Tiger Times Volume 48 Issue 4

s e o u l i n t e r nat i o na l s c h o o l

Tiger Times VO L U ME X LV I I I

N ov e m b e r 2 0 1 6

Get Smart:

Onstage, a 60s TV show comes to life On Nov. 3-4, the much anticipated school play “Get Smart” was performed onstage in the SIS auditorium. The comedy production, based on the 1965 satirical television series, was a combined effort of both middle and high school students.

With gravity and comedy masterfully weaved into the plot, the production not only enthralled the audience but gave them genuine laughs in between. As they followed secret agent Maxwell Smart, played by James Park (10), and his partner Agent 99, played by Yoobin Lee (10), the audience was mesmerized in their journey as the CONTROL agents attempted to defeat KAOS, an evil organization plotting to destroy the Statue of Liberty. The audience’s reaction was especially explosive when Mr. Big, the leader of KAOS, appeared onstage, as he was ironically played by the shortest actor in the entire production: Gordon Kim (9).

“I think this year’s cast was awesome, and felt as if they were the ones who really brought the play to life,” Brian Kim (12) said. “I was impressed by how the actors fit into their characters very well, and the use of their own personalities as their characters made the play more realistic and less forced.”

Contrary to last year’s musical, the annual production this year was accompanied by Blue Note, SIS’s jazz ensemble. Meeting twice a day during office hours, Blue Note’s members prepared rigorously for their part of the play, which added a more authentic sound.

“Blue Note is mostly a student-run club, but I took responsibility for this project,” said Michael Ganus, Blue Note advisor. “Because the play is based off a television show from the 60’s, it’s very common that they would have had a live audience and band at the time. By playing live at the performance, we are able to add a kind of realism to it.”

“Get Smart” also stood out from previous productions with new implementations of professional flyers and props. Not only did members of the cast assist with the prop-making, but several members of the National Arts Honor Society (NAHS) also assisted in the painting of backgrounds and props. The combination of professionally designed flyers and handmade props contributed significantly to the play’s atmosphere.

“The NAHS traditionally helps out with many of the props for the annual play,” said Sunhee Bae (10), member of NAHS. “This year, many of us came in after school to help out by painting the backgrounds and props. I think opportunities like these are great because our club can help others as a honor society and clubs or organizations are able to collaborate with each other to form a winwin situation.”

Before the performance, many members in and out of the play were concerned over the fact that it was scheduled right before the November SAT and regular college applications were due a few weeks later. However, the auditorium was filled on both days, thanks to students who were both required to attend and others who chose to attend after school.

“The reason the play was [scheduled] before the SAT was mainly a school management issue,” said John Arthars, director of the play and head of the drama department. “The music department needed more time in the auditorium before their concert, so we agreed to move the play one week earlier. I think there’s a lot of emphasis when it comes to SATs and exams where people stay up and cram, but Dr. Gerhard was right; he said, ‘the night before an exam, do something creative with your brain, so that if when unexpected things come up, you’re ready.’ It’s not the standard way that people have thought about exams in this school, but I thought it was great to go to the theater the day before the SAT, and am glad that many chose to do so.”

Article by Amy Jungmin Kim Pictures by April Kim, Ryan Jang

ISSUE 4

T T O N L . ORG

Editorial

President Trump

By Jaeha Kim and Ariel Lee Co-Editors-in-Chief

O

n November 8, history occurred. Donald Trump, businessman and reality TV celebrity was elected as the 45th president of the United States of America.

Yes, we will finally have to state the phrase we mocked and ridiculed for so long: President Trump.

How did Trump rise from a simple, meme-worthy lunatic to the leader of Graphic by Jaden Ha the most powerful nation in the world?

Despite his blatantly sexist, racist, and xenophobic statements, he must have done something right to have turned even Pennsylvania into a red state.

Or perhaps that is the genius of The Donald—the things he says often don’t make logical sense, but they appeal to the frustration of the white working class. It’s the final “white lash,” in Michael Moore’s terms, against an increasingly globalized economy and community, the product of a lack of conversation and understanding between the right and the left, the desire for change and a necessary deviation from the standard “corrupt” politician.

An argument amongst Trump supporters is that Trump won’t carry out the statements made during his campaign. This is disturbing for two reasons.

One, do we want a president who goes back on his word? Yes, that is the typical politician thing to do, but to expect and even look forward to the president not meaning what he says is dangerous. What policies would he carry out and which would he not? A vote for Trump means that a world led by a qualified woman, albeit “corrupt,” with years of experience is less preferable to a vague future led by an actual sexual predator, racist, and school yard bully.

Second of all, what if he really does carry out all the items on his current agenda? Then a vote for Trump would be responsible for the potential institutionalization of racism, as well as the systematic isolation of the very diversity that represents the US. Anywhere else in the world, a Trump-like president would not be as disturbing as it is in the US. The US is not a nation-state. It was built on the backs of people fleeing oppression in their home countries. It was built on the notion that, no matter who you are or where you come from, there is a place for you in this land full of misfits and free souls. It was built on the fact that the people—and increasingly all of its peoples—could contribute to and be represented by the government. Perhaps President Trump won’t be able to inflict that much damage. The president is, after all, only one thirds of the government. But the greater symbolic message was clear: Women, Muslim-Americans, immigrants, African Americans, and other historic “minorities,” you are no longer welcome here.

At the end of the day, however, we have to put our differences aside. The Electoral College system has determined that Donald Trump will be the next president. Trump does not represent the ideals of a democracy, yet the democracy has chosen him to represent the state. A peaceful transition is paramount in a functional democracy, so now we have no choice but the embrace what has happened and hopefully make the best of it. As President Obama said, no matter what, the sun will rise tomorrow.

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 Help the students, but please, gift the horses

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omehow, horses reigned supreme.

We are in the midst of political volatility, and President Park Geun-hye’s position seems more tenuous by the day, but one thing remains clear: the Park administration needs to take a stronger stance against corruption at the highest levels of education.

The revelations that Ms. Park had allowed a private citizen, , to influence her most important policy decisions and speeches, have inspired passionate protests and calls for impeachment that have captured media attention for the past weeks. However, the bitter struggle between school officials and students that resulted after we learned that Chung Yoo-ra, the daughter of Ms. Choi, received inflated grades and other undue benefits as a student in Ewha Women’s University, has been less prominent on the national scene.

On Oct. 19, the president of Ewha University resigned, bringing weeks of controversy and protest to a temporary pause. This resignation was inspiring partly in that it was induced by a coalition of students and professors. What is troubling at the same time, however, is how little the Korean government had to do with it.

So, back to horses: according to the Korean Herald, Chung, an aspiring Olympic equestrian, skipped much of her classes so that she could attend

tournaments but still received B’s for the assignments and tests she missed, higher marks than those awarded to many of her regular classmates—but that may not be the worst part. Aside from Chung wearing an equestrian uniform to her admission interview to indicate status, Ms. Choi, who is now under arrest, allegedly pressured

When our students take education so seriously, government officials, at the very least, have the obligation to ensure justice in the game they are playing. top conglomerates for donations totalling nearly $70 million to nonprofit organizations that footed, in part, the bill for Chung’s equestrian training.

Essentially, the narrative here is stale: a student with powerful connections received an advantage getting into and succeeding in a prestigious university. Despite how universal this problem can be, the situation here is unique in how little the government has involved itself, despite the Park administration’s very visible efforts to curb corruption nationwide. The most striking example of this has been the recent anti-graft law, which, when applied to schools, bans teachers from accepting any gifts—even cupcakes. The sentiment

behind the legislation is admirable; bribery or corruption in education must be eradicated before it spreads, and making sure it doesn’t originate in everyday education is laudable.

The same level of scrutiny, however, is lacking in the highest levels of bribery in the same system, as seen today. The government’s fixation over the details and irresponsible abuse of the courts has, in fact, left the truly important cases largely untouched. In other words, we need to stop watching the cupcakes and start inspecting the horses; this idea works whether or not one supports the Korean obsession with grades. When our students take education so seriously that they stress themselves to the alarming levels we see daily, government officials, at the very least, have the obligation to ensure equality and justice in the game they are playing.

Perhaps the most revealing development on this issue came from a Post-it note on one of the walls in the university. It read, “I will also ride a horse. Give me credit.”

It seems as if a tired student has slumped to resigned defeat. Whoever you are, you may have better luck attracting if you instead gift that horse to your professor; just make sure to wear your uniform when they knock on your door.

By Andrew Ham Junior, Staff Writer

An attack on an officer, an attack on our system Rarely on the front page of a Korean newspaper have I seen a headline about a public shooting. Korea has always been considered one of the “safer” countries to live in, identified as “very low” in the level of crime according to the Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC). Even without such statistics, it is fair to say that crimes are indeed rare in the bustling cities of Korea, as just one murder case is highlighted by the media, like the murder of a woman at Gangnam station in early May that attracted prolonged national attention.

Although rare, however, an unfortunate incident involving a man with a handmade gun the past month has resulted in the death of an officer.

Gun control has never really been the core issue for politicians and policemen in our society—but the moment you would think that enough measures are in place to ensure citizens’ safety, you need to think again.

As Korean citizens, we assume that gun control is probably not as prevalent an issue in Korea compared to other countries like the US, as the right to bear arms does not exist and there is not much of a “gun culture.”

In fact, the database provided by CBC News classifies South Korea as having the world’s “strictest restrictions” on civilian gun ownership.

However, public concern is mounting over the clear loophole of authorities not being able to monitor privately manufactured weapons. On Oct. 19, a nine-time convict with records of sexual assault and attempted homi-

cide engaged in multiple gun firings near Gangbuk police station. The convict was found to have acquired firearms regardless of the strict laws on gun possession; he was discovered with 17 firearms, all self-taught and self-made through online resources.

It was revealed that he discovered all the information he needed in our Internet database, where simple tips on how to create weapons and explosives were easily accessible and thoroughly explained—this seems to be something that authorities never got the chance to get hold of.

This shooting has acted as a necessary reminder that gun policies are still in need of improvement. In spite of the rarity, government cannot ignore the loopholes and assume that current gun laws are enough to sustain security. With the identification of another source comes another law

or restriction, but this one gets a little tricky. The Internet is an unlimited source with infinite corners to hide in, where even now, the government has trouble censoring the necessary things. An “ideal solution” to this would be to ban the posting and spreading on information regarding the production of firearms, but considering that such videos and posts spread rapidly online, authorities suggest that constant monitoring of those contents will be the only realistic solution to prevent further crimes like this. It is imperative that society realizes that gun control is something that needs to be prioritized, as problems regarding a deadly machine capable of swiftly taking lives can be extremely threatening.

By Michelle Ines Lee Sophomore, Staff Writer

Tiger Times

November 2016

Extended Viewpoint:

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By Alice Lee

Crossing Borders: Time to get tough with Illegal Chinese Fishing

veryday, approximately 122 illegal Chinese fishing boats cross the border to fish in South Korean seas, often clearing out large portions of marine life and significantly decreasing potential profits for Korean fishermen. Such unauthorized fishing boats often confront Korean coast guards by ramming their vessels into the capsized coast guards’ ships or by viciously attacking the coast guards with bamboo sticks, hammers, and other makeshift weapons.

First of all, it is crucial to point out that borders exist for a reason; and like any other country, a boundary was officially declared with a bilateral agreement between Korea and China on 1953, at the end of the Korean War. Although borders are physically invisible, they are not plain “imaginary” lines one can ignore and cross depending on one’s own will.

Rather, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, borders are “geographic boundaries of legal jurisdictions, drawn through compromise and consent between two different countries” and thus, should not be frankly overlooked.

Yet, illegal Chinese fishing boats have been and are still neglecting the border that exists between China and Korea. By crossing the border and overfishing in Korean territory, illegal fishing industries have depressed the Korean economy and in turn, have made it harder for Korean fishermen to make ends meet. According to Yonhap News, the number of squid caught has decreased 80 percent compared to the last two years, raising the squid prices

over 40 percent compared to last year, all because of the fact that Chinese fishermen overfished on Korean territory then fled to their territory.

Of course, this matter may not seem too pertinent as of right now, but one must take into account the growing possibility that in the next few years, prices of seafood such as squids, could become drastically expensive, resulting in more than a 40 percent rise in cost. Or even worse: there may be no more marine life left over in our front seas.

Now, you may be wondering: why can’t Korea prevent this from happening in the first place? What exactly are the Korean coast guards doing?

The thing is, Korean coast guards have tried their best to counteract and prevent unauthorized Chinese fishing boats from practically stealing the fruits of Korean seas. Yet, their efforts immediately turn to dust when such guards become the victims, not the perpetrators of the Chinese fishermen. In other words, Korean coast guards appear to be equal to or more powerless than Chinese fishermen who possess equally strong or stronger weapons and a manner that stretches to the determination of murdering the coast guards to claim profits taken from Korean territory.

The situation is made even more complicated by the Chinese government, which refuses to cooperate with the Korean government to prevent such illegal fishing. Specifically, the Chinese government charged the Korean government with two hundred thousand dollars in 2014, when

Tiger Times The 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.

a Korean coast guard shot the captain of an unauthorized Chinese fishing vessel for self-protection, since the captain was swinging a saw around to resist arrest.

On the other hand, when Chinese fishermen deliberately killed two Korean coast guards, the Chinese government had no response, and did not even apologize or make an attempt to compensate for the lives of the coast guards in any manner. In essence, such blatant behavior of the Chinese government does not make any sense from the perspectives of the Korean coast guards, who get penalized when they act in self-defense, and get attacked by Chinese fishermen even when they stay still.

Although the Korean government firmly warned the Chinese government and fishermen to stop crossing the border between Korea and China and be less aggressive when confronting Korean coast guards, violence has only gotten worse in the past few months. In fact, only this October, a group of assailants rammed their 100-ton vessel into a 4.5-ton coast guard speedboat, sinking and almost drowning the coast guards who were inside the boat.

While it will be challenging to completely stop Chinese fishermen from crossing the border over to Korean seas all of a sudden, it is still possible to alleviate the current situation. According to Chosun Ilbo, Korean coast guards have never fired a large-caliber weapon at Chinese fishing boats, but it would be completely within their right to do so when Chinese fishermen violently resist arrest.

The Korean coast guards should also

improve their methods of arresting unauthorized Chinese fishermen. Specifically, the current method of crackdowns puts the smaller speedboats in danger, as such crackdowns are commonly carried out by sending a speedboat ahead, followed by larger coast guard vessels. However, coast guards should deploy more vessels to support one another and figure out another way to get rapid-responses rather than using a small and vulnerable speedboat in the front to confront a vessel approximately 20 times its size.

Certainly, according to the Korea Times, bringing up this issue soon after the dispute regarding the deployment of THAAD will only deteriorate relations between China and Korea even more. In addition, according to analysts, such weakening of the already “fragile” diplomatic relationship with China, Korea’s biggest trading partner, can instigate a more severe economic downturn, as there is a likelihood that China will postpone or cancel plans for new programs that involve South Korean stars.

However, despite the economic risk, the Chinese government should still make a formal and sincere apology to the Korean government and the families of the victims who the Chinese fishermen attempted to or actually murdered, rather than demanding compensation for its own “losses,” which were justifiable. Now is the time to speak up for all casualties. Now is the time to put an end to the unfortunate deaths of innocent coast guards. Now is the time to get tough with illegal Chinese fishing.

Tiger Times Staff Paper Editors-In-Chief Jaeha Kim Ariel Lee Website Editors-in-Chief Claire Kim Eric Song Paper Managing Editor Andrew Ham

Website Managing Editor Nicholas Kim Production Editor Grace Lee Graphics Editor Rachel Kang Photo Editor Daniel Shin

Copy Editors Sarah Kim Diana Nakyoung Lee Soomin Chun Alice Lee Reporters Junie Kah Michelle Lee Jeremy Nam Marie Park Grace Yang Justin Chang

Andrea Kwon David Choe Photographers Ryan Jang April Kim Angela Choe Graphics Artists Jina Kim Michelle Cho Youngseo Jhe

Layout Artists Joyce Lee Soomin Lee Amy Jungmin Kim Dawn Kim Yejune Park Adviser Mr. David Coleman

4

NEWS

The More You Know

News Briefs

by Marie Park

SIS hosts KAIAC forensics tournament

Photo by Daniel Shin

On Oct. 24-26, HSSC held spirit week, featuring themes such as Mono Monday, Twinning Tuesday, and Where is the Tiger Wednesday.” On each day, students were encouraged to wear single color outfits, matching outfits with their friends, and school colors, respectively. Students who dressed according to the spirit week guidelines were rewarded with candy in the atrium.

“The main purpose of spirit week is to encourage students to show their support for our school and to instigate a sense of unity.

HSSC holds annual spirit week On Oct. 24-26, HSSC held spirit week, featuring themes such as Mono Monday, Twinning Tuesday, and Where is the Tiger Wednesday.” On each day, students were encouraged to wear single color outfits, matching outfits with their friends, and school colors, respectively. Students who dressed according to the spirit week guidelines were rewarded with candy in the atrium.

“The main purpose of spirit week is to encourage students to show their support for our school and to instigate a sense of unity throughout the whole school community,” said Sia Cho (9), freshman HSSC president. “[Spirit week] also helps to relieve stress and allows everyone to have some fun with their friends.

This year, we put an emphasis on the central theme of ‘school unity,’ which can be seen in our replacing My Class Monday with Mono Monday.”

Art students go on field trip to Leeum Art Museum On Nov. 2, students enrolled in AP Design, AP Studio Art, and AP Art History visited the Leeum Art Museum. Upon arriving at the art museum, students took street photography at the first gallery and provided a critical analysis of one of the artworks.

“A lot of students go straight home to study and never have a chance to get out to photograph different scenes,” said Ms. Mitchell, art teacher.

“Such field trips help students create more original works of art because it allows them to see from more diverse perspectives.”

How to furnish your terrace, backyard, or lifestyle “The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just on the body, but the soul.”

- Alfred Austin

by Andrew Ham

T

o live in New York, one must sacrifice space and comfort; all it takes, however, is a little interior designing to transform tiny backdoor sheds into comfortable, trendy terraces. In “How to Furnish Your Terrace or Backyard,” an article published in the New York Times, Tim McKeough details a recent phenomenon among New Yorkers: landscaping. It’s not a hobby, however. By spending tens of thousands of dollars, apartment residents have hired landscape designers to introduce a modern flair to traditional gardens.

The results have been spectacular pockets of green and space in a city not known for either.

I’ve always wanted to live in a penthouse somewhere in Manhattan.

For some reason, I tend to believe that would be the pinnacle of my life, as if throwing money on top of money can build a throne of happiness. This, most

likely, is why city residents end up diffusing outward into the suburbs, so they can have their own little dolls to dress up and show to neighbors.

Think of life, then, like it is a townhouse. In the end, all you want is somewhere quiet where your baby can’t get lost in 4 a.m. traffic and there’s a tidy lawn outside you can pretty up to feel accomplished once in awhile.

Seoul is a city similar to New York, where lawns and gardens are extremely rare—and expensive. However, making the best of what little space that exists has become a hallmark of urban civilization, a world built and maintained by human beings.

It gives me some hope to think that somewhere, a small patch of dirt is being grown and cultivated to become a lounging space for ambitious lawyers, a basketball court for young sons and daughters, or simply a source of comfort for all to call home.

SIS students celebrate Day of the Dead

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apel picados (paper decorations) decorate the Atrium along with biographies and calaveras (skulls), made by the students of the Spanish department, while the International Culture Club (ICC) members sold churros and hot chocolate, filling hungry stomachs of students during Office Hours. During Nov. 1-2, the Spanish department and ICC collaborated, showing a culture of a different part of the world for the celebration of Día de los Muertos, also known as the Day of the Dead, in SIS. As a tradition that originated in Mexico, according to National Geography, the Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) is a common holiday for most of Latin America and its communities. Starting with the Spanish invaders who brought All Souls Day, a Catholic holiday celebrating the souls, during the early 1500s, the Day of the Dead is a syncretism of both the indigenous (mostly Aztec) culture. Today, Latin American communities celebrate the holiday with different arts of both cultures.

“You see a mixture and combination of the cultural fusion, so you will see crosses that represent Christianity and Catholicism but also calaveras, and papel picados that represent the indigenous culture,” said Rachel Bruttig, a teacher in the Spanish department. “Most of the altars [in the Atrium] are in a style of the Mexican Día de los Muertos. You see the papel picados, flores (flowers), the sugar skulls which are all indicative to the Mexican culture for Día de los Muertos.”

With all levels of the Spanish department working together, the event provided an opportunity for students to learn about another culture. While the students of the Chinese department were able to learn about the unfamiliar Latin American culture visually, the students in the Spanish department were able to engage themselves in a tradition that they saw in textbooks as pictures and learn another side to a more familiar culture.

“I saw people not only buying the churros and hot chocolate but also reading the biographies and looking at the altars,”

said Yoojin Jung (10), a member of ICC and a student in the Spanish department.

“With this particular event, I was able to learn Latin American culture more visually and hands on which I think was valuable and proud to be part of it.”

According to Ms. Bruttig, the Day of the Dead not only educated the student body, but it also brought the student body together with both the middle and high school students in the Spanish department along with ICC members. Although students each worked on their own projects, their work contributed to the event.

“It would not have been possible to even start this event without the students’ collaboration and their works,” said Yoojin. “Their contribution is a great way to show other students various artworks and help them learn about new culture. We all worked very hard and we are very happy that it turned out so well.”

By Andrea Kwon Sophomore, Staff Writer

2016 ELECTION FEATURE issues that defined the presidential election article by justin chang graphic by youngseo jhe and amy jungmin After an eventful and often acerbic year of campaigning, Donald Trump, the 45th president of the United States of America has now been elected. Though polls put President-elect Donald Trump behind Hilary Clinton and put his chance of winning at 74 percent, Mr. Trump pulled through amidst trepidations on how his presidency may turn out. Whether he will be a good president remains to be seen.

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IMMIGRATION Hillary Clinton has taken a more liberal and accepting stance on the issue of immigrants, one that rivals Europe. Under the Clinton presidency, the deportation of the 11 million undocumented and illegal immigrants would not be a reality as it would be under a Trump presidency, and the current border fence that divides Mexico and the US will not

be strengthened with concrete. Even with the prevalence of Islamophobia in the US, Mrs. Clinton remains steadfast in her belief that Muslims should not have a more difficult time immigrating to the US compared to immigrants of other religions. For many, however, Mrs. Clinton’s liberal policies spells trouble as many fear losing their jobs and sacrificing their safety.

“We’re going to do a wall. We’re going to have a big, fat, beautiful door on the wall. We’re going to have people come in, but they’re going to come in legally… Mexico’s going to pay for the wall.”

One of the most controversial statements Mr. Trump has made so far is his proposition to build a wall at the US-Mexico border, and he intends to make Mexico pay for the construction costs. In addition, Mr. Trump desires to deport all ille-

gal immigrants, an action that he believes will free up jobs for legal citizens and make neighborhoods safer. In addition, Muslims would be under increased scrutiny when attempting to immigrate to the US, making immigration more difficult.

ISIS & TERRORISM Mrs. Clinton hopes to topple terrorists abroad with as little military involvement as possible, though she plans to take strict actions against Russia. She does not support an increase in military presence in Syria and will not overthrow Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, instead advocating for Syria to make its own

political decisions. She is also in favor of increased surveillance to identify terrorist suspects, a stance that people who disliked the NSA’s PRISM program have criticized. Mrs. Clinton’s anti-Russia stance is dangerous, and fears of an impending war has increased, especially with tensions between the two nations.

Mr. Trump advocates for direct and increased action in Syria to combat the growing threat of the Islamic State. He wants to have increased military spending and presence in the Syrian conflict and would work with the Russians to defeat ISIS, a view that labeled Mr. Trump as friends with Putin.

He also shares Mrs. Clinton’s views that toppling al-Assad would be a mistake and that greater surveillance on American people to identify terrorists is necessary. Mr. Trump’s friendship with Russia was troubling for some voters. Still, it was a less dangerous prospect than Clinton’s anti-Russia stance.

ECONOMY Mrs. Clinton has promised increased federal spending, and wanted to increase minimum wage. She has also made promises to increase taxes for high income families. Mrs. Clinton shifted positions throughout

her campaign on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a trade agreement between 12 countries. She also maintained that Mr. Trump’s proposed tariffs would only make the US weaker in global economy.

Mr. Trump, like most Republican candidates, is in favor of severe tax cuts and reducing federal spending.

Mr. Trump has also vowed to renegotiate trade deals and would back out of FTA agreements like NAFTA if

renegotiations does not bear fruit.

He has also proposed increased tariffs on foreign goods (35% for Mexico and 45% for China) in order to promote local businesses, which he believes would also open up jobs.

CONTROVERSIES During her tenure as Secretary of State, Mrs. Clinton had sent thousands of emails, which many are speculated to have contained top secret information, through her private email accounts and has since deleted many of the emails. Though the Republican party viewed the

evidence against Mrs. Clinton as damning, no charges were pressed by the FBI. The public was in an outrage and labeled Mrs. Clinton as a liar and a criminal. It was later revealed that Mrs. Clinton partially blamed her dropping poll numbers on James Comey, Director of the FBI.

Receiving much scrutiny and causing outrage a month before the election, footage of Mr. Trump’s “locker room talk” which featured Mr. Trump saying “grab her by the p***y” from 2005 was leaked to the public. Being labeled a sexist and misogynist unfit to lead the coun-

try, many of Trump’s past supporters rescind their advocacy; even some politicians of the Grand Old Party (GOP) retracted their support for the candidate. Mr. Trump was in hot water, evidenced by his polls dropping significantly in the weeks before the election.

Turning Over th Sources: Gallup, Marijuana Policy Project, and The Huffington Post

A particular seven-leaved spiky plant is slowly taking root the world, one nation at a time. With recent reforms in countries from Jamaica to Germany, the next country stepping up to cannabis legislation reform is the US. Cannabis—also referred to as marijuana, pot, and weed—is already legal in 24 states, but legislation regarding its reform has recently garnered much attention as one of the main issues of the 2016 Election campaigns. Like many other reforms, it has begun at the statewide level, most recently on the November ballots of citizens in California, Nevada, Maine, Arizona, Massachusetts, Florida, Arkansas, and Montana. In addition to the attention, the drug is currently receiving record-high support. According to a Gallup poll conducted on Oct. 2016, 58 percent of American adults now support the legalization of marijuana—a vast difference from the 12 percent support of 1969 and low-tomid 20s percent support of the 1980s and 1990s during the peak of the War on Drugs. So what about cannabis makes it similar to or different from any other illegal intoxicating substance?

7/8 of US adults Don’t smoke marijuana

Ambiguous Stances and Standards: The Use of Medical Marijuana

Cannabis o

By ye joon kah With the term “marijuana” comes certain social stigmas and negative connotations, especially in more conservative nations such as Korea. Since it is labeled as an illicit drug, marijuana brings images of dark alleyways or malicious drug lords. Although it is still largely banned, according to Pharmacotherapy Publications, it is slowly being accepted as an auxiliary tool to help treat diseases such as HIV/AIDS. Scientists have also been researching its potential to be used for other medical purposes such as treating schizophrenia. Many researchers see hope in the use of medical marijuana as long as it can begin the correct way.

Even with such newfound purposes, there are still mixed reactions to marijuana use among the public and the scientific communities. According to the American Medical Association, the research on medical marijuana is “sparse” and “inconclusive,” as scientists and researchers still do not know much about the long-term impacts of the drug on patients. People also have a negative perception of medical marijuana due to the belief that the legalization of medical marijuana will lead to everyone getting “high” on it. Nonetheless, there is a strict distinction between medical and recreational marijuana.

Doctors do not prescribe strong dosages of

medical marijuana and therefore, it is not a legitimate substitute for recreational drugs.

However, the catch is that marijuana, regardless of whether it is used for medical purposes or not, is highly addictive. A recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry states that the addictiveness of marijuana is often underestimated, as it is commonly regarded as a gateway drug.

According to the study, contrary to popular belief, alcohol is actually less addictive than marijuana and there are many cases when the addictiveness of the drug overtakes the user. Consequently, there are certain limitations even for medical marijuana. Obtaining medical marijuana is still difficult, for many states in the US only allow people with debilitating conditions, such as severe muscle spasms, to use the drug.

Despite such restrictions, marijuana often falls victim to false assumptions and public ignominy. According to a report from the US National Library of Medicine, there are many cases where people find loopholes in laws regarding medical marijuana and instead use it for recreational purposes. The concept of medical marijuana is potentially beneficial to patients that are stricken with pain; however, room for abuse may be too large for the government to allow use with-

out strict restrictions, some of which may be impractical to truly enforce.

One idea to consider is the fact that marijuana is not a singular solution for disease.

Of course, all drugs have their setbacks: the anti-depressant drug Prozac makes patients more violent and certain chemotherapy drugs cause lung damage. However, is it really necessary to specifically use medical marijuana, despite the fact that the drug that remains controversial as a medical tool and may potentially cause addiction and adverse societal and medical side effects? When it comes to the question of the impairment of brain function or the addiction to marijuana, many would choose the latter option. But of course, it would be ideal to treat the brain without vague and potentially dangerous side effects, if such treatment were to exist.

Due to the ambiguity that currently surrounds the restrictions, standards, and stances of marijuana use and inconclusive results of studies conducted on its health benefits, the use of medical marijuana requires control and careful inspection from both federal and state governments. Although the future of medical marijuana is unclear, hopefully scientists will soon find more conclusive results or a way to minimize its side effects and maximize its benefits.

Cannabis has a long legal history. Classified as a Schedule 1 drug that has no perceived medical value and more room for abuse, Cannabis was made illegal when the US government demonized marijuana for its exotic-sounding name as an excuse to keep tabs on the Mexican immigrants, according to Drug Policy Alliance (DPA). Now, with legalization on the line, there are many possible reforms to different degrees of freedom.

The most conservative reform starts with the legalization of marijuana for medicinal purposes. Going further, recreational marijuana is decriminalized, allowing the first-time possession of a small amount of the drug without serious consequences such as prison time.

Finally, the most “extreme” level would allow full legalization of recreational marijuana and guarantee citizens the right to use, manufacture, distribute, and sell marijuana.

Many are fearful that the legalization of any sort of cannabis is a slippery slope, inevitably ending up in a smoke-filled high society.

However, these extents to which legalization can occur are not a succession of events but rather separate policies, and many from both sides of the debate hope for a moderate reform bill rather than a complete legalization or ban of recreational marijuana. Furthermore, no matter what state reforms take place,

he

Layout by Soomin Lee

States with the GREATest Marijuana Usage TOTAL POPULATION

58%

MARIJUANA USERS

of US citizens support marijuana Legalization

Michigan

on front stage of the legal scene

By Soomin Chun federal law still adamantly states that the use of marijuana for any purpose—even medicinal—is illegal.

Nonetheless, the reemergence of weed in the modern political scene has sparked much debate on why and how marijuana should be legalized. Although support for legalization is steadily increasing, opponents of the bills take a strong stance for the safety of the public, especially children. A 30-second TV advertisement called “Neighborhoods” by a political group in Massachusetts is a manifestation of this fear, painting a society where marijuana advertisements are plastered on every flat surface and weed-pops lure little girls from every corner.

Their worries are not unsubstantiated.

Even if marijuana itself is not the most addictive or harmful substance, it is considered a “gateway drug” that opens up the diverse world of other much more intoxicating drugs—a survey conducted by the US Department of Health and Human Services revealed that marijuana users consume more legal and illegal drugs than others. No matter how in-depth researchers can analyze the biological structure or chemical reactivity of the seven-leaved plant, the effects of marijuana cannot be underestimated or confused with just its immediate high.

California

Washington

Massachusetts

The global implications of America’s cannabis debate By joojin kim, partner at Law Office ELPS

In response, proponents cite Colorado, a state that has legalized recreational marijuana, as a success story. While Colorado has nearly a thousand medical marijuana dispensaries and stores combined, none of them have display windows, invalidating the pot-poster-plastered world as a mere fantasy. And although there will always be ways to get around the law, a change from illegal bartering on the streets to legitimate legal sellers drops underage teen use of pot—specifically, rates of marijuana use for high school students in Colorado during the first year of recreational weed legalization were lower than not only previous years but also rates in the US as a whole, according to a survey conducted by Healthy Kids.

On a theoretical level, many see the long-awaited policy change as a step toward ending the decades-long war on drugs and lowering America’s peerless incarceration rate by not only reducing the number of citizens arrested, but also by acknowledging cannabis and its racial connotations as legitimate and legal. Just as the roots of the ban were planted in xenophobia, even today there are racial disparities in incarceration rates, with black people arrested at 3.7 times the number of white people even though they use the substance at only 1.3 times more.

The debate on marijuana on social, economic, and political fronts continues in the US today. But this debate is not simply restricted to the US. As the largest economy in the world, according to the International Monetary Fund World Economic Outlook, the US has been impacted by and no doubt will continue to impact other nations to join the pot chain, but will that sphere of influence manage to extend all the way to the other side of the world? In Korea, cannabis is seen in a different light not only in the judicial scene as a Schedule 2 drug, but also in everyday life with little spotlight at all.

“Cannabis is and has been a commonly accessible substance in the US, and use of the plant is quite deeply embedded in the US society,” said Joojin Kim, a partner at Law Offices ELPS and an attorney-at-law admitted to the Korean and Illinois bars. “[Marijuana consumption in the US] is too widespread to make it a criminally punishable act and will have serious impacts on the judiciary system and society if the government attempts to do so. In contrast, in

Korea, weed is something that only a few people have access to and is not commonly consumed. For this reason, Koreans easily conclude that weed is a bad drug, and not many people request for the legalization of cannabis so Korea does not have a large constituency supporting marijuana legalization that would motivate Congress or the government to push the agenda. All in all, [legalization of weed in the US] seems to be considered an unrelated occurrence in a land far away from Korea.”

Cannabis is still promoted in Korea via the Western media that flows in, and it is still possible to look for cannabis, among some other types of drugs, when one looks. However, marijuana remains culturally distant from Korea and an issue that by large is not under public scrutiny. Still, in whatever country the debate moves to, the cannabis leaf stays full of sharp ridges that foreshadow many more thorns in its legalization debate. Will the cannabis leaf become a symbol of a monumental decision overturning decades of incarceration, or will it stay as a shady off-limits high?

8 LIFESTYLE Fashion Week draws worldwide attention

Food on the move with the Trucks

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he 2017 Spring/Summer (S/S) collection Hera Seoul Fashion Week (SFW) was hosted at Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) from Oct. 17, coming to a close on Oct. 22. This season’s SFW showcased a total of 55 fashion shows, 41 of which came from the Seoul Collection, a series of the best Korean designers’ works. The remaining 14 shows were put together by Generation Next, a fashion design program for novice designers in Korea.

This SFW boasted a newly implemented technological aspect to its runway, increasing public reach. All shows were streamed live worldwide for the first time, making it easily accessible for international fashion enthusiasts who were not able to attend the shows directly. SFW executive director Jung Ku-ho also incorporated a virtual reality (VR) service into the runway videos he recorded so people could experience the catwalk through VR. “These new technologies are impressive since people can experience the advantages of hightech development,” said Olivia Feng, Chinese teacher and fashion enthusiast. “However, it would have been better if we could try on clothes from the fashion show through VR.” This year, the models and celebrities, who usually are the main focus of any fashion show, were not the only ones in the spotlight. A big crowd of ordinary citizens that transformed into stylish fashion enthusiasts attended the event.

Many SFW attendants dressed up accordingly in trendy street style, and those with the best styles were even featured in the websites of fashion magazines like Vogue and GQ. In this sense, SFW also retained a very interactive atmosphere not exclusive to famous models and celebrities.

“In the status quo, fashion industries are turning their heads toward people outside the runway,” said Justin Choi (10), last year’s HFH fashion show model. “The fashion industry views Koreans to be ‘on-trend.’ This naturally leads to the interactivity of everyone being ‘included’ in SFW—everyone being captured by the camera lens.”

The success of SFW was shown in the interest it received both nationally and globally. Star Daily News reported that approximately 500 iconic fashion figures and journalists attended the opening reception of the 2017 S/S SFW, where honorary designer Han Hye-ja’s archive exhibit was unveiled.

During the entire course of this event, about a thousand domestic and international buyers and press visited the show.

Despite the fact that the 2017 S/S Hera SFW is officially over, there are still ways to enjoy some of its features. Although now closed, Han’s archive exhibit at DDP was open to the public until Nov. 9 with no entrance fee. The exhibit displayed around 80 pieces of Han’s work, including her installation artwork.

Additionally, the VR services are available to 300 million users worldwide. Despite the fact that there will not be another SFW show until March of 2017, such special features give everyone a glimpse of the show, serving as a reminder of SFW to those who attended it and as an overview to those who did not.

By Youngseo Jhe Sophomore, Staff Writer

B

ombarded with people, food trucks are lined up neatly on the sides of the streets of Han River Park in Yeouido.

Opening every Fridays and Saturdays (and sometimes on Sundays depending on the branch) from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., shimmering lights decorated the usually barren streets of the park. I was delighted to find myself surrounded by a cheerful atmosphere in what was known as the Seoul Bamdokkaebi Night Market, vivid with people enjoying themselves. As it is most famous for its food trucks, I had to try some, if not all, of the food being sold.

By 7 p.m., the place was already filled with people and more visitors came in by the minute. People crowded around the queues of more famous food trucks. I realized in order to eat the food, I would need skill and extreme awareness of my surroundings more so than simply lining up where my heart desired. Everyone in line had to be patient – they were not only ones who wanted good food.

My first stop was the steak food truck where I was able to try the “Original Steak,” for just 9,900 won. As this is one of the most popular menus in the night market, the line was especially long; I had to wait more than an hour and thirty minutes in order to take my first bite. In comparison to what I thought, my first bite into the savory meat was marvelous as the juice of the steak wrapped around my senses. The cooked vegetables went especially well

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By Ye Joon Kah

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with the magnificently cooked, soft steak with just the right amount of chewiness.

While pondering on which food truck menu to try next, I was able to look around the Bamdokkaebi Night Market. Music from different buskers and performances hosted by the market rang throughout the night, entertaining the visitors who were happily eating the food they have waited for so long. Being located in Yeouido’s Han River Park, the night market seemed like a small village. Bright lights decorated the food trucks and tents of the market while friends, families, and couples walked along the street while others huddled in lines with their wallets out waiting for their turn.

As the biggest markets of the four open markets around Seoul, Yeouido’s night market not only provided food, but also had many stands selling a variety of merchandise ranging from bracelets to perfumes, marked by the soft light of the tents. I found the night market’s products having better quality compared to those of the markets on the streets. The stands available at the Bamdokkaebi Night Market have to be handpicked through judges’ evaluations over the course of five days, which assured the quality of the merchandise.

With a bit of luck, I was able to try the chicken empanada from “El Viaje” without much delay. In contrast to the great expectation I had for the empanada from the praises of various blogs all

’m already having a pretty bad day because the test that I prepared for was harder than expected, and I also have an essay due tomorrow that I haven’t even put my hands on, and I walk out of my third period class, with thoughts jumbled inside my head. Bam. I was sure the door was open a second ago but I still crash head-on and drop onto the ground, cringing because of the pain. I realize that the person right ahead of me selfishly exited through the door without regarding the fact that I was right behind them.

over the Internet, it was disappointing to find out the chicken filling being a bit dry for my taste. Yet the empanada still had warm, crispy crust that made the most satisfying crunch as I munched through the traditional food of Spain. The filling, although dry, also played a huge role as the meat finished off the crunchiness in a perfect mixture of delight.

Along with the empanada, I tried nachos, which were less popular than other menus in the market. The nachos were fried on the spot, letting it have both the crunch and heat that lasted for quite a long time. As I took a bite, the nachos broke off in a perfect crisp while the fresh salsa and cheese dip naturally harmonized flawlessly with the nachos. I was additionally able to try churros as a desert to cap the night off. To my delight, the churros had a seamless balance of cinnamon and sugar, making the sweet dough surround me in seamless happiness. Moreover, the dough had a perfect amalgamation of softness and crispness, wrapping up the night in a sweet satisfaction.

The Seoul Bamdokkaebi Night Market’s food trucks proved to be the one of best street merchandises in Seoul.

As long as one is patient enough to enjoy some quality food for a cheap price, the night market’s food truck is one of the best places for both entertainments and a fulfilled stomach.

By Andrea Kwon Sophomore, Staff Writer

Frankly, holding a single door seems like an easy task to do. The reality is, many students in SIS seem to be struggling to accomplish such an easy, minuscule task. It is understandable when people are unable to see the person behind them. But most of the time, people know and yet choose not to hold the door. At this point, I am extremely curious about how some students are able to maintain perfect GPAs while balancing social life and a burdening amount of extracurricular activities when they are not able to

Tiger Times

November 2016

9

Bob Dylan’s Nobel Literature Prize sparks controversy

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ore than 50 years ago, Bob Dylan shook the music world to its core by playing an electric guitar while protesting social issues – now, decades later, Dylan once again shocked the world when he was announced as the Nobel Literature Prize laureate. Having won 11 Grammys, Dylan is no stranger to awards, but according to CNBC, this accolade sparked some discussion on whether or not song lyrics count as “literature.”

According to The Guardian, this is not the first time controversies arose surrounding the recipients of the Nobel Prize. In fact, under the Literature category, Dylan is not the first to win the prize for something other than his print writing: the first was songwriter Rabindranath Tagore, who was awarded in 1913. Later, in 1953, Winston Churchill also received the prize not for his books, but for his political speeches,

which extended the scope of “literature” to include oral speech as well.

“Being awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature is an achievement that looks over one’s life’s work as a whole,” said Peter Brodhead, English teacher. “Regardless of the surrounding controversies, Dylan’s award has shown that literature from all around the world and from a variety of subgenres, can be worthy being celebrated as top tier literature.”

However, referring to The Telegraph, some criticize the Swedish Academy, the institution in charge of the Nobel Prize awards, for lowering its standards of “literature.” According to Pen America, a writer’s forum, some denounce Dylan not because of the musical elements of his songs, but because of his lyrics. In addition, according to CNN, critics claim that broadening the pool of potential recipients reduces opportunities to honor writers

because popular singers already have larger platforms in which to be recognized for their work.

“There is not much point in awarding Dylan when he is given the utmost respect and recognition around the world,” said Mimi Yoo (12), critic of the Swedish Academy’s decision. “Therefore, I think that the Literature prizes should focus more on the traditional writers, as that was its original intent.”

There have been people who view the Swedish Academy’s decision favorably, according to CNN. Around the time when the first Literature award was handed out in 1901, the dominant form of literature was in print, which could have solidified “literature” to a narrow boundary. However, as with the case with Churchill, Dylan’s acceptance of the prize could once again broaden the extent of “literature” to include song lyrics.

“Rather than criticizing Dylan for this incident alone, I think people should consider the contributions that Dylan has made,” said Gloria Park (11), a Bob Dylan fan. “I think the imagery and poetry in his songs transformed the common perception of popular music from mere entertainment to a genre with literary merit.”

In the end, all the controversy may be for nothing, according to The LA Weekly.

Considering the fact that Dylan has not made any official mentions acknowledging his prize, it is still possible that Dylan will refuse the eight million Kronor prize money. In other words, known among the public for being reclusive and uncomfortable in the spotlight, Dylan may not attend the ceremony at all as a silent indicator of his rejection of the award.

By Jina Kim Junior, Staff Writer

Movie Review: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

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familiar tune rings out across the theater—it is Hedwig’s Theme, inviting old fans back to the magical universe of “Harry Potter.” Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, directed by Harry Potter veteran David Yates and written by J.K. Rowling, introduces watchers to the wizarding world outside of the scope covered in the original Harry Potter series.

Set in 1926 New York City, Fantastic Beasts follows magizoologist Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) as he enters New York City with a magically expanded case full of creatures ranging from the bowtruckle, a hand-sized, insect-eating tree dweller, to

hold a door for a classmate.

Although people don’t have to treat others as “royalty,” that also does not mean that one can simply disregard and treat others as if they are never going to see them again. Based on the behavior of some students, I wonder how they are going to face their peers later on. Perhaps that’s why SIS students are so bounded inside their own cliques—because apart from their closest friends, they completely ignore each other. Because students only hang out with those that are closest to

the thunderbird, a large bird that creates storms as it flies. Due to some mishaps involving a niffler at a bank (a niffler is a mole-like creature that is infatuated with collecting shiny objects), Scamander’s magical case is swapped with No-Maj factory worker Jacob Kowalski’s (Dan Fogler) identical-looking one.

Troublingly, New York City is not a tolerant place for the wizarding kind. No-Majs (the American slang for Muggles, those born without wizardry in their blood) call for a “Second Salem” while witches and wizards are dedicated to keep their existence a secret. The escape of several magical creatures from Scamander’s case, howev-

them, they do not have many opportunities to be with others. Thus, many of the students do not know how to react when people that they are unfamiliar with are near them; some do not even know how to hold a door for another person.

After five years of going to this school, such few people have held the door for me that I can even count all the different occasions. It is true that SIS students have a tendency to hide or conceal their achievements and that they are generally private creatures. However, one cannot count

er, throws a large, fantastic-beast shaped wrench in those plans.

The appeal of the film is there—beautifully animated magical creatures, scenes of casual magic, and the opportunity to see the “real world” beyond Hogwarts is some that come to mind. For avid fans, the small details, like Newt being a “more chaser than seeker” is what makes the movie complete.

The film also opens up future opportunities for upcoming stories, with carefully placed name drops of characters expected to show up in the next four planned segments of the Fantastic Beasts saga.

New York is not Hogwarts. After spending nearly two hours and a half in the

being “shy” as an excuse as being shy does not equate to the inability to hold a door for one’s peers. Or perhaps, I’m being a tad bit too serious.

However, we all learned the golden rule in second grade: do unto others as you would have them do unto you. We even have a huge picture with that quote in front of the administrative office. So why do we shy away from each other? Why can’t we just simply wait three or four seconds for the other person who is also trying to exit through the door, even if he

theatre, the setting is not a whole, but segmented into parts—subway station, bank, park, and apartment. However, the people within the fragmented setting are very much real, as Redmayne brings forth his interpretation of Newt Scamander as a shy man with a soft heart, and perhaps even a past that may come back to haunt him.

In the end, this first re-introduction to the magical world does what it set out to do: to bring back old friends and set up a universe in which magic is once again, alive.

By Joyce Lee Junior, Staff Writer

or she isn’t our closest friend? Although it is true that students live incredibly busy lives and don’t have hours and hours to waste, everyone still has a few seconds to spare in order to hold a door for another person.

Rather than freaking out over getting into the best colleges, fixing this sort of behavioral issue as well as the cause of it seems to be a more imminent and pertinent problem. If someone tells me that this is a worldwide issue, I pronounce that I have officially lost faith in humanity.

10 SPORTS Chicago Cubs takes home victory in 112th World Series

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y l l Photo Courtesy by April Kim

Attempting to flip over a water bottle, Sabin Macklin (12) competes in the Water Bottle Flip Challenge during the fall season pep rally.

On Oct. 26, the Tiger Sports Council (TSC) hosted its second fall season pep rally to celebrate the accomplishments of varsity volleyball, tennis, and cross country athletes. Last year, TSC pledged to host such rallies three times a year, one for each sports season.

According to Hyjo Shim (11), TSC vice president, the event was just as successful as last year’s, inspiring many students and teachers to unite, show off their tiger pride, and cheer on their varsity athletes.

The pep rally began at 2:30p.m., with the audience cheering as fall season athletes ran into Tiger Gym 1. After Eric Song (12), TSC president, introduced the athletes, the teams faced off against each other in a water bottle flip challenge for a 80,000 won Kassy’s Kitchen gift card. The varsity boys volleyball team reigned supreme, successfully flipping five out of nine water bottles. After the challenge, TSC encouraged students and teachers to stay and watch the last home volleyball game of the season, played against APIS. “Eunie Jang, last year’s president, had left such a lasting impression last year with her amazing school spirit, so I was a bit afraid that this year’s pep rally would not be as exciting, but I think Eric and all the other TSC members were able to do just as well,” Jina Kim (10) said. “Honestly, I was not expecting much because there wasn’t a lot of action when I first entered the gym.

But as soon as everyone started clapping I found myself enjoying it all. I think the lighthearted mood helped us relieve stress and brought the crowd together.”

Though the varsity athlete introductions remained the same as last year’s, this year’s pep rally also featured many edits and additions. For instance, last year’s tug-of-war games between the teams were replaced by the water bottle challenge. In addition, Eric worked to hype up the crowd even more by asking them to cheer for their favorite

team, bringing in a storm of applause from the crowd.

“Overall, I think the pep rally went well,” said Ivan Atanaskovic, TSC adviser. “The event we prepared brought in more interaction between the crowd and the athletes, and the teams seemed to be appreciated more than last time. The main purpose of holding pep rallies is to raise school spirit and show support for the student athletes, and I think TSC is steadily making progress. There is still some room for improvement, but the club members are working hard to bring the community together, so I am proud of their advancements.”

According to Hyjo, although this pep rally was successful overall, TSC is looking to the future and hopes to improve next season. Aside from its main goal of promoting school spirit, the club also hopes to increase viewership of both home and away games, and looks forward to collaborating with the new media club Tiger News Today to advertise more effectively.

“I believe TSC has been able to expand greatly over the past few years, with various additions such as the varsity athletes lipsync video and the pep rally,” Hyjo said.

“However, there are still improvements to be made. Our next goals are to work on clearer communication, so that we can deliver more eye-catching, attractive, and relevant announcements to promote our events and to raise school spirit.”

The pep rally ended on a heartwarming note as the departing seniors took a step forward from the line of fall season athletes. According to Nick Yeo (12), varsity boys volleyball captain, it was a startling moment in which he realized how much he cherished the SIS volleyball community, and how much he would miss his team.

Overall, he, along with his team, deemed the rally a success in terms of uniting the school—athletes, coaches, and friends.

By Soomin Lee Junior, Staff Writer

The 2016 Major League Baseball (MLB) season came to a close on Nov. 3, with the Chicago Cubs taking home the Commissioner’s Trophy in the 112th World Series against the Cleveland Indians at the Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio. Though the teams entered the tenth inning with a tied score of 6-6, the Cubs ultimately took the game home with a score of 8-7. The match was the seventh game of the World Series and served as an ultimate tiebreaker to a 3-3 stalemate.

“The Cubs-Indians match definitely lived up to the hype,” said Justin Choi (10), Cubs fan. “Part of this was because of the game itself. It was nail-bitingly close. But another reason was that there were really high stakes, both teams had extremely long title droughts: the Cubs since 1908 and the Indians since 1948. I am ecstatic that the Cubs won––they really deserve it––but I do feel that the Indians were a very strong and deserving team as well.

Although they didn’t win this season, they are a strong contender for next year’s World Series.”

Aside from the World Series, however, the regular season also included many memorable moments. According to the Huffington Post, these moments included the Cubs’ pitcher Jake Arietta’s second no-hitter game of his career, New York Mets’ Bartolo Colon’s first career home run at the age of 43, Colorado Rockies’ Trevor Story’s seven home run rookie blitz, and many more.

“As a baseball fan, the 2016 season has been very fun to watch mainly for two reasons,” said Jeffrey McEvoy-Hein, math teacher. “For one, we’ve finally seen teams

that usually don’t dominate rise to the top.

Instead of teams like the Yankees winning yet another World Series, we are starting to see teams like the Blue Jays, the Indians, and the Cubs make it to the post-season.

We also see a new generation of baseball players who are exciting and refreshing to watch. Players like Alex Rodriguez are gone and we get a fresh look at players such as Mike Trout and Chris Bryant.”

Though many impressive feats and rejuvenated teams decorated the 2016 MLB season, the year did not pass without sorrow. According to ESPN, Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez passed away on Sept. 25 in a freak boating accident, devastating baseball fans across the country.

Players from all teams expressed their condolences, lamenting the loss of the young and promising 24-year-old. Teammate Dee Gordon also hit a solo home run dedicated to his fellow player, stepping on the home plate in tears while fans from both sides stood to applaud the tribute.

Through all the good and bad, it has been a historic MLB season, especially for the Cubs who took victory home to Chicago for the first time in over a century. Meanwhile, members of all teams will soon (if not already) be back in training for the 2017 season to take another shot at the esteemed championship title. They will be preparing to give their avid fans another season packed with excitement and pride as they unite to play a single sport that has, for so long, captured the essence of the American spirit: baseball.

By Jeremy Nam Sophomore, Staff Writer

SPORTS PHOTO OF THE MONTH

Photo Courtesy of Daniel Shin Leaping for the defensive stop, Andrew Ha (10) extends forward to block Eric Song’s (12) step-back jump shot during the third tryout of the 16-17 basketball season.

Tiger Times

November 2016

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Basketball teams prepare to face new season’s challenges Every year, athletes striving to qualify for the SIS basketball teams face heated competition, and this year is no exception.

As hopeful players returned to the court for intensive training sessions in preparation for tryouts, coaches also began mapping out strategies for the upcoming 2016-2017 winter season.

“My plan for this year is to get the kids fluent in running a motion offense and in playing more man-to-man defense,” said Tim Munro, varsity boys basketball coach.

“We have solid offensive and defensive strategies, but team members will need to master these skills if they want to be able to execute them smoothly and instantly on the court. That reflex only comes with hard and consistent practice.”

The girls team is also taking on major strategic challenges. According to Chris Koester, varsity girls basketball coach, the lack of a “big man” the on the court may present itself as a vulnerability to the team.

While the boys teams have generally had a skilled player with a large physical build who could put pressure on the opposing team and restrict their ability to score and rebound, the absence of such a player on the girls teams is expected to present some obstacles.

“The girls teams have always had a lack of height, and sometimes, that has been an issue, but we have always made up for it in the end by having well-rounded players who can work well together,” Coach Koester said. “It is always the team chemistry and the players’ willingness to cooperate with each other that earns a victory. If we play smoothly as one team, we can make up for certain weaknesses that we may have as individuals. It’s called a gang mentality: all

five players help each other amplify their strengths and make up for their weaknesses.”

In a game as dynamic as basketball, such changes are givens. However, a noticeable change this year is the addition of talented freshmen to the roster. According to returning athletes, there is definitely a certain added depth to the team through to the twelfth member. With an abundance of talent from the court to the bench, coaches will be able to substitute starters when necessary without sacrificing too much on-court skill. Such leeway to make substitutions helps maintain an energized team. One freshman, Sia Cho (9), varsity girls basketball player, is predicted to be

an especially helpful addition to the team.

According to Eugenia Lee (10), varsity girls basketball player, the team admires her drive, dexterity, and steadiness on court.

Her talents especially shine considering that she is new not only to the team, but also to high school. The team looks forward to working with the new members and helping them discover new strategies to up their game.

“From what I have seen during practices so far, everyone is passionate about the sport and has a feel for how the game should flow,” said Yoobin Lee (10), JV girls basketball player. “This understanding and teamwork creates an atmosphere where we are all willing to rely on each other and de-

Sports Briefs MBC Sports+2 buys rights to NFL content After acquiring the rights to broadcast NFL content last month, MBC’s sister channel MBC Sports+2 debuted a video recap of a playoff game between the Indianapolis Colts and the Houston Texans on Oct. 17. In addition to regular game highlights, the channel will also televise ESPN-partnered broadcasts such as “Monday Night Football” and offer an average of two NFL-related shows everyday. Though many fans see this partnership as a more affordable alternative to $200 NFL season passes, others question the popularity of American football and the marketability of such content in Korea.

“Since Koreans are not really exposed to NFL, there is not a strong fanbase for American football here,” said Alexander Cha (10), Oakland Raiders fan. “Personally, I do not think American football will gain a strong following in Korea. It is a strong contact sport, and may seem ruthless for new viewers. Maybe that is why the content is broadcasted in Sports+2 instead of Sports+.”

Doosan Bears take the 2016 Korean Series The highly anticipated Korean Series began on Oct. 29, with ticket sales starting the day before. According to MBC Sports, many teams had deviated from their expected team rankings this past season. The Nexen Heroes ranked third though the team had lost numerous key players, and the Samsung Lions broke its four-year winning streak and dropped down to ninth place.

But regardless of such changes, the Doosan Bears ultimately ranked first place again.

“The Doosan Bears went against the NC Dinos, a three-year-old team that rose pretty quickly in prominence,” said Bright Chong (11), Korean baseball fan. “This year’s series attracted many fans who were interested in how KyungMin Kim, the current Dinos coach and former Bears coach, would play into the game. In the end, unlike the MLB, this was a sweep for the Bears. They won the first four consecutive games and took home the trophy. It was over in five days.”

pend on each other for support. In a game that’s always fast-paced and sometimes hectic, having support and backup from your teammates when you’re on the court is really important. When you’re on the court, your team is all you have.”

Though the teams face many challenges on their path to victory, both coaches and athletes are hopeful that they will have a successful, dynamic, and exciting season together. The season began on Nov. 1, and the basketball teams will be facing KIS in their first official away game of the season on Nov. 23.

By Michelle Cho Sophomore, Staff Writer

n Kim

By Daw

Russell Westbrook nets two triple-doubles In the first week of the 2016-2017 NBA season, Russell Westbrook recorded a pair of triple-doubles, a feat unseen since the 1980s. In order to score a triple-double, a player must accumulate double-digit numbers in three of five statistical categories (points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocked shots) in a single game. According to ESPN, in a match against the Phoenix Suns on Oct. 28, Westbrook posted his first triple-double of the season and the first 50-point triple-double in NBA history. Only two days later, Westbrook recorded a second triple-double against the LA Lakers.

“It’s a historic occurrence,” said Michelle Kim (11), varsity girls basketball manager. “The last time it happened was when Magic Johnson was point guard for the LA Lakers. I think it’s an amazing feat. The elaborate skill that players can show off in basketball is really amazing, and I think these amazing occurrences are what make the sport so special.”

12

SMALL TALK

Idealog: Mysticism Siri, tell me a myth.

That may be beyond my abilities at the moment.

Then Siri, do you believe in God? I’m really not equipped to answer such questions.

Since the age of the Scientific Revolution, most developed nations have walked determinedly on the road to empiricism.Yet we have never been, and will never be, exactly like the robots we create. Even the most intricate humanoids seem somehow separated from us humans.

Philosophers, ethicists, engineers and programmers have analyzed this separation for ages, but they have yet to arrive at a conclusion.

In the meantime, here is a simple, intriguing observation you can make on your iPhone: Siri can tell you a joke—and even a bedtime story—but Siri will not be able to tell you a myth. Siri will also never be captivated or enthralled by a myth, much less believe in one. Siri is not able to. Because Siri is not equipped to.

But we are. The philosophy of mysticism originated in ancient Greece, and has taken on a myriad of meanings over the centuries. It sprouted in the spiritual, contem-

FAUX NEWS

By Diana Nakyoung Lee

plative realm of early Christianity. Then, according to University of Kent professor Richard King, the word came to encompass many different “extraordinary experiences and states of mind.” Mysticism has since branched into many cultures. Shamanism, for example, according to University of Chicago historian Mircea Eliade, uses the sensation of ecstasy to connect with spirits. In that branch of mysticism, a shaman acts as a bridge to an otherworldly, altered consciousness. Shamans often have the power to walk across dimensions, healing injured souls and showing the way to lost spirits.

All this may seem like a thing of the past, a figment of the imagination: all too extraordinary for our iPhone world. But to think so would be to underestimate the influence mysticism has had on our culture. Think Doctor Strange, a popular 50-year-old Marvel comic series and now Hollywood blockbuster. It is known to be the pioneer of the magical side of the Marvel universe. In the series, Stephen Strange—renowned neurosurgeon, esteemed scientist, and disbeliever of all things “magic”— goes on an extraordinary personal journey and eventually assumes the role of Sorcerer Supreme, earning the ability to navigate across innumerable realities and dimensions.

With his mystic abilities, he cures a significant portion of the New York City population from demon-related headaches, offers magical advice to confused Avengers, and

Food and sleep motivates high school students to learn in school

Fair and Balanced Recent studies have revealed that the number one motivation for students to come to school is food, followed closely by a spirited sense of adventure in finding new locations to sleep in.

Learning was ranked ninth, with 20 out of 435 high school students answering that they prioritize studying over other in-school activities.

Learning was ranked below “running the mile,” which ranked eighth, and “test-taking,” which surprisingly was ranked third.

“The only reason why I come to school is food and sleep,” said Han Gree (11). “Who cares about trigonometry when you can have tuna mayo rice? Also, the sofas are very comfortable to sleep on, when the administration isn’t looking—but don’t tell them I said that.”

Various in-school businesses, such as the High School Student Cafe (HSSC) and Basement School Store have profited monetarily from of the rising popularity of eating in school.

Other clubs also provide specialized food services, such as the Tiger Salad Council (TSC), which sells donuts during break periods. The combined efforts of the food clubs contribute toward a mini buffet that can be easily put together during the school day.

Students have expressed the opinion that having a full stomach helps them focus in class.

“Students at this school consume an insane amount of food,” said Bah

Gail, HSSC president. “I’m surprised that people have managed to not yet get diabetes from the amount of Coca Cola and chocolate milk they consume in a week, not to mention the bagels and oreos. The school should conduct a health checkup on all of its students because I’m sure drinking a chocolate milk a day does not keep the doctor away.”

Sleeping, the second highest ranked motivation to come to school, has also sparked an interest to learn in students. Many students could be spotted trying to find new ways and places to sleep during the three break periods interspersed throughout the school day. While sleeping in class may seem counterintuitive to the core purpose of school, learning, many studies have proven that sleep in fact improves one’s ability to focus— therefore, sleeping in class amplifies this ability.

“If you really look into it, there are surprisingly many comfortable places to sleep around the school,” said Siesta Liu (12). “Not only are there the sofas, but also the auditorium, hallways, playground slide, atrium floor, and the most soothing of all—APUSH class. In fact, I can’t wait to come to school every day because I look forward to finding new places to sleep.

I’m planning to visit the school library for the first time tomorrow—I hear they have huge beanbags between bookshelves! How life-changingly exciting.”

BY JOYCE LEE

occasionally guards the Earth dimension against forces that seek to destroy it.

In the newest storyline, Doctor Strange meets an even stranger opponent: science. The Empirikul (derived from the word “empirical”) is an AI race, seeking to avenge their leader who was executed for heresy by a mystic elderly council long ago. The Empirikul’s aim is to clear— purify. To purge the universe of the nonsensical, “cancerous” falsehood that is magic. Their logic that mysticism often refuses to conform to facts, or that it sometimes helps justify hindering scientific progress, rings mostly true.Yet as the Empirikul burn magi, sorcerers, witches, and wizards one by one, slowly sucking the color out of the pages and bleaching them a sterile white, one cannot help but feel heartbroken, like something dear to them has died.

Of course, romanticizing mysticism comes with its own set of problems. Rosy interpretations of a culture, especially when written by an outsider, often end up as misinterpretations. But regardless, it seems as if we as the human race cannot help but hold on to the rosy coattails of mysticism. Even as we march—or are marched—toward the land of universal empiricism and technology, we are still spinning stories. Finding faith. Embracing other realities and uncovering hidden truths. It is a strange phenomenon, indeed. Strange, but beautiful.

Photo of the Month SEOUL INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL VS. GYEONGGI SUWON INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

Spiking the ball, Sujie Choi (12) initiates a rally against GSIS at their home court. The girls would go on to beat GSIS in a back-and-forth game, and place second in their conference.

Photo by Ryan Jang