Tiger Times Volume 50 Issue 2

Making a Mark To do something that will be remembered; to do something that is important or meaningful

ISSUE PREVIEW Viewpoint BACKPACKS: CALL FOR ACTION NEWS THE AGE OF TRILLION-DOLLAR COMPANIES FOCUS A CLASH OF CULTURES LIFESTYLE RAP BEEF OVERVIEW

Tiger Times VOLUME 51 | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2018 | ISSUE 2 | TTONL.ORG

MATh CLUB PLACES SECOND IN NEAMC x-c girls place 4th and boys place 3rd in kaiac tournament volleyball boys place 2nd and girls place 5th in aisa tournament

Editorial

In keeping Halloween spooky

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

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pathetic, unfeeling, indifferent. These are just a few words that are occasionally thrown around by pessimistic individuals who claim that SIS has lackluster spirit.

However, taking a good look at SIS’s array of annual Halloween-themed events and the sheer effort our student body puts into planning and executing such activities, you may find yourself reconsidering this misconception.

To state that Halloween initiates much of SIS’s spirit activities for the school year would be no exaggeration. Of the different holidays celebrated on campus, SIS boasts an impressive array of annual events that are exclusive to Halloween. The Global Issue Network club’s annual carnival kicks off the festivities and features an ever-increasing selection of activities such as the Haunted House and horror movie showings. The HSSC Cartnivore stocks several different themed treats, with pumpkin pie making a consistent appearance year after year. Many school organizations capitalize off this occasion and in extension promote student participation.

Think individual participation is, on the other hand, comparatively sparse? Think again.

Each year, SIS observes a significant number of students and faculty show up to school dressed in ironic “scary” costumes such as the Common App or genuinely elaborate, handmade group costumes that reference TV shows and musicals alike. While a sizable number of these individuals may dress up purely for extra credit, that does not necessarily mean that SIS students have less spirit.

True, we are more reserved than some schools whose students actively dress up in costumes each year for spirit’s sake. But our engagement in more activities as a collective that showcases us having fun together instead of individually further accentuates our collective spirit at this school.

Of course, there are still blind spots to detect and weaknesses to fortify. The chief grievance: SIS’s a general stigma against gwanjongs, the Korean equivalent of “obnoxious attention seekers.” Gwanjong culture and the bias against it can hamper students’ willingness to step up and express themselves, whether it may be in the context of a meticulously executed depiction of a ghoul residing in a haunted house or a group costume based on the show Riverdale. During events such as Halloween when the level of student participation directly correlates with the festivity of the school atmosphere, the anathema of standing out can have surprisingly depressing results.

But before we further hyperbolize our shortcomings, we should recognize and emphasize the importance of giving credit and appreciation where it is due. Under the rose-tinted glasses of positivity, we can come to appreciate the progress we have made as a community. This appreciation, in the long run, fosters the inspiration of envisioning and enacting change for the better. So to all the people still holding the misconception that SIS lacks spirit, here’s our message: cynical criticism stops short of change, but appreciation goes a long way. So do yourself and the rest of the school a favor: thank an HSSC representative, a GIN carnival staff, and the many other organizational members who work cohesively to bring this holiday to life.

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 Backpacks and the call for higher level action

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he high school administration recently implemented a personal belongings practice where unattended bags in hallways have been confiscated and returned to their owners at the end of the school day. Students who have been caught off-guard have felt the impacts of this new practice, trudging to fourth period classes stripped of their supplies and having almost certainly learned a painful lesson for the future. Although punitive measures such as confiscation can be effective to a certain extent, these measures are more sustainable and transformative if accompanied with solutions that tackle the underlying causes of existing student misbehavior.

Once the initial chaos and confusion of the new bag-confiscation practice passed, it seemed to have wonderfully fulfilled its intended purpose, as the halls of the school were left unblemished by backpacks. But over time, the high school unfortunately has showed signs of regression, as students have found alternative bag shelters in the vicinity of the cafeteria, including the entrance of the drama room, and the backpacks in hallways slowly but surely have begun to repopulate the hallways. These observations have made it evident that despite its good intentions, the recent effort to improve accountability has not encouraged lasting behavioral change.

Evidently, students do not respond to these new challenges by immediately changing their values; rather, they have

consistently made short-term adaptations, such as hiding their bags in the most obscure corners of the school, for the solitary goal of escaping punishment.

According to Gray Macklin, high school vice principal, the purpose of the practice has been to highlight the existing problem, which it was hoped would lead to changes in student behavior and hall cleanliness. This is an admirable stance to hold, and it is correct that students should treat our hallways with greater responsibility. However, more steps need to be taken to convert short-term solutions into long-term change. Cleaner public spaces, no matter how desirable, should be byproducts of moral change, not its final destination.

In order to affect sustainable change, it is not only necessary that we create a punitive system such as the bagconfiscation method discussed earlier; but also, the leadership team should understand the underlying reasons for a problem and target these systemic issues as well. Students do not necessarily discard their bags in public because their moral values are decaying or because they want to leave their valuables vulnerable; holding a wider perspective of the problem depicts them as victims of existing infrastructure. Much of the problem lies in simply saving time during hectic activity periods. Just like a traffic jam, the few minutes it takes to put a bag in a locker can easily accumulate to more than 10 minutes wasted in line waiting for lunch, especially when so many students

who have found other hiding spots for their bags have all reached the cafeteria beforehand.

In this example, administrators could realize that the reason why lines are so long is partly because the menus tend to be lopsided. The administration could then create a targeted solution for this issue, perhaps by having students rate the quality of each meal and have the cafeteria staff release similarly scored menus on the same day. While this method may seem peripheral to the issue at hand, experience has shown that students flocking to one side of the cafeteria causes much of the disarray. Evening out the lunch lines will not only reduce clutter, but will leave students with ample time to secure their belongings in their lockers and ultimately free up precious minutes for everybody.

Through methods such as these, the administration will be able to not only punish those who break the rules, but also make it easier for students to follow them.

In an idealistic world, calling for a higher level of citizenship will be enough to sway the minds of the public. However, in the academic pressure cooker that often characterizes our school, education and change from the administration are needed for the student body to properly exhibit its adherence to moral values.

The administration has called for an expansion of the already elevated levels of citizenship; let us help students prove it.

By BRIAN HAM Sophomore, Staff Writer

Moon’s policy may be worsening South Korea’s economy During his presidential campaign, Moon made numerous electoral commitments—one of which was a pledge to raise Korea’s minimum wage. This process, he claimed, could help reduce financial polarization within Korea. However, Moon’s policy has been ineffective so far and has actually ended up increasing the magnitude of the economic difficulty rather than helping solve it; according to Chosun Ilbo, the current youth unemployment rate in South Korea is approximately 9.9 percent, the highest it has been in two decades.

In 2018, President Moon increased Korea’s minimum wage from 6,470 won to 7,530 won an hour, and stated that his goal was to increase it to 10,000 won per hour by 2020. Moon believed that increasing the minimum wage would boost growth and mitigate polarization in the Korean economy. However, his theory was proven wrong when this new policy ended up further damaging the financial situation rather than appeasing it; Moon succeeded in raising the minimum wage, like he had promised, but caused a spike in the unemployment rate in the process, further polarizing the Korean economy.

The two main problems with Moon’s ideas were that the rate at which he was increasing the minimum wage was too fast for employers to integrate, and that the growth in productivity rates was lagging behind the growth of the wage floor. Increasing the minimum wage at a rapid rate caused unemployment rates to increase—especially among Korea’s youth—as employers simply could not afford to hire as many workers as before.

Productivity rates falling behind the mini-

mum wage growth caused low-profit work to be paid for with high wages, creating a vicious cycle of high-value labor investment with low-value yield.

A more reasonable method that could better address Korea’s economic deceleration could be to increase the productivity of the economy instead of artificially increasing the minimum wage. Increasing opportunities for low-skilled workers to learn more specialized skills in government-funded education centers could help facilitate the movement of workers from low-skilled jobs to higher-skilled jobs, increasing the productivity of the workers and leading to overall economic profit.

Another solution could be to grant people with long gaps in their working career more employment opportunities.

Many of those who are unemployed in Korea are capable of working in high-skilled jobs, but find it difficult to secure a job as they have been away from the workplace for such a long time. For example, most Korean women stop working for about five to 10 years after having a child.

Once their child is old enough for these

women to return to their jobs, they find that companies are unwilling to take them in, despite many of these women having highly valuable skills. Giving these women—and others in similar situations—a chance to restart working would not only lead to overall economic growth, but could also help mitigate financial polarization in Korea.

Moon’s economic policy, despite aiming to help the financially disadvantaged, has only made the fiscal situation grimmer. The issue with Moon’s strategy is that he is looking only at the short-term effects of his actions. Raising the minimum wage could, to some extent, benefit the working class for a brief period of time. However, conflicts with productivity rates and the burden on the middle and upper classes would cause this policy to be more harmful than helpful in the long run. In order to devise a policy that could truly benefit Korea, Moon must learn to see not only the present, but also the future, of Korea’s economy.

By JIWON LEE Junior, Staff Writer

Tiger Times

September/October 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 opportunity cost of teaching life skills in school Are we ready to expand “core” classes for life skills?

How can the school sustain students’ choice while encouraging for nonacademic course selection?

Not academic, not my choice

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pon close examination of our many encounters, I came to realize that we, like all high students, are utterly absorbed in our individual lives and care for little else outside of our school system that fails to extend beyond college. When I take a step back and reflect on the content of our collective conversations, it is jarring how often we habitually discuss our academic status regardless of how pertinent it is to our immediate surroundings. We speak of our scores, our fluctuating emotions deriving from them, and how we are apprehensive of our present and future until the day of college acceptance. This list is most, if not all, of the elements that construct our exchange after an apathetic “hello.”

There are many close examples that manifest this phenomenon, such as our perceived lack of opportunity to interact with upper and lower classmen and our deficient interest in the niceties of others’ personal lives outside the academic environment. I can even cautiously claim that we may have been taught more intimate values that endorse the significance of interaction in our middle school years than we encounter now. Perhaps there is more to a single “hello” than the entirety of our extensive discussion on academics. Our limited chance to genuinely acknowledge each other as we pass by in the halls seems to be more meaningful than the repetitive cycle our conversation returns to.

Nevertheless, it is not my place to opine what we should or should not be discussing in our private interactions,

nor am I setting forth a sour accusation.

I am, however, inviting you to take a look at certain elements that disillusion us from recognizing the world outside of SIS. Have we ever tried to get to know our colleagues as much as we have endeavored to understand our fluctuating grades?

The fundamental problem comes down to the nature of a school system, its balance with nonacademic activities, and how students respond to such dynamics.

SIS has already made extensive efforts to resolve this issue by delegating a specific time for social interaction, such as Office Hours and Transition into Middle School.

We even have spaces for students to further pursue their interests, such as the new advanced sports and recreation class.

However, the benefits from much of these measures are fleeting, as our usage of the allocated time is quick to digress from the program’s intentions. For example, Office Hours, a time for interaction between students and teachers, is now used for last-minute homework. Indeed, our lack of sophistication stems from our preoccupation with exigent concerns that we have no time to invest on subjects we were taught to supposedly value less.

Furthermore, even if the school tries to diversify the options for classes and activities, there are only so many hours a day for eight solid, year-round classes.

This rigid schedule prevents us from making bold choices and exploring our true interests. The label of “core classes” and the limited number of slots force the situation into a false dichotomy where students believe that they must make the wisest choice for each school period. It seems as

though we students take for granted that our world should revolve around academics and that there should be no space diverging from those boundaries, especially in an educational environment. To an extent, it may be inevitable to completely eliminate these discrepancies; perhaps this is a distinctly idiosyncratic phase for all high school students dealing with their studies, and it may be asking too much to make time separately for non-academic interaction. Nonetheless, that is not to say that all efforts would be futile.

Realistically, there are schools that expand the scope of choices for classes that demand active input from students, as well as teaching life skills that they don’t have to wait until college with which to struggle.

We can refer to Korean public schools for a positive example, as most teach ethics and home economics as a part of their standard curriculum. In ethics classes, students are taught familial and communal values; in home economics classes, students learn how to perform important life skills tasks such as cooking and sewing. Another voiced suggestion is a financial literacy or understanding markets class for seniors to help them progress toward economic independence. After all, there is a limit as to how far an economics class can take you. There could also be seasonal outdoors recreation programs or camps that may lead to students having one more part of school that they look forward to.

More importantly, however, the second step is to make these courses mandatory, similar to how the curriculum in the status quo has made a separate compulsory space for electives. If students prioritize what

might help them on their resume over their genuine interests, they would defeat the very purpose of commencing the programs.

Simultaneously, in order for the school system to foster independence, there needs to be an honest balance of choice and authority. As students are mandated to take at least one nonacademic course, they can still maintain the choice of selecting the specific course to take.

Nonetheless, we must take into careful consideration what opportunities are at stake of these important decisions. Are we really willing to impact our chances of taking more AP classes on a home economics class? Are we ready to ignore the shadow of doubt and confidently make our decision? If we are not yet ready to give a confident yes, would the changes in our curriculum have any effect at all?

The path to high academic achievement is rigorous and we make choices that detach us from the preservation of immediate social values. Consequently, the hurdles we face frame school as a tedious yet necessary evil. In order to disengage from such conviction, it is in the hands of the school to take action to show that a world exists beyond SIS and prepares us to face what lay ahead. As for us students, we must be prepared to properly use the new chances provided to us. The nature of the school system is not necessarily to be uniformly adored, but to be unfulfilling. The want of more opportunities itself is what drives us to be reflective and growing learners, preparing for what awaits in our future.

By ANDIE KIM Junior, Staff Writer

4 NEWS News Briefs

By Amy Jungmin Kim

Senior, Staff Writer

Guest poet Steven Herrick visits SIS On Sept. 18, guest poet Steven Herrick visited SIS to meet the middle and high school student body. A poet and young adult fiction writer based in Brisbane, Australia, he is the notable author of several books and versePhoto by MICHELLE AHN novels such as Untangling Spaghetti, Pookie Aleera is Not My Boyfriend, Bleakboy and Hunter Stand Out in the Rain.

“I was genuinely entertained by his presentation, though I was at first skeptical,” said Katherine Suk (9), a freshman who attended the meeting. “I’m not the biggest fan of reading poems, but Mr. Herrick’s activities such as making up poems with names of my friends in them, allowed me to approach poetry in a whole new perspective.”

SIS participates in KAIAC forensics tournament The SIS forensics team attended their first KAIAC forensics tournament hosted at Korea International School (KIS) on Oct. 19-20.

While the speech team participated on Friday after school, the debate team traveled on Saturday to compete. With six speech finalists and another six debate finalists, the team returned with impressive results.

“Although I was really busy with college applications and summative assignments, I still managed to collaborate with my trustworthy partner Jeremy to prepare for our public forum debate,” said Ian Lee (12), member of the debate team. “In addition to debating with other members of our team during meetings, we also consulted with fellow debaters at other schools and met at cafes to find resources such as videos on the web about our topic.”

Club executives attend leadership workshop On Sept. 4, club presidents at SIS attended a leadership workshop led by Mr. Brodhead, executive advisor of the High School Student Council (HSSC), and Dr. Gerhard, high school principal. Mainly led by Mr. Brodhead, the workshop introduced executive leaders to good traits of leadership and how to apply such skills within their club activities and planning processes.

“I surprisingly learned a lot of new things about being a good leader,” said Katie Lee (12), MUN president. “The most interesting part was when Mr. Brodhead talked about the negative effects of the word ‘mandatory’ and instead taught us how to use words that encourage people to attend ‘mandatory’ meetings. I reflected on my past behavior as president of my club, and realized that I still have a long way to go in order to become a respected leader. I was very glad that I attended this workshop.”

Third inter-Korean summit brings Korea closer to reconciliation North Korea and South Korea held the third bilateral meeting of the year in Pyongyang on Sept. 18 to reconcile the historically strained relations rooted in the Korean War. Since the symbolic reunification of the two countries in the PyeongChang Olympics and the inter-Korean summit in April, they vowed to bring an official end to the Korean War and work toward the complete denuclearization of North Korea. According to the Washington Post, however, the lack of specificity and timeliness of the procedure garnered skepticism from President Donald Trump, who unexpectedly cancelled Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s trip to Pyongyang in August. President Trump was allegedly dissatisfied with North Korea’s progress and refused to acknowledge the end of the Korean War or fully lift its economic sanctions without North Korea’s full cooperation.

“It is understandable that skeptics in the US administration doubt North Korea’s sudden shift in political attitude,” said Bryan Hur (11), MUN member. “The Punggye-ri nuclear testing site was destroyed but reports from the Atomic Energy Agency indicate that North Korea was continuing to expand its nuclear infrastructure secretively. Kim Jong Un did not specify how immediately it would fulfill its promise of

denuclearization. There are still many unanswered questions, all those that have to be sorted out by the summit.”

According to the Straits Times, the September summit clarified numerous uncertainties regarding denuclearization, resulting in the agreement of North Korea in permanently closing its Tongchang-ri engine test site and allowing site inspection by international experts. Nonetheless, South Korean conservatives associated with the Liberty Korea Party are voicing their dissatisfaction with the results. They believe that the summit produced no significant change since the Yongbyon site, not the Tongchang-ri site, is the known source for plutonium to fuel its missile program. North Korea agreed to dismantle its main Yongbyon site only under the condition that the United States correspondingly fulfills its part of the June 12 agreement and officially acknowledges the end of the Korean War. “North Korea still wants more concessions from South Korea and the United States, whether it be promises of security or more economic aid,” said James Tyvand, AP World History teacher. “This is all great progress compared to the tense Korean relations last year, but I don’t think this summit would fully resolve the issues of denuclearization.

Rather, it is important to culturally connect the Koreas with economic projects like roads and railways and have more discussions on how South Korea, as a technologically advanced country, can assist North Korea in developing strong manufacturing bases for its economy.”

Notably, the talks were not

centered solely around Kim Jong Un’s commitment to denuclearization.

There were discussions on measures to ensure peace and stability through comprehensive military measures and cultural re-engagement. The Korean Herald reported that the countries consolidated efforts in terminating border conflicts in the Demilitarized Zone by creating a joint military committee, withdrawing guard posts, working in conjunction to excavate remains of the Korean War, expanding the no-fly zone in airspace, and creating a buffer zone in the West Sea for safe fishing activities. An equally important emphasis was made on economic and cultural reconnection; not only would the Koreas operate a joint inter-Korean liaison office in Kaesong for direct military communication, but they also decided to establish interconnected roads and railways to facilitate economic connections and family reunion programs.

“The summit holds great promises for the full reconciliation of Korean relations,” said Yoon Lim (12), a MUN member. “I was surprised to read about a joint bid to host the 2032 Summer Olympic Games and the announcement of Kim Jong Un’s possible visit to South Korea by the end of the year. Though talks specifically on denuclearization must be further discussed, the summit at the very least triggered the stalled denuclearization talks with the US in ending the Korean War once and for all.”

By JOANNE YANG Sophomore, Staff Writer

New mock trial competition brings hopeful energy

With witnesses and attorneys diligently revising their drafts, members of the SIS Law and Mock Trial Club prepare for the upcoming mock trial competition. The club has formally opened its first annual mock trial competition, which is held on Oct. 27. Under the name International Schools Mock Trial Competition (ISMTC), the competition promises significant prospects: by bringing various schools together to engage in mock trial, the club offers a critical opportunity for inexperienced members to enhance their skills.

“We are very excited to host a SIS mock trial competition,” said Eileen Kwon (11), Law and Mock Trial Club Vice President. “Our club members took initiative after participating in the competitions hosted by other international schools, such as KIS and YISS. We believed that by hosting our own competition, our club would not only be able to become more involved in inter-school mock trial activities, but we would also be able to effectively improve our members’ skills.”

After weeks of strenuous work to prepare for the competition, the Law and Mock Trial Club executives are ever more confident that the ISMTC will turn out to be a success. To ensure efficient management of the members, the club has divided members into three groups with similar skill levels and experience to ensure that inexperienced members are able to access assistance from their teammates. This system of management has enabled many club members to be more committed to the preparation process.

“Throughout the practice sessions we

have had, I have noticed that many of my teammates have gotten much more confident,” said Jisue Shin (10), Law and Mock Trial Club member. “We are much more fluent in mock trial than we used to be a couple of weeks ago. Whereas in the past we were unsure of how mock trial even functioned, now we are able to perform a trial ourselves. This competition will bring an invaluable experience for rookies like us who do not have many opportunities to improve.”

Preparing for the upcoming competition on Oct. 27, Joshua Lim (11) comments on his teammates’ performance. Photo by MICHELLE AHN By communicating with representatives from Cheongshim International Academy (CSIA), the Law and Mock Trial Club has prepared thoroughly for the competition. With CSIA having confirmed its participation, the club

plans to have competitive trials between SIS and CSIA. In order to prepare, the club has been running practice trials amongst SIS teams to ensure that all members have enough opportunities to improve.

“Especially because the nature of the competition is geared towards rookies, ISMTC provides a crucial training ground,” said Peter Brodhead, Law and Mock Trial Club adviser. “We have some accomplished debaters in mock trial and it’s difficult to gain an advanced skill level without experience. ISMTC provides that opportunity for many inexperienced members to experience mock trial.”

The Law and Mock Trial Club believes that ISMTC will bring favorable results to all members of the club. Through this competition, the club hopes not only to raise members’ confidence levels in their performances but also allow members to gain fundamental mock trial skills that can act as a solid foundation when preparing for larger competitions.

“Due to the nature of mock trial, this competition is a very valuable event,” Eileen said. “Mock trial allows students to not only consider various perspectives when understanding a certain side’s argument, but also to analyze the opponents’ weaknesses and spontaneously deliver a concrete explanation.

This competition gives members of the club enough opportunities to explore this process. It would be a massive benefit for members of our club if this competition becomes a school tradition.”

By EMILY BAE Sophomore, Staff Writer

Tiger Times

September/October 2018

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Amazon reaches 1 trillion market capitalization

On Sept. 4, Amazon became the second American company to reach the onceunfathomable milestone: $1 trillion.

Amazon’s founder and CEO Jeff Bezos is now worth nearly as much as Bill Gates and Warren Buffett combined. When Apple’s market value surpassed $1 trillion in August, the reason was simple: the iPhone maker sells devices that a lot of people are willing to spend a lot of money on. For Amazon, the reason is more complex.

“Amazon makes up 49 percent of online sales in the United States,” said Sungho Cho, hedge fund manager. “It employs half a million people and generates $180 billion in annual revenue. It sells everything from organic vegetables to appointments with electricians. But at its core, what Amazon has always sold the most — to customers, investors, and the media — is excitement.”

When it was founded in 1994, Amazon was an exciting, novel way to shop for books online. Subsequently, as Amazon diversified into new markets, it produced an innovative way to read with Kindle e-books, publish books with CreateSpace, power the internet with Amazon Web Services, receive deliveries with Amazon Prime, and transform homes into a hightech outpost with Alexa. Today, Amazon is experimenting to expand into even more industries, including financial services, healthcare, and artificial-intelligence-led computing.

“No other business can ever manage to turn its lack of profit into such effective anticipation,” said Dongsung Jeong, investment banker. “Most public companies live under the rule of Wall Street, which prizes profits above anything else. When Facebook devotes resources to purge fake users, investors pummel its

shares. In contrast, when Amazon records a profit on occasion, investors demand that Amazon plow the capital back into the business to acquire even more companies rather than giving it to shareholders.”

Indeed, Amazon’s focus is on the customer. With a responsive customer service and an ever-increasing product selection, Amazon sacrifices short-term profits to increase its ranks of happy customers. Amazon’s business model is one

virtuous cycle: attract as many customers as possible, satisfy as many customers as possible, and profit — however modestly.

“Amazon has made my life so much easier,” said David Suh (11), Amazon Prime member. “With Amazon, I don’t have to walk 20 minutes to shop for my groceries or carry a pile of books when I travel. Alexa is even better: I can turn my lights off without even getting out of bed. How awesome is that?”

the more you know

Hurricane Florence challenges nation and government

Government agencies are not exactly known for their bureaucratic efficiency, but a larger problem does arise when an agency that claims to help people “before, during, and after disasters” urges people to “not be counted on so heavily in a future crisis.” The fact that this was how the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) responded to worldwide criticism of their natural disaster relief programs highlights crucial flaws in the organization’s overall approach and execution.

Puerto Rico, as well as FEMA’s reputation, took massive hits when Hurricane Maria struck the United States territory a year ago. Claimed by the Washington Post to be one of the deadliest natural disasters to ever hit the area, the Category Five hurricane wreaked havoc on an island that was already reeling from the effects of Hurricane Irma only a month ago. The official death toll accepted by FEMA climbed well above 3,000, and despite the New York Times reporting a massive $3 billion effort from the government agency to restore homes to livable conditions, many residents still do not

have suitable houses. Furthermore, the hurricane painfully exposed FEMA’s critical weakness: longevity. Despite its enormous investment, critical miscalculations meant FEMA’s grants for home repair were not nearly enough for residents to plan for the long-term; instead, they only led to short-term patches such as cheap, flimsy rooftops that will most likely be destroyed in the next hurricane.

Outreach, organization, and speed were also virtually nonexistent in FEMA’s clean-up jobs. A recent New York Times study showed that over 500,000 households were denied assistance, and even those that were accepted waited months for repair or are still empty-handed. Efficiency crawled to a mere four inspections of houses a day, a problem compounded by the lack of formal addresses in Puerto Rico. Despite the Trump administration’s futile efforts to paint it as a marvelous success—which went as far as to cast doubt over official death counts—it only takes one trip to the island to see the blatant failure with the emergency response system.

FEMA’s reputation was further tarnished when Chief Administrator Brock Long was recently caught misusing FEMA resources for personal benefits. According to the Washington Post, the transgressions included a trip with his kids to pineapple plants in Hawaii and cost nearly $150,000 in staff salaries. Therefore, while this September’s Hurricane Florence spelled disaster for much of the nation, it also represented an opportunity of redemption for FEMA. Since the storm would be taking place on the mainland in a more developed and accessible area, it would be relatively easier to contain than previous natural disasters.

The improvements were already there; this time around, the government wisely decided against taking on the Herculean task by itself and delegated tasks to power companies and other parties that could have a much wider reach. This combination has already shown improvements, and it is no surprise: local nonprofits may not have the bottomless warchest or power of the government, but in turn have built trust with their local communities.

Behind the excitement Amazon garners from investors and consumers alike is a relentless ambition. Amazon is the Jay Gatsby of American companies: tomorrow, it will run faster, stretch its arms out farther, and fulfill consumers’ desires by means which no other company could ever dream of.

By TEDDY CHO Junior, Staff Writer

Additionally, FEMA has proudly reported that over a hundred shelters and search and rescue teams have been in place, as well as millions of water bottles among other supplies. However, despite initial positive outlooks, whether FEMA has truly learned from past experiences of short-term fixes remains to be seen. To be fully viewed as a success, FEMA and its partners must demonstrate over the next few months that their post-disaster mechanisms are sustainable measures that will not only restore residents to former conditions but equip them for the next disaster.

Seeing the historical impact of disasters like Hurricane Katrina on previous presidents, the Trump adminstration’s performance in the next few weeks of this crisis could affect the Republican Party’s performance in the upcoming midterm elections.

Hurricane Florence will undoubtedly have resonating effects stretching beyond its physical destructive capabilities.

By Brian Ham

Under the microscope: International schools

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By Eju Ro

he widely known stereotype of hypercompetition, vertical hierarchy, and 10-hour workdays of Korean school students is only one face of Korea’s education system. Though the competitive nature of most Korean public, private, vocational, and foreign language schools often demonstrate the validity of these stereotypes, what is often exempt from this general conversation on education in Korea is an entirely separate sector of schools: international or foreign schools.

Curriculum and college admissions are perhaps the two key factors that set apart international schools from other Korean schools, as well as international schools from each other.

International schools in Korea lie less on a spectrum and more on a multidimensional plane determined by a number of variables including curriculum, requirements, and culture. In fact, schools commonly grouped together as “international schools” like SIS, Seoul Foreign School (SFS), or Chadwick International School (CI) fall under two separate categories: international schools and foreign schools. Though not true to its name, SIS is by definition a foreign school and not an international school, along with its commonly known equals such as KIS, SFS, or YISS. On the other hand, there are four international schools in Korea, most of which are relatively new: CI, North London Collegiate School (NLCS), KIS Jeju (KISJ), and Daegu International School (DIS).

The defining standard for a school’s category is its set of admission requirements, a factor that also influences the overall academic atmosphere of each school.

Foreign schools like SIS require applicants to either have a parent with foreign citizenship or have lived in a foreign country for at least three successive years. On the other hand, international schools accept any student–including those who hold only a Korean passport and have lived in Korea their whole lives–as long as they can pass an entrance exam and interview process. Another exclusive advantage of international schools is the fact that

they provide not only a Western diploma for completing the international curriculum, but they also certify that their graduates have completed a Korean education. In essence, graduates of international schools do not have to independently take the Korean equivalency exams, like the GEDs, for secondary and primary education to earn a diploma. Students at foreign schools who wish to apply to Korean universities are required to study for and take the Korean equivalent of the GEDs, which can pose challenges for students who have never formally learned Korean history or Korean language.

Despite specific differences, the definitions of both international and foreign schools are grounded in their similarly Western curricula. The curriculum often determines what parents and students are looking to get out of the specific school’s education and where they are hoping to apply to university. Other than a few schools like the French School of Seoul (LFS), which provides a French curriculum, most international schools and foreign schools have implemented either the Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccaleaureate (IB) program, or both. Students at AP schools like SIS, KIS, or YISS can take AP courses and exams at their school, an American system that specifically prepares students for admission to universities in the US. Students who have interest in applying to colleges in the UK or Korea are better catered to in IB schools such as SFS, NLCS, or Cl. While both are intended to prepare students for the university level difficulty, AP and IB programs best prepare students for different types of universities. The IB system is better catered to universities in Europe, as the program is more similar to that of European universities than colleges in North America. Meanwhile, the AP system is largely US-based and better paves a pathway to colleges in the US and Canada. The college admission statistics of IB schools versus AP schools in Korea reflect the leanings of each system. Data published by the JoongAng Daily on the college results of the gradu-

ating classes of five Korean international schools in 2016 indicates the tendency of students in IB schools to end up at a university in the UK. While over 80 percent of the Class of 2016 at DIS and KISJ (AP schools) moved on to a university in the US, only about 60 percent of the graduating class at BHA (IB school) did. At NLCS, another IB school, a greater percentage of students chose the UK than the US; the statistics read 47.2 percent to 40.5 percent.

Needless to say, the AP and IB programs are not mutually exclusive, but the differences in how the curriculum is taught affects the college admission tendencies of each system. The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, the college application system for UK universities, look for a student’s independent research or study that an IB program can provide. The IB program allows more academic freedom within the boundaries of courses, as students are given the opportunity to study specific topics of personal interest. Classes are also often run in Socratic Seminar styles with less traditional assessments (such as analyzing sources or constructing arguments) unlike AP courses that are generally more content heavy and employ conventional testing methods.

AP students have a record of the AP courses they took and the AP scores they received for the more traditional, content based AP exams—this record is tailored for students applying to universities in the US. The variety of schools even just within the pool of international and foreign schools in Korea is surprisingly wide-ranged and complex. Students and parents select schools to attend based on a multitude of factors, including curriculum, atmosphere, but also—crucially —college admission tendencies and past results. At the intersections of these factors lie the nuances and unique perks of each individual school, but at the end of the day, the burden is on the student’s end to consider and evaluate which intersection is most suitable for his or her academic desires.

a clash of

Layout by Emily Oh

f cultures N

ot all Korean schools are created equal. Foreign language high schools and autonomous private schools often cater to high-performing students with financial means, whereas international schools operate outside of the Korean Ministry of Education’s oversight and teach students via a distinctly western curriculum. Now, 31 Korean foreign language high schools, 46 autonomous schools, and seven international schools nationwide are bracing for a sea change.

The pledge to abolish such elite institutions was the centerpiece to President Moon Jae-in’s presidential campaign. According to President Moon, these schools have lost their original purpose of offering specialized education on selected subjects such as foreign languages and have become a springboard for entering top universities.

In a 2017 interview conducted by the Chosun Ilbo, President Moon vowed to usher in “the heyday of standard high schools” accessible to all. Subsequently, the Gyeonggi Province Office of Education announced its plan to abolish such schools by 2020.

Established in the 1980s under the Chun Doo-hwan administration, Korean foreign language high schools were originally intended to serve as vocational schools to prepare students for a career in translating. Today, Korean foreign language high schools are the most prestigious high schools in the country and boast high rates of acceptance to top-tier universities.

Korean foreign language high schools were not originally designed to be superior alternatives to traditional Korean high schools. Controversies arose as the disparity in academic achievements between students in the affluent Gangnam District and students elsewhere widened due to the fact that wealthy parents in Gangnam tend to spend more on their children’s private education.

The tutor ban in the 1980s did little to rein in the private education frenzy; if anything, it only fueled the craze further by giving rise to a vast hagwon industry.

At their inception, Korean foreign language high

Foreign language high schools: A two-sided coin

schools only attracted students with the lowest grades.

That all changed in the 1980s — the decade of the 1988 Seoul Olympics and the subsequent push for globalism — when Korean foreign language high schools began to emerge as part of the government’s attempt to foster students that excelled in foreign languages.

In 1992, the government granted Korean foreign language high schools the status of “special-purpose high schools,” which gave them the right to hold their own admission processes and thereby enabled them to handpick top-performing students. In 1996, the Dong-a Ilbo reported that Daewon Foreign Language High School had become the first institution to send more than 200 graduates to Seoul National University, which is arguably considered the best college in Korea.

Autonomous private high schools also had an idealistic start. In 2010, Former President Lee Myung-bak, who believed that competition was crucial to improving students’ competence, introduced a school that granted more leeway than conventional schools in creating its own curriculum. In exchange, it received less funding in government subsidies than public schools but in turn charged parents about three times more in tuition fees.

The administration believed that with their freedom from the government, autonomous schools would cultivate a diverse set of curricula in which students are encouraged to pursue different fields of study. In actuality, autonomous schools used their freedom to transform themselves into what are known as “cram schools.”

Over the decades, the government has launched a myriad of efforts to divert focus from preparing for the Suneung to diversifying high school curricula, but to no avail. Critics argue that the school systems introduced by the government have only established a new pecking order among high schools: Korean foreign language high schools and autonomous schools form the elites, whereas regular high schools make up the bottom of the barrel.

The problem is perhaps exacerbated by their early

By Teddy Cho deadline for admission processes. Schools in Korea conduct their admission processes earlier than regular schools, possibly enabling them to collect the top-performing middle school students before other schools have the opportunity. Upon admission, Korean foreign language high schools and autonomous schools center their education around preparation for the CSAT by virtue of the leeway granted to them regarding school curricula.

As a result, the students from such schools dominate college admissions.

According to the website Higher Education in Korea, graduates from Korean foreign language high schools and autonomous schools comprised 26.6 percent of Seoul National University’s freshman class in 2017.

Autonomous schools constitute less than 3 percent of all Korean schools, yet account for 10.9 percent of the freshmen in colleges based in Seoul, which generally have lower acceptance rates than schools in other regions.

Even if students meet the requisite grades for admission, the financial burden of going to foreign language high schools and autonomous schools often precludes students from poorer families from attending them. For residential schools like Korean Minjok Leadership Academy, the combination of tuition fees, dormitory fees, and other costs amount to over 20 million per year, which is nearly double those of most Korean universities.

While universities claim that they try to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor by conducting their admission processes as fairly as possible, it is hard to ignore the profound difference in education standards between schools. A valedictorian of a regular high school is not recognized equally as a student who aced his classes in a Korean foreign language high school. While Korean foreign language high schools are an archetype of academic excellence, they also represent a hallmark of educational disparity; it is important to recognize their multifaceted role in society.

8

LIFESTYLE

The in

Between

By CHRIS LEE

Refugees wait for arms to open When 561 refugees have united your nation, is that good? Last month, just 561 Yemeni refugees landed in Jeju Province only to be met with hysteria by an overwhelming portion of the South Korean public. The xenophobic attitude in the nation’s reaction has highlighted the growing need for a redesign of the agendas of Korea’s liberal entities.

It is perhaps even more disconcerting that Korea was unified through the common hatred against refugees.

In a survey conducted by Hankook Research, feminists, Islamophobes, the young, the poor, and the well-educated all showed anti-refugee sentiments. Furthermore, more than half of self-identified liberals opposed refugees. In Korea, a country with sharp divides in class and political leanings, a topic that can unite its citizens better than xenophobic sentiment is hard to find.

A petition calling the government not to accept refugees garnered more than 700,000 signatures, the highest number since the government opened the petition platform. Moon Jae-in’s administration responded swiftly: although Jeju Island allows visa-free entry to encourage tourism, the government added Yemen to a small list of countries excluded from the visa-free policy. The Yemen refugees, escapees from war, were thus barred from seeking shelter in South Korea. Simply put, the refugees have few allies in Korea, and even the liberal administration failed to embrace them.

The mass hysteria against the refugees is at best unfounded. The amount of refugees is a pittance compared to, say, Germany, which handled over 900,000 asylum-seekers over the last few years. Furthermore, the Yemeni refugees were confined to Jeju Island, hardly in a position to interact with the South Korean population at large much less compete for a job or pose a threat in any way. Yet, the fear of being overrun by refugees looms large in the South Korean public, and it may be time for the liberal parties in Korea to reevaluate their agenda.

In comparison to South Korea, the US has a liberal party that does not shy away from minority issues. In the US, almost all parts of the Democratic Party support refugees and other minorities, and the advancement of their civil rights is a major part of its agenda.

This difference may be a bit historical: tracing its modern origins to the racial turmoil of the 1960s, the party was

built on the idea of protecting racial and ethnic minorities.

On the other hand, South Korean liberalism was influenced by Communist powers and ended up focusing more heavily on economic policy.

Indeed, the liberal party in Korea seems overly concerned with economic policy and insufficiently concerned with protecting minorities. While it is regular that the Moon administration raises the minimum wage and taxes the rich, as it did in August, supporting the minorities has been absolutely unheard of.

It is important that the administration open its arms, even if it means losing ground with its base. Taking a dent in already-high approval ratings should not be a concern for President Moon if he truly devotes himself to the liberal cause. What Korea needs right now is an act of sympathy, love, and acceptance. Just like Princess Diana, who personally took to combat public opinion on AIDS by hugging patients and left a ripple across the world, the president needs to be the refugees’ voice.

If Korea wishes to step into the global framework, its citizens need to be more accepting of others in order to receive reciprocated welcome. Even if becoming entirely open to foreigners is asking too much, the liberal side of politics need to be the forerunners they are in laborers’ rights. If 561 refugees can unite your country, that is not good. It sets a precedent that our country cannot accept even this tiny group of refugees--a precedent that our country cannot accept any group of refugees. Rather, the right precedent needs to be set by the forerunners, so that organic change in the hearts and minds of Koreans can follow.

Jukebox Jewels

The Internet

Rap beef on the rise

A great platform to express oneself and to provide entertainment for others, music is increasingly becoming both a legitimate job and hobby for many people. However, nowadays in the US, numerous artists seem to be employing this platform to condemn and create “beef ” with other artists. The most prominent examples involve Cardi B against Nicki Minaj and Eminem against Machine Gun Kelly.

“There seems to be a lot of feuds between rappers these days,” said Jonathan Ames, High School Social Studies Teacher. “Although I’m not clear on all of the details, I do think it’s a good way to sell tracks.”

Cardi B and Nicki Minaj are considered the two most dominant females in the hip-hop industry, each with enormous fan bases and several albums that received immense amounts of support from the public. They have a complicated history of collaborations as well as controversial lyrics supposedly aimed at each other. Although both rappers denied such claims, their mutual dislike became clear through their heated altercation at Harper Bazaar ICONs party during the New York Fashion Week, which involved screams, disses, and a thrown heel. Many fans speculate that this is a pride-induced battle, spurred by the determination to prove oneself as the better rapper. However, the true reason behind this negative relationship and whether this is a continued “beef ” or a one-time standoff is yet to be known.

“The public is making this more popular than it needs to be,” said Andy Kim (10), who listens to hip-hop music daily. “This happens often because the media inflates issues to be bigger than they actually are, adding details that may or may not be true to increase controversy and publicity.”

On the contrary, Marshall Mathers, more commonly known as Eminem, seems to be involved in an explicit feud with Machine Gun Kelly (MGK). This hateful relationship was supposedly initiated in 2012 when MGK tweeted, “Ok so I just saw a picture of Eminem’s daughter... and I have to say, she is hot as f--k, in the most respectful way possible cuz Em is king” in regards to Eminem’s daughter, Hailie Mathers. This year, Eminem called out MGK in “Not Alike,” a track that was included in his album dedicated to dissing mainstream rappers, “Kamikaze.” Subsequently, MGK and Eminem

The time of the year before Halloween, Thanksgiving, and all of the holidays that follow may seem hectic. With the crushing weight of college applications, SATs, and summatives bringing down many students, it can be difficult to stay motivated and optimistic. But just outside the classroom, the leaves have once again changed its color, and the autumn breeze has become just a touch cooler. Summer has dissolved into nothing but memories and left the new season in its wake. With its arrival comes the daunting task of finding a new playlist with fall-appropriate songs. While I have never considered

took aim at each other with “Rap Devil” and “Killshot,” respectively.

“Although they did receive a lot of hate, I think that the tracks released by Eminem were extremely good,” said Eddie Choe (10), a rap enthusiast. “Eminem is the god of rap after all.

I think he did especially well in attacking MGK of being one of the many egotistic rappers that receive undeserved fame.”

The reason that these rappers are suddenly taking aim at each other is a mystery. Some fans claim that they are all publicity stunts to gain more attention from the media. Others say that they are a pure comments and denunciations against each other, as Eminem explicitly did in his new album of Kamikaze. Many also say that they are simply fights to prove themselves as the superior rapper. Whatever the motives, these confrontations and diss tracks are garnering a lot of attention from the media and public in recent months.

By THOMAS SONG Sophomore, Staff Writer

myself to be someone with a spectacular music taste, there are certain songs that make everyone feel good, and the Internet has a more than a few that can placate anyone going through their mid-semester crisis.

Founded in 2011 by Syd and Matt Martians from hip-hop group Odd Future, the band centers on alternative R&B, but also draws influence from genres such as hip-hop and funk. The Internet got an early start and released their debut album in 2012, which met mixed reviews from critics and was received a rating of 55 out of 100 on the mainstream review site Metacritic. Fortunately, with some

Tiger Times

September/October 2018

Movie Review: “Searching”

A

fter a summer filled with blockbuster successes, rookie director Aneesh Chaganty has delivered a riveting, lower budget standout with the fast paced cyber-thriller, “Searching.”

With an opening reminiscent of the introduction in Pixar’s “Up,” the film starts off with a tear drawing montage where the audience is introduced to the Korean-American family of Ben Kim, his wife, and his daughter Margot. After his wife succumbs to cancer, Ben is forced to look after Margot, with whom he shares a close bond as a single parent. One day, Margot suddenly stops responding to Ben’s calls, and Ben is soon left with no other choice but to sift through Margot’s computer and

social media to find clues regarding her mysterious disappearance, unintentionally uncovering many of Margot’s shocking, dark secrets along the way.

As moviegoers will notice immediately, “Searching” is shot entirely from the perspective of phones, computer cameras, and digital screens. For example, exposition is hidden as news reports online, inter-character dialogue is given via video chats, and one scene in particular is shot from the point of view of CCTV’s. Everything the audience see is from a camera or screen in the movie; to the characters inside the film, “Searching” could be a documentary.

Although telling a comprehensive story through this unconventional manner is a feat by itself, this method of filming

New iPhones released: Next global sensation?

On Sept. 12, Apple revealed to the world its newest set of iPhones—the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR. These phones not only come in larger sizes but also have enhanced display, software, and camera performance than their predecessor, the iPhone X. According to Apple, the OLED panels in the new models allow for an HDR display and a high pixel density; the A12 Bionic chips implanted in the new iPhones allow for up to 50 percent lower power usage and faster graphics performance; and the dual cameras on the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max enable portrait mode with advanced bokeh and depth control.

“In my opinion, the high-quality retina display of the new iPhones is beneficial for those who spend long periods of time on their phones because it helps reduce eye strain,” said Celine Choi (10), an Apple customer who owns the iPhone X. “Moreover, the improved cameras are revolutionary. From self-portraits to detailed panoramas, the new cameras seem to possess unlimited potential, diminishing the need for professional cameras like the DSLR.” Aside from the improved retina display, software, and camera capabilities, however, the new models and their predecessor share many characteristics in common. In its effort to advocate a transition into a wireless, bigscreen world, Apple has decided to maintain the minimalist features of the iPhone X, such as the absence of headphone jacks and home buttons. Consequently, the iPhone X and the new iPhones have striking similarities in their exterior designs except for the addition of unprecedented color options: gold for the iPhone

alterations to their style and lyrics, they were able to redeem themselves through their second album “Feel Good,” which was considerably better received than its predecessor.

The group made a huge adjustment in 2015 when they recruited three new members, Steve Lacy, Patrick Paige II, and Christopher Smith. The fivesome released their first new album Ego Death together that same year and met critical acclaim.

Supported by singles “Special Affair” and “Girl,” the album was even nominated for Best Urban Contemporary Album at the

actually enhances the movie. Unlike most films where the characters cannot see the cameras that are directed toward them, the distinct angle “Searching” makes audience feel like part of the movie. For instance, when local news reports reveal information about Margot’s disappearance, the audience feels as if they are watching the news next to Ben. When Ben frantically scours through Margot’s social media feed, the audience is with him. This uncommon, digital cinematography style is not limited to the movie’s visual aspects. Careful moviegoers may notice that in some scenes where Ben is online, the background music is in fact playing on YouTube in an open tab. This commitment to keeping aspects of the film realistic helps the movie stay authentic, immersing viewers deeper into the film.

Despite having received praise for its unique filming style, “Searching” does have its flaws. The transition between the climax

9

and the movie’s conclusion feels rather abrupt. As a result, the ending of the film shifts from a moment of intense, seat-gripping action to sudden relaxation. However, many of these imperfections remain little more than nitpicks. These small flaws do not take away from the film’s witty plot, immersive cinematography, and thrilling, omnipresent tension. They do not detract from the movie’s message on cybersafety, nor do they diminish from its enjoyment.

“Searching” will have its viewers walking out the theaters rushing with adrenalin but will also question audience members on how well their parents know them. For that reason, “Searching” will most likely continue to have box office success in Korea, and will remain high on to-watch lists this autumn.

By ERIC HWANG Sophomore, Staff Writer

XS and iPhone XS Max as well as blue, yellow, coral, and red for the iPhone XR. “As a current iPhone X user, I think the new iPhones are mostly similar to the iPhone X in looks and basic features,” said Ashley Kim (11).

“That being said, I believe the impressive colors that distinguish these models will attract both existing and new customers alike.”

Perhaps the most staggering difference for customers to consider before purchasing the new models is the increased prices of the new iPhones. The cost of the iPhone XS line ranges from $999 to $1,449, and the cost of the iPhone XR ranges from $749 to $899, depending on the phone’s gigabyte capacity. In contrast, the cost of the iPhone X ranged from $999 to $1,149 and the iPhone 8 line from $699 to $949 during their sales.

“Nowadays, Apple seems to be more focused on making gradual technological improvements rather than introducing sudden, dramatic changes every time the company releases a new model,” said Mr. Miller, AP Economics teacher. “Apple has increased the demand for its products by establishing brand loyalty among its customers; for instance, all of the data stored in iTunes and App Store are interconnected and unique to Apple devices only. However, Apple does sell its products at high prices, and I am not sure whether the prices of the new iPhones will necessarily reflect their actual values in the marketplace.”

Among student iPhone users at SIS, the pending release of the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR in South Korea seems to be garnering substantial attention, given the unparalleled software capabilities and fresh aesthetic appeals of these devices. Considering their soaring prices and overall unchanged exteriors, however, it is yet to be decided whether these iPhones will become the next global sensation.

By JIMIN LEE Junior, Staff Writer

58th Grammy Awards. The band continued their success with the release of “Hive Mind” in July, which exceeded public expectations by displaying a musical depth lacking in previous albums.

Soft, smooth, and sincere, The Internet’s songs consistently succeed in capturing the fuzzy feeling of being effortlessly in love. Through the use of instruments such as the synthesizer and the xylophone, the group is able to juxtapose a dreamy instrumental music with Syd’s rich vocals.

At times a song will push and pulse with the spirited rhythm of the drums, only to

relax into the sleepy hum of a bass at the end. This dynamic contrast between the lively and the serene is what makes songs such as “Hold On” and “La Di Da” from the newest album so alluring. Rather than staying consistent with a single rhythm or volume, the songs constantly shift moods in order to follow the flow.

Autumn is often considered to be a sentimental season. Something about watching the seasons shift, about wearing thick sweaters again, about gazing up at a perfectly blue sky has an unquestionably nostalgic element to it. So take a break

from studying and give the Internet a listen. Maybe the grand arrival of fall will not go unnoticed after listening to the thumping of Christopher Smith’s drums. Maybe the gentle rustle of the breeze outside will become more discernible through the peaceful instrumentals of Steve Lacy’s keyboard. Whatever the case may be, one thing is for sure: listening to the Internet will give you some time to relax in spite of the heavy workload ahead.

By FIONA CHO Junior, Staff Writer

10

SPORTS

Tennis team travels to Beijing for Dragon Cup Tournament

RESULTS: girls 1st wab 2nd sis 3rd isb 4th kis boys 1st wab 2nd isb 3rd kis 4th sis

DRAGON CUP TOURNAMENT As the varsity tennis team continues to prepare for their KAIAC conference games and end-of-season tournament, they had one more obstacle to face before they would be able to conclude the season by the end of the month. From October 11 to 14, the boys and girls varsity tennis teams traveled to Beijing to compete in the Dragon Cup Tournament. Since the last school year, the tennis teams have switched tournaments from Association of International Schools in Asia (AISA) to the Dragon Cup Tournament. The fellow competitors were Korea International School (KIS), Western Academy of Beijing (WAB), and International School of Beijing (ISB).

Throughout the two-day long tournament, the tennis teams came back to continue

stronger for the rest of the season.

Prior to the Dragon Cup tournament, both varsity tennis teams continued their rigorous routine during practices, as the teams had to simultaneously prepare for conference matches days before the tournament. During their practice time, the players often rallied with rotating members of the team and performed serving drills.

Sometimes the teams merged as one and played mixed teams altogether.

Unlike the previous AISA tournaments, Dragon Cup had mixed doubles teams compete against each other as well. Each team was able to bring five out of nine players each for this tournament: two single players, two doubles players, and one mixed doubles player. This year, the

doubles team consisted of Noah Chang (12) and Isabella Kim (9).

After their hard work and dedication, the girls’ tennis team placed second in the entire tournament. WAB placed first, ISB placed third, and KIS placed fourth. The boys’ tennis team placed fourth, with WAB placed first again, ISB placed second, and KIS placed third.

“Before the tournament, I thought that I simply lacked power in my shots and that I needed to make my shots more aggressive to win more games. However, after playing with several new people during this trip, I realized that there are so many skills I still need to learn as a tennis player, such as consistency and variety. In short, I learned that I was lacking a lot of techniques as

a tennis player and realized that I should practice such skills to improve,” said Kate Lee (11), varsity girls tennis player. “Apart from what I learned as an individual, I learned that my team has become a family, always there to cheer one another on during matches and have fun altogether.

In fact, I was impressed by how everyone in the team including the coaches were so understanding and helpful.”

As the fall season wrapped up, the tennis teams reflected on their performance at the Dragon Cup tournament and continued to prepare for the final conference matches and KAIAC tournament.

By JOCELYN LEE Senior, Staff Writer

Naomi Osaka victorious over Serena Williams in controversial US Open Final

O

n Sept. 9, Japanese tennis player Naomi Osaka won her first Grand Slam title after beating 23-time grand slam champion Serena Williams in one of the most controversial US Open matches.

While Osaka made history by becoming the first major winner from Japan, her victory was overshadowed by a series of intense disputes between Williams and tennis umpire Carlos Ramos, who accused Williams for breaking the rules and gave her three code violations: the first for receiving coaching signals, the second for smashing her racket, and the third for calling the umpire a thief.

However, Williams refused to accept these accusations and claimed that they were false, as she never received coaching during the game and would rather lose than to cheat.

“I have two conflicting opinions on this issue,” said Ryan Hyun (11), tennis player. “First, I am impressed at how Serena Williams boldly stood up for herself

and fought for both her own dignity and women’s rights in general on the court.

However, at the same time, I wish she wouldn’t have expressed her frustration in such a violent manner, since her actions not only received great disapproval from the public, but also obscured Naomi Osaka’s precious moment.”

Apart from claiming that the accusations she received were false, Williams further criticized the umpire for being sexist by treating her more harshly compared to other male tennis players.

Specifically, according to Williams, the fact that she lost a game simply due to calling the umpire a ‘thief ’ made her feel like he made a sexist remark, as she has seen other men make worse comments, yet receive less or no punishment at all. To indicate that Ramos unfairly gave her more penalties for verbal abuse simply because she was a woman, Williams claimed that she talked back to Ramos in order to fight for women’s rights and equality.

“I support the fact that Williams decided

to stand up for herself against the umpire during the game; in fact, if I were her, I would have done the same,” said Kristina Kim (11), varsity tennis player. “Although some people criticize her for having been rude during the finals, I think that the bold actions she took were necessary, as they not only helped her win back her dignity but also emphasize the importance of gender equality.”

While some commended Williams for acting boldly on the court, others criticized her for overshadowing Osaka’s victory with her actions. Despite having received less attention during the match due to the controversy, Osaka eased the disapproval directed toward Williams after claiming that she was not upset about how the match ended, as she felt happy to win her first wfinal and first Grand Slam victory.

“I was disappointed for Naomi Osaka because her first Grand Slam finals victory was overshadowed by Serena Williams’s conduct,” said Ricky Green, varsity tennis coach. “Williams’s actions

were unnecessary because if she had been winning the match, then we would not have seen her react in such an aggressive manner toward the umpire. The only reason she expressed her frustration to the public was that Osaka outplayed her, which first lost her one point and eventually led her to lose an entire game in the end.”

Through this experience, Williams sparked controversy concerning the treatment she received from Ramos to emphasize that all umpires should recognize the importance of treating all players with fair judgment, regardless of their sex. Yet, she still garnered criticism for having made Osaka’s victory less significant and was unable to vindicate herself from the 17000-dollar fine plus the three code violations she received. With the heated controversy it stirred among tennis fans, this match may be recorded as one of the most intense ones in history.

By KATE LEE Junior, Staff Writer

Tiger Times

September/October 2018

League of Legends’ World Championship begins While new games such as Fortnite, Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG), and Overwatch captured the mainstream audience with unprecedented growth in recent months, League of Legends still reigns supreme at the top of competitive eSports. League of Legends’ 2018 Season World Championship, colloquially called Worlds, held this month at South Korea is slated to be one of the greatest eSports events in history.

This year, Worlds is expected to pull a viewer count higher than even the Super Bowl with the number of viewers for the competition hitting a record 106 million worldwide on streaming services last year according to eSports Charts.

“I am excited to see what changed since the 2014 Worlds,” said Ryan Kim (11), a prospective spectator of the event. “When I went to see in 2014 when it was hosted in Korea, it was a great experience and ultimately a lot of fun. Worlds is special because you every match displays the upper limit of skill and that means there are so many unexpected and epic moments throughout the game. One minute one team is on top and the other the underdog comes out on top and wins the game.”

With the “world’s best player”, Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok, and his team SK Telecom T1 gone from the

Busy NBA offseason excites SIS fans After an eventful offseason, many SIS students are excited for the return of the National Basketball Association (NBA) on Oct. 16. The season will tip off with a clash of Eastern Conference contenders as the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers square off at 8:00 p.m.

Eastern Time. The two teams, both led by electrifying, young talent such as Jayson Tatum and Ben Simmons, will be followed by a game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Golden State Warriors at 10:30 p.m. Eastern Time. The matchup will feature a showdown between former superstar teammates Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant, two players who used to call each other “brothers,” but have now turned into bitter enemies after Durant’s harshly criticized departure from the Thunder in 2016.

“In my opinion, this year’s NBA tip off games are must see television,” said Riley Kim (10). “The Celtics look like they have one of the strongest rosters in the East while the 76ers are loaded with potential stars. In the West, I’m looking forward to seeing another intense, emotional showdown between Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant.”

This year’s free agency period was characterized by a plethora of star players on the move. Perhaps the most well publicized team change was that of LeBron James, who is widely considered the best player currently in the NBA. James left his hometown team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, for the Los Angeles Lakers. In LA, he will play in the Western Conference for the first time in his career. The Raptors traded their All-Star guard Demar Derozan to the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for the former NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard. In the Bay Area, the Golden State Warriors further solidified their historical dominance with the controversial addition of All-Star center Demarcus Cousins.

“This year’s busy free agency has definitely affected how much I’ve been anticipating the

NBA season,” said Timothy Munro, physical education teacher. “LeBron’s move will drastically change how the Eastern Conference works. Just like how Korea International School’s varsity basketball team trains to beat us [the SIS varsity boy’s basketball team], teams in the East used to train specifically to beat LeBron. However, that won’t be the case anymore.”

The many high profile, star-filled moves have caused a frenzy among NBA followers as the season approaches. Many fans, including those at SIS, wonder how the Laker’s promising young core of Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, and Brandon Ingram will develop under the guidance of the future hall of famer, LeBron James.

In Toronto, the question of whether the newly acquired Kawhi Leonard will be willing to play for the Raptors hangs in the air, as Leonard spent much of the offseason claiming that he would only play for a team in Los Angeles.

Many NBA fans were critical of the Warriors’ signing of Demarcus Cousins and the All-Star center’s contract, a veteran minimum deal worth a meager $5,000,000 over one year. This contract allowed the already dominant Warriors to add an unprecedented fifth All-Star to their roster while staying under the NBA salary cap. In response to the uncertainty that shrouds these star-studded signings, many SIS basketball fans have highly anticipating the return of the NBA next month even more so than in usual years.

“I think the fact that the Warriors are the most dominant team in the NBA won’t change,” said Younchan Hwang (10). “However, I’m still looking forward to this season because the Warrior’s dominance means that the other 29 teams are now all underdogs, thus when a team does beat the Warriors, it will be all the more exciting.”

By ERIC HWANG Sophomore, Staff Writer

scene, it is up to anyone’s guess who will take the tournament home; South Koreans had historically been unbeatable, yet there are many strong Chinese and western teams that are all competitive. This year, third time champion “Faker” did not qualify for Worlds, the first time since 2014. Amidst a season of lackluster performance, SKT had been knocked out in a best of five 3-2 in a qualifier match by Gen.G, the team most favoured to win.

“I would bet that Gen.G would win worlds this year,” said Eric Lee (11), a fan of the League of Legends competitive scene. “They showed dominance in the Korean league all season and are basically a rebrand of last year’s champions, Samsung Galaxy White. ‘Ambition’, their top player, has been one of the best performing players historically and showed a dominant force last year at Worlds.”

With such high anticipation from potential ongoers throughout the world, demand for tickets has been extreme -- the first wave of tickets for the finals sold out in just eight seconds. The issue was exacerbated by ticketing bots that were able to easily buy out the tickets through Interpark, the official ticketing site.

Tickets originally costing 25,000 won are being resold on scalper sites for upwards of 150,000 won.

11

The expensive tickets proved to be a barrier of entry to the more casual viewers, and many criticized the lack of a personal identification system that could have prevented this issue.

“I had my mom, dad, grandparents, and me trying to buy tickets for Worlds,” said Jaeyoung Lee (12), another prospective spectator. “The first wave was gone so quickly, which was discouraging, but we were finally able to get tickets a bit later after constantly refreshing and attempting and trying to snatch up those that failed to go through the payment system and what not.”

To operate a fair competition with limited time among many regions, the matching process for Worlds has always been slightly convoluted. 24 teams, three teams from the 5 strongest and one team from 9 weaker regions, will compete this year at Worlds. 12 of the weaker teams will have to go through the Play-in stage which will eliminate eight teams to leave just four. These teams will then compete with the 12 teams that qualified directly in the Groups stage, further distilling down to 8 teams, which will then be able to compete in the Knockout stage comprised of the Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Finals.

By YOUNGJIN PARK Sophomore, Staff Writer

SPORTS PHOTO OF THE MONTH

Throwing the ball into the air, Hannah Kim (12) serves the ball and runs into the game to win the point.

Photo by ANGELA CHOE

12 SMALL TALK

An SAT “down week” …

point

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 work space 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 skill-based exams, which began from the 2017-’18 school year, was an attempt to alleviate the immense amount of stress and pressure that semester-exams 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 more strict with issues such as schedule changes and absences, the school is trying to ensure that there are less 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 proactiveness 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.

Hannah Kim & Junie Kah

… would reduce stress:

As the date of the next SAT approaches, students are often faced with anxietal pressures and the burden of extensive preparation. At the same time, they are also forced to confront the strain of endless summative tests, long-term projects, and homework assignments.

Such a frequent situation—wherein the phrase “stressed out” becomes a gross understatement—calls for a school-endorsed solution: a down week. Considering the rigorous schedules of SIS students, time is

… would interfere with curricula:

An official College Board test center, SIS hosts the test seven times each year. While the AP tests take place once in May and the final exams occur at the end of each semester, frequent down weeks would be counterproductive and serve as a hindrance to each class’s curriculum. A vital component to successful lessons is the ability of teachers to dictate the direction and pacing of their classes.

As these down weeks would continue to prevent teachers from optimizing the time spent each class, most would be forced to abridge the content taught throughout the school year in response to the resulting reduction in total class time. Although preparation for the SAT admittedly does produce overwhelming stress, limiting this ephemeral mental strain should not be a reason to teach less overall. In

… would resemble the weeks preceding the AP tests in May and final exams at the end of each semester.

Teachers would be able to teach new course material but would not be permitted to issue summative tests or assignments throughout this week.

Sia Cho & Andy Yoon

always a valuable resource that is in constant dearth. If the dread of sitting through a high- stakes standardized test alone is not enough, the addition of unceasing summative assignments to the exhaustive hours of SAT preparation tips the load. In fact, research published in the National Journal of Integrated Research in Medicine in 2016 revealed that up to 82.2 percent of students have high stress levels in the week before an exam. Perhaps SIS students could benefit from a small pause in class curricula; after all, improving student life should be the school’s prime concern.

… would improve scores:

Apart from reducing stress, an SAT down week would also have the potential to improve the students’ SAT scores. Certainly, those that are hesitant to support this mechanism addition, even though down weeks, in principle, do not affect formatives and in-class activities, the predetermined absence of an imminent, grade-affecting impetus would give students considerable leeway to focus less, rendering the classes during such a week unproductive. Potential stress is a sacrifice schools should sometimes be wil ing to make for quality education—free from constant logistical problems.

… would be unnecessary:

The reason the down weeks before AP and final exams are so appropriate is because short of a few individuals, everyone takes them.

On the other hand, among the seven times the SATs are held each year, a given student would take them, at most, three or four times. For most students, the down weeks would not

have a valid point: a week can only do so much to tip the scales. However, it is important to note that every hour does count—whether it is spent solving more practice tests, reviewing, or even sleeping. Although inevitably, there will be an unprepared few who waste this time or cram at hagwons in desperation, there will also be those who take advantage of this time to fully prepare oneself for the upcoming test. In fact, a strong positive correlation between practice and scores was found in College Board’s 2017 Assessment Report, which noted that around 16,000 students saw gains of at least 200 points after 20 hours of SAT practice. Clearing an entire week of summative assessments will generate precious hours for students to focus on the SAT, which will enable students to equip themselves for maximum performance on the test. be applicable, giving them days of purposeless free time. SIS is not even obligated to make such a decision; while the school has classes dedicated to preparing students for the AP tests, the SAT entails no involvement from the school. In its description of said test, College Board asserts that the SAT is designed to test skills that cannot be taught in a matter of days. A student’s main source of preparation should come from “[t]he same habits and choices that lead to success in school,” such as taking “challenging courses” and completing “homework.”

As such, even if the benefits of multiple down weeks were more meaningful and extensive, the school has no reason to do this in the first place.

“All things appear and disappear because of the concurrence of causes and conditions. Nothing ever exists entirely alone; everything is in relation to everything else.”

- Siddharta Gautama, the Buddha

Performing “Redbone” by Childish Gambino, Sarah Cho (12) was one out of the two musicians participating in the Just4You fall event.

Photo by Jocelyn Lee (12)

Photo Of The Month