Tiger Times Issue 5/December 2016 Vo l u m e
4 8 / t t o n l . o r g
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Photos by Justin Chang
nation in turmoil:
millions gather to call for President Park’s resignation, pg. 5
Editorial
The Elephant in the Room By Jaeha Kim and Ariel Lee Co-Editors-in-Chief
“A school need not tolerate student speech that is inconsistent with its ‘basic educational mission, even though the government could not censor similar speech outside the school.” - Supreme Court of the United States
Today we are going to discuss school censorship. “Censorship” may be a word with negative connotations, but it is important to realize that a school’s administrative review often has its own justifications. There are legal concerns to be considered, quality and controversy control (of work that could reflect negatively on the image of the school), and many other legitimate influences. School administrations do not maliciously inhibit the expression of students; in fact, they do it for the “protection” of student reporters. But the essential question is: To what extent is such “protection” justified or even effective? Censorship may protect student publications against backlash from angered parents, but it prevents students from engaging in the authentic. Financial corruption in governments, teenage pregnancy, and other such “controversial” topics are ever-present issues that warrant discussion in order to become Socially Responsible citizens. As journalists, students should also have the chance to voice their opinions in the form of a viewpoint article. As young adults, talking about these issues is essential to encourage the development of the very Global Citizens schools desire to cultivate. Yes, all opinions must still be fact-checked and relayed in an appropriate manner reflective of a true Effective Communicator. But at the end of the day divisive topics such as politics are, by nature, bound to create controversy. When an administrative board censors an article under the justification that such viewpoints are “inflammatory,” they may be invalidating a certain valuable perspective and hindering students from becoming Independent Thinkers. A school publication is not like any other writing class. Members of the press are often chosen to write for a school paper after a competitive auditioning process, and therefore are Trustworthy Individuals who take their responsibilities seriously. As future journalists, these student reporters have the opportunity and responsibility to explore their writers’ voices, to investigate in the spirit of true journalistic practice, to inform and educate the student body. A school’s administration should steward students in this educational opportunity by explaining the laws and reasons behind censorship, offering feedback but not mandating certain changes, and making sure certain restrictions stay consistent in order to help guide students in the right direction in order to help them become Reflective Learners. We can only learn from experience. So let us experience and let us lead.
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 How the world can recover from 2016
From international bombings to President Park’s scandals, 2016 has been a year of continuous terror, chaos, and shock. With one month left in 2016, it is difficult to say that it will be easy to finish off the year with smiles and satisfaction. Citizens will still be protesting, refugees will still be seeking aid, and the world will still be fighting against terrorists. To the world, ISIS is a major threat to the national security of each respective country. With the attacks expanding to major cities (like this year’s attack in Brussels and Istanbul), fear has grown amongst the people, even going as far
as mistrusting alliances and their own citizens. As devastating as these incidents are, it is understandable to fear the possible threat of another incident. However, such loss does not mean that we should resort to imposing bans against certain individuals or going berserk. When the World Trade Center fell in 2001, despite all the chaos, the US rose and continued on whilst paying tribute to those who were lost. After one year of the Paris attacks, the city has been somber and
largely silent for the anniversary on Nov. 13, in remembrance and slowly but surely moving onward. The world must remember: rather than doubting the people next to them, it is more crucial for the world to move forward and commemorate loss; rather than forming hate toward a specific religion and/or race. While some events such as the passing of Alan Rickman and the bombings by ISIS could not be stopped by the will of the majority, much of the
shocking events this year were caused by and have had democratic say by the citizens of respective nations, which only added to the shock value. From the Columbian Peace Deal to President-elect Trump, each unbelievable result by the general public was not a fraud, but rather a decision of the majority and influenced by politicians. Voicing our opinion through a way that has lasting impact on actual issues rather than on social media may be the only way for us to heal from all the damaging events of 2016. So do more than cast a vote: support different organizations, protest, raise
awareness. According to Chosun Pub, the Nov. 12 protest in Guanghwamun that called for President Park’s resignation brought over 100 thousand people together. This overwhelming turnout not only elicited an improved response from the Blue House but also increased support for President Park’s impeachment or resignation. As former US President Franklin D.
Roosevelt once said, we should never forget that the country’s ultimate rulers are the citizens and not each of the government functions. Citizens each have a power to change the government with their will and opinion and, as we know, actions speak louder than words. Recovering from disheartening results and scandals is hard enough. Recovering from all the things happened in this year is going to be harder than ever. It is important for all citizens to remember what happened and take a step forward to either move on or to change for what they believe is moral and just. By Andrea Kwon Sophomore, Staff Writer
Expansion of privileges necessary for seniors
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ou and your friends walk to your car, parked in the senior-only parking lot closest to campus, head over to the closest Chipotle or In-N-Out, and grab something to eat at the senior lounge. This is an imaginable, if not typical, scene for a senior in the US, since, according to the Los Angeles Times, good parking spots, separate lunch lines, secluded lounge areas, and an open campus during lunch are some of the most common senior privileges. While fun senior privileges such as these will help motivate seniors to finish their high school careers and serve as a reward for all of their hard work, seniors, who are standing at the brink of transition into adulthood as they prepare for college, deserve more meaningful privileges. For example, SIS seniors should be exempt from summative assessments the week before college applications are due. With an exemption from summative assignments, seniors could maintain averages that accurately represent their skill-sets in respective subject areas. Since students’ scores are supposed to reflect their level of understanding and rate of performance in their classes, it would be unfair to allow a misrepresentation that could easily be avoided. But wait. A common objection is
that if seniors cannot find the time or mental capacity for handling their college applications with their school work, then they will not be able to handle college life. However, while there is a need for seniors to prepare for college, 10-20 college applications due on one date does not represent a college curriculum: in college, there are fewer mandatory courses
SIS seniors should be exempt from summative assessments the week before college applications are due. that a student needs to take, leaving students with more time to spend on their obligations. Filling out and sending in college applications is a unique and stressful experience for which seniors should receive more leniencies. The exemption from summative assessments during the week of college application deadlines could also improve the mental states of seniors. Knowing that they can focus their energy on college applications without missing school or negatively impacting their past hard work will at least partially alleviate seniors’ stress levels and allow them more mental stability.
Hold on. Another argument is that SIS students will be overstressed about their assignments whether or not there are college applications due, and that this should not be a problem that teachers have to deal with. However, though SIS students are concerned about grades and college, it is important to know where this stress is coming from. Students’ near obsession comes from the knowledge that getting into a good college can be advantageous in the “real world,” especially in Korea. Students also know that their parents’ money and energy are poured into assuring that their children receive the best education possible. When these factors are taken into consideration, SIS students’ treatment of college applications and school work can possibly seem more justified. No matter how much SIS is considered a college preparatory school, it is first and foremost a high school. High school students should not be expected to deal perfectly with problems that even college students do not face regularly, especially with not much regular assistance. High school seniors deserve at least one week of mercy for the hard work they have put in for four years. By Marie Park Junior, Staff Writer
Tiger Times December 2016
Extended Viewpoint:
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By Justin Chang
It’s Lit: Peaceful Protests in Korea
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s the sun ducked beneath the horizon and the night grew dark and cold, a lonely, weak light flickered into life. Slowly but steadily, the lone beacon of hope was joined by one and then two and then a million candle flames till the lights illuminated every road and every street in and around the city center. There were no fires, no burning cars, no policemen firing tear gas canisters into the unruly crowd. Instead, it was a peaceful solidarity that swept through those who held their flames high at Gwanghamun Square as the nation, in silent unison, watched on. There was no fighting in the fight against President Park, only a peaceful protest, a beckoning for the government to take note and listen to the people. What characterizes the recent protests against President Park that swept the nation is its inherent peacefulness. Though the people were angry and desired to oust the president, the expression of their distaste did not break any laws, did not harm anyone, and did not vandalize any property. If the default image of a protest is of violent protesters throwing molotov cocktails and police officer fully clad with kevlar vests throwing tear gas into the crowd while charging at protesters with riot shields (see Ukrainian Revolution of 2014), the recent mass protests of Seoul was the polar opposite. I myself took part in these protests and can say with certainty it destroyed every conception of a protest I held previously. I saw people, who, after accidentally stepping onto a two meter ledge- or ‘restricted zone,’ as the police called it- and having officers gesturing them to get down, bow their heads and mutter, “I’m sorry.” I saw paramedics leisurely relaxing with a Starbucks coffee in one hand and Candy Crush in the other for they knew almost nobody would get hurt in the peaceful protests. Of course people did hold up mildly treasonous signs- some in particular were overtly obscene- but none of the anger and the passion in their words were replicated in their actions. We knew that all we wanted to do was to get people to listen, not to harm those that would not listen.
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.
In the opposite side of the globe in the land of the free and the home of the brave, in the nation we call United States of America, nothing is as united as it is in Korea. The law and the protests are pitted against each other, often leaving at least one man dead with 9mm bullet holes riddled all over their cadaver: ‘warning shot.’ African Americans, in retaliation against the apparent police brutality, forged their own form of brutality- shooting officers and burning cop cars. Of course, not all protests are violent and not all have Michael Bay doing the special effects- who would even consider calling the rainbows of gay pride parades as anything but peaceful? But in cities like Tulsa the fight is met with a fight, the assailant is assaulted, and the victim is no longer a mere victim. Violence has gradually become a staple in the protests characteristic of America, and the historical definition of a protest- the ones established by the likes of Martin Luther King Jr. And Mahatma Gandhi- is all but not existent. Demonstrations driven by love and peace are a dying race, and in its stead is an overgrowth of fear. Fear is the primary force behind today’s violent demonstrations. Protesters use brutal methods to strike fear into the hearts of those that they believe are oppressors; law enforcement responds by marching in armed to the teeth, not to control the unruly crowd but to frighten them into submission. The desire for true change is lost in the ensuing battle, and the protests are merely a violent expression of anger. But causes violent protests to fail is not merely because it involves aggression while non-violent protests do not. The primary distinction between the violent and the non-violent protest is far subtler, yet nevertheless important. The great achievement of demonstrations built upon violence and savagery is that it gets your voice heard, but it rarely brings about the massive overhauls in the system that protesters so desperately fights for. Meeting their violence with your violence forces your violence to be met again by their violence, putting the protest in a vicious and endless cycle, a battle for the no man’s land. Change will not come
without a lot of sacrifices, and many good men and women in both trenches will be downed before a resolution can be formed. But peaceful protests, in stark contrast, not only voices your words but brings the dissidents and the governments to the table of negotiation, a table where change can be discussed and implemented. You do not want to fight with your adversaries; you want to negotiate with them. Such a perspective on both violent and peaceful protests has been historically proven to be effective. Henry David Thoreau advocated for it in Civil Disobedience, a text that King later used in his successful crusade that brought the ‘equality’ of races that many African Americans enjoy today. King never had a dream where the white man and the black man were thrown in a caged ring, forced to fight to the death to survive- that was Malcolm X’s vision. His dream was one of equality, where neither the black man nor the white man raised teheir fists for a duel, where the two could live peacefully and harmoniously in unison. Half a century after both King and Malcolm X’s untimely deaths, King’s dreams continue to thrive while the visions of Malcolm X had since fled the scene. Across the ocean from the National Mall where King peacefully rallied against rampant discrimination was an India colonized and subjugated by the British Empire. The vast military of the small island empire was well trained and well equipped, emanating an aurora of power and dominance. Its treatment of the Indian people was less than humane, siphoning their resources and subjecting them to the iron fist of Her Imperial Majesty the Queen-Empress Victoria. But Mahatma Gandhi and the people of India did fought those pompous Brits armed not with Lee Enfield rifles and bullets, but rather with baskets of white, crystalline salt. They met the ends of the club’s of Her Majesty’s men not with a counterstrike but through starvation. Gandhi met violence with non-violence and aggression with submission to drive Her Majesty out of the Indian peninsula, and now, we South Koreans are using it against our own Her Majesty.
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 Lee Soomin Chun Alice Lee Photographers David Choe Ryan Jang April Kim Angela Choe
Graphics Artists Jina Kim Michelle Cho Youngseo Jhe Layout Artists Joyce Lee Soomin Lee Amy Kim Dawn Kim Yejune Park
Reporters Junie Kah Michelle Lee Jeremy Nam Marie Park Grace Yang Justin Chang Andrea Kwon Adviser Mr. David Coleman
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NEWS
2016 congressional election becomes feat of minorities and diversity The keyword of the 2016 US elections: diversity. This year’s congressional and presidential elections were quite unique in that first, a political outsider was chosen to be the next president and second, the congressional elections showed significant racial variety. Apart from the unexpected victory of a politically inexperienced businessman, the 2016 elections were particularly special because the US Congress showed distinctive inclusion of racial minorities and women, highlighting the diversity of this year’s elections. “Although the US is stirring controversy with its election results, no one can deny the movements it singlehandedly made on racial minorities,” said Brian Chun (10), an AP World History and US History student. “They have made ‘equality in politics’ not a goal but an accomplishment, and regardless of whether the new presidentelect continues these ideals, the American way of dealing with different ethnics in polity is very admirable.” Although the focus of Kamala Harris’ campaign for office was not on her biracial background, her inauguration gave her noticeable titles such as the first Indian-American senator, the first black senator from California, and also the second African-American woman to ever be a part of the Senate. As a Democrat, Harris campaigned for comprehensive immigration reform and fair treatment of immigrants during the election. Similarly, Representative Catherine Cortez Masto is America’s first-ever Latina senator as well as Nevada’s first female senator. Like Harris, she focused on standing and speaking for the minorities of society during her tenure. Democrat Tammy Duckworth is the nation’s first Thailand-born senator and second Asian American woman to be elected to the Senate. Duckworth is also a US veteran that lost both of her legs during war. According to Mark N. Strand, president of the Congressional Institute, an injured female veteran being appointed to such a high office position reflects the increasing diversity within Congress. “The more types of people there are in the Senate, the more perspectives,” said Morgan Miller, US History teacher. “This is beneficial to everyone, since this way nobody feels underrepresented. It is very significant that women and minorities were elected because the Senate has historically been 90 to 95 percent white elderly males. This is a very important stepping-stone on our way to equality.” These newly elected senators and congresswomen diversified Congress, setting records and making history. Racial minority groups nationwide celebrated the victory of these women. According to Time Magazine, some Democrats even deemed the victory of a Latino to be a “silver lining” after Trump’s success in the presidential election. The election of these congresswomen has become a ray of hope for Democrats and minorities alike. By Youngseo Jhe Sophomore, Staff Writer
Protests against President Park increase in magnitude
Gathering in Gwanghwamun Square on Nov. 12, protestors call for President Park’s resignation over her recent scandal affiliated with confidante Choi Soon-Sil.
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n Nov. 12, approximately 2,000,000 people assembled in central Seoul and called for Park Geun-hye’s resignation after it was discovered she had allowed personal contacts unaffiliated with the government to influence governmental decision-making and had provided access to classified government documents. The figure behind the scandal is Choi Soonsil, a private citizen with no security clearance who repeatedly wielded considerable influence over President Park. The cable channel JTBC obtained a tablet computer containing heavily edited drafts of some of President Park’s most important speeches. In addition, according to news channel Chosun, presidential aides deliberately attempted to “flatter” her by following her orders. According to the New York Times, aside from influencing President Park, Choi and her faction of unofficial advisers, billed “the eight fairies,” used their ties to President Park to pressure businesses into donating at least $69 million to Choi’s foundations. Prosecutors arrested Choi on Oct. 31. President Park after two consecutive public apologies, refused to respond to prosecutors’ inquiries. BBC stated the Park administration saw a three to five percent approval rating, a record low since South Korea became a democracy in the 80s. “I think the protesters are rightfully
News Briefs By Amy Jungmin Kim Sophomore, Staff Writer
angry because the president continuously lied to the public about how the government has been acting,” said Joyce Kim (10). “Hopefully through the protests there will be greater transparency in the government.” Furthermore, according to the New York Times, the scale of the protests in central Seoul reached a historic record of two million, exceeding the previous record of 40,000 set in 2008 during the U.S. beef protests. Protesters spanned generations and occupations including but not limited to uniform-clad students, parents with children, and union members. The Wall Street Journal reported train and bus tickets to Seoul were sold out in major cities across the country as people headed to the capital for the historic demonstration. Protest organizers have commented on persistently rising protester numbers citing the increased media coverage and usage of social media. The Korea Times reported simultaneous rallies were held across the country and overseas including the southern island of Jeju, Park’s hometown of Daegu, Brazil’s Sao Paulo, and Helsinki, Finland, and Busan, a conservative stronghold. “As a Korean citizen, I have witnessed the slow transition from dictatorship to democracy and while we have the power to vote politicians into office, I believe this scandal is a sign that we’ve been misguided by politicians who are out of
Photos by Justin Chang
touch with reality and their citizens,” said Cho Kwan-Gu, a protester. “Throughout Korean history, the citizens have always been the ones furthering political change and this is a chance to demonstrate true democracy and not this shadow of what this country has worked for.” The core issue fueling the unyielding protests is President Park’s scandal, but the protesters additionally lampoon the pent-up grievances of the populace including issues concerning the nationalized history textbooks, labor market reform, a lack of transparency in the administration’s foreign policy, and government inefficiency in the Sewol Tragedy. According to the Centre of Globalization, the two largest trade unions, Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and the Federation of Korean Trade Unions, have vowed a general strike if President Park refuses to resign. Korea Expose reported seeing coalitions of high school students calling themselves the Sewol Generation, protesting the rigid, feudalistic hierarchy in which money and social status are more important than honesty and hard work. Many students expressed their disillusionment with the eroding notion of fairness in the country articulating how in reality those born into privilege rule South Korea. By Michelle Cho Sophomore, Staff Writer
MUN members participate in SEOMUN On Nov. 24-26, the annual Seoul Model United Nations (SEOMUN) conference was held at Korea International Exhibition Center (KINTEX). The 19th SEOMUN conference had the theme of “Embracing Diversity.” All members of the SIS Model United Nations (MUN) club attended the conference either as delegates or chairs, of whom seven delegates received Best best delegate awards. Dwelegate awards. “The MUN members have worked
diligently and rigorously throughout the semester to perfect their resolutions and to prepare for the conference,” said Juhyung Park (12), vice president of the MUN club. “From what I have observed at MUN meetings, I have full confidence in all members to perform extremely well this conference. However, although it was great that SIS delegates perform well and receive awards at SEOMUN, I hope everyone still had fun during the debate.”
Tiger Times December 2016
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Trump discloses big plans for the future as president-elect
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onald Trump’s victory in the election was a rather unexpected outcome based on the Electoral College forecast. Although the official presidential inauguration does not take place until next January, Trump has been in and out of the White House to prepare for his presidency. In retrospect, both economists and politicians have stated that his high and low points in the election make it extremely hard to predict what the presidency of Donald Trump will actually look like. As predicted by many politicians, he continues to select a Republican majority for his cabinet, such as his choice of Reince Priebus who was the chairman of the Republican National Committee, as the White House Chief of Staff. The most controversial of all his choices was his appointment of Steve Bannon, leader of a right wing and provocative website Breitbart News and previous employee of Goldman Sachs, as chief strategist. Although Trump has described Bannon as a “highly qualified leader,” according to the New York Times,
many officials in the White House themselves are unsure of how things are going to unfold in the future. “One of Trump’s major attacks on Hillary was her close relationship with the Goldman Sachs Company and he used his campaign to run against the financial firm,” said Morgan Miller, AP Economics teacher. “Now that he’s in office, it seems ironic how he selects Steve Bannon, a previous employee at the firm, as his chief strategist. There has never been an official in the White House comparable to someone of Bannon’s character with his ties to white nationalists, and I find this appointment to be a worrisome choice.” According to Trump’s first television interview, his goals can be summarized into three areas of focus: cleaning up corruption in Washington, strengthening national security by tightening immigration policies, and imposing actions to protect American workers. In the same interview, Trump stated that he plans to bring his promised immigration policies into action as soon as he gets into office. An estimated three
million immigrants have been identified, and he emphasized the necessity of securing America’s borders, much like his initial policies proposed at the beginning of the election. “Considering the situation right now, no one can really predict how Trump’s policies are going to fold out,” said Sky Park (11), MUN member. “While it is unlikely that every one of Trump’s policies will materialize, his immigration policies are too outrageous to be passed in Congress, regardless of the fact that there is a Republican majority. Hopefully the checks and balances system of the US government maintains most of what the nation has stood for since the days of the founding fathers.” Another aspect of the presidency is his implications on the entire world economy. Already, the US has started to see changes in its currency. According to CNN Money, the dollar has risen sharply against the Mexican peso that plunged to record lows due to it being the main victim of a global nervousness coming from Trump’s target on trade deals. Trump has announced some
of his economic plans toward Mexico, such as pulling out of the North American Free Trade agreement (NAFTA) and also threatening to put a 35 percent tariff on Mexican goods. His policies on China are similarly aggressive, as he has suggested “dropping” China out of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and imposing as high as 45 percent tariffs on Chinese goods to protect the interests of American businesses. The US is the biggest market for Chinese exports, making Trump’s aspirations a risk for China’s growth and their plethora of manufacturing jobs. “The US has been recovering ever since the 2008 recession, and a slowdown in the market may have bad ramifications,” said Mr. Miller. “Trump is already into conflict with the Chinese and other markets, and if countries decide to stop sending their products to the US market, this may lead to higher prices for basic necessities at Walmart and other stores.” By Michelle Lee Sophomore, Staff Writer
The More You Know Diversifying the conversation on diversity in America “You’re Asian, right? Why are you even here?” These were the questions journalist Aaron Mak heard after being assaulted at a Black Lives Matter protest earlier this year. Those questions stuck with him for the next few days, and they stick with us every day. As an American citizen, whenever Asian Americans like me—as diverse as we are—hear of protests against systemic racism on the news, we struggle to figure out whether we fit into the movement. After all, we are apparently the “model minority” who have successfully “overcome racism” to make the American Dream. For instance, consider Cefaan Kim, an American soldier, who was told “inspiringly” that in the army, “there is no black, white, yellow, or brown, just army green,” but had to fight every day to convince his fellow soldiers he was just as willing to fight, bleed, and die for the stars and stripes. This is the reason why we belong to the crusade for racial equality. Everybody does. Also, for the millions of Asian Americans struggling to make it in an increasingly hostile America, our message, hopefully, is clear: in your fight for
racial equality, don’t leave us behind. You see, the primary problem with the conversation about race in the United States is that it is portrayed as a dichotomous narrative pitting white against black, or white against Hispanic, or white against Native American. Because of this, I am constantly told that Asian Americans are successful now and we don’t really know what it’s like to suffer. Every time I hear this, I am inclined to wonder: was it not the Japanese who were stripped from their homes, forced into labor camps, their livelihoods destroyed, just because of their heritage? Was it not the Chinese whose blood, sweat, and tears line the railroads of this country? And it is not only the past we’re talking about here—according to the American Psychological Association (APA) in 2010, 11.1 percent of Asian American students reported being bullied for their race. Even with this abuse, however, the APA noted that Asians are often missing from national data on school victimization, a testament to how isolated we can feel. To solve these problems, we need to
Food sales and diversity of menus increase There has been a noticeable increase in the diversity of food sales in the past month, due to introduction of the Tiger Food Council (TFC) as well as increased fundraisers. Selling a new and larger range of foods from Myongin Mandu to Arizona Iced Tea, the new club garnered attention from students as they began their club activities. In addition, increased food fundraisers from different clubs, such as chicken fundraisers from
China Care Club, also contributed to the influx of food sale diversity. “TFC is a club that aims to provide better, affordable food to the [school] community,” said Sam Kim (12), president of TFC. “It has only been about a week since we started selling food at the TFC store, but we started off successfully and I am sure that if we continue at this pace, we will make significant progress this year as a new club.”
follow three steps. The first step is to point out how easy it is for the racial stereotyping of Asian Americans to fly under the radar. During the height of the Oscars So White controversy earlier this year, Academy Awards host Chris Rock made derogatory jokes about Asians that were applauded by an audience that had just been criticizing racial underrepresentation. We need to denounce these hypocritical stereotypes by affirming that no racism is acceptable, no matter who it’s targeting. The second step is to clarify the role of media. Media networks need to start explaining the nuanced elements of movements for racial equality. For example, many Asian Americans who protest the severe underreporting of crimes against their people support one of the official goals of the Black Lives Matter movement, which is to keep law enforcement accountable. It is simply inaccurate to portray the Black Lives Matter movement as a fight between blacks and whites over police brutality, when in reality, it targets systemic racism in the United States.
By Andrew Ham But awareness is not good enough on its own. We need to take one final step, which is to actively seek out and celebrate all supporters of the movement, no matter their affiliation. In many places, such as Ethiopia and Hong Kong, completely separate groups have formed tight-knit communities during demonstrations that transcend racial barriers. Likewise, once Americans see that it is not just blacks protesting unjust incarceration, but whites, Asians, Hispanics, hand-in-hand, they realize that there are not hundreds of little fights over separate issues; there is just one, the universal fight for equality. When members of different races squabble over who is hurt the most by racism, what kind of message does that send? How can we call for racial unity when we can’t even work among ourselves? To build a more fair and just society in the United States, we need to stand together in combatting modern-day racism. Alone, we are only 17, 12, five percent of the population. Together, we are so much more—and in the conversation about race, the numbers do add up.
Music department holds winter performances The high school music department’s annual winter concert was held on Dec. 1 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the school auditorium. Ever since the beginning of the semester, the high school orchestra, band, choir and strings groups have all been practicing numerous musical pieces to perform in front of the school community. Moreover, the SIS Ambassadors Choir visited Kunkook University to perform on Nov. 4. As part of a tradition
that started since last year, the Ambassadors have been visiting the university two years in a row as a Christmas charity event. “Last year, our choir booked a pretty big gig at the Grand Hyatt hotel,” said Kallina Chin, choral director. “I thought we should give back to the community if we were going to be invited to such a fancy event, and this year we are simply repeating what we did last year.”
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s ie d Tu S l ia c o S , s e m A . r M l e tropica r e h w e m as in ake up so I usual y w s Day. In 2004, I w o Phi K ma on Christ as meant to be in when 6, Iw Malaysia. d on December 2 t s ailan it the coa g h Phi in Th i m a n u s havin ive t the mass y, because I w as rry ckil me there. L u eating and being fun pone my t s o p o t so much ed ia, I decid e day and, by a s y a l a M in on ailand for t in Ko Phi Phi h T o t ip tr no acle, w as astated it. I’m ir m e l p v sim unami de s t e h t n . whe l for that u f k n a h t very
Curtis Lee, 10
It w as Christm as e lieving in Santa ve tw o years ago. I had l ong past stop , so I no longe ped ber real y felt th w ent to sleep e magic of th that night like e season. I any other, no the next day t expecting a . How ever, a nything of s I w oke up e saw the pres arly Christma ents that my s morning and dad had brou ized somethin ght home last g that instead night, of being wrap presents w e ped under the I realre stil on his desk! My dad tree, the ruin Christma w as about to s. Of course, singleI didn't believe 9-year-old sis in Santa anym handedly ter stil had th ore, but my at tw inkle in lated to Chris her eyes whe tmas came u n anything re p, and I couldn the presents 't let her dow and prepared n . S o to I grabbed jump into acti stirring, so I h on. I heard m astily threw th y e presents in sister tightened the to the Christm strings, and s a s sack, tuck a little S fast as I could anta note on , I then placed it . T iptoeing as it under the tr task w as com ee and sighed plete. Half an in relief: my hour later I w presents as s atched my sis he screamed ter in delight, ma after each gif king sure to th open her t. L ooking ov ank Santa er her, I felt a me that I had w armth rush n't felt in a lon ing through g time. That returned to m morning, Chri e. That morn stmas joy ing, I w as San ta Claus.
8 LIFESTYLE
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complaints
against the world
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By Ye Joon Kah
am hungry (as always) and extremely anxious to get a bite of the wonderfully baked chocolate chip cookie gazing up at me with its beautiful chocolate chip eyes and crispybaked nose. However, the moment I bite into it, I realize that the treacherous cookie is not a chocolate chip cookie, but a dreaded oatmeal raisin cookie instead. Suddenly, my love for the cookie turns into a seething wave of anger at the cookie and shame and disgust at my gullible self. The anger I feel at deceitful items, such as an oatmeal raisin cookie, does not necessarily stem from the fact that I absolutely abhor oatmeal raisin, but from the frustration that piles up with each new fraud. For example, when I tried to be healthy for once and bought a healthy “nutritional bar,” it turned out to be a regular, chocolate-covered junk of GMO grains. Such items are a complete scam and also a psychological manipulation of the brain. The very moment a person realizes that they were fooled into a decision, rage, sadness, and self-deprecation come crashing over them at once. I may be at fault for being gullible or a bit too careless, but it is true that many items are there to deceive people on purpose. But if deceitful actions are only bound to disappoint or anger people, why do we have products and advertisements that falsely spread information in the first place? The very fact that there are many people that fall for the tricks should not be exploited for a few cents, but rather serve as the exact reason why people should not delude others. Those that try to intentionally deceive other people have a questionable morality. Even if the deceit is allegedly for the good of the other person, the feeling of disappointment that follows after finding out the truth is even more disappointing. One time, a store clerk recommended me a t-shirt because it “looked good” on me. Putting my infinite trust in her judgment, I decided to buy it without a second of doubt. However, after I got home and actually tried it on, I looked like an absolute idiot. If only people would imagine themselves in other peoples’ shoes, we would have fewer intentionally deceptive actions that take place in society. Although it might take some time and energy, nothing is uncontrollable. Maybe having a sign that said “Oatmeal Raisin Cookie” would have prevented me from being overly disappointed. One action can change the world for a person. So please, this is an honest plea to the world asking that we should all be caring citizens that treat each other like we want to be treated.
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Boreumsae: the first Korean
f anything is a testament to the ravenous hunger South Koreans hold for barbecue, it is the sheer multitude of Korean Barbecue restaurants on the tiny peninsula. In the ever-populous sea of barbecue restaurants, foodies like me are always on the hunt for that special someplace. Whether it is the perfect ambiance, a witty menu, or a to-die-for secret seasoning passed down through generations, the scope of characteristics that make up a great grill will shock any BBQ newbie. Reviews more shrewd than the those of home bloggers is the internationally acclaimed restaurant reference, Michelin Guide, first published in 1900. With their meticulous vetting process, it is considered an unequaled honor for a restaurant to be acclaimed with a Michelin star. Many Michelin starred chefs are considered sacrosanct, the creators of fine cuisine
the likes of ambrosia. There are more than a handful of cynics and self-declared gourmands who would scoff at the idea of a BBQ restaurant being granted such prestige. Yet this summer, Korean BBQ restaurant Boreumsae earned their first Michelin star in the Michelin guide's first Seoul edition. I got the chance to pay a visit to Boreumsae. The restaurant is located in Samseong-dong and specializes in Jeju beef. Walking into the restaurant, one would not immediately think the regular-looking joint has a Michelin star. The normalcy of Boreumsae, with its traditional geometric metal accents, is more evocative of any Korean barbecue place than a high-end boutique restaurant. The set-up also does not radically differ from your average local Korean BBQ restaurant: three or so tables line the windows, long booth-like tables run down the middle
of the space, and closedoff rooms are placed along the interior. The staff consists mostly of Korean ajuma’s in semi-formal attire with their hair tied up. The whole affair of Boreumsae is incredibly down to earth and casual. With a party of seven, I was seated at one of the boothstyled tables. For our
Review: Grisham’s “The Whistler” reaches NYT Bestseller List
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entered on a strong heroine and her fight against corruption, "The Whistler" by John Grisham is a classic good-trumpsbad mystery novel. The thriller tracks a secret money-laundering scheme executed by an intriguing trio: a dishonorable judge, a nefarious mafia, and a shady Native American casino. Despite the occasionally bland dialogue and the characters that sometimes fall flat, Grisham hits home with his praise of social justice, by providing readers a sneak peek into the shadows of the US judicial system. Ever since his first book hit the shelves in 1989, Grisham has stamped almost every single one of his works with a classic “Grisham style." “The Whistler” is no exception. It is unmistakably easy to distinguish the protagonists from the antagonists, and the line between good and bad is drawn with undeniable clarity. At the heart of the plot, corruption beats in a dark corner of the US legal code that an average reader would not be familiar with. As in most of his other works, tension is heightened over chapters as protagonists fend off imminent dangers and readers stumble upon key storyline
reveals. Finally, the narrative comes to an end with an uplifting and hard-earned victory for social justice and hope in the face of evils. Even with these prominent familiarities, Grisham departs from his traditional male protagonist and leaves the stage to Lacy Stoltz, an investigator for the Board on Judicial Conduct. Determined to the degree of almost being headstrong, Lacy chases a trail of witnesses, convicts, and whistleblowers that all point her to Judge Claudia McDover, who is found sitting comfortably at the center of a whirlwind of greedy double-dealings. Judge McDover is in charge of facilitating a corrupt bargain between the Coast Mafia and a faction of the Tappacola Native Americans. As part of the deal, the Coast Mafia is granted unfettered access to Tappacola Nation land, and is allowed to pursue any development project that pleases them. In exchange, the faction is given a slice of the Coast Mafia’s casino profits. Grisham is, as always, masterful in his intricate plot construction. However, “The Whistler” has one shortcoming: style. Dialogue between characters often
comes across as plain, if not bland. One USA Today writer even goes to say that Grisham employs a “sense of humor Dads have been perfecting around grills for a century.” Indeed, Grisham’s “Dad” vibe is especially apparent in passages detailing Lacy’s inner thoughts. In some sections, one can almost visualize the 61-year-old man trying very hard to stuff himself inside the head of a modern working woman in her mid-30s. But overall, “The Whistler” is more than qualified to join the other 39 solid Grisham novels on his heavy shelf. Readers will be guided by a fearless heroine, hand-in-hand, through a perilous storm of vile corruption and will ultimately emerge into a warm, classic, conciliatory Grisham ending. According to The New York Times, Grisham is “at heart an optimist who believes that wrongs can be ferreted out and righted.” Though that outlook may not always stand true in the real world, Lacy’s valor and nerve in “The Whistler” may leave readers believing otherwise. By Diana Nakyoung Lee Junior, Staff Writer
Tiger Times December 2016
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barbeque on the Michelin Guide choice of meat, we ordered cuts of skirt steak and their house “special sirloin”. For our meal, we decided on fermented bean-paste jjigae with brisket and cold buckwheat noodles. They served four banchans, or side dishes: tangy pickled radish kimchi, refreshing chongmu kimchi, and two different salads—one with a sweet citrus dress-
ing, the other a spiced pepper mix. Next, we were served a savory dish of raw beef sashimi topped with tobiko and coupled with a traditional mix of ground raw beef in sesame oil and soy sauce. The jjigae was served spicy and boiling hot in a traditional earthen pot with pepper and chive garnishes. The well-sliced cuts of brisket in the soup did not disappoint either. When the flavorful broth became overwhelming, the icy buckwheat noodle coupled the perfect cool additive to balance the tasty experience. Even after wolfing down the delicious varieties of starters, I was hungry for what was coming—the finale of our meal: those perfect scarlet marbled swirls and sizzling meat, the snip-snip of scissors on hissing cuts, and that magical first bite. The skirt steak came first. The waitress artfully grilled the pieces at our table, and soon after grilled the sirloin. I picked up a
Gender ID; age challenge standards on runway
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ix ft. and 77 kg. These numbers do not describe your average man, but they are the average height and build of a male model. From Abercrombie models that flaunt their abs on shopping bags to high-profile professionals Benjamin Jarvis and Lucky Blue Smith, the majority of men that strut the catwalk are tall, toned, and trendy in a uniform manner. Recently, however, an array of brave new men has stepped up to defy the traditional male model ideal in nearly every modeling aspect, from size to age. According to the Houston Chronicle, male models generally debut in their midto-late teens (16-18). However, this August, the internet was introduced to Chinese model Deshun Wang, who walked the runway at the 2015 China Fashion Week for designer Sheguang Hu’s autumn/winter collection. Wang was 79 years old at the time, making him the oldest male model to debut in China. “Wang was inspiring because he showed people that regardless of age, anyone can pursue their dreams if they just put their heart to it.” Sophie Park (12) said. “The fact that Wang appeared in the runway even though he is [nearly] 80 can open doors to many other people because it proves that there are no barriers in walking down the catwalk. Fashion is not just about the appearance but also about the confidence and the proper attitude that someone can have.” While some models like Wang challenged pre-existing standards, others such as American newcomer Zach Miko added new categories to the exclusive industry. According to the Guardian, Miko is the first model to define the term “brawn” in fashion, the male equivalent of curves in women. As Target’s first and only “plussize” male model, Miko hopes to advocate health and expand the market to supply sizes for “normal-looking guys.” “I think Miko is definitely still not on the very plus-side of the spectrum.” Said Dowhan Kim (9), fan of Florian Van Bael. “The classification of being plus-sized in men is
less significant than it is for women. Since plus-size clothing only seems to be for mass-produced retail fashion, I hope Miko will bring more variety in men’s clothes, especially for more high-end fashion.” On the other hand, some male models are not pushing the boundaries or creating new paths but instead re-defining past concepts. Model Laith Ashley received the spotlight during this year’s New York Fashion Week, stepping up to share his story and mission as a transgender male. Ashley came out as transgender three years prior to the show, and landed a photo-shoot with the Barneys Transgender Campaign even before he began his transition. According to the Huffington Post, Ashley’s hope is to further normalize the social role of transgender individuals. “He has taken a large step in breaking a stereotype,” said Hayoon Song (10), fan of model Miles McMillan, who is the recurring face of John Varvatos and Tommy Hilfiger. “[Ashley] is pursuing a career that requires a lot of exposure and puts him at risk for much judgment because the fashion industry has very clear gender distinctions. Some people might say that he is not an appropriate choice to properly portray masculinity, but that is ridiculous. It is wrong to assume that Ashley is any different or less of a man because he is transgender.” The men described above flaunt an entirely new “collection” of defying and re-defining the restrictive status quo for male modeling. Though men are typically believed to have more leeway in terms of looks, the fashion world is built on rampant generalization of body ideals regardless of gender or identity. According to Amy Alkon of Psychology Today, to understand what it takes to be beautiful, an acceptance of differences within beauty standards according to gender must take place. Perhaps trailblazers such as Wang, Ashley and Miko could be the key to this acceptance. By Dawn Kim Sophomore, Staff Writer
piece of the skirt steak and dipped it into a small well of salt and pepper. The first bite was slightly crunchy as my teeth bit into the grilled crust, then I could taste the rich, almost sweet juice of the skirt steak with an aftertaste of salt as the grains worked themselves into the meat: the soft meat melted in my mouth. The sirloin was thicker and more savory, and had more bits of fat marbled in between the chewier portions of the meat. Both were unlike any other barbecue experience. Although not radically innovative or different from other Korean barbecue places, Boreumsae perfects the classic experience. If the number of barbecue places in Korea is a testament to our love of barbecue, then Boreumsae’s Michelin star is a testament to the restaurant’s peerless quality. By Grace Lee Senior, Production Editor
Where do you go By Justin Chang from here? Junior, Staff Writer
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ou seniors have just drafted, finalized, and turned in the documents that can single-handedly decide your futures for the next four or maybe even 50 years. It is a culmination of 12 years of schooling, three-and-a-half years of constantly checking Powerschool, a full year of giving up, and a couple months of panic writing applications. Now everything is finally over. So now what? Where do you go from here? First things first, I am only a junior so I have absolutely no qualifications to lecture about life after applications. But I’m still going to try and do it, so please allow me just a few minutes. Your first immediate consequence is that you have the option to get infected by senioritis. By having the option, I mean you absolutely will. Your productivity will drop an insane amount, more adequate to what it should be— your current level of productivity is way too high for a senior who has just finished applications. You will feel freer than America: your stresses about attending “Sunnyside Community College” will disappear, your GPA will go from being your lifeline to mere squiggles, your parents will quiet down for the first time in 18 years, and you will be relieved that your long journey is now almost over. Sorry. Just kidding. The ugly reality is, you haven’t been accepted into any schools yet. Yes, applications are ready and done but that glorious acceptance letter—or the fateful rejection letter—has yet to be delivered. Sunnyside might still be an available option. Sunnyside Community is here to stay. Your GPA still matters if you don’t want your soon-to-be-emailed acceptance letter to be retracted. Yes, you can just let it go for the rest of this
semester and the full of next semester, averaging 20s in all your classes. But that would mean you would have to prepare a fake story about how your whole family was killed by a freak gunman and you somehow miraculously survived because Batman saved you, but because of the severe scarring you could not keep up in school, or else colleges will interpret your falling grades as slacking off, a story which is a whole lot more believable than a mass-homicide. You are free from the stresses of college applications, but don’t think for a second that your parents are done with nagging you. They will find the littlest flaws in your character to nitpick you about: “Why can’t you eat faster,” “Why can’t you be as kind as your friends,” “When are you leaving my house,” “Why are you still single.” That ends only when you pack your suitcase and officially leave your parent’s custody. Lastly, your long journey is not over. You may have finished 12 years of studying, but that still leaves four years of undergrad, four years of grad school, three years minimum of law school or four years minimum of medical school, three years minimum of residency, and an optional one-year-minimum of fellowship for that career in law or medicine that your parents want you to have, and all this before your journey of employment actually starts. Then it's about a year of unemployment and a few decades of employment until you retire at 65 or later. Your journey isn’t over, it’s just beginning. The next 50 years of your life may seem daunting but it will be memorable. Probably. But at the end of the day, you passed the first hurdle of your life! Celebrate it with the small but good things in life. Enjoy and relax, but in moderation. Last but not least, start praying.
10 SPORTS The 26-year-old love for Chicago Cubs: Mr. Dominguez
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Photo courtesy of Ms. Goodrich
n Nov. 11, after seven games, the Chicago Cubs won a hard-fought series against the Cleveland Indians, taking the World Championships for the first time in 108 years. Among the many celebrating fans all over the world was Mark Dominguez, middle school math and Spanish teacher. Having previously taught in two other schools overseas, he introduced “engaging” and “innovative” teaching methods to SIS to make the classroom atmosphere even more lively. According to Taeyeon Kim (11), a former student of Mr. Dominguez, he is considered to be one of the most active teachers and is definitely no stranger to the majority of the SIS high school population, most of whom he also taught in middle school as a math teacher. “Whenever I could not understand a concept or a problem, Mr. Dominguez would never hesitate to help me,” Taeyeon said. “He was that one teacher who would answer with the same
amount of willingness no matter how many questions you asked and never get tired. Then he would also be the one to cheer you up when you finally got the hang of the problem.” According to Taeyeon, this sort of enthusiasm and determination extend toward his attachment for the Cubs as well. Mr. Dominguez has been a Cubs fan for the past 26 years, ever since he moved to Chicago when he was in third grade. Even after growing up, he remains an avid fan because of the personal connection he feels for the team after having watched it develop throughout his life. Therefore, regardless of the Cubs’ playing results, he supports the team with a general love that does not stem from multiple factors. “My earliest memories of watching the Cubs were when I would race back home as soon as school ended to catch the last few innings of the games,” Mr. Dominguez said. “Back then, the Cubs’ games always started at 1:20 p.m., and school ended at 3:30 p.m. So if I came
Photo courtesy of Mr. Dominguez
back home quick enough, I would be able to catch the last few minutes of the game.” To further prove his status as a fervent fan, Mr. Dominguez even has a favorite seat in the Wrigley Field, the Cubs’ stadium; he likes to sit in the bleachers by the outfield because he can catch home run balls from that position. In fact, his passion continues to exist even after moving to different countries and encountering various time zones by managing to stay on top of all the new information on the team. “Of course, in Korea, I can not watch as many games on live television because of the different time zones from America,” Mr. Dominguez said. “Specifically, when the Cubs play, it is usually morning in Korea, and I have to either teach or perform other work-related tasks. Therefore, the only times I can watch the Cubs play are during the weekend, when I can adjust my schedule and stay at home.” In essence, even the barrier of con-
flicting time zones does not deter Mr. Dominguez from remaining one of the most passionate Cubs fans around the world. Just as how many Koreans can remember the exact moment the Korean soccer team advanced to the quarterfinals during the 2002 World Cup, Mr. Dominguez can recount, in exact detail, when he saw the Cubs winning the World Series. “I remember that it was during my free period, and the games had ended just two minutes before the fire drill,” Mr. Dominguez said. “I could see the team just hugging each other with mixed expressions of disbelief and exhilaration. I had never seen them win the World Series in my life, so that is why this game was especially remarkable. When you are really passionate about something, it is hard to control your emotions.” By Jina Kim Junior, Staff Writer
Decreased student participation in annual cheerleading tryouts
This year, the number of participants trying out for the varsity and junior varsity cheerleading teams dropped from approximately 40 people to 25. According to Jina Kim (10), a returning cheerleader, while there are various reasons as to why participation in both sports decreased dramatically over the course of a year, the underlying cause for lack of participants is due to perceptions the new freshmen had of the sport prior to trying out. “When I initially asked the freshmen for an approximate number of people trying out for the sport this season in the summer,
I received a much higher number than the actual two people that showed up,” Jina said. “Apparently, there was miscommunication about the difficulty of the tryouts that arose among the freshmen, causing many of them to drop out even after practicing diligently over the summer. This is an unfortunate occurrence, and I hope this does not happen again because cheerleading is always open to anyone and everyone interested.” In addition to the overall lack of participation during the first tryouts, there have been changes made to the team structure as
many “skilled” cheerleaders graduated last June according to Caroline Min (11), another returning cheerleader. Due to such changes in team dynamics, both the varsity and the JV teams have decided to focus on teamwork in particular. “Over the summer, our coaches learned more about competitive school cheerleading at classes, so our system has changed compared to last year,” Caroline said. “Specifically, the way we learn our chants and stunts have changed. For example, although we tried to be safe, there were a few accidents while practicing last year, so
our coaches now take even greater safety measures in order to ensure safety. Also, rather than separating into varsity and JV teams during practice, we practice together, which boosts our collaboration and helps us perform better at games and at our final competition.” Aside from the teams working on polishing their respective skills, clubs such as Tiger Sports Council (TSC) and Tiger News Today (TNT) have also stepped up to help promote school spirit. Specifically, TSC hopes to increase the number of people watching the sports games held at home while TNT plans to continue creating visuals using various form of media to deliver information mostly regarding school events. “Though we have made a lot of progress in the last few years, I believe that there are still more areas in which we can improve upon,” said Hyjo Shim (11), TSC vice president. “For example, we hope to work with different clubs such as TNT to better communicate with the student body and raise school spirit, one of our main goals.” By SooMin Lee Junior, Staff Writer
Tiger Times December 2016
Jump, Shoot, Score!: Korean Classic Tournament
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n Nov. 19, the varsity girls and boys basketball teams participated in the Korean Classic Tournament against three other international schools: Korea International School (KIS), Taejeon Christian International School (TCIS) and Yongsan International School of Seoul (YISS). The varsity basketball teams played three matches against the three schools and were able to bring back the first and second place plaque, marking a steady start for the rest of the season. “The importance of this tournament does not lie in whether we win or lose at the end of the day because it is just three ‘practice’ games to mark the start of the season,” said Chris Koester, varsity girls basketball coach. “However, it is still a special opportunity for the basketball players to get acclimated to new positions and combinations, and for me to get a better understanding of their strengths and weaknesses so that we can chart our course for this season.” Though winning was not the primary objective of the team going into the tournament, the teams excelled against opponents nevertheless. The team won the game against KIS with a score of 27:26, and the game against YISS by 20:9. However, the team lost to TCIS by two points with a score of 22:24. Its success can be accredited to the whole team’s collective effort as it has tried different tac-
tics and come up with an effective strategy beforehand. According to Hannah Kim (10), varsity girls basketball player, the group took on a new strategy that divided the basketball players into six different teams which rotated per each game. This method helped to reduce players’ stress and also helped them to get breaks in between games. In addition, the JV team helped out to fill in spots for the each of the six teams. “It is Coach Koester’s last year at SIS, so he wanted to do something new before he left,” said Grace Oh (10), varsity girls basketball player. “It was hard to get used to at first, but we had many practices on this new play, which was very effective against other teams, and probably one of the reasons why we were able to place first in the tournament. It was especially more memorable because it was the first time in four years that we defeated the KIS varsity girls basketball team. Our entire team, including Coach Koester has extremely high hopes for this season and we wish that we can mark a powerful end to our powerful start.” Likewise, the varsity boys basketball team also were successful in the matches against KIS and TCIS by winning the schools by a score of 48:37, 48:31, respectively. Unfortunately, the team lost to YISS with a score of 39:42, placing second overall in the tournament. Likewise, the varsity boys basketball team also developed a
strategy before the tournament in order to effectively plan out their game. According to Andrew Lee (11), varsity boys basketball player, the team pursued a more defensive strategy, which put more pressure on the other team and in turn prevented the opponents from shooting. “I think the tournament was very helpful in that we could see our progress as a team and find out areas to work on, as well as an opportunity to strengthen teamwork in the beginning of the season,” Andrew said. “Also, it gave us an idea of other teams and their skill levels so that we can build upon new strategies. The tournament was helpful in the aspect that it highlighted our team’s strengths and weaknesses, which is extremely important in working towards improvement.” With a memorable day of building new friendships between different teams as well as an opportunity to compete in non-competitive matches with other schools, both the varsity girls and boys basketball team will continue training until the end of the season, with approximately 14 games left to go. Although their season will be on a hold during winter break, the varsity basketball teams will be back on the courts by January ready, more than ever, to continue on an exciting season. By Ye Joon Kah Sophomore, Staff Writer
SPORTS PHOTO OF THE MONTH
Sports Briefs By Alice Lee Conor McGregor becomes first man to hold two UFC titles On Nov. 12, the 28-year-old, Conor McGregor, established two Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) belts simultaneously following the knockout of Eddie Alvarez, the former lightweight champion at New York’s Madison Square Garden. According to the New York Times, McGregor resembles Muhammad Ali, as both displayed great showmanship by displaying aggressive behavior toward their opponents before the fight and by recognizing their audience in various ways such as blowing kisses. “McGregor truly made history by becoming the first lightweight champion who took the UFC belt two times in a row,” said Andrew Kim (12), advocate of McGregor. “I believe that he is one of those very few people who are able to both appease his audience and perform at his peak under such intense pressure. By using unprecedented techniques of attacking his opponent, McGregor fought his way through to the top despite the challenges he had to face regarding his comparatively ‘disadvantageous’ physique.”
KOVO implements new tryout system for selecting foreign male players According to Donga Ilbo, the Korean Volleyball Federation (KOVO) changed their previous method of choosing new volleyball players from signing separate independent contracts to holding tryouts to recruit “less-skilled” foreign players on the team. However, in the NH Nonghyup V League games held on Nov. 13, the outcomes turned out to be against the low expectations of recruiting foreign members, as two Hungary players led the whole team to victory and help raise 1.8 percent more points compared to last year’s results. “Recruiting members by holding tryouts backfired in a positive way as ‘more skilled’ foreign players joined to improve the quality of the whole team,” said Alexandra Oh (9), volleyball player. “Such may be the case, since foreign players have taller physiques with longer arms and legs that enable them to both strike the ball more powerfully in the opponent’s side of the net and block the ball from getting over to their side of the net.”
2016 KBO Awards brings an end to baseball season Closing the baseball season, the 2016 Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) Awards were held in the K Hotel Convention Center on Nov. 14, where awards were given in specific categories to certain baseball players. Specifically, the Best New Player Award was assigned to Jae Young Shin of Nexen Heroes, the Best Earned Run Average Award to Hyungwu Choe of Samsung Lions, and the MVP Award to Dustin Nippert of Doosan Bears. “Although I am a fan of the Lotte Giants and I do not like the Doosan Bears, Dustin Nippert is a pitcher and player that I truly respect,” said Andy Kim (11), Doosan Bears fan. “Despite the fact that he is a ‘veteran’ player at the age of 35, Nippert helped his team win especially by throwing fastballs that are harder to hit and making his pitches seem ‘more imposing’ due to his naturally tall height, which also gives him a significant advantage over average Korean baseball players.” Clapping her hands together, Helaine Lee (10) and the varsity cheerleaders cheer on the varsity boys basketball team that played against TCIS on Dec 1, 2016.
Photo by April Kim
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SMALL TALK
Idealog: pluralism It would seem that the theory of natural selection and the story of Noah’s Ark offer two starkly different viewpoints on the history of life. But upon closer examination, the two point to one observation: diversity is key to survival. Natural selection posits that genetic diversity preserves life. If every single amoeba in a culture carried the exact same genes and immune proteins, one could easily wipe out the entire population, using only one well-suited virus. Noah’s Ark was likewise built to shelter diversity from destruction. Before the divine flood, Noah was instructed by God to bring on board with him a pair of every type of animal in existence. In essence, regardless of how the concept of “life” is defined, diversity is crucial to human life all the same. But the philosophy of pluralism goes one step further. It sees diversity as something more than a mere fact of survival, or a necessity that must be begrudgingly accepted. Pluralism believes that we can raise sincere, beautiful, and harmonious unity from the soil of our differences—that the uniqueness in our thumbprints, skin colors, ideologies, ethnicities, genders, reveries, and loves nourish something exceptional. According to the Harvard University Pluralism Project, to be a pluralist one must directly engage with diversi-
FAUX NEWS
by Diana Nakyoung Lee ty. In other words, a pluralist does more than sit across the aisle from someone different from his or herself and tolerate their coexistence. Pluralists engage with, listen to, empathize with, communicate with people of diverse identities, then make a conscious commitment to explore and understand the nature of their true differences and their true common grounds. Though it may all seem like an idealistic reverie, pluralism exists, in small scales, at the very least. In his book “City of Gods,” University of Pennsylvania professor R. Scott Hanson paints a radiant picture of Flushing, New York: a city that began as the “birthplace of religious freedom” and eventually flowered into a “microcosm of world religions.” In Flushing, Methodist churches, Buddhist temples, Sikh gurdwaras, Hindu temples, and Greek Orthodox churches all bloom from a plot of land only a couple blocks wide, and they do so in harmony. Professor Hanson observes this town for years. It is so packed with differences and yet is still so peaceful that he eventually concludes, with support from other historical examples, that a “civil society, a pluralist society committed to democracy and religious freedom, can accommodate an enormous amount of pluralism without it resulting in conflict.” So here I am—in the aftermath of a presidential election as divi-
Remembering Day Ta, renowned statistician
Fair and Balanced This man will forever remain in our memories as being the closest person to a fortune-teller that the world has ever seen. He was a man that we turned to whenever we needed logic, rather than fervent rhetoric. Day Ta, the renowned statistician, passed away on Nov. 8, when for the first time in his lifetime he failed to predict the outcome of a US presidential election. Throughout the entire election cycle, Mr. Ta consistently predicted a victory, albeit a close one, for Hillary Clinton. Mr. Ta and his associates from a diverse network of media, from the New York Times to Buzzfeed, rated Mrs. Clinton as having over a 60 percent chance in winning the presidency up until the moment the ballots were opened. In fact, Mr. Ta had a great following globally and was renowned for his consistency in his predictions. “Mr. Ta was my hero,” said Nate Gold, founder of EightThirtyFive, a political statistical analysis website. “He was the backbone of all my assumptions in reality. But now, I don’t even know what to believe. Is this reality, or an alternate universe in which Mr. Trump won? One thing I do know for sure is this—on Nov. 8, we witnessed the fall of a giant.” According to his close friends and family, Mr. Ta did not have any health concerns, and his old age had never seemed concerning to him. His abrupt death was unexpected to the majority of his close associates. “Everything was as Mr. Ta had predicted,” said Liv Earl, a TV show
host who often worked with Mr. Ta. “News networks, professional statistics, newspapers, even CNN all had Ms. Clinton winning the election. If a person rose in the polls, they had a reason. If they dropped, they had a reason. That is what makes Mr. Ta’s death more shocking. His word was gold, and it always seemed like something we could rely on. But we were wrong. Maybe Mr. Ta had thought so as well, and he was just too shocked to move on.” In his work, Mr. Ta often utilized algorithms mathematically verified by multiple statisticians and mathematicians, supplemented with randomly polled survey data. He had been criticized in the past for “cherry picking” his sample population, but that had never deterred him from pursuing what he believed was right—finding an accurate mathematical representation of the world. “Mr. Ta was a honest man,” said Resin Able, a political science professor at Harvard University. “He lived on the truth. He based his life around the truth. However, in this election cycle there were just too many lies and overdramatizations, and perhaps not everyone was truthful to Mr. Ta, despite the universal respect for him, especially when they’re always being told that they’re ‘wrong’ because they support a certain candidate. I am no longer sure if Mr. Ta’s successor will be able to have the influence and accuracy of Mr. Ta—perhaps Mr. Ta’s death is truly the death of data.”
BY JOYCE LEE
sive as it could have been on the issues of race, gender, sexuality, religion, and class—to ask, “Can we be a pluralistic society?” Can we be a civil society? We are the millennial generation, and soon, the world will be in our hands. But before we can fill our hands with such weight, we must first fill our hearts. Fill it to the brim with the kind of compassion that can only be gained from a truly pluralistic appreciation for diversity—then fill it some more. Because the fact of the matter is, whether it is by evolution, creation, or some mystic otherworldly force, we are diverse by design. When, in the face of bigotry or hatred, it becomes hard to hold onto the belief that diversity really is remarkable and beautiful, remember that we are only mosaics: pictures scrambled together from rainbow shards, pieces of nucleotides and cultures collected over generations of time. We are all equal—not because we were meant to be the same—but rather because each one of us is so crazily, illustriously, and gloriously unique. Love pluralism. Embrace it. Understand it. Yield to it. It will not be of waste, I promise. For we have not yet completed the most beautiful mosaic of all. The human mosaic. With pluralism in your heart, you will have in your hands every single one of its seven billion brilliant pieces.
GIVING THANKS (FOR PIE) Photo by Ryan Jang
Contemplating what it would take to eat 50 slices of pie, Mr. A nthony Loveday falls victim to a prank played on him by fellow teacherson Nov. 21, days before Thanksgiving.
Happy Thanksgiving!