Tiger Times Volume 50 Issue 1

Editorial

What we can learn from John McCain

By Dawn Kim and Jeremy Nam Co-Editors-in-Chief

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enator John McCain’s death turned America inside out. In a time of intense political stratification, both Democrats and Republicans laid down their political arms in a momentary truce to honor the deceased politician. At his memorial, Democrat Joe Biden gave a heartfelt eulogy that solidified Biden not just as a respectable politician, but as a genuine and integrous person.

McCain’s passing marked a tectonic shift not just through a ceasefire between partisans, but also through a change in the American media. In the past several years, it has become an unspoken natural law for Donald Trump to dominate the news cycle. However, McCain’s passing was so momentous that Americans, for the first time in a while, saw not conflict in their news feed, but rather the somber remembrance of an American hero. During this time, it became clear that McCain was the kind of leader that America would miss dearly.

These developments aren’t just comforts for the American political sphere; they also present important lessons about how we can live our lives. For one, McCain’s character is a shining model of what we should aspire to be – not just as students, but as people. In the academic fervor that consumes our lives, it becomes easy for us to set impossible standards and expect perfection, deathly afraid of any minor hitch that could torpedo our high school career. McCain made mistakes, too. Yet, we don’t remember McCain for hiccups like the Keating-Five scandal, we remember him for the genuine, honorable person that he was. Similarly, we shouldn’t define ourselves by minor mistakes in our high school career. We will be remembered by our character, not by our grades or extracurriculars.

The political and media ceasefire generated

by McCain’s passing also presents a significant life lesson, especially for the seniors currently consumed in the maelstrom of college applications. There once was a senior so mired in the application process that when his grandfather passed away, he made the decision to stay home and keep the few extra days to work on his college essays rather than attend the funeral service. But just as the news media were able to take a break from reporting on critical issues surrounding President Trump in favor of recognizing an American hero, we too, can learn not to be so preoccupied with our student career as to lose sight of extraneous, personal developments that also have a bearing on our lives. These months are indeed important ones – not just for seniors, but the entire high school – but that just makes it all the more important for us not to forget the things in life that truly matter: the people we know and love.

Senator John McCain’s death turned America inside out. The impacts aren’t exclusive to America, though; the reminders that McCain’s passing have generated are applicable to all people, no matter where they may live, and no matter what they do. In his death, we are able to extract lessons on what it means to be a human being.

As for McCain himself, we hope he rests easy knowing that his character has made its mark on history.

Let yourself be heard. If you have any responses to articles published in the Tiger Times or original contributions, please send them to tigertimes@gmail.com

2 VIEWPOINT Plastic cup ban is not a substantial solution

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n Aug. 1, the South Korean Ministry of Environment announced a ban on plastic cups for in-store customers in coffee shops to curb national plastic usage, following a year during which, according to The Korea Herald, South Koreans had used 26 billion disposable plastic cups, or 70 million cups a day.

Additionally, as China halted imports of plastic waste in January, South Korea soon faced a plastic waste crisis.

However, reusable cups bring environmental problems of their own, and recycling should still serve as a longterm solution.

Of course, using reusable mugs reduces the environmental impacts caused from processing thousands of disposed plastic coffee cups on a daily basis. However, there are many other factors in a reusable mug’s life cycle, ranging from its material extraction to product disposal, that are harmful to the environment, as the chemical substances produced by the process run off into our Earth’s oceans. The energy and materials that go into making a sturdy cup, the hot water and detergent used to clean the cup, and the energy required to heat the water and run the dishwasher hurts the prospects of the reusable mug in comparison to the plastic cup. According to a life cycle analysis conducted by the International Reference Center for the Life Cycle of

Products, a reusable mug must be used over 1,000 times in order to justify its use over a plastic cup. Not only does it take a large number of reuses to break even with using plastic cups, but washing reusable cups also bring about a myriad of environmental harms.

Stemming from the constant dishwashing process that is necessary to maintain reusable mugs, the chemicals in detergents usually run off into our Earth’s oceans, causing major damage: water acidification, water pollution, and ecosystem degradation.

Furthermore, the ban does not even address the massive plastic usage by customers who choose to take-out their beverages. In our modern day, most people simply do not have the time to sit down and enjoy a cup of coffee during their morning commute.

Even if all the customers who remain in the café use renewable cups, there will still be many customers carrying plastic coffee cups out of coffee shops everyday, and South Korean landfills will eventually begin to overflow with plastic. Since China refuses to take in the garbage, there will be nowhere for all of the plastic waste in South Korea to go. In other words, the ball is in South Korea’s court, and banning plastic cups for in-store customers simply will not cut it, especially for the long term.

The South Korean government’s ban on plastic cups is a small solution that

will barely mitigate the compilation of plastic in Earth’s lands and seas. Instead of constantly looking for new places to dump their garbage, the Korean government should instead look for ways to reuse the discarded plastic and improve recycling facilities. The easiest way to do this is to increase the number of public recycling bins. When one is out and about with a plastic cup in hand, it is uncommon to see a recycling bin on the streets of Seoul. Usually, plastic cups are thrown away in regular garbage bins, or even worse, littered.

By simply installing more recycling bins, South Korea could repurpose the plastic cups instead of constantly producing more. The plastic could be melted down to make another plastic cup, or it could be used to make other plastic goods. Recycling alone could cut off the flow of plastic cups to landfills, as it could help significantly reduce the demand for the raw materials necessary in the production of plastic.

Due to the urgency of such matters, the government’s attempt to partially cut off the usage of plastic cups is understandable. However, the long-term environmental harms and the lack of solvency of the ban prevent it from being justified. The true solution does not lie in reduction, but in recycling.

By CHRISTOPHER SHIN Sophomore, Staff Writer

Should Elon Musk step down from Tesla?

Since its founding in 2003, Tesla has been one of the most intriguing companies in the world. The Silicon Valley behemoth is touted as more than just a car company, with a mission to “accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy.” However, Tesla cannot fulfill that promise unless it can pull through its problems. Investors have credited CEO Elon Musk with the rise of Tesla; now they are worried that he might be the cause of its downfall, and prominent shareholders such as investment management company BlackRock have voted to oust him. However, Musk is the engine of innovation behind Tesla, and he should not relinquish control of the electric automaker.

2018 has been a bumpy road for Tesla. Amid concerns about the company’s ability to meet its Model 3 production targets, Tesla reported a record first-quarter loss. The losses led to a combative earnings call in May in which Musk snubbed the analysts who were questioning him. Subsequently, Musk railed against the media on Twitter for their critical coverage of Tesla as well as the United Automobile Workers who had been attempting to help Tesla employees unionize.

Musk’s public outrage has not been limited to the critics of the company.

After he unveiled footage of a submarine intended to help the Thai soccer team who was trapped in a cave, British diver Vernon Unsworth, who rescued the athletes, dismissed Musk’s attempts to help as a publicity stunt. In response, Musk labeled Unsworth as a “pedo guy” in a tweet. Musk has since deleted the tweet, but Unsworth is reportedly considering legal action.

In August, Musk made a dubious

tweet that he was considering taking Tesla private and had secured the massive funding necessary for the buyout. Consequently, the Securities and Exchange Commission served Tesla with a subpoena. The subpoena will be the first step to a more serious inquiry, and this bodes ill not only for investors, but also for everyone who believes in a better future in which cars are fun to drive and safe for the environment.

Despite his numerous follies, nobody can replace Musk at the helm of Tesla. Sure, many people could run Tesla; there are dozens of capable executives at automakers in Detroit, most of which are more efficient and profitable than Tesla. However, Musk is not an ordinary CEO; he is a visionary.

Removing him from Tesla by virtue of his eccentricities is akin to Apple firing Steve Jobs.

Musk’s ambitions are stratospheric.

His ultimate aim is to save mankind from its inevitable demise due to any number of causes, the most probable of which he believes is carbon emissions.

To this end, Musk is building rockets, envisioning a plan to colonize Mars, funding research to keep artificial intelligence beneficial to mankind, and manufacturing lithium-ion batteries that might, one day, render the internal-combustion engine obsolete.

From a technological standpoint, Musk has already changed the world.

Today, the electric vehicle is a commercial reality in large part thanks to Tesla.

Musk has made electric cars capable, easy to charge, and most importantly, desirable; owning a Tesla has become a status symbol. Furthermore, SpaceX and the revitalization of the US aerospace industry will be Musk’s most enduring legacy. Musk has pushed the vanguard of space exploration beyond that which governments are capable of.

Elon Musk is an indispensable asset not only for Tesla but also for all of mankind — and we cannot risk losing him.

By TEDDY CHO Junior, Staff Writer

Tiger Times

August/September 2018

Tiger Times Tiger Times exercises the right to report on and editorialize all topics, events or issues, including those unpopular or controversial, insofar as they affect or interest the school, community, nation, and world. We refrain from publishing material that advertises illegal products or services, is obscene, libelous, or invades privacy. We refrain from publishing material that creates a clear and present danger or the immediate material and substantial physical disruption of the school.

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Tiger Times Staff Paper Editors-In-Chief Dawn Kim Jeremy Nam

Website Managing Editor Kate Lee

Website Editors-in-Chief Junie Ye Joon Kah Hannah Kim Paper Managing Editor Kirsten Huh

Production Editor Amy Jungmin Kim Graphics Editor Yejune Park Photo Editor Jocelyn Lee

Social Media/ Marketing Directors Fiona Cho Eju Ro Copy Editors Youngseo Jhe Andrea Kwon Sia Cho Chris Lee Layout Artists Claire Lee Youngjin Park

Erin Lee Emily Oh Graphics Artist Lynette Kim Photographers Angela Choe Lauren Kang Michelle Ahn Reporters Emily Bae Teddy Cho

Andie Kim Alice Lee Andy Yoon Brian Ham Eric Hwang Jiwon Lee Christopher Shin Thomas Song Jr. Joanne Yang Adviser Mr. David Coleman

Viewpoint Feature: The connection between technology and the right to privacy At what point do candid recordings turn into a breach of privacy?

How can society effectively prevent invasions of privacy through illicit filming?

Pressing for privacy in an era of hidden cameras

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fter decades of watching sci-fi movies and reading novels set in a dystopian societies in which individual privacy is nonexistent, this vision of the future has now become a reality. In a culture where having a smartphone in the back pocket of our jeans is the most natural thing in the world, filming an HD video or sending a text to thousands of people at once can be done with the quick tap of a few buttons. But, in the wrong hands, a “phone” can be used to varying degrees of malice—a simple post can tarnish the reputation of one’s peers, or go as far as single handedly ruining a politician’s career.

One might argue that our lives are in no way harmed or, at the very least, put at serious risk due to the use of technology. After all, if one is not a public figure, vulnerable to negative rumors or attention, a small device may not seem to have the power to do serious damage. Nevertheless, evidence suggests that growing concern regarding the use of accessible and often powerful technology is needed.

All of us have probably been in a situation in which a friend or a classmate has taken a video without everyone’s knowledge and, much to our indignation, posted it on social media. We demand for them to take it down. ‘It’s an invasion of privacy,’ we might say in an attempt to justify the deletion of the video. But it is already too late: a number of people have already seen the video online, and removing it would serve virtually no purpose. Though we know that the video was filmed and posted in good fun, it is still slightly irksome to have been

filmed without informed consent.

An example of the implications behind situations like this is the recent upsurge in hidden cameras, also known in Korean as molka; footage obtained and posted online without the knowledge or consent of the subjects, with tiny, carefully disguised surveillance cameras in places such as women’s bathrooms and subway stations.

In a democratic nation where privacy is often the subject of government regulation, the idea of living among hidden cameras is quite ironic. The presence of these tiny, carefully disguised cameras means that our most private moments can, and often are captured at any time and place. Nevertheless, the truth is that molka is nothing new to most Koreans. According to the Washington Post, as many as 26,000 cases of illicit filming were reported in Korea between 2012 and 2016.

While the issue of hidden cameras is unfortunate, with this particular problem it is easy to identify the contexts and problems with engaging in this type of activity.

When it comes to issues such as telephone tapping and the filming of public figures, however, the scenarios become much more complex. For instance, is the illicit recording of a politician considered morally sound if it reveals incriminating information about them to the public? At first, exposing someone who has deceived the public or committed any wrongdoing may seem like an action of a good samaritan.

But, once the issue of privacy becomes a concern, the lines become blurred. Suddenly, an action that seems “right”—like President Trump’s former associates Omarosa

or Michael Cohen catching the president on tape speaking obscenely—feels less honorable and more deceitful.

In no way am I defending Trump or the countless others who have been caught on secret recordings speaking in an offensive manner. What I mean to say is that the content of their words does not matter as much as the invasion of privacy in this particular instance. Even if one holds certain prejudices against an individual, there is still something unmistakably inappropriate—even shameful—about recording them without their knowledge and consent.

These recordings also speak volumes about our society as a whole. Not only are we using less-than-agreeable methods to divulge the evils of our bad actors, but we are also fueling a culture in which exposing each other’s weaknesses has become a form of entertainment. I can recall news regarding hidden tapes exposing Trump’s lies and feeling a marked amount of satisfaction. It is almost human nature to revel at seeing the bad guys get caught and to see the heroes reveal the villains’ misdeeds, as if it were all just some episode of an ongoing television show.

Whether we like it or not, our privacy is under attack, and it is up to us to deal with the damage. While short-term solutions such as raising public awareness or petitioning for new legislation may be somewhat effective, we have already experimented with these methods and failed to achieve much success. Even though Korean laws currently require all devices to make shutter sounds of 64 decibels or higher, people are still able to download apps with silent

camera settings. Creating stricter legislation regarding camera usage will have little to no effect on the continuation of these transgressions and perhaps only serve to create more problems than they solve.

But there is one approach that could initiate long-term change. SIS students start using smartphones extremely early in their lives. I remember walking down the aisle on the school bus and seeing rows of young students with their heads bowed down, completely absorbed by their devices. The ubiquity in devices may be the reason why middle school teachers now confiscate students’ phones before class in small baskets.

Taking it a step further than mere confiscation and actually implementing technology-based lessons into the elementary and middle school curriculum can have a dramatic impact. Just like how the younger students are encouraged to openly discuss issues such as cyber bullying (as evidenced by the hand drawn cyberbullying posters on the walls of the new building), the connection between responsible use of technology and the right to privacy should be examined as well.

It is not too late to educate today’s youth on the do’s and don’ts of camera use. Our generation may be already tainted with privacy-related controversies, but in no way does that mean we should stop fighting for a future in which following generations will be able to act and speak their mind without experiencing the disturbing fear of dystopian predictions.

By FIONA CHO Junior, Staff Writer

4 NEWS News Briefs

By Amy Jungmin Kim Photo by Lauren Kang

School cafe reopens, coffee sales continue After a temporary shutdown, the school café reopened on the first day of the 2018-‘19 school year. Also worth noting is the fact that the coffee ban that went effective starting July in all Korean schools does not affect the café at SIS due to it being a private institution.

“I think it’s rather useless that schools ban the sale of caffeinated drinks,” Curtis Lee (12) said.

“Even if students can’t buy such drinks inside of the school, they are going to be able to buy them outside in convenience stores and whatnot. I think the government has just created another inconvenience for kids now that if they want to stay awake with the help of caffeine at school, they have to buy the drinks outside and bring them to school.”

SIS closes amid Typhoon threat As Typhoon Soulik made its way to the Korean peninsula, the SIS administration made the decision that the school would be closed to all students and faculty on Friday, Aug. 24, allowing students to enjoy a three-day weekend. However, Typhoon Soulik unexpectedly passed rather calmly due to the hot weather and seawater temperature. Yet, southern regions including Jeju Island and Jeolla Province were hammered by the typhoon, resulting in power shutdowns and collapses of buildings.

“I think we operate very responsibly and in consideration with the government regulations,” said Gray Macklin, HS Vice Principal. “We have different circumstances, a large proportion of our students come to school on school buses. If something happens during that commute, that’s SIS on the roads. We take that responsibility seriously. This time, even though the situation was underwhelming, we had the time to get out ahead and communicate our extended lesson plans. Now, in the event that [a disaster] does happen, we all know how to do it. It was sort of like a fire drill, so it was really a great opportunity.”

School installs new turf Students back for the school year were greeted by a refurbished soccer field with new turf covering the entire area. Additionally, instead of disposing the turf that used to cover the field, the administration made the decision to cover the rooftop of the high school building and the blacktop with it. “[The turf ’s] age was starting to show with some drainage problems, especially right at the entrance where water pooled up,” Mr. Macklin said. “At the AISA tournament, it was clear that there were some puddles. It’s supposed to have really good drainage, but after ten years, it was time. It also gets used all day. If it’s not varsity season, it’s recess, and if it’s not recess, it’s middle school sports, and so on. Ten years was possibly the longest it could be used without being replaced. Also, we’ve got some potential [to use the new rooftop] although we haven’t quite figured out what to do with it. All of that’s really nice.”

Letter to the Editor: A call for a higher level of citizenship

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n 1776, Thomas Paine wrote “in free countries the law ought to be king.” This is in what was revolutionary about the American Revolution. In the centuries since the publication of Common Sense, free people around the world have come to revere the abstract power of laws that are no more than words on a page. Unfortunately, during those centuries we have also witnessed the inadequacy of laws to achieve the lofty promise made by the 18th c. philosophers. But despite Paine’s analogy, laws were never meant to actually rule over men as kings above subjects, but rather as guidelines for citizens.

For all of their weaknesses as human beings and prejudices common to men of their time, the framers of the U.S. Constitution were brilliant problem solvers.

How could they not have noticed that every law creates a loophole?

Today this is perfectly obvious to even the most ordinary among us as we see people with money, power, or a good attorney navigate loopholes all the time. How could these visionary leaders have such a massive blind spot? The answer is that their sense of responsibility as citizens and their commitment to upholding the social compact dictated their actions. The laws and their corresponding punishments were a failsafe for when the citizenship that governed the free society

broke down or failed. It seems a subtle distinction, but it really is not. Subjects are reactive and citizens are proactive. In the case of the founders of America, their decision making was guided more by what they understood was right for society more than their own desires. It did not occur to them that individualism in the form of equality under the law would come to mean selfishness and that the words in laws would light the way to circumvent them. The spirit of the law took precedence over the letter of the law.

In The Book of Merlyn, T. H. White states that there is another approach to discussing the freedom and citizenship. The book is a series of lessons for the aging and defeated Arthur who is facing the destruction of his life’s work. In one chapter Merlyn turns Arthur into an ant where he finds them capable of only expressing 2 things: “done” and “not done”. It was a world of unthinking subjects where anything that was not forbidden was compulsory. It was a reactive world, devoid of any sense of citizenship, only compliance. We are not ants, but acting as if law were the driving force of a civilization rather than a safeguard against its inconsistencies, we run the risk of reducing everything to either compulsory or forbidden, done or not done.

So what’s the point of all this?

By Mr. Gray Macklin HS Vice Principal

It is to urge everyone to take a moment and consider what motivates their decisions, even ones that hardly require any thought at all, like leaving a bag in the hall.

Acting according to the letter of the law and the punishments that come with violations is a reactive approach to functioning in society.

You leave your bag in the hall and I take it as punishment. The next day you put your bag in your locker, not because you want the school to look neat or you want to secure your belongings, but because you don’t want to be punished.

Citizenship on the other hand is proactive. You envision the world that you want to be a part of and act accordingly to make it so. To do this you must identify what the shared values in your community are and, in your actions, uphold those values. The price of freedom in this case is choosing to do what you know to be right even though it is inconvenient. At SIS we have a vision and mission that lay out our values and what we want the school to become. You will find that your teachers, coaches, counselors, and yes, your administrators, will not miss their role as enforcers of rules if you were to render the rules irrelevant through good citizenship. We currently have a very high level of citizenship at this school. Let’s continue to push and expand that.

BMW cars catch fire on Korean roads

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his year in Korea alone, over 40 BMW vehicles have unexpectedly ignited while on the road. These accidents, which occurred only two years after nearly 1,700 BMW automobiles were recalled due to engine fire issues, have mostly involved BMW 520d sedan models, and have prompted the luxury brand to recall over 106,000 cars beginning on Aug. 20. The fires have been traced back to a faulty exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) module, which is responsible for reducing nitrogen oxide emissions. According to the Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the defective automobiles’ EGR valves have been failing to cool hot exhaust fumes before recycling them back into the engine, causing the motor to overheat and dangerously combust.

“My family drives a BMW car, and so when I heard about the explosions, I was concerned for our safety,” Alex Hyun (10) said. “Our family actually started to avoid riding our BMW car when possible, and every time there was something slightly wrong with the car, like an unusual smell coming from the air conditioner, we would get paranoid about the possibility of a fire.”

Even BMW drivers not directly impacted by the recent engine fires have been affected by the accidents.

Recently, certain car parks have been refusing BMW vehicles service due to the fire risk. In addition, the Korean government has banned nearly 20,000 uninspected BMWs from the streets until their EGR valves have been replaced. Although BMW has formally apologized for the troubling situation, customers—both direct and indirect victims of the fires—are nevertheless indignant. With similar incidents dating back to 2015, many blame BMW for not addressing the issue sooner.

“Considering the fires have been happening since 2015, BMW should have responded quicker,” Amy Kweon (12) said. “They should have checked the reports and figured out what the problem was back then, before it became the large scale issue it is today.

They did not respond to the issue in time and thousands of cars have been recalled as a result.”

Outraged Korean BMW owners have taken legal action against the automobile giant, including one 520d sedan fire victim who is seeking 10 million won in compensation. The lawsuits have not been limited to those who had their cars catch on fire either. Several BMW owners who

have been inconvenienced by the recall and government ban have sued the company, seeking reparations for mental damages, car value depreciation, and issues caused by car unavailability such as the inability to commute to jobs.

“Not driving our BMW 520d is impossible for my family, because we only have two cars and both my parents work,” Amy said. “My parents both work relatively far from home and they drive to work each day. As a result, my mom is in a situation where she has to drive our BMW, even though she is risking her safety by doing so.”

The lawsuits in combination with the engine fire scandal have affected BMW’s Korean sector heavily, with the 520d sedan model falling from the top selling import car in Korea to the fifth best in July. The accidents have also been characterized by unfortunate timing for the company, which lost its place as the top imported automobile brand in Korea to Mercedes just last year. Until BMW can regain the trust of the Korean public, prospects will remain bleak for the “ultimate driving machine.”

By ERIC HWANG Sophomore, Staff Writer

Tiger Times

August/ September 2018

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Courtroom dramas fill White House with tension

On Aug. 22, surprise rippled across the US political sphere when two of President Donald Trump’s associates, Michael Cohen and Paul Manafort, were found guilty of a number of charges ranging from tax fraud to excessive campaign contributions.

Although the two trials had been receiving considerable media attention for some time, the indictment came quickly and unexpectedly.

For years, Cohen and Manafort had been well-known names in American politics due to their ties with the current president.

Between the two, Cohen shared a closer relationship with Trump, having been a part of the Trump Organization since 2006. As the top attorney for the president, Cohen was often referred to as Trump’s “right-hand man” on many occasions by news outlets such as The New York Times and CNN. But after more than a decade of unwavering loyalty, Cohen’s relationship with his employer took a turn for the worse in March.

“I think Cohen’s relationship with Trump soured because of the way the Stormy Daniels case was handled,” said

Tyler Hong (11), a Government and Politics student. “Apparently [Cohen and Trump] used to be quite close, but after their lies regarding the hush money were exposed on television by Daniels herself, I think both men lost trust in each other and failed to see eye to eye on other issues as well.”

Manafort is also a former confidant of Trump. After joining the Trump campaign in 2016 and becoming the de facto campaign manager, he became one of the president’s closest advisers. However, he resigned from his post a few months before the election as rumors of his overseas lobbying began to surface. The former Trump aide’s reputation was only further damaged after special counsel Robert Mueller took command of the Special Counsel investigation and openly criticized Manafort’s connections to the Russian government.

“Paul Manafort has had longstanding links to Russia and other unsavory dictatorships around the world,” said Anthony Loveday, AP United States History teacher. “If he is found guilty of any more charges against him, there is a chance he

Silicon Valley: The world’s largest spy

By Brian Ham

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was mindlessly trudging through Facebook when a spinechilling article startled me out of my stupor: our phones were allegedly listening to our conversations by eavesdropping through the microphone. Having witnessed the plethora of privacy scandals over the decade, I have begrudgingly accepted surveillance as a small sacrifice in a world filled with cute cat videos and Snapchat filters. But our seemingly dormant phones and their ability to eavesdrop every word we say is on an entirely different level, something seemingly reserved for Orwellian dystopias.

Fortunately, I found after some deeper research that most experts agreed that the article was little more than speculation and sensationalism.

After all, my sarcasm-laced dialect would probably confuse any intrusive machines into oblivion. But I still couldn’t shake the thought from my head; are we actually as safe as we think?

The evidence out there is damning.

Data leaks have shown that Google

might start to disclose some information about the Trump administration and Russia. So exactly how these two associates might impact the presidency is still up in the air.”

After being alerted to their suspicious behavior from several sources, the FBI raided both men. These raids led to the findings of incriminating evidence and ultimately paved the way for both trials.

Manafort’s trial began on the last day of July in Alexandria, Virginia, while Cohen’s several weeks later in New York. Just as Judge T.S. Ellis declared Paul Manafort to be guilty of eight charges, Michael Cohen made the decision to plead guilty to five counts of tax evasion, in addition to one count of unlawful corporate contribution and one count of excessive campaign contributions. Cohen then went further, exposing crucial information about Trump to the jury. He confessed that he had given hush money to Stormy Daniels and encouraged the same type of payment to be granted to Playboy model Karen McDougal allegations that Trump had long denied through social media.

“I think there are massive implications for Trump’s presidency,” said Mr. Loveday.

“This is just the start. In his trial, Cohen has basically confirmed that the President of the United States engaged in a highly unlawful activity, which was not only illegal, but also played a role in influencing the outcome of the 2016 presidential election.”

While it is true that the trials of Cohen and Manafort only serve to emphasize the degree of political corruption already apparent in Trump’s presidency, these trials do hold unprecedented significance.

The president is already fighting back against the media and criticizing Mueller and Cohen. Clearly, there is a degree of tension in the White House that has dwindled since the announcement of the Russian investigation. Trump knows well enough that the trials of two of his former confidants can lead to further damage. It may only be a matter of time until more of his political associates fall from grace.

By FIONA CHO Junior, Staff Writer

the more you know

apps for three whole minutes before in the computer. succumbing and re-downloading them, How did they obtain these obscure a crucial question still lingers: what can scraps of information that even I could we, Korean teenagers living 5000 miles not recall? Every single search or click I scans every one of your emails, so it away from the Googleplex, even do made in the past nine years was neatly knows if you are getting yelled at by about this? stored in impossibly massive files. The your club executives. It knows when We can start by thinking twice mortifying online diary that I banished your most recent heartbreak was by about our headfirst journey into an to the trash years ago still remained in checking your Tinder login records. ever-increasing technological world; a storage folder somewhere in Silicon And hope that Facebook is not a snitch, Valley. Google knew about the neglected for example, whether the benefits of as it can bust you immediately using marathon by scouring through my technology outweigh the detriments facial recognition technology if you calendar and used this information in that come with it. This hits a little attended that party you swore you conjunction with Google Maps to track too close to home for our school: even would not go to. The cold truth is, your down whether I actually went there. our fourth-graders are now equipped phone does not care about your privacy. Furthermore, it goes without saying with thousand-dollar laptops, ready It does not listen to you because it that hiding my secrets of how I beat to multiply fractions, shed tears over simply does not have to.

Pokémon: Mystery Dungeon so quickly “Charlotte’s Web,” and have every To see just how much stalking from my confused brother didn’t elude single press of a key be analyzed by the Google has done on me, I recently the omnipresent eyes of Google. inescapable eyes of Silicon Valley. This decided to download a file of every The surreal experience of shift into the modern world supposedly single data point they stored. The downloading myself brought to light makes our education more dynamic; file was over seven gigabytes in sizehow jeopardized we have become in reality, we are just making the lives equivalent to four million DBQ essays— with exposure. Targeted advertising of Google and Facebook exponentially which did not even account for the data from third-party companies cannot easier by forever intertwining ten-yearaccumulated by other social media necessarily harm you, but the sheer olds with their devices. The paperless apps. Moreover, the information they abundance of linked data that floats classroom is a double-edged sword, had was absolutely stunning; the online around in the internet can. Once filled with benefits but laced with a diary I had deleted six years ago, the someone gains access to a sector of your poison that can explode into something marathon I had proudly marked on my life, they can immediately unlock the more sinister if not heeded to. calendar but never actually attended, key to everything else, and this stems As for now, don’t call your mom the and embarrassing search histories of a from our own desire to be so connected. next time you lose your eBay password; desperate eight-year-old me searching No matter how fast this makes just ask your friendly neighborhood up Pokémon cheat codes were all stored you rush to delete your social media Google engineer.

Precision medicine: A new era of healthcare

By Sia Cho

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n a burgeoning society of scientific progressivism, the understanding of genetic aberrations fueling disease is advancing at a rapid pace. At the same time, an epidemic of personalization is sweeping around the globe at an unprecedented scale, consuming both public and commercial affairs in its path. As a result, the concurrence of these two forces marks a key paradigm shift in the medical industry: the advent of precision medicine.

Since the early beginnings of pharmaceutical evolution, the traditional path of drug development has been widely pursued. In fact, conventional medicine currently relies on a “trial-and-error” approach based on identifying and applying therapies that target an entire population. In this regard, the standards of medical practice for traditional medicine are non-specific, with every individual getting the same care based on clinical trials.

Such an approach stands in contrast to that of precision, or personalized, medicine. True to its name, the novel concept of personalized medicine introduces treatments that are tailored to the unique genetic traits of individuals.

By considering a patient’s individual characteristics such as age, gender, or height, personalized medicine aims to recognize and address distinctive variations in response to therapy. In simple terms, the technology acts as a medical counselor, categorizing patients and their diseases at a molecular level to guide their selection of treatments.

Taking such factors into consideration, the emergence of personalization in the drug industry then entails a large scope of impacts on modern healthcare. For one, precision medicine holds the potential to address multiple shortcomings of its conventional counterpart, including differences in treatment response, ambiguity in diagnoses, and uncertainty in predicting disease progression. These

issues arise in accordance to generalized therapy, in which the traditional sentiment of “one size fits all” serves as the standard for medical treatment. Furthermore, the absence of specificity in treating patients often leads to more complexities of trial-and-error medicine such as incompatible dosage administration of drugs, wasteful expenditure on ineffective treatments, and even toxicity that can put patients at risk. Thus, through the elimination of such possibilities, the targeted prevention and tailored methods of personalized medicine bring great promise to clinical processes.

Currently, applications of precision medicine have begun to surface in sectors of chronic and cancerous diseases.

In major cancer centers, for instance, the implementation of genome sequencing for tumors have provided insights into prevention, early identification, and treatments of the disease. According to research conducted by the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, patients treated with targeted therapy for a particular mutation had a higher median survival rate than those who received therapy that was not matched to their specific illness. Likewise, genomic sequencing has also improved efficiency for rare disease patients by providing unambiguous diagnoses and immediate treatments, reducing uncertainty for possible victims. The same basis of genomic profiling was again used for recent developments in biochips as well, which were constructed through identification tests of patients’ cells to develop individualized therapies.

Of course, these positive prospects of precision medicine do not come without certain limitations. The most prominent of these flaws is the inability for the complete personalization of all treatments. Due to the wide genetic variants of common diseases, the extension of precision

medicine to conditions like malaria and diarrhea is highly restricted. Additionally, the implication of external factors to drug response also compromises the consistency of targeted approaches, and ethical issues give rise to concerns about unauthorized genome sequencing. Critics also claim that the medical expenses of these tailored treatments offset their therapeutic benefits. These statements come with substantial evidence; according to the CDC, the development of niche medications may incur annual costs of up to $300,000 per patient.

And yet, the efficiency of precision medicine still undermines the notion that its value is overpromised. While the development presents both challenges and opportunities for healthcare, it immensely boosts productivity by using tailored methods based on molecular evidence and patient preferences. As noted by the NCBI, by ending the age of trial-and-error techniques, precision medicine ultimately paves the way for a new era of accurate diagnosis, drug development, and individualized therapy.

Today, different types of diseases and aberrations are constantly plaguing our society. Observations of such phenomena reveal much internal stratification—within just a single strain of these conditions are myriads of varying symptoms and levels of risks that differ from one individual to another. It thus seems unlikely, and even impossible, that such distinctions can be consolidated into one common treatment. From this view, we find how the evident truth reveals that one size does not fit all.

Individualization has left an extensive impact on multiple aspects of the current era of medicine. Perhaps it is only a matter of time before it propagates the future of the medical industry as well; after all, only then will the need for effective treatments be addressed.

The explosive impact of globalization on public health

By Jimin Lee

W

ith extensive transportation and communication networks that facilitate the exchange of ideas and people across geographical boundaries, the world is more interconnected than ever before. Because of the ease and speed of migration today, globalization—the increasing flow of information, goods, and people worldwide—is rapidly transforming the nature and treatment of diseases, sparking controversies regarding its wide-ranging effects on public health. While globalization presents remarkable positives for public health such as a universal approach to combating diseases, it also gives rise to various concerns, primarily the rapid and pervasive spread of infectious diseases.

Throughout history, people have benefitted from the exchange of culture, knowledge, and technologies across borders. For this reason, globalization is deemed essential to the evolution of human societies. Over the past century, globalization has had profound impacts on the medical field. Indeed, the unprecedented magnitude of globalization is uniquely affecting medicine and health care to this day, as there exists a common desire for good health across the globe.

Globalization in the medical field poses several benefits to humanity. A prominent benefit is a unified effort to combat diseases. Most notably, the World Health Organization (WHO) is a leading agency comprised of 194 member states that strive to protect and improve international public health. Since its foundation in 1945, the WHO has made remarkable achievements, including successful vaccination programs for deadly diseases such as smallpox and polio, which were mainly possible due to the collaborative effort of partners in health research.

Universal cooperation in the medical field leads to an-

LAYOUT BY AMY JUNGMIN KIM

other benefit, the collective improvement in human health, as indicated by the rapid increase in the global average life expectancy since the advent of the 21st century. In fact, according to the WHO, “global average life expectancy increased by 5.5 years between 2000 and 2016, the fastest increase since the 1960s.” Furthermore, in 2016, “72.0 years was the average life expectancy at birth of the global population.” These statistics indicate that numerous countries, regardless of their socio-economic statuses, have experienced significant medical advancement over the past few decades.

Given the positives of the globalization of healthcare, the negatives often go unnoticed or overlooked. However, some contend that globalization also has detrimental effects on public health, most notably the faster transmission of diseases. Increased population mobility due to the emergence of planes, trains, and other technologies is expediting migrations and therefore the spread of pathogens.

In other words, epidemics are no longer local concerns but global ones.

Recent cases of the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and the Ebola virus disease (EVD) illustrate the impact of globalization on health. On Aug. 22, the United Kingdom International Health Regulations National Focal Point reported that a male patient who had made direct contact with camels before flying to the United Kingdom during his stay at Saudi Arabia was infected with MERS-CoV. The United Kingdom authorities informed Saudi Arabian authorities immediately after the discovery, and both sides are currently working to confirm whether those who have been in close contact with the patient had contracted the disease.

Additionally, on Aug. 29, the WHO reported a total of 116

EVD cases. This statistic included the deaths of 77 individuals who had lost their lives since the organization declared a new EVD outbreak in northeastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo on Aug. 1. According to data reports by the WHO, control measures seem to be working, but the organization cautions that “undocumented chains of transmission” continue to pose risks. The WHO recommends that people restrict visits to infected areas and advises that travelers “seek medical advice before travel” and “practice good hygiene” to inhibit the further spread of EVD. These instances not only portray the ease with which infectious diseases can become widespread in a short amount of time but also bring into question the efficiency of the collaborative global effort in combating such diseases. While international cooperation facilitates the process of finding solutions to infectious diseases, the process is gradual in nature, leaving health authorities with little choice but to counteract the spread of disease in the case of an outbreak. Consequently, universal efforts to discover cures to deleterious diseases are all too often overshadowed by the pervasiveness of pathogens that arise unexpectedly in society.

When it comes to the impact of globalization on public health, it is always important to acknowledge the differing views on the issue. Whether globalization is inherently beneficial or detrimental, we must be aware that an interconnected world signifies an increased vulnerability to contagious diseases regardless of one’s geographical location. Going forward, we must understand the future implications of globalization on public health and adopt a global mindset to effectively prevent and respond to disease outbreaks.

a step into

the future of the

medical industry

8

LIFESTYLE

The IN

BTS extends K-Pop boundaries worldwide

Between

By CHRIS LEE

Same music, different message

Hip-hop, the “classics of the 21st century,” has increasingly influenced the lives of millennials. Entranced by the freely moving rush of lyrics over beats that pump up heart rates, millions of teenagers and adults listen to hip-hop and immerse themselves in the rant against day-to-day problems. As one might expect from the most dominant musical genre according to Forbes and the Billboard, hip-hop’s growing myriad of albums are diverse yet contain thematic patterns of local cultural influence.

Originally created to accommodate parties, hip-hop music’s rich sound and askew rhythms have evolved into greater things: a disapproval of life as it is and a hope that things might be better tomorrow. Since personal circumstances create hopes, hiphop artists all over the world have developed unique topic as their focus, which run from love and materialism to dropouts and dance parties.

However, broad themes, influenced by local situations, are also apparent. An observation of the Billboard’s top hip-hop list shows that the top American R&B artists tend to focus on love or the pursuit of happiness, while Korean rappers like to detail struggles such as poverty and “succeeding” in life.

For example, Drake, in “In My Feelings,” which has been on the top charts for more than eight weeks, details his feelings for a girl and asks her to never leave him. And in “Better Now,” Post Malone tries to convince himself that he is better off without his former lover.

Whether it is about crushes, breakups, or perhaps something more complicated, most hip-hop songs on Billboard’s list follow this theme. The theme of love, ever present in fairy tales and movies, has deeply ingrained itself in American culture.

Contrastingly, South Korean artists more often detail struggles that give them motivation. In South Korea’s rapper competition, “Show Me The Money,” rapper Hang-zoo explains how he handles the sorrows of being blind in his left eye. His song conclusively decided his victory at the competition. In the same show, another artist focused his concept around taking medications for mental illness. Earning sympathy from the audience, he ended up as one of the runners-up. Even in the rather less-Gothic “High School Rapper” program, the winner’s song for the finals, “Boong Boong,” depicts becoming free to fly after dropping out of school. The mention of school, stress, and expectations chaining is all too common in South Korean hip-hop.

Perhaps the South Korean and American songs are lamentations over their situation.

The woes against social pressure and the obsessions with love truly highlight the different emphases the two cultures have.

Overall, however, it is interesting just how the most popular hip-hop songs are the ones that showcase the distinct societal values, adding to their appeal to the masses.

On June 13, 2013, seven young K-Pop trainees made their stage debut on Mnet’s M Countdown. Five years later, the group, now known as BTS or the Bangtan Boys, is on its third world tour and is topping Billboard and iTunes charts. The boy band is now one of, if not the most, influential K-Pop groups that have won the ears and hearts of fans worldwide.

In late August, BTS released its newest and highly anticipated album, “Love Yourself: Answer.” The day after its release, the album swept the highest ranks of multiple charts in the US. The title song, “IDOL,” rose to No. 1 in the Top Songs chart, and 11 other songs from the album ranked second to twelfth as well.

The album itself sat at No. 1 in the Top Albums chart. Additionally, the “IDOL” music video on YouTube broke the record for the most views in 24 hours after its release which was previously held by Taylor Swift.

“I think it is good that they are gaining a lot of popularity because they are able to communicate to a wider range of people through their music,” said Joyce Kim (12), a BTS fan. “For example, the concept of the last three albums revolved around loving yourself and accepting who you are. BTS also collaborated with UNICEF

this past year, so as the album sales rate went up with their popularity, some of the profit went to UNICEF, I believe.”

BTS’s official fanbase, the A.R.M.Y, has asserted an undeniable presence beyond Korean borders--a membership exceeding one million. In early August, UK A.R.M.Y hosted a meetup in which over 100 fans gathered in London to celebrate the group. In New York, BTS became the first Korean group to sell out an entire US stadium of 40,000 seats. Thanks to its expansive and devoted fanbase, BTS won the Top Social Artist Award at the 2018 Billboard Music Awards this May for the second year in a row.

“I have a number of friends around me who are fans of BTS,” said Maria Kravtsova, a high school student at the Moscow Economic School in Moscow, Russia.

“BTS definitely has a strong presence where I live, and I think it is the most popular K-Pop group here. It’s interesting to see how much influence foreign music, and not just American pop, can have in Russia.”

High profile musicians in the US are also beginning to acknowledge BTS and its growing influence in the country.

Rapper Nicki Minaj collaborated with the group on an alternate version of “IDOL” not featured in the physical album but

Jukebox Jewels

Eastern Sidekick

labeled as a “digital special track.” This version includes Minaj’s iconic rap style to the original lead song.

While there have been numerous K-Pop groups with global fanbases such as Girls’ Generation (SNSD) or EXO, none have been as successful as BTS. The sensational band’s records on global music charts and its indisputable media presence have broken through the ceiling that other groups were unable to surpass.

Neither EXO nor SNSD has made it to the top of Billboard charts, and neither has sold out a US stadium of 40,000 seats.

Appearing on the Ellen Show and being acknowledged by numerous influential musicians and organizations, BTS has become a leading musical group in spreading the influence of K-Pop worldwide.

“Although I’m not a fan of BTS, I support its reaching out to a large audience,” said Annette Choi (11), a K-Pop enthusiast. “BTS is spreading modern Korean culture and music to people across the globe that may have never even heard of Korea or K-Pop. I think that can be pretty significant for the face of the Korean music industry.”

By EJU RO Junior, Staff Writer

Eastern Sidekick (ESK) was initially no more than a hobby for lead guitarist and songwriter Go Han Kyul and drummer Ko Myung-Chul in 2004. The group did not form until 2010 when the duo was joined by vocalist Oh Ju-Whan, bassist Bae Sang Hwan, and guitarist Ryu In Hyuk. It took another three years for ESK to officially make their debut under Korean independent label Fluxus Music. But by 2013, the fivesome had two EPs under their belt, a strong presence in Hongdae’s many live lounges, and a shared dream to “easternize” rock, a music genre with firm roots

in western culture.

From their first EP “Monochrome Cartoon City” to their second studio album “Total Reflection,” ESK’s selling point is in its simplistic guitar lines and calm lyricism. The song “Geujibap,” (roughly translates to “in front of that house”) discusses the aftermath of a failed relationship without vitriol or excessive pining. “Inefficient Man,” a fan-favorite pick, describes the narrator’s apathetic and depressing thoughts with minimal emotional pandering or attempts to directly relate with the audi-

Tiger Times

August/September 2018

9

“Mamma Mia” sequel garners mixed reactions

A

fter a long nine year waiting period, “Mamma Mia!” is back with its second sequel on screen in a motion picture once again inspired by the music of ABBA and set on a picturesque Greek island. Although it featured lively music and dances, in some ways, the movie offered a confusing plot.

“When the first Mamma Mia came out, I thought it was a really enjoyable musical, but others were very judgmental that the stars in the movie weren’t amazing singers,” said Whitney Meininger, choir teacher. “For its sequel, I expect it to be fun and silly and all the good reasons you would go see a musical movie!”

Compared to its prequel, “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again” featured a bigger cast,

longer running time, additional subplots, and romantic entanglements. The movie jumps back and forth between the past and present. In the film, actress Lily James plays the young Donna, an Oxford graduate who heads off to an endless vacation wherein she wears dungarees and has flings with handsome suitors. Meanwhile, in the present, Sophie, played by Amanda Seyfried, strives to fulfill her mother’s vision of the newly renovated Hotel Bella Donna.

The movie featured an exuberant charm to the sight of the performers singing and dancing with a festive liveliness. This time around, the movie’s animation incorporated much more artistic creativity than its prequel. This change was evident especially in the ending scene: all of the characters -

young and mature Donna, her friends Rosie and Tanya then and now, and the three men Bill, Sam, and Harry - were all brought together to celebrate the finale.

“Mamma Mia! is definitely a summertime fun movie, but it didn’t exceed my expectations,” said Jessica Langham (12). “It wasn’t a great story, the filming was inconsistent, and the singing was cliché at times.

I was disappointed by the negative implications the directors used to mold ‘young Donna’- she was overly boy crazy. On another note, through the character interactions, which felt a little fake, most of the actors seemed to lack a sense of sincerity. But Meryl Streep (Donna) was great on screen, and held the rest of it together. So for people who are planning on watching the new hit,

it was still a silly and lively film.”

Indeed, the movie was emptier than its preceding version in many ways, and as a result held lower stakes. For all its frantic energy with which the songs and dances were supposed to be the highlight, the film gradually became repetitive and weary rather quickly as the plotline had no spectacular climax. But if you are willing to watch stars sing insanely catchy pop tunes in a shimmering setting, immerse yourself in the idea of love’s transformative power, and discover a mindless summer escape of your own, you may enjoy watching “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.”

By YEJUNE PARK Senior, Staff Writer

AirPods gain unlikely upsurge in popularity When Apple removed the headphone jack from its phones and introduced its own wireless earphones back in 2016, the public was outraged. Customers expressed disapproval of the new product, calling it costly, cumbersome, and inefficient. These earphones, called AirPods, were further criticized for their high price of $169 and peculiar design.

“When I first bought my AirPods, a lot of friends asked me why I would pay that much money for something that looked like Apple earphones with the cords cut off,” Alan Kang (10) said. “They also asked me whether it wasn’t uncomfortable having to remember to charge my earphones all the time, when with normal earphones, you wouldn’t have to.”

However, critics fell silent as people actually began to buy and use the AirPods.

The product, despite the initial disapproval it faced, has proved surprisingly practical.

With a five-hour battery life and a compact, wireless case that offers more than 24 hours of charging capability, the AirPods are portable and convenient. Additionally, it has multiple revolutionary functions, such as automatic ear detection, instant connection with a paired device, and access to Google Translate and Siri.

“I bought a new iPhone last year and got a pair of AirPods with it,” Clara Yim (10) said. “I really like my AirPods because they’re convenient. For example, I can use them during the mile run and beep test without being worried about them falling out, or tangling inside my bag. Additionally, I can carry them around without worrying about the wires inside the earphone cords snapping, which happened a lot with my other earphones.”

Although Apple is not the first to bring Bluetooth headphones to market, the com-

ence. Songwriter Go’s resolve to produce composed, serene music devoid of stereotypical heartbreak and angst is apparent throughout their entire discography.

ESK’s distant, even inattentive demeanor transcends its music to the band’s overall aura. The band members often came to gigs largely underdressed with greasy hair and unshaved beards. At first glance, ESK’s distant even inattentive demeanor could put off potential fans.

Rather, the group’s stark and undecorated image gives off a sincere and reassuring charm. For music enthusiasts who are

pany is largely credited for making them a product for the general public. Before AirPods, only a few people used Bluetooth technology.

With the introduction of the AirPods, however, a much greater portion of the public began to use these high-technology earphones. Now, they are so prevalent that more than a fifth of the students at school seem to own them.

“This summer, I bought an iPhone X but didn’t buy the AirPods along with it,” Jaden Ha (11) said. “I didn’t want to buy them because I had Bluetooth earphones and headphones before, and I hated how irritating it was to turn them on, connect them to your phone, and turn them off when you were done using them. They also seemed to die quickly, and I disliked the poor audio quality. But when I tried my friend’s AirPods, I realized how comfortable and convenient they were. Now I’m trying to find time to go to an Apple store and get a pair. I hope I can get them before the end of this month.”

After nearly two years since their initial release, AirPods are being bought and sold at a rapid rate. In fact, it seems as if most Apple customers own a pair – and for justifiable reasons, too. According to Best Buy, an American-based international consumer retail company, AirPods were Apple’s best-selling product this quarter year, followed close behind by the 3.5mm-to-Lightning adapter, while the 13.3-inch MacBook Air ranked third on the list.

With their superior functionality and practicality, AirPods are an excellent amalgamation of efficiency, aesthetics, and convenience. It doesn’t come as a surprise, then, that everyone seems to have them.

By JIWON LEE Sophomore, Staff Writer

tired of music that dramatizes and magnifies emotions, ESK symbolizes a fresh gust of originality that can seem especially elusive these days.

Unfortunately, newcomers of ESK will be saddened to know that the band is no more. Despite releasing an album only six months prior, ESK reportedly ceased all band activity until announcing its breakup on May 9, 2016. The decision came as a shock to many fans, who took to internet forum DC Inside and Instagram to express their dismay. The group gave a final performance just eleven days after at the

Using his newly bought airpods, Brian Park (11) listens to music during his free time.

Hongdae-based live lounge ClubFF, where they had first performed as a band. While ESK has shown no signs of getting back together, its members have remained in the Korean indie music scene. Oh is now the vocalist of Korean indie band ADOY with From the Airport member and keyboardist Zee, while Ryu now performs as vocalist in the alternative rock band 18GRAM. Bae and Go have moved on to the folk band Small O. Although ESK’s time in the limelight has ended, its distinctly lucid and no-nonsense lyrics have cemented its

PHOTO BY LAUREN KANG

unique place in the Korean indie scene.

The band’s legacy remains as a set of tender memories for longtime indie enthusiasts and lies undiscovered for many newcomers of the genre. Amble on to Bugs, YouTube, or Spotify to give ESK’s discography a whirl.

By Dawn Kim & Jeremy Nam

10 SPORTS Play-by-play: Tigers begin the year with victory against DSS During a time-out, Coach Ivan Atanaskovic explains his team tactic to the varsity boys volleyball players.

Photo by MICHELLE AHN

Preview

On Aug. 31, the varsity boys volleyball team began the year with a victory against the Dwight School of Seoul (DSS) Lions in Tiger Gym 1. Following the win against the Taejeon Christian International School (TCIS) Dragons on Aug. 25, the Tigers were able to maintain their winning streak, encouraged by the vibrant cheers of fellow students and cheerleaders.

Set 1

A spectacular spike from Elliot Kim (12) earned the first point of the match, with the help of Sean Lee’s (12) secure set. The Tigers maintained a steady lead during the first half of the set, due to a series of successful serves and strong, consecutive spikes made

by Richie Kim (11) and Eugene Jang (11). The

Lions attempted to perpetuate an intense rally against the Tigers; nonetheless, Tigers maintained their lead, consistently ahead with an additional point. A firm yet striking spike made by Calvin Lee (11) marked the last play of the comparably short set. The Tigers triumphantly won the first set with an overwhelming nineteen-point difference against the Lions.

Set 2

The second set of the game started with a point for the Lions, seemingly, with a more steady and fixed play. Notwithstanding, the Tigers regained their winning streak with continuous spikes and low hits made by a new member of the team, Dennis Choye (10). Like a spear and a shield, a breathtaking rally could be spotted between the two teams as they continued to attempt

Asian Games triumph caps off turbulent emotions

F

or most athletes, the chance of claiming the elusive gold medal and securing their legacy in the national game is more than enough to bring forth their greatest efforts. But one particular athlete was spurred on by the motivation of fear, as the 2018 Asian Games represented his final chance to avoid mandatory military service and saving his career in the process. The player in question was South Korea’s golden footballer, Son Heung-min; this tantalizing proposition, coupled with a thrilling defeat of arch-rivals Japan, made Korea’s first-place finish truly special.

“I never thought that I would be spending my afternoons watching teams like Uzbekistan and Vietnam play football, but seeing someone’s career flash before my eyes was an irresistible viewing, almost like a drama,” said Hannah Yoo (10). “Even though I am not much a football fan, I was drawn in because it involved a player that had gotten a lot of attention from the World Cup.”

Korea is one of the developed nations in the world where conscription still exists.

Under the law, all able-bodied men must serve their country for two years before they turn 28. However, certain exemptions are given for outstanding athletes: those with a gold medal in the Asian Games or a medal of any color in the Olympics have their obligations shortened to a mere four weeks. With Son turning 26 in July, the 2018 Asian Games represented his last chance to avoid military service. Given this situation, one might have expected Korea to unconditionally support their team’s battle to advance sparkling talents; but not even the nation’s star footballer could bring down the perennial values of military service deeply rooted in the very foundation of this country. Before Son even stepped foot on the pitch, a rift in the national media formed as some loathed him for trying to dodge what they considered basic duty for all men.

“Although I view Korean conscription itself as a rational decision, I feel like there

spikes and made an ongoing effort to block those attacks. Although it was a tighter set than the previous one, the Tigers gained an eventual win for the second set of the match with an eleven-point difference.

Set 3

Finally, the last set of the match began.

From the start, the two teams struggled to make a noticeable lead for the match, creating such an intense atmosphere for the audience to solely focus on the game. Yet, the Tigers secured a lead with a double-spike made by co-captain Austin Jeong (12) along with a light tip made by Eugene. Unfortunately, multiple points were granted to the Lions due to miscommunication among the Tigers; nonetheless, with Aidan Kim’s (11) back set followed by Richie’s spike, the lead was should be ways around the system specifically for these exceptional athletes,” said Jonathan Ames, social studies teacher and soccer coach. “One practical solution would be to extend conscription until the age of 35. Very few athletes are performing at a high level in their respective fields after that age, but they are still healthy specimens and probably in better shape than Koreans enlisted at the age of 20.”

Koreans defending the fundamental values of their country were not the only ones with a stake in this tournament, as football fans around the globe found themselves taking sides on the military debate of a country 5,000 miles away. Son is just entering the “prime” years of his career as a football player. Many—not just ardent supporters of the Korean national team, but the millions of football fans around the world—saw the looming military service Son faced as a huge loss for the game, and fully supported his cause.

Mr. Ames continued to say that he felt like this issue should be framed as one about patriotism. “Players like Son celebrate their win not because they do not want to serve their country, but simply because they want to keep contributing to football and doing what they love,” he said.

However, opinions changed after the Asian Games. According to Korean me-

never even contested. With a stunning spike made by Youn Hwang (10), the Tigers successfully brought an end to the match with a nine-point difference.

Overview

The boys varsity volleyball team showcased their second consecutive win of the season against the DSS Lions. Although it is still near the beginning of the season, the Tigers continue to develop a firm camaraderie and a secure synergy with their team as they prepare to win in their upcoming matches. The next upcoming home game will be held on Sep. 19 against the Korea International School (KIS) Phoenixes.

By CLAIRE LEE Junior, Staff Writer dia outlets such as the Chosun Ilbo, Son played the role of a composed veteran and brought stability to this youthful team.

His personality could not have been better exemplified in this tournament, where he defied Korea’s emphasis on seniority by letting younger talents like Lee Seung-woo claim the limelight. Although he is naturally a shoot-first player, he adapted to the team’s needs and became a creative force, totaling five assists in just four knockout games; it was only fitting that he set up both goals that ultimately made the difference. Chosun Ilbo continued to say that by uplifting the less experienced players and captaining the team to glory, Son proved himself to be a true leader for the next generation of aspiring athlet es.

“A lot of people in the media had criticized Son for not serving his country, but I think he accomplished much more on the football field than he would have in the military,” said Brandon Oh (12), football fan.

“On the pitch, he truly embodied all the values of a leader. I do not think anybody could have seen the raw emotions streaming from the Korean players and feel like they did not do their nation proud.”

By BRIAN HAM Sophomore, Staff Writer

Tiger Times

August/September 2018

Sports Photo of the Month

Photo by ANGELA CHOE

Turning a corner, Jangho Yun (12) and Brian Lee (12) practice together for an upcoming cross country meet.

Fall season rookies overview

W

hile the new school year began with hearts filled with excitement and anxiety, there was also a noticeable absence of the departed class of 2018 in both classrooms and sports teams. The tryouts were chances for new students and the class of 2022 to fill in their spots. The fall sports tryouts began on Aug. 17, with the season officially starting on Aug. 21.

“Not running for the whole summer vacation, it was challenging for me to run 5km,” said Joseph Song (9), varsity cross-country athlete. “I also didn’t know that the try-outs was going to be this early and thought that I had a pretty long time to actually prepare for it. However, I was wrong and I didn’t get the time I really wanted.”

Due to the lack of time fall season sports teams have, practices began right away to get athletes up and ready for the season.

Practices are held every day of the week except Mondays with tournaments either on school days or the weekends depending on the situation. Great commitment to practices is required to bring victory back home; however, many new members, or “rookies,” find these practices challenging. As playing strategies used by the team are new to them and practices require adjustment to their schedule with less time to study and do homework, new members seem to struggle in balancing both academics and extracurricular activities.

“The tennis practices are physically a little challenging, but I believe that the more I practice, it will be less tiring as I will get used to this system,” said Zoe Lee (9), varsity tennis athlete. “Although some of my teammates think it is annoying, I enjoy taking the bus to go to our practice court

because it feels like I’m going on a field trip, which is always exciting.”

With most of the teams having their first tournament in the first two weeks, returning members were pressured but excited for the tournament. However, it was even more pressuring for the new members.

“My first tournament was nerve-racking and I put a lot of pressure on myself,” said Elaine Choi (10), varsity girls volleyball player. “Since our team only had two full practices, we were not completely ready for the tournament, but we were able to carry on the game well. During practices, we usually do multiple drills and practice specific skills, whereas in the tournament we really focus on our team formation, being ready, and [being] in position.”

New members are trying their best to adjust to the new environment and system. They have high hopes and are looking forward to showing their best performances and results.

By LYNETTE KIM Junior, Staff Writer

James, Cousins, Ronaldo sign with new teams

Graphic by Emily Oh

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The end of a sports season begins with sports franchises scrambling for the phone and scheduling meetings in order to retain and acquire superstar athletes. This held true in 2018, as many high profile moves were made across different sports leagues. With high profile players such as LeBron James, DeMarcus Cousins, and Cristiano Ronaldo signing with new teams, sports fans across the globe were shocked.

Following a devastating blowout in the NBA finals, LeBron James left his hometown team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, for the Los Angeles Lakers in search of greater championship hopes. According to the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce, James, one of the most skilled and popular players in the NBA, indirectly pumped millions of dollars into the local economy. This economic growth was characterized by increased merchandise sales, ticket sales, and restaurant revenue in the vicinity of the Cavalier’s arena following LeBron’s arrival. Perhaps the three-time NBA champion can bring a trophy to Hollywood, as well as a huge economic impact.

“LeBron James has been one of the top talents in the league for the past decade, and it will be interesting to see him come to the West for the first time in his career,” said Andy Kim (10), JV basketball player. “He is definitely seeking revenge after losing to the Golden State Warriors in the Finals last year, so his rivalry with the premier

team in the West will be exciting to watch.”

Additionally, DeMarcus Cousins, the former big man for the New Orleans Pelicans, signed a deal with the Golden State Warriors. What makes this deal so special is that a multiple time allstar like Cousins agreed to sign for the veteran’s minimum, a mere $5.3 million per year deal. In comparison, Cousins’ new teammate Stephen Curry earns $40.2 million each year. With the newly acquired Cousins, the back-to-back champion Warriors will be the only team in the NBA boasting a starting five composed entirely of multiple time all-stars, making them the favorite to win it all. This resulted in uproar across the league, and many players criticized Cousins for joining an established superstar team rather than guiding the Pelicans to the playoffs himself.

Many viewers have also expressed their concerns regarding the competitiveness of the league for the future, and some have decided to stop watching the NBA altogether.

“Honestly, I think that after this move, the NBA will be so unbalanced and boring to watch,” said Bryan Hur (11), junior varsity basketball player.

“The Warriors already beat the Cavaliers by a landslide last year, and they now have a new weapon in DeMarcus Cousins, who was an all-star last year.”

Across the ocean, Cristiano Ronaldo is changing the course of soccer history in Europe. After lifting up his fourth

Champions League trophy to top off his ninth season with Real Madrid in which he scored 44 goals in 44 appearances, Ronaldo will be seen in black and white stripes with Juventus. There are many different speculations as to why Ronaldo left Real Madrid. According to The New York Times, it was because Ronaldo felt that the Real Madrid’s president, Florentino Perez, did not value him enough. Alternatively, ESPN suggested that due to Ronaldo’s aging, it was a logical step in his career to go to a less competitive league like Serie A so that he could retain his goal scoring capabilities that were demonstrated in La Liga. Whatever the reason for his departure may be, Ronaldo’s popularity has not faded: the player’s jersey sales alone totaled $60 million in 24 hours according to Forbes. Instead of hate, Ronaldo has in fact received many messages of thanks and love from his fans. Many wish him the best of luck for the rest of his career.

“I am a huge Real Madrid fan, and I have been supporting Ronaldo ever since I was young. In my eyes, he was the most important player to the organization,” said Brian Bok (10), varsity soccer player. “It is heartbreaking to see him go, but I definitely understand his decision. I hope him the best of luck in the next chapter of his career.”

By CHRISTOPHER SHIN Sophomore, Staff Writer

12 SMALL TALK

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China’s Social Credit System... complaints compliments to the world

point

Junie Kah & Hannah Kim As students, we are often blinded by our own prejudices and ignore the drastic changes being made to our school environment. In other words, we frequently blame the school for not providing enough opportunities for us, when in fact, much is being done to enhance our overall educational experience.

For a change, we should all take a moment to realize that there are more positive than negative changes being made to our school.

Thus, instead of focusing on the trivialities that make little to no impact on our day-to-day lives, it is more worthwhile to examine what the school has been doing to assist our education.

Few students are aware of what changes have been made over the year, especially to the various facilities which cater to the needs of a more diverse range of students.

For example, the new design studio in the annex building features a sewing machine and a bigger workspace for future artists and architects.

On a more serious note, there have been several structural changes to the education system that has improved the lives of many SIS students. For example, the skillbased exams, which began from the 2017-’18 school year, was an attempt to alleviate the immense amount of stress and pressure that semesterexams put upon students. After the first administration of skill-based exams, the leadership team actively sought student feedback through surveying and interviewing random groups of students from each grade level. As such, there are many indications that the school is working to initiate change with incorporation of student opinion.

Furthermore, by being stricter with issues such as schedule changes and absences, the school is trying to ensure that there are fewer loopholes for exploitation, which is part of an effort to reward equal opportunities to all students.

In the holistic sense, despite the occasional breaks in air conditioning technology, the school has done much to improve our community. This is change that was able to happen not only due to efforts by the leadership team, but also increased interest and proactivity in student life within the high school. This is a trend that will only continue and grow, and is an often overlooked, but commendable achievement.

social score:

370

Sia Cho

counterpoint both sides of the truth

… violates civil liberties: Involving, at times, the denial of transportation and education, the punishments of the social credit system deprives citizens of their inherent rights. By recreating a poverty trap for people who, by nature, deserve human rights, such as the freedom of movement, the Chinese government is creating a double punishment for citizens who are already dealt with through the present criminal justice system.

Certainly, habits such as playing too many video games or spending frivolously are not productive. However, they do not entail consequences as extreme as denying the right to education. “Someone who plays video

… reforms social behavior: Individuals are granted citizenship in China under a social contract— that they must act for the collective well-being of society in exchange for certain political and economic liberties. Drunk-driving, which is the convenient option to return home from a bar or restaurant, not only endangers the intoxicated driver but places the safety of law-abiding pedestrians at risk. When citizens prioritize their selfish desires above the lives of others by jaywalking and posting fake news online, it is morally apt for the government to curtail granted freedoms. Note that one can always improve his or her score by simply following the law or through charitable actions. In a statement released by Rongcheng Social Credit Management Office, He Jun-ning, Deputy Director, stresses that “any-

… is a point mechanism based on citizens’ behavior. Citizens are initially given 1000 points, and specific circumstances, such as drunk-driving or paying one’s taxes late, lead to fluctuations in said scores. Ultimately, these scores will serve as a basis for both rewards and punishments, such as Internet connection and access to public accommodations. According to CBS News, this credit system has been partially implemented since 2014 but will be fully enforced by 2020.

games for 10 hours a day, for example, would be considered an idle person,” said Li Yingyun, Technology Director of Sesame Inc. Penalizing unproductivity that serves not to tangibly harm others but foster individual happiness thus exemplifies the unjustifiable nature of the credit system. … can be used for state abuse: There is a difference between a state seeking to improve social behavior and an abusive government seeking to manipulate the definition of morality for their own political advantage. That being said, the social credit system serves as a tool for state abuse. Under the system, criticism of the CPC could easily be considered non-cooperative behavior, allowing

thing that influences your points needs to be backed by official facts with official documents.” With the incentive to receive, for instance, lower interest rates, citizens will naturally make efforts to improve the conditions of everyone’s life. To receive more points, they will recycle or pick up trash on the streets, participate in community events, and act considerately to the disabled or elderly. … establishes objectivity: Contrary to popular belief, President Xi Jin-ping has been actively voicing his opinion against political corruption in China. For example, the state recently established the National Supervision Commission (NSC), a federal committee to monitor and reprimand instances of corruption within the Communist Party of Chi-

for the government to silence potential enemies. In addition, the social system will provide an excuse for extreme surveillance, legitimizing government authority to oversee all activity occurring in the nation. The absence of any mechanism to ensure government accountability when deducting points can deprive political dissidents of their rights, relegating them to a lower societal status simply due to their political opinions.

According to the NY Times, even regional minorities, such as the Muslim Uighurs and Tibetans, could be constantly harassed for minor infractions. Creating an arbitrary standard of morality for its citizens, the Chinese government can use this flexible definition to target individuals whenever it sees fit.

na (CPC). The social credit system adheres to this progressive trend as it establishes government objectivity; China normally does not need justification when banning certain aspects of Western life. For instance, when ABC News was blocked from reporting in China, Prime Minister Scott Morrison explained that the move was out of Australia’s control. “[China] makes decisions about what happens there. We make decisions about what happens here,” said Morrison. As a result of this point mechanism, personal connections with the CPC will not necessarily entail quality treatment; if one’s score is low, the state must correspond its treatment to the given person’s numerical score and remain accountable.

social score:

920 Andy Yoon

“Relationships—of all kinds—are like sand held in your hand. Held loosely, with an open hand, the sand remains where it is. The minute you close your hand and squeeze tightly to hold on, the sand trickles through your fingers.”

- Kaleel Jamison, author of The Nibble Theory and the Kernel of Power

photo of the mont

h

Using all his strength, Steven Chung (10) leads his team to victory in the tug of war game with the HSSC members.

Photo by

Angela Choe (12)