous than US peers

by Ann Lee Seven percent of high school students say they first had intercourse before age 13, according to a recent U.S study. The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health found that sex education made no difference to the age of first intercourse for the 2,436 participants.

Sexual intercourse and teenage pregnancy are growing concerns,

evidenced by a recent USA Today headline, “The Sexual Revolution Hits Junior High.”

SAS Middle School Principal Franke Thomas said that the atmosphere is quite different at the middle school.

“It certainly appears that there are fewer kids having sex than in the States,” Thomas said.

Thomas worked at several middle

schools in the U.S, and says that the atmosphere at the middle school is more toned down than in U.S. schools. He said that public display of affection stays within the range of holding hands or hugging.

PE teacher Keith Hynes, a former middle school teacher, said the kids are usually “really shy,” and that he had not observed any serious physical contact between

middle school students. Only in rare occasions do rumors circulate, getting distorted and exaggerated, he said.

English teacher Stacy Jensen, also a former middle school teacher, said many middle school students have large groups of friends, and that they show platonic affection.

Jensen said as sudents hit puberty in the middle school years, it is only

natural for students to be curious and to act self-conscious around the opposite gender.

“The age of serious sexual behavior all depends on the individual, and it is inevitable,” she said.

She added that students should break away from peer pressure and make independent choices regarding sexual behavior.

the Eye

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arts 7

April 15, 2008

Delegates enjoy inspiration and comradery in ISB visit Hee Soo Chung The IASAS art delegates walked in single file to a space where artworks and and sculptures were set against the boards where they would be hung.

Then they scattered everywhere and unpacked their crates containing their work, sneaking glances at the works of other IASAS delegates.

The artworks of 25 SAS artists was packed with styrofoam in large wooden crates.

“We spent two days packing our artwork. It was a process involving a huge roll of tape and lots of styrofoam which we called ‘ghost poo.’” IASAS delegate Alison Tan said. “We had to carry the giant wooden crates ourselves.”

This year’s IASAS art delegates were all senior girls: Allison Tan, Ellie Stanton, Elizabeth Stocking, Melissa Steckler and Carolyn Schmidt traveled to the International School of Bangkok (ISB).

Allison Tan was the first candidate to have artwork in IASAS four years in a row. This was her first year to travel to IASAS Cultural Convention.

“I was very excited about traveling as it was my first time,” Tan said.

“During IASAS, delegates always manage to balance friendliness and competitiveness with each other.”

Tan said that she always looks forward to the period after IASAS because that’s when she’s the most

productive.

“After IASAS, I spend every waking moment making something or thinking about what I can make,” Tan said. “It feels like there’s a hole inside though because we do so much artwork during IASAS but just go back to the usual routine of school after it ends.”

According to Tan, IASAS is a good learning experience because you get to see artwork of students from all over the world.

“Just seeing people around my age in similar art programs makes me insanely happy,” Tan said.

Carloyn Schmidt agreed that inspiration was the chief benefit of attendance.

“It’s good to see what other people came up with and how different each one of them are,” Schmidt said. “It’s pretty inspiring. Because the programs at ISB are IB, they get more time to complete their artwork. “ On the second day of IASAS art, students participated in fashion and jewelry workshops. In the fashion workshop, students took a basic T-shirt and modified it by redesigning it. Then the delegates participated in a choreographed fashion show complete with makeup, hair, lights and music.

“The instructor was crazy,” Tan said. “He was like the queen on a power trip. He kept shouting insulting

Cultural Art, Bangkok

Cultural art delegates listen to guest fashion designer as he cuts up shirts foir one of several projects. Photo from ISB website.

remarks.”

The jewelry workshop involved turning pure silver ingots into personalized and handmade rings.

The workshops lasted from 8 a.m to 9 p.m every day, with artists involved in independent work and group learning.

“We got chances to get to know students from other schools,” Schmidt said. “There were group activities where a student from each school took

turns to get to know each other. There were workshops where we could just sit and talk.”

Working at ISB enabled students to look at things from a different angle.

“IASAS art was a completely different experience,” Tan said. “It feels weird not to be in your ‘territory.’”

Schmidt agreed that it was a unique experience to work at ISB. “I really liked ISB because they had a very tight community where

everyone was working with each other,” Schmidt said.

Tan said that IASAS art is a positive experience in overall.

“I made plans to travel to Europe during summer with the other delegates,” Tan said. “People at ISB were very welcoming. There is never enough time during IASAS.”

heesootheeye@gmail.com

. . . and musicians find similar warmth in interactions, performances Cultural Music, Bangkok

Senior Da Yeon Kim accompanies James Wood on the piano playing xxxxx.

by See Young Lee As the sophomore bass Jong Chan Kim hesitantly walked in front of the adjudicators for the first solo performance of his life, sweats were already running down his back and his

Student led musical a fairytale ending for seniors

by Devin Hardee Senior Jane Hurh has wanted to direct a student-run musical ever since she played Sally Brown in the first student-produced musical in SAS history, “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.”

“I have been working toward this all four years of high school,” Hurh said. “Directing has compiled everything I have learnt.”

Rehearsals for “Cinderella – the Musical,” the third student-led musical

heart was thumping outrageously.

Moments later, a silence settled across the room, replacing the deep, forceful voice that filled the atmosphere earlier. In front of the audience and the judges stood the bass, with the look of and fourth student production, started two weeks before interim. With little time to prepare, the cast of 25 students had to dedicate most of their spare time to the production. Senior Brit Hvide who played Portia, one of the evil stepsisters, said both Hurh and Tiffany Varinata, the assistant director, often had to resort to bribes to get the cast motivated.

“Jane would bring in breakfast for 8 a.m. Saturday rehearsals and Tiffany would bring in cakes,” Hvide said.

Despite time and scheduling issues, rehearsals went smoothly and the cast worked well together. Jane said there was mutual trust between her and cast members and being a senior helped her lead.

“Jane was super intense,” Hvide said. “She took it very seriously

modest satisfaction on his face. Soon the silence broke as the audience and the judges exploded into applause.

“I was satisfied with my performance, but I do wish that I had done better.” Kim said. “Seeing talented students from other schools perform, I was motivated to work harder to become like them.”

While the freshman and sophomore musicians acquired a valuable experience for their musical evolvement, the IASAS veterans received acclaim for their outstanding performances.

Senior band delegate Sunny Han finished his second and last year of IASAS Cultural Convention with an excellent clarinet performance that received positive feedbacks from many adjudicators. But Han still felt the need for improvement.

“I got to see talented students from all over Southeast Asia play their

best,” Han said. “This gave me the motivation to improve.”

Besides participating in solo performances, the delegates from six different schools also devoted their time to preparing for the festival concert. Though the delegates only had three days to rehearse as an ensemble, they managed to create a wonderful, coordinated performance through friendly interactions.

“It was a really friendly atmosphere. We all just got along well,” senior choir delegate Julia Vasko said.

“Cultural Convention has a mutually respectful and appreciative atmosphere,” Kim said. “You find others extremely friendly and without noticing, you find yourself being extremely friendly to others as well.”

Han said that what fueled such heterogeneous group of students

to bond so quickly was its common interest in music. Such tight interaction allowed for the ensemble to strike the audience with its fascinating performance on the night of the festival concert.

For Han, who was a band delegate, it wasn’t just the woodwind or brass performances that he liked at Cultural Convention. He also enjoyed listening to vocals or strings performances even though they were not related to the band.

In this way, Cultural Convention was an enriching experience for both the fledgling and veteran musicians at our school. The event not only inspired the students to improve, but also got them exposed to realms of music different from their own. As put by Kim, Cultural Convention “expanded the students’ musical boundaries.”

because it was her baby.”

The show, like the other studentled musicals before it, was a success.

Each performance in the Black Box Theater was packed with kids of all ages and parents. It was so crowded

that people had to stand at the sides or were turned away. Hvide said the saw little girls crying because they couldn’t get a seat.

“I think a bigger venue would be ideal, but a small setting like the Black

Box is more intimate,” Hurh said.

Putting a fresh twist on a wellloved fairytale, “Cinderella” charmed audiences and made them laugh, amusingly reminding them that “impossible things happen everyday.”

“I did not expect it to be so funny,” senior Emily Woodfield said. “The stepsisters were hilarious.”

Patricia Kuester, the high school acting director, was impressed by how the show turned out and hopes that this new tradition stays.

“I want it very much to continue,” Kuester said. “It is an important part of the [drama] program.”

Student-led productions will take place every other year when there is no fall musical.

“Cinderella - the Musical” is the fourth student-led production, the third musical. The cast saw a standing-room only audience, with others turned away from their Studio Theater performance.

seeyoungtheeye@gmail.com

devintheeye@gmail.com

8 sports

April 15, 2008

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the Eye

Exchange readies IASAS team

By Alex Lim SAS thrived in the annual KL Track and Field exchange leading up to IASAS, with both the boys and the girls turning in strong performances.

The boy’s 100 and 200-meter dash was dominated by Barron Witherspoon, Max Shaulis and Alex Finch, with the trio finishing in the top five in both events. Witherspoon had been hampered all season with an ankle injury he suffered during the rugby season, but he still proved an effective runner and, alongside Finch, Alexis Lauzon and Blake Peters, helped SAS clinch the first place in the 4x100 meter relay.

The Eagles also exhibited their stamina as they dominated the long distance events. Brian Robertson placed first in both the 400 and 800-meter runs while Evan Shawler came in first in both the 1500 and 3000-meter runs. Lauzon and Conner Abdelnoor completed the SAS sweep, coming in first in the 400 and 110-meter hurdles respectively.

The girls enjoyed similar success in the exchange. Tolley St Clair and Elizabeth Stocking consistently placed in the top three for the girl’s 100, 200 and 400-meter dashes.

Nora Hanagan finished in first place in the 800-meter Run, while runnerup, Linda Kim went on to win the

Reporter Barbara Lodwick prepares for U. S. Military Academy physical standards with gentle direction from SPEED Institute trainer and SAS teacher Ursula Pong,.

Eye reporter gets in shape for West Point I walked into the kitchen after IASAS basketball saw the letter on the table from the United States Military Academy’s (USMA) Office of Admissions.

My heart started pounding. It was either yes or no from my dream school. They wanted me, but only if I met the Army’s height and weight standards. The admissions officer told me that many athletes do not meet those standards. I would have to prove that I was below the average in weight and body fat percentage.

My mom took me to the SPEED

Institute.

After managing to find SPEED at Turf City, my we met with Marcel Daane. In an interview, he asked what I ate daily, how much water I drank, if I ever got tired or lightheaded, if anything in my body bothered me, and what kind of activities I did.

Next, he made me stand on a yoga mat while he circled, looking me up and down. After making me do stretches, like touching my toes and twisting my upper body, he concluded that I have weak hip flexors (I knew this),

1500-meter run.

Three Eagles, Avery Shawler, Renuka Agarwal and Hannah Goode came in first, second and third respectively in the 3000-meter run while the quadruplet of Stocking, St Clair, Erin Morris and Natasha Irani won the 4x100-meter relay.

Cate Graddy and Megan Woodard finished first and second respectively in the girl’s shot put while Morris came in first place in the discus throw. Both Morris and Graddy also finished in the top three in the javelin throw, with Kelly Procida coming in first.

ISB proves tough competition at SAS softball exchange

alex.theeye@gmail.com

and that I needed to strengthen my left hip.

After he examined me, I was led into a private room where Marcel took my body fat measurements - BMI, waist, hips, arms, and thigh circumferences, everything.

Recovering from my initial embarrassment I started the exercise portion of the preliminary assessment. I started with a warm up run of three minutes, followed by dynamic stretching. Next was the VO2 test, a continuous three-minute, 20-yard sprint designed to test my cardio strength. Following the sprint I went quickly into push-ups, sit ups, squats, and a T-Drill run.

The T-Drill consists of four cones spread 10 yards apart in the shape of a T. Starting at the lowermost portion of the T you sprint to the middle, shuffle right, touch the cone, shuffle all the way to the opposite side, touch the cone, shuffle back to the middle, and backpedal to the bottom cone. These workouts would decrease my body fat, increase my muscle mass, and train me for the rigorous basic training I will start when I enter USMA, June 30.

My first workout session was with Ursula Pong, trainer and SAS P.E. teacher. In that one hour session, I worked harder and sweat more than at any other time in my life. The workout began with a three-minute jog with the speed slowly increased. After the jog I progressed to dynamic stretching. Once I was warmed up, we went to an endurance workout that specifically worked on my speed, my vertical and upper body strength.

At the end of my sessions, I felt stronger, trimmer and a little fearful of things to come.

by Alexandra Boothe It appears that the International School of Bangkok (ISB) is out for blood this softball season after their performance at the Singapore Exchange on March 15. Both ISB boys and ISB girls beat the SAS teams at that exchange.

“We came into it over-confident and were surprised when we saw how much our competition had improved from the first exchange,” sophomore Brittany Dawe said. “It was like some of the schools had brought whole new teams to this exchange because they had really stepped it up.”

In the girls’ first exchange in Kuala Lumpur (KL), February 29, they went undefeated against the four other schools in attendance. This time around they played close games against KL and Jakarta pulling it out in the end, but lost to Bangkok.

“I thought our hitting was pretty decent over all, but our defense lacked enthusiasm and it showed,” Dawe said. “I still think we are the better team, and we plan to prove that at IASAS with a repeat of last year. We just have to give it all we

got.”

The varsity boys also got a reality check this exchange. This was the boys’ first exchange making it their first and only chance to get an idea what their competition had to offer at IASAS. “We definitely had a slow start and we had some errors, junior captain Russell Kreutter said. “We just weren’t hitting towards the beginning and they [ISB] really came out stronger.”

The varsity boys only played two games in the exchange and went 1-1, playing Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. The junior varsity team got some playing time this exchange as well winning against both Taipei and Jakarta. Both of the boys’ varsity games were close and Kreutter attributes it to a lack of consistency in the team’s hitting.

“Our second game, which we ended up losing, was close. We came back toward the end and I think that shows character,” senior Hendra Marshall said. “We’re ready, we just need to tighten things up.“ bootheattheeye@gmail.com