Tiger Times Volume 50 Issue 5

Tiger Times Volume 50 | Issue 5 | Janurary 2019 | ttonl.org

Leonard Lee (11) gives his thumbs up during the MUN conference.

The Hague, Netherlands

Jaywon Yi (12), Seoulite executive works on the daily issue.

From Jan. 25 to Feb. 2, SIS MUN club and Seoulite members attended the annual THIMUN conference hosted in The Hague, the Netherlands. At the five-day-long conference, MUN members had the opportunity to meet and debate with delegates from more than 100 countries.

Curtis Lee (12) smiles as MUN members huddle around in a meeting.

Yoon Lim (12) leans over Emma Lee (11) while on a tram.

Fly me to the MUN

Editorial HYPS Castle: Assessing parent-bashing amidst academic mania

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

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inally, a television show that hits close to home. We’re talking about SKY Castle, of course, the K-drama that captured Korea’s attention. In a few short weeks SKY Castle catapulted from humble premiere ratings to uncontested popular show. SKY Castle centers around a neighborhood of rich South Koreans who spend exorbitant amounts of money sending their children to Seoul’s top universities. The “SKY” portion of the title refers to these universities – Seoul, Korea, and Yonsei – and also denotes their exclusivity. As high school students preparing for college in a similar environment, it is no wonder that the show struck a chord with those at this school, especially with seniors. After all, we have heard peers refer to the show as “SIS on steroids.”

Although SKY Castle satirized various problematic aspects of Korea’s cutthroat college admissions process, its most poignant commentary is probably on the parents of our generation. The show portrays sinister, and often manic parents with tunnel vision who only have one thing on their minds: Seoul National University (SNU) Medical School. Everything else is superfluous, and they seem to be willing to kill if it means their child can go to a top-tier school. It’s hard to have sympathy for these characters; their infatuation is so extreme that they don’t seem to love their children, only that their children attend SNU. This caricature of college-crazed parents is a common one, especially around SIS. Parents are the first to be singled out when it comes to our student body’s apparent obsession with high tier universities such as Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford (HYPS), the international school’s version of SKY. There is a level of truth to this attribution, of course: many SIS parents project the misconception that a highly ranked college is the only path to achieving a successful life, and as a result, spend pools of money on college consulting, hagwons, and anything else that may give their child an edge in the admissions process. In turn, we too have internalized this belief, because it’s a vague but sufficient reason to attain and maintain the academic intensity that we unfailingly achieve each year. In this way, SKY Castle raises crucial questions pertinent to our lives about academic obsession, a topic seldom explored in Korean mainstream media.

But this important exposure comes with a caveat. As crucial as it is to recognize that there might be a problem, it is doubly crucial not to overly demonize parents for their contribution to that problem. One thing we’ve learned from SKY Castle: if you’re not a parent, you’re not going to get it. Watching the show, you won’t get how the parents manage to do such blatantly reprehensible acts, even if it is in the name of their children. But parental love is one of those things you can only understand through empathy; it’s a primal instinct that allows frail middle-aged mothers to lift cars and jump in front of trains. It’s also one of those things that can drive a perfectly virtuous person to ruin another child’s life without hesitation if it means their child can be successful.

Does the fact that such actions derive from love thereby make those actions justified? From the perspective of objective Socratic ethics, definitely not. But it does make them understandable. And while SKY Castle tells us that there are no easy solutions to the deeply-entrenched national issue of academic fervor, it also teaches us that the first step to solving any problem is to understand.

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 Evolving transportation industry threatens Korean taxi force

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tarting in October 2018, taxi drivers in Seoul have held public rallies against a new carpool service by Kakao. Launched in December 2018, the Kakao T Carpool app has increased accessibility to cheaper and faster transportation for Korean citizens. Unlike public transportation, the new service has the benefit of being privatized, and the service’s prices are lower than those of preexisting taxis in Korea. While such benefits have attracted a large number of customers, protests by taxi drivers against the launch of the program have only intensified since its creators announced their plans to do so.

The main purpose of the ongoing taxi rallies is to resolve the conflicting economic interests between the new Kakao app and conventional taxi companies. The rallying taxi drivers have petitioned for a meeting with President Moon Jae-In in hopes that direct governmental intervention could lead to better solutions to the current issue.

Despite having high participation rates among taxi drivers in Seoul, however, the protests have hardly gone noticed by the rest of the Korean population.

The recent taxi strike on Oct. 18, 2018, where 60,000 of the 100,000 taxis operating in Seoul halted their operation and partook in a 24 hour-long strike, failed to make a significant impact. Although the strike was carried out with

the intention of disrupting Seoul traffic, it merely aided in clearing up the busy roads of the nation’s capital. Some citizens even went onto social media to thank the taxi strike for reducing their commuting time in the morning, while others simply were unaware of the incident. The only drawback of the strike seemed to be that it was harder to catch a cab in the early hours in which the strike took place.

The negligible impact of the strike, it seems, has proven that the size of the Korean taxi industry could be reduced without much hardship. As the conventional taxi industry suffers under a new competitor, the Korean public and government have largely remained silent. The replacement of conventional taxi companies with newer services is hardly new, however; similar companies have existed since a decade earlier.

In 2009, Uber was first launched in the United States, and was followed by the founding of Lyft in 2012. These transportation companies, despite having been around for less than a decade, have already significantly impacted the American taxi industry, and many speculate that Kakao T Carpool will soon follow in its precedents’ footsteps.

A larger dilemma over the issue of whether the Korean economy should remain laissez-faire or incorporate government intervention to regulate new measures – particularly the one

at hand – has also sparked up from the recent taxi protest in Korea. Although Kakao Corporation was responsible for creating the new carpool app, some taxi drivers have criticized President Moon for neglecting his job of communicating with his citizens. The protesting taxi drivers have also claimed that it is the president’s duty to protect the livelihoods of menial workers, and have condemned Moon for failing in this task.

Considering that previous cases of similar incidents in other countries have resulted in the federal government allowing the taxi industry to be partially replaced by the newer institutions, it is best if the Korean government takes the same approach. Refraining from regulating the growth of such private industries will not only generate competition among companies providing similar resources and services, but will also help lower prices and increase the efficiency of transportation for the average Korean citizen. Due to all such benefits on the part of the government and public, as well as the insignificant impact that the taxi strike has had on Korea, it is safe to say that the Kakao T Carpool app – and the many services that will follow in its footsteps – is here to stay.

By JIWON LEE Sophomore, Staff Writer

Korean political figures take on YouTube as platform

Last month, Hong Jun-Pyo, former leader of South Korea’s Liberty Korea Party launched his highly controversial yet popular channel “Hongca Cola.”

Amid the success of Hong’s political videos in stimulating support for his conservative viewpoints, YouTube has become a bustling political battleground. Within a span of weeks, Hongca Cola reached 200,000 subscribers, and its rival, former Minister of Health and Welfare Rhyu Si-min’s channel “Alileo,”now has 631,000 subscribers.

Surprisingly, these channels are merely two of the 209 politicians who currently have their own YouTube platforms and contribute to the new wave of “YouTube Politics.”

This trend of “YouTube Politics” is directly linked to the unique benefits of the YouTube platform: the freedom to upload any content as desired and to make it accessible. In fact, according to a study done by the 20s Lab, a research center specialized on people in their 20s, 15 to 34-year-olds in Korea spend an average of two hours and two minutes daily on Youtube—that is, not to mention other platforms like Instagram and Facebook. The shifting reputation of YouTubers is also notable. According to the same study by 20s Lab, 68 percent

of young users believe that YouTubers are professionals, and thus nearly 75 percent of users on average consider YouTubers as more credible sources and influential figures than celebrities.

Essentially, through YouTube, politicians like Hong are able to directly communicate with their supporters and attain traits desirable in politics— accessibility, communication, but also credibility.

Despite the benefits, however, the unrestrained nature of YouTube also calls for improved wariness of the published political content. Unlike most YouTubers, the politicians utilizing the platform are not active for an entertainment purpose; rather, they use YouTube as a tool for campaigning. It must be noted that in nature, political channels and the rest of YouTube should not be treated equally, as the former has the ability to influence the governing of Korea as a whole, not much different from the influence that the traditional journalistic media has on voters. Especially as more citizens now perceive YouTube as a credible source, it is important that politicians on YouTube live up to the same standards as they would at press briefs or televised speeches. In the status quo, however, YouTubers like

Hong have already been under fire for abusing the freedom of having a channel by recklessly saying whatever he wants, however he wants. In one of his videos, for instance, Hong confirmed a false rumor by claiming that he heard that Im Jong-seok, presidential chief of staff, had “plotted to remove his political rival,” according to the Korea Times.

Hong has effectively manipulated fake information and his own political speculations, disguising them as facts, to sway viewers in his favor.

This trend of fake news is especially problematic on YouTube, on which the Korea Communications Standards Commission cannot regulate fake news due to the lack of legal grounds. While YouTube is given the same level of trust as media companies, it is not given the same careful evaluation and attention; this discrepancy manifests in the fake political news that circulates already.

YouTube in this digital age can indeed easily be an effective and ethical political tool for improved communication.

However, A stricter crackdown on fake news is crucial to ensure that YouTube is utilized for the benefit rather than the disruption of democracy.

By EJU RO Junior, Staff Writer

Tiger Times

January 2019

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

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

Website Managing Editor Kate Lee

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

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

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

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

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

Viewpoint Feature: The unignorable gap between teachers and students When was the last time you talked to your teacher regarding an issue that was not related to when the next quiz was?

Have you ever asked them how their day went or what they did on the weekends?

Don’t get complacent amidst Asian pop culture boom

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ooking at the rising craze of of Asian pop culture and the greater inclusion of Asians in Western films and TV shows, I could not help but feel proud. The growth of Asian representation in the mass media has been demonstrated by several instances the past year, including the popularity of the K-pop group “Bangtan Boys,” the release of the all-Asian cast movie “Crazy Rich Asians,” and Korean American actress Sandra Oh’s recent nomination for the Golden Globes.

Thanks to such greater acceptance of Asians in films, advertisements, and pop culture in general, this minority group has attained more opportunities to present their cultural, ethnic backgrounds with pride.

However, although Asians deserve to be proud of the increased recognition of their own ethnic groups in pop culture, they are unfortunately still marginalized on a global scale compared to other ethnic groups.

According to a study conducted at the University of Southern California Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, merely 5.3 percent of actors in Hollywood movies with a speaking role were Asian in 2016 while nearly 70 percent of actors were white – a trend that has remained consistent over the past two years. This trend is clearly visible to us as consumers, as it is uncommon to see an Asian perform a lead role in a movie, successfully debut in a western TV show, or even appear in advertisements for name-brand companies. Such infrequent appearances of Asians in mass media is why people still become so excited every time someone in this minority group

gains notable recognition from the public.

The tendency to direct less attention toward Asians in the west provides an important reminder to us all: we must realize that the lack of racial diversity in the mass media is not only flawed, but also an urgent problem that must be addressed. In other words, everyone must remember that people, regardless of their race or ethnicity, are as capable as others in all aspects. Ignoring such an obvious truth and leaving Asians underrepresented is equivalent to assuring the public that individuals from this minority group do not have a problem with stereotypes associated with the “bamboo ceiling,” the barrier faced by many Asians in the professional arena.

Of course, there have been many attempts to break the bamboo ceiling; yet, due to existent Asian stereotypes, there has been little to no progress made to do so. Specifically, according to the Harvard Business Review, common stereotypes characterize Asians as the most successful demographic group, being highly educated and receiving higher median incomes than other racial groups. While this belief may be true to some extent, it also generalizes all Asians to be satisfied with their place in society, preventing the rest from realizing that this racial group is actually underrepresented, especially in the mass media.

In fact, due to this common stereotype, Asians receive barely any priority in diversity programs, when in reality they are the ones to receive the least promotions in any professional work field, according to the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Hence, such underlying stereotypes

make it more difficult for Asians to boost their reputation in the mass media, leaving them to be marginalized.

However, this is not to say that there is no hope at all; the opposite is true, as it is only natural for social reforms to begin with fits and starts. Whenever a group of people wishes to change something about society, they will inevitably have to face struggles and work to overcome the barriers that stand in their way of progress.

Take the African American minority group as an example. At first, especially in the early 20th century, actors from this ethnic group were barely seen in Hollywood due to racial discrimination. In regard to such inequality present in the media, however, black people began to stand up for their own ethnic groups early on in history and started to fight for their rights through several protests, starting from the Civil Rights movement to the Black Lives Matter movement. Soon enough, thanks to their constant outcries, this ethnic group gradually found its place in the media and rose from silence by gaining more recognition through African American TV shows like the “George Lopez Show” and “Chico and the Man” two sitcoms that rose to great popularity in the 1970s and 2000s.

We should not simply glance at such progress and complacently applaud them for their increased reputation. Instead, we must learn from the significant strides they have made and understand that it is now the time for Asians to do the same – to express our discontent at always being underrepresented in the media and eventually, gain more recognition. We must, in other

words, remind others of the importance of increasing the representation of Asians and accentuate the unfairness of having a lack of diversity in mass media. Otherwise, the time for the world to finally view Asians with more respect and appreciation may never arrive.

More importantly, we must realize that we must act now to increase Asian representation in mass media. In the status quo, especially with the recent increase in the popularity of Asian movies, products, and more, we must strive to push Asians to the next level – to get a foothold and take the chances that will lead to more attention toward and respect for Asian ethnic groups.

The rising representation of Asians abroad should not be allowed to stagnate, but rather be encouraged all the more vigorously from now until this minority group finally becomes appropriately appreciated. This is our opportunity to seize, as now is the best chance for us to help Asians get a boost in reputation.

Of course, as of now, it is difficult for Asians to reach an equal status to that of already highly represented ethnic groups, especially European Americans. Yet, if we begin to strive toward greater Asian representation immediately, Asians will eventually, with no doubt, begin to play a more important role in media, gain more respect and attention from society, and most importantly, attain more opportunities to show the world their unique background with pride.

By KATE LEE Junior, Staff Writer

4 NEWS News Brief

By Andie Kim

2020 US election sees packed pool of new candidates

Junior, Staff Writer

SIS begins much needed renovations

Photo by Lauren Kang

As a new semester commenced on Jan. 7, students were met with a number of new renovations in their school facilities that occurred over their three-week break. The storage room on the basement floor was renovated into a dance and fitness studio with mirrored walls, Bluetooth speakers, a wooden floor, and see-through doorways. Music and string rooms are now soundproof, and there are new corkboards around the entire school. Moreover, a new electronic scoreboard was installed in both Tiger Gym 1 and the playing field, and the Annex Building has new ceilings and an elevator.

“The moment I looked at the storage room, I wondered why it hadn’t been for a purpose more special for students,” said Michael Colaianni, the acting head of school. ”Succeeding the dance studio, we already have the atrium marked for some changes to make it much more useful and appealing. We plan to remove the plants and build a flat wooden floor over the summer break. I’ve been trying for years to improve such a beautiful space where students can have more active productions, and we have a great opportunity to create a new SIS, one that is especially focused on students.”

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n Dec. 21, 2018, the US government shut down.

The shutdown started due to conflicting views regarding the US-Mexico border wall, when Democrats opposed President Trump’s proposed bill that called for the funding of 5.7 billion dollars to construct the wall. The shutdown continued past Jan. 12, becoming the longest in US history. Such disagreements have only added to the list of controversial actions President Trump has previously taken, such as starting a trade war with China.

“Building a Mexican border wall is unreasonable,” MUN President Katie Lee (12) said. “Also, the trade war will be a huge backlash for Trump. Agriculture industries and middle-class company workers rely on resources like metal, but when tariffs are implemented, it gets harder for these workers to buy the materials.

The trade war with China is posing threats to workers and companies that are vital to America’s economy.”

In the midst of Trump’s controversial presidency, media attention surrounding the list of Democratic candidates for the 2020 presidential election has been

increasing. One of the most favored contestants is Elizabeth Warren, Senator for Massachusetts, who was an advisor to Barack Obama. Regarding her policies, she is well known for calling for increased regulations on big corporations. Another notable politician is Nancy Pelosi, minority leader of Democrats within the House of Representatives. Her position as a strong environmentalist and plan to implement the Green New Deal is garnering her support from many citizens. Other popular politicians running are Julián Castro, Joe Biden, and Kamala Harris.

“Right now, I like a lot of different Democratic candidates, but specifically I’ve enjoyed Elizabeth Warren and her Wall Street reforms and tax reforms to lessen economic inequality,” said Morgan Miller, high school social studies teacher. “I also like Warren’s Medicare-for-all plan. I like Julián Castro and his health care and education system reforms. But honestly, it’s so early that I can change my mind a hundred times before the election comes. For the Republican party, I really do hope somebody challenges Trump.”

On the other hand, there are

Three AISA winter events were held on Jan. 24-28: the varsity girls basketball tournament at SenriOsaka International School, varsity boys basketball tournament at Yokohama International School, and math and leadership conferences at SIS. During these tournaments, participants met with athletes and students from international schools in Korea and Japan, competing and collaborating to build teamwork and sportsmanship.

“Our game at Senri-Osaka International School was very successful,” said Michelle Ahn (11). “For the first time in SIS history, the varsity girls won the AISA tournament, leaving a legacy we will never forget. It was great to challenge ourselves against a strong team and I also enjoyed spending time with my homestay family, eating Japanese snacks, and going to karaoke.”

Neil Farrelly, actor, director and founder of Nose2Nose, a creative arts and media group, devised drama in physical theater and storytelling workshops to drama class students on Jan.15-17. With 20 years of experience in consulting and directing in Asia, Farrelly introduced both high school and middle school drama students to unique exercises on improvisation, using their bodies to better project their voice, and constructing skits in a short amount of time.

“Having a new mentor brought a fresh vibe to the class dynamics,” said Kyuhee Han (11), a drama student. “Farrelly actively helped us incorporate what we previously learned in drama class to improvise something new and spontaneous, which is a skill that many theater students struggle with. Furthermore, he coached us on how to plan and perform a great drama piece in a short period of time by sharing and compiling our classmates’ ideas with our own.”

By KIRSTEN HUH Senior, Staff Writer

High school students affected by gas leakage at pension

Math Club, HSSC, and basketball athletes participate in AISA tournaments

Neil Farrelly devises drama workshops to students

Democratic candidates who have fallen in popularity and are receiving intense criticism. For example, Hawaii congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard was admired for her bravery and determination when she chose to leave Congress to join the military and fight in the Iraq War. Yet, when it seemed that support for her would only increase, her anti-gay past was discovered, embroiling her in controversy. Along with Gabbard, Kirsten Gillibrand has been condemned for her previous unsympathetic opposition to granting amnesties to illegal immigrants.

“At first, I thought it was reasonable for Tulsi Gabbard to be respected by so many people,” MUN Vice President Curtis Lee (12) said. “But after hearing about her past anti-gay behavior, I am having doubts, and maybe she is not the right person to be a presidential candidate after all. Regardless of who becomes the Democratic candidate, however, the one thing I hope for the 2020 election is that it steers away from entertainment politics that have been so pervasive in recent years.”

On Dec. 18, three high school seniors were found dead and seven others unconscious at a pension in Gangneung due to carbon monoxide suffocation caused by gas leakage.

The students were on an excursion after finishing the College Scholastic Aptitude Test. The accident garnered much public attention, inciting both grief over the deceased students and anger over the lack of safety measures, which includes missing gas leakage detectors and inadequate ventilation.

“As opposed to the US, where there are annual safety, security, and sanitary checkups, Korea lacks these mechanisms,” Simon Lee (11) said.

“I think it is important for anyone going on vacation to be careful. In these sorts of accidents, no one is particularly at fault. It is neither the sole responsibility of the government nor the owner to ensure that these

places are 100 percent safe. I would personally try to find the resorts and hotels that are among the most famous because safety and sanitary are crucial to their reputation. I also suggest that people check out the facilities through the Internet before visiting, so that places that look old can be avoided.”

According to the Korean Herald, carbon monoxide poisoning cases are not particularly prevalent in Korea due to the safety mechanisms in place.

Unnaturally high levels of carbon monoxide are easily detectable, and a small exposure to carbon monoxide is nearly harmless. In this case, local police reported that the pension was missing gas leakage detectors and that local companies without proper credentials installed the ventilation system. The students at the pension were found unconscious in a room

with over eight times the normal atmospheric carbon monoxide level.

“If you look at how your blood transports oxygen, you have hemoglobin inside your blood cells,” said Rose Tyvand, AP Chemistry teacher. “Hemoglobin acts like a magnet for oxygen. It can attract oxygen and also release it into the cells. The problem with carbon monoxide is that hemoglobin binds to carbon monoxide more easily than oxygen. If there is a choice between oxygen and carbon monoxide, your hemoglobin is going to take the carbon monoxide, blocking the body’s ability to absorb oxygen.”

The news reporting on the issue has also garnered much attention.

The day after the story went public, reporters from large news corporations gathered around the school of the victims, harassing students for interviews. In some cases, news organizations interviewed students who were not students of the school, mislabeling them as peers of the victims. Furthermore, news organizations such as YTN falsely reported that multiple fire burners were found in the pension, creating discourse on how the accident could have been the result of the students’ mistakes.

“Going on vacation is a common way for students to relieve stress,” Bryan Hur (11) said. “For SIS students like myself, playdates are common after college application due dates and SATs. After the stress builds up, we play recklessly and occasionally mindlessly to relieve it. However, this does not mean that we can play carefree and pay no attention to our safety.”

By CHRIS LEE Junior, Staff Writer

Tiger Times

January 2019

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Kim Jong Un makes fourth visit to China

Amid tense and stalled denuclearization talks with the US, Kim Jong Un made his fourth visit to China on Jan. 7 at the invitation of President Xi Jinping.

Accompanied by key diplomats and military officials including primary nuclear negotiator Kim Yong-chol, foreign minister Ri Yong-ho, and defense minister No Kwang-chol, the North Korean leader may be sending a vibrantly clear political message to the world ahead of an imminent US-North Korea summit set for Feb. 27-28.

“I believe this visit is significant because it took place when North Korea was increasingly dissatisfied with the US since the Singapore summit,” said Shawn Yoon (10), MUN member. “Kim believes to have already made concessions on his part by dismantling nuclear facilities, while the US was not taking corresponding measures to provide immediate relief and regime security. Due to the US’s continued skepticism of complete and verifiable denuclearization, I think this visit was made to pressure it into cooperating and making the first move in negotiations.”

According to The Wall Street Journal, North Korea has coordinated negotiation strategies with China to maximize bargaining power in future consultations with the US. Having arranged three summits with China last year, Kim’s visit demonstrated his commitment to facilitating stronger communication in domestic and international affairs with China. Kim may have also intended to intimidate the US with the possibility of completely dropping reconciliation efforts–– if conditions were unfavorable––and taking on a new diplomatic path with its ally.

“The frequency of meetings between North Korea and China rose significantly in the past year, and I believe the visits are not only strategic for North Korea but also for China,” said James Tyvand, world history teacher. “China may have wanted to exert its own influence in the negotiations between North Korea and the US, as it is not in its interest to lose a primary ally and consequently a strong diplomatic power in Korea.”

As relations between China and the US continue to deteriorate due to the trade war, there are growing speculations that

China used this summit to favorably serve its jeopardized economic interests. Though such incentive may exist, China’s true intention in holding the recent summit remains largely unknown. According to CNN, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang clarified that China does not need any other techniques to send a political message on trade matters. The US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo similarly commended China’s cooperation in upholding international sanctions so far, voicing his belief that there was no correlation between China’s bilateral disputes with the US and its

stance on denuclearization.

“The summit raised more questions than it addressed, but the implications of it are nonetheless crucial,” said Leonard Lee (11), MUN member. “The talks foreshadow North Korea’s future meeting with the US and reflects Kim Jong Un’s strong desire to advance its economy. I believe this visit is a critical and timely wake up call for the US to be more responsive, flexible, and cooperative in terms of negotiation.”

By JOANNE YANG Sophomore, Staff Writer

the more you know

The Truth about Big Pharma

By Brian Ham

In 2017, CNBC reported that over 14,000 Americans died from drug overdose, a statistic that may or may not have shocked anyone. Yet the drug in question was not marijuana, cocaine, or any substance with negative stigma; in fact, it was the everyday painkiller.

Despite nearly two hundred years of innovation, we’ve somehow come to a world where legal drugs are more lethal than their counterparts.

How did we end up here?

It’s a simple question, but the answer reveals a dark, complicated history of corruption that has encapsulated the medical industry, suppressed from public attention with hush money.

“Big Pharma,” as the pharmaceutical industry is collectively referred to, has constantly been embroiled in scandals such as artificially raising prices on life-saving drugs. Pharmaceutical companies often justify high prices with the enormous cost of developing them.

But have we ever questioned where that money is going? In reality, 90 percent of pharmaceutical companies spend more on marketing to healthcare officials than

they do on research and development.

Even worse, Big Pharma spends $27 billion a year on marketing and is regulated by the government’s Food and Drug Administration, which boasts a paltry $4.3 billion budget. In effect, we are asking a toddler with a water pistol from Family Fun Day to keep watch on a prisoner with a rocket launcher.

The vicious cycle of corruption begins when a company wants to promote its new drug. They begin by bribing our very own doctors, who promise to prescribe the drug to his patients although it may not be the correct diagnosis. The drugs naturally cause unintended and dangerous side effects, and patients may even go on berserk mass shootings and in too many cases, death.

This is when the government saves the day by heroically slapping a monstrous fine on the immoral companies drops a measly financial penalty that barely scratches the surface of the massive profits earned (remember the rocket launcher?). The company successfully earns billions by killing people, and the government is in full support of the

act. We have simply become reduced to collateral damage in a battle of titans.

This isn’t just a hypothetical situation—take the case of Vioxx, which despite its significance, was swept under the rug and has remained there since.

This drug was introduced by the drug company Merck in 1999 and, despite being approved by the FDA, caused around 150,000 heart attacks around the world. It was later revealed that Merck and its cohorts had known about the increasing risks of cardiovascular disease long beforehand but had concealed such reports so that they could make a profit.

The company ended up settling the lawsuits for $4.85 billion, revenue they could easily earn back in just a year, but the deaths they caused were permanent.

Where does the problem lie? A statistic published by Forbes hints at the truth: nurses, medical doctors and pharmacists were three of the five most trusted professions in the world.

We trust doctors and view them as the physical manifestation of the Hippocratic Oath - their sole purpose in lives is to keep you alive and healthy.

But peel back the white uniforms and protection sleeves and what you’re left with is a glimpse into the pharmaceutical industry’s influence on the medical field. This isn’t unknown information, but every time it hits mainstream news, we see it shut down by money; and ultimately, we still hold blind faith in our doctors while they might be accepting bribes behind their backs. How many of us question the drugs we are given let alone know the name of a single prescribed drug we’re taking? What right do citizens have to know more about the nutritional makeup of a Big Mac than the drugs we mindlessly spend a thousand dollars on each year to keep us healthy? Ironically enough, the very industry set up to save lives—the medical field—creates products that lead to the death of an unsuspecting civilian every 24 minutes.

At the end of the day, what this proves is that when we want to make a living off killing citizens, all we have to do is give them some pills and listen to Aunt Jemima’s pancake recipes - just add water.

6 NEWS Juul proliferates among youth

By Andy Yoon

In 1150, Cistercian abbot Saint Bernard of Clairvaux once stated that “[t]he road to hell is paved with good intentions.” In other words, simply being wellintentioned has no meaning if one’s actions in effect lead to negative outcomes; actions speak louder than words. A proverb that guided religious thought centuries ago, this aphorism holds true even today, particularly in the realm of corporations. With a growing emphasis on corporate social responsibility, which obligates companies to serve their consumers, such entities are presently expected to not only proclaim themselves as moral but also act moral.

Skyrocketing in popularity in recent years, electronic “cigarettes,” or vaporizers, are now the subject of intense scrutiny and increasing controversy for their health-related impact. Whereas a vape is an admittedly safer alternative to a tobacco cigarette, its unforeseen influence on minors has rendered its widespread usage, as declared by US Surgeon-General Jerome Adams, an “epidemic” among teenagers. Specifically, JUUL Labs, the most popular e-cigarette brand worldwide, has been fending off legal accusations by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and relevant health organizations for its alleged role in contributing to this emerging social issue.

A brand that has become ingrained in modern teenage culture, JUUL claims that its target audience has solely comprised of adults, particularly tobacco

smokers who wish to free themselves from this addiction. In the face of rising criticism regarding its controversial popularity among the youth, the company terminated sales of fruit-flavored nicotine pods to retailers and shut down its social media accounts, namely on Facebook and Instagram; additionally, it willingly pledged $30 million to education and prevention efforts of underage usage. Despite said actions, the FDA is still investigating the extent to which e-cigarette companies directly appealed to minors, such as through their marketing strategies and product design.

Societal perceptions of consumer products are heavily influenced by marketing strategies, as demonstrated by historical parallels within the cigarette industry. In 1987, R.J. Reynolds (RJR) Tobacco Company created the animal mascot Joe Camel, which was used to increase sales of its products, but a 1991 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association revealed that Joe Camel made tobacco cigarettes increasingly appealing to children. Within a few years of appearing on RJR posters, 91.3 percent of surveyed six-year-old children were able to match Joe Camel with a picture of a cigarette, nearly the same number who were able to match Mickey Mouse with the Disney logo. In the midst of harsh criticism, RJR revealed that appealing to younger demographics was a key corporate objective.

ONE IN EVERY FIVE AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE CURRENT E-CIGARETTE USERS.

ONLY TIME WILL TELL WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR THE E-CIGARETTE INDUSTRY. Similarly, the FDA today harbors concerns that JUUL and other e-cigarette companies are intending to target the youth with their addictive products. Analogous to candy cigarettes, which enabled even preteens to mimic tobacco smokers, most brands of vape come in various enticing flavors; JUUL, for example, officially sells pods in eight flavors, including mango, crème, and mint, while vape shops sell additional JUUL-compatible flavors, such as silky strawberry and watermelon. According to a 2018 survey by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, an American non-profit organization, 81.5 percent of respondents, ages 12 to 17, who tried an e-cigarette explained that these flavors are the reason they were initially drawn to the device. Tiger Times conducted a similar series of interviews of international school students in South Korea about the appeal of such flavors, and 15 of the 21 interviewees—nearly 72 percent—cited the same reason. As concluded

by Stanford University researcher Robert Jackler, adolescents are very susceptible to being influenced by this “fad,” which has “taken on a life of its own.”

Regardless of e-cigarette companies’ stated intentions, the widespread prevalence of vapes among teenagers is undeniable. According to the 2018 National Youth Tobacco Survey, one in every five American high school students are current e-cigarette users, which amounts to 3.05 million teenagers in the US alone. Utilizing this statistic, Tiger Times produced some estimates about the approximate amount of

PRODUCTS OF E-CIGARETTE BRANDS WILL REMAIN ON SHELVES WITHOUT REGULATORY REVIEW UNTIL 2022.

revenue vape brands collect from just high school students in the US. A general consensus among our 21 interviewees is that six packs of JUUL pods, or 24 individual pods, sustain them throughout a year; they would even buy up to four more packs if they were more accessible in South Korea. Given that one device costs $34.99 and 24 pods cost $95.94, JUUL annually produces roughly $3.75 million to $4 million from these 3.05 million students alone, which would amount to nearly half of the company’s total sales revenue in 2018. JUUL, albeit less popular among South Korean students, likely generates a similarly vast amount of revenue from the youth in this nation as well. Such estimations raise an interesting hypothetical—whether these brands can realistically stop selling their products to the teenage age group and still produce adequate profit.

Thorough examinations into these companies’ marketing strategies already underway, but at the moment, nothing has been made certain. Explaining that the FDA cannot target legislation at just one e-cigarette company and “play regulatory whacka-mole,” Commissioner Scott Gottlieb has recently allowed the products of such brands to remain on shelves without regulatory review until 2022—when it plans to take conclusive action against youth vaping.

Only time will tell what the future holds for the e-cigarette industry.

#TOOJUULF

T H E R IS ING EPIDEMIC O

Tiger Times

January 2019

7

Understanding the JUUL phenomenon and its teenage impact

By Brian Ham 81.5 PERCENT OF TEENS WHO TRIED AN E-CIGARETTE EXPLAINED THAT APPROACHABLE FLAVORS ARE THE REASON THEY WERE INITIALLY DRAWN TO THE DEVICE.

FORSCHOOL

F VA P O R I Z ED NI C O TI NE

At the turn of the 21st century, an unknown Silicon Valley start-up company launched with one mission: to revolutionize a multi-billion dollar technology industry.

After a decade of catastrophic failures, design revamps, and calculated risks, the company’s work culminated in an avant-garde electronic device the likes of which the world had never seen. With its sleek, minimalistic design, coated black finish and “halo of cool,” the product immediately took the teenage world by storm and, eventually, travelled 5,000 miles across the ocean to find its way into the hands of high school students all across Korea.

Interestingly enough, the device is not for making calls, surfing the Internet or browsing Instagram; it is used to vaporize nicotine salts, laced with flavors ranging from Virginia Tobacco to Crème Brûlée. The JUUL is a oneof-a-kind e-cigarette devoid of the clunky designs of previous vaporizers, a lightweight device that fits entirely and conveniently in the palm of even the smallest of hands. Looks can be deceiving, however; a single pod of fluid packs a nicotine punch tantamount to an entire pack of cigarettes. Nevertheless, the JUUL has gained unprecedented popularity, specifically among teenagers, due in part to its trendy appearance and kid-friendly flavors.

To truly understand the process of addiction for young adults today, one can delve into the conditions and experiences that have driven so many teenagers to the world of JUUL. For “Mia,” our hypothetical high school addict, her journey into the world of e-cigarettes begins with the ingredients of a classic school environment: a sprinkle of a stressful group project and a pinch of peer pressure. In the midst of a heated argument on a lecture, Mia watches her friend reach into his pocket and reveal a JUUL, its green light shining with temptation. Seeing her horrified expression, he laughs and offers her a quick drag.

The first reaction is usually one of denial. But later, Mia might think, “what’s so bad about it? I’m not going to like it anyways.” She is not alone; this story repeats itself in high schools all over the world, a dangerous cliché not unlike those found in movies. And, like a protagonist on the verge of disaster, oblivious to the desperate warnings of the audience, she inhales tentatively. The first breath stings and she is left coughing uncontrollably while nicotine rushes through her body, reprogramming her prefrontal cortex and altering dopamine levels within seven seconds.

Over the weeks, an intrigued Mia continues to sneak “hits” using her friend’s vapes. Despite the unpleasant initial experience, one way Mia might be drawn in is the unique flavors of the JUUL. Colorful versions of the JUUL, such as lychee or mango, have a much higher appeal to the high school audience as opposed to flavors such as traditional tobacco. Others may pursue the JUUL to show off a hint of rebellion. But whatever the reason, as Mia spirals toward addiction, the magnitude of the problem begins to sink in. One might expect that obtaining a device designed to deliver a nicotine concentration classified as “lethal” by the Korean government would present at least some degree of difficulty. But Mia has no problem fueling her newfound stress-reliever, and the JUUL pops up frequently in the most unexpected settings. Fruity odors line the walls of bathrooms in high schools all over the world. Every now and then, one of Mia’s seemingly ordinary friends, living perfectly ordinary lives, will shock her by revealing a JUUL of their own.

One day, perhaps as a product of its omnipresence, she simply gets used to it and doesn’t feel that burning sensation in her throat and lungs anymore. Rather, it is replaced with a strangely relaxing feeling. She begins to feel the need to get one for herself, unaware of psychological and physical impacts that even experts cannot ascertain.

The next stumble toward addiction is taken on the crowded streets of a typical urban setting. Out of the usual blend of various shops selling cameras, kids toys, and street food, one store in particular stands out: a pale blue shop with a huge JUUL advertisement plastered on the window. In a casual and experienced manner—not showing a hint of the “JUUL rookie” she is—she walks up confidently and asks for a pack of pods and a JUUL. They only ask one question of the high school student purchasing boxes of the illegal substance: “Would you like anything else?” The cashier, far from checking Mia’s age or any sort of identification, starts pitching other substances to her—refillable e-cigarette liquids and various types of vaporizers, to be exact. Unwilling to test her luck any further, she politely turns down the offers and hurries out of the store with her goods and a wallet that is roughly a hundred dollars lighter.

Of course, not every shop in the world will have the personnel of a flimsy drugstore on the streets. In fact, security and age-verification systems of JUUL Labs’ official website are so rigorous that according to the New Yorker, more than a quarter of legitimate adults are denied access to their products. These measures include cross-references to publicly available records as well as the last 4-digits of social security numbers. But will the company’s latest efforts make a significant dent on curbing teen JUULing? Anecdotal evidence suggests otherwise.

Out of the 21 students interviewed by Tiger Times, none of them actually obtained their e-cigarettes through the aforementioned webpages, signaling that teenagers rarely encounter enforcement of security measures in the first place. In many cases, the products are obtained through a friend gone on vacation or a boarding school student, who distributes the goods at inflated prices to meet the soaring demands. The process is not necessarily foolproof, as a student once had over two hundred dollars of vaporizers confiscated by the Korean government when his package was searched at the post office. Students also risk violating the increasingly strict rules schools are implementing. In one extreme case, on top of the usual suspensions and expulsions that result from illegal activities, a Pennsylvanian school district banned flash drives from the classroom due to their physical resemblance to the JUUL. But in this chaotic world where teenagers struggle to balance stress and battle addiction, health problems are unfortunately swept under the rug; according to a study run by Tobacco Control, 63 percent of teenagers were not even aware that a JUUL contains nicotine. No one knows the repercussions, not even experts, certainly not high school students—that may simply be how new and unprecedented this product is. Many students may be banking on the fact that JUULs do not contain tar or other carcinogenic substances like cigarettes, irrationally reasoning that surely it must be safer than the alternatives.

The grenade pin has already been pulled; the future remains unclear for the “Mias” of the world treading through uncharted waters.

A SPRINKLE OF A STRESSFUL GROUP PROJECT AND A PINCH OF PEER PRESSURE MIGHT BE JUST ENOUGH TO LURE ANOTHER STUDENT TO START VAPING.

8 LIFESTYLE “Bandersnatch”pioneers interactive technology

BY JOANNE YANG & ERIN LEE China is often associated with the world’s worst air pollution, its rapid rate of industrialization posing deleterious health and economic concerns. Brought into the spotlight by the Chinese University of Hong Kong, one million people perish every year from respiratory failures like heart disease and lung cancer, while 20 million tons of lost food production chips away at the heart of Chinese economy. In recognition of the growing public outcries for eco-friendly alternatives, China is ironically transforming from a climate change villain to a possible savior, taking significant initiative as one of the world’s leading developers of solar energy.

China is already home to the prodigious 850-megawatt Longyangxia Dam facility which consists of four million solar panels and supplies 200,000 households. According to Live Science, solar panels are comprised of photovoltaic cells which are primarily composed of silicon. When an electrical field is established between the cell and other materials like boron and phosphorus, the photons in sunlight rays knock free of electrons in the atoms which are subsequently pushed out of the cell; these free-flying electrons are collected through metallic conductive plates and passed through wires to be eventually used in the form of electricity. With novelty, other firms like Panda Green Energy designed two giant pandas made of solar panels–a patriotic image of China in Datong County reminding the citizens of its commendable environmental progress. Not only does China intend to take on a sustainable and lucrative investment opportunity and guarantee its own energy security, but it also desires to boost its diplomatic power as the leader of a burgeoning global industry. The BBC refers to other speculations that China is politically driven to encourage energy investments in Tibet, an autonomous region of China, in order to establish the long-rejected Chinese authority.

Regardless of the motivations driving such technology, solar farms have significant economic and environmental implications.

In 2017, China’s National Energy Administration reported that the nation’s solar energy sources accounted for 36.6 percent of China’s total energy capacity. Generating up to 130 gigawatts of electricity, China’s solar energy capacity surpasses that of any other country in the world. As China strategically floats solar panels above lakes using flotation devices, the technology also provides a reliable source of energy that concurrently preserves wildlife ecosystems and vegetation. Such compelling benefits apply a serious argument for China as well as other countries to partake in the energy revolution. US Department of Energy states that by utilizing solar energy, the United States will be able to save $259 billion dollars and 25,000 lives with the prevention of damages associated with climate change.

Though developing countries may lack the resources, money, or technology at the moment to construct solar farms, China’s energy reforms are setting a pivotal precedent for the rest of the world. Alongside India, which had already planned to create a 5,000-megawatt solar farm by 2020, other countries are gradually taking steps under the leadership of China to a greener, and ultimately greater, world.

M

ore often than not, all the stories we read are definitively linear—authors play god, making character decisions and events occur according to their own design, creating an inevitable ending regardless of the mind-numbing absurdity, shock, and dolefulness viewers may potentially feel.

However, our thoughts and emotions may finally factor into the actions that characters take in their respective movies and TV shows. “Bandersnatch,” the latest episode of critically acclaimed anthology science fiction series “Black Mirror,” has applied a new interactive technology allowing viewers to alter the plot of the film by controlling the main character.

Released on Dec. 28 2018, the interactive film “Bandersnatch” stars Fionn Whitehead as Stefan Butler, a programmer tasked with creating a video game based on a fictional chooseyour-own-adventure children’s novel.

Yet, Stefan does not realize that creating such game could lead to dangers of

Jukebox

Jewels

My Chemical Romance

By Jiwon Lee

his own: after obtaining the hands-off support of a leading tech company and being put under a tremendous amount of pressure to make a successful product,” Stefan subsequently begins his descent into mania.

Unlike previous installments of “Black Mirror” and titles available on Netflix, “Bandersnatch” is an interactive film with five alternative endings. Viewers can choose which forked path Stefan takes, given options ranging from seemingly innocuous decisions such as choosing between different brands of cereal to life-altering options that could lead to a matter of life or death. In doing so, the episode logs viewers’ choices to shape how their reality unfolds. Although the audience is given the choice to go back to previous choices during the film, “Bandersnatch” cannot directly rewind or fast-forward and does not have an official runtime due to the its various pathways it could take, rooting viewers in the moment.

While such features may strengthen the viewers’ engagement and connection

to the characters, the audience still has limited control in shaping how their realities unfold in actuality. Choices are often not actual choices, and have no influence in advancing the plot as viewers can only choose from options predetermined by the creators of the show. Opposing choices may result in the same pathway, and viewers are essentially forced down certain ones with scenes looping until a particular option is chosen. The ingenuity in building out a story that moves in different directions overshadows an at-first mystifying user experience.

Though simply ladling a dose of hackneyed language about determinism atop a work with infinite plots with a half-written story, “Bandersnatch,” as the first interactive production in Netflix, will likely herald a wave of interactive movies with viral success. It is the first in a genre that is likely to dominate entertainment in the future.

By EMILY OH Sophomore, Staff Writer

Alternative rock is a genre of music often reduced to thick eyeliner, black clothes, crazy headbanging, and violent shades of hairspray.

These stereotypically gothic characterizations are perhaps why Jukebox Jewels has seemingly never covered this genre. Hence, the band being introduced today–My Chemical Romance (MCR)–is being presented in an attempt to break these fixed views that are commonly and wrongly held against this genre.

Similar to mainstream pop, this genre – which is also commonly referred to as alt-rock – is made up of a wide variety of types of music. Ranging from sentimental, low-tone ballads to drum-heavy, electrifying songs,

its intimidating musical scope has scared away many bands from attempting to play all the different styles it encompasses. MCR, however, has successfully incorporated many of such divergent types of alternative rock into its songs. Formed in 2001, the band’s lineup consists of lead vocalist Gerard Way, bassist Mikey Way, and guitarists Ray Toro and Frank Iero. The band was formed shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks, which gave frontman Gerard Way the inspiration to start the band and compose its first song, “Skylines and Turnstiles.”

Formed in the years in which music genres deviating from the norm were often stereo-

Tiger Times

January 2019

9

Book Review: Michelle Obama’s Becoming

F

or Michelle Robinson, a black girl growing up on the South Side of Chicago in the 1960s, the world was simple and small; it consisted of her family, their cozy house on Euclid Avenue, and her strict great-aunt Robbie teaching her to play the piano.

The driven four-year-old defiantly played piano pieces above her level and strove to outcompete her kindergarten peers. Excelling academically, Michelle paved her way to Princeton as an undergraduate, Harvard to study law, and an elite law firm in Chicago. Decades later, she found herself in the White House, unexpectedly carrying the crushing weight of the name “Obama” and being the first African American First Lady of the US (FLOTUS).

Obama’s best-selling memoir Becoming is a highly nuanced and honest narrative of her journey from the South Side to the White House. She recounts and ruminates

upon the struggles of navigating her race and gender in America, where she faced the challenges of being a minority both at Princeton and in politics. She also shares the more emotional and universal experience of losing a friend to cancer and of of struggling to become an ideal working mother. Becoming reads like a refreshing window into not only experiences specific to African Americans or women, but also a surprisingly humanizing element of the making of Obama’s character.

Despite her specific upbringing—in a working class black family in Chicago— many of her reflective comments resonate with a larger audience. As she describes her experience in classroom conversations dominated by men, she writes that “they weren’t at all smarter than the rest of us.

They were simply emboldened, floating on an ancient tide of superiority, buoyed by the fact that history had never told them

anything different.” She recounts being a rare black student in a sea of white at Princeton, dreading “that everyday drain of being in a deep minority” and the heavy burden of feeling like a representative of her race. In doing so, she rejects a romanticized or hegemonic narrative of the American Dream. For the readers who can nod along in empathy and shared indignation, Obama’s poignant descriptions are reminders to be critical of social injustice while also being hopeful and determined to fight against it.

Above all what was most striking about the memoir was its ability to resonate with anybody, even readers who are not African American women or in fact, American.

Readers may find themselves beaming while reading about Malia Obama’s tenth birthday party, tearing up when Suzanne said she was diagnosed with cancer, and feeling bittersweet as the Obamas moved

out of the White House. Even for the most distant readers, for the ones who have never set foot in the US or considered race an issue, Becoming peels back the many layers of Obama’s public persona and reveals the rather blunt human elements of her life. She is unconventionally frank about her personal challenges and recounts having “to screw up the courage to plunge a syringe” into her thigh after suffering miscarriages.

Ultimately, Obama’s ability to be simultaneously down-to-earth and boldly hopeful for minorities is an especially rare diamond in the rough. While humanizing a former FLOTUS with her candor and humor, Becoming also manages to make an implicit political statement about hope and social justice.

By EJU RO Junior, Staff Writer

Subtle Asian Traits provides platform for Asian teens

A

t first glance, Subtle Asian Traits seems to be no different from a typical Facebook group: it is moderated by a small handful of administrators, it allows any member of the group to create posts, and it displays a multitude of humorous memes that members can scroll. However, the community’s shared Asian heritage and experiences make it inherently unique. Containing mainstream memes referring to bubble tea, Asian parenting, and curfews to more specialized memes referencing specific national cultures, the Facebook group has achieved enormous popularity, recently surpassing one million followers.

“Personally, I feel like Subtle Asian Traits is distinct from other Facebook groups,” said Amy Kim (11), a member of the group. “A lot of the memes reference experiences that are very relatable to Asian Americans and English-speaking Asians, which is why I feel a special connection to this community of people, even though I

typed and discriminated against, MCR’s earlier concerts were often filled with booing crowds.

At the notorious 2006 Reading Festival, an unruly crowd assaulted the performing MCR members with plastic bottles. Despite these hardships, however, the band slowly gained recognition and is now one of the most widely known alternative rock bands of all time.

The band’s debut album, “I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love,” gave it a minor underground following. However, it was not until the band’s second album –“Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge” – that the band was able to break into the mainstream market. Ranking 28th on the US Billboard Charts

have never even met most of them before.”

Subtle Asian Traits was founded by a group of teenagers from Melbourne, Australia, who had experienced the Asian immigrant life first-hand. One of the founders, Anne Gu, expressed in a New York Times article that there were many occasions when she felt as though she did not fit in and questioned her identity as an Asian Australian caught in between two very different cultures. Combining this sentiment with humor ultimately paved the way to a platform on which Asians who feel similarly to Gu can express their ideas and experiences without being questioned or forced to explain their jokes.

“The aspect that stood out the most was the fact that someone else on the other side of the world was also relating to the hardships of having Asian parents,” said Carly Santos, one of the earliest members of the group. “Subtle Asian Traits is specifically catered toward Asian kids who have been brought up immersed in Western values, and a big part of that experience is

upon its release, MCR’s second album received substantial public attention and was widely known as the album that brought the emo genre into the public eye. The band went on to release two more studio albums, along with a string of live albums, compilation albums, and EPs. The band’s fifth single on its third album, “Welcome to the Black Parade,” boosted the band’s sales up to second place on US and UK charts.

Despite the band’s later successes, MCR disbanded in 2013 for reasons unknown, leaving behind the legacy of a permanently and significantly altered American alt-rock genre.

Forgotten by all but its avid fanbase in the years following its breakup, MCR experienced a major

that there are just some things their nonAsian friends aren’t able to understand.

It’s good to know that, through this group, there were others that shared my experience.”

Nevertheless, with the popularity of the page also came criticism directed towards the nature of the page’s posts and comments. While many of the memes were well received due to how genuinely relatable they were, other submissions portrayed other races less accurately and even employed stereotypes. This prejudiced behavior drew criticism from both members of the group as well as outsiders who felt that the group was being insensitive and ignorant toward non-Asian groups.

“There is definitely some room for criticism,” said Minyoung Huh (11), another member of the Facebook group.

“For myself and many other Asians, there are not that many spaces for us to be able to share our experiences and feel as if we are apart of a bigger community, so when these groups do finally develop and

revival when a trend among American teenagers reverting back to “old”-style rock gained momentum. This movement led to the band’s music being rediscovered by the new generation, and both old-time and newly joined fans have voiced their hopes of a possible reunion of the band.

With its catchy tunes, powerful lines, and implicit remarks on contemporary issues, MCR’s music is more than just corporate cookie-cutter hits; the band has given the world a priceless, meaningful gift through its works. Its songs, ranging from quiet and soothing pieces to head bangers that should never be listened to on full volume, are perfect for people going through

achieve popularity, I get hyper-critical of their existence. Asians do not have a lot of representation currently, and I’ve seen many ‘Asian spaces’ turn into nests of anti-Blackness, colorism, and sexism.”

Supporters of the Facebook page have defended it from these accusations, maintaining that the large size of the group, as well as the effortlessness of posting and commenting, make it inevitable that a minority of the members will take advantage and behave inappropriately. But despite the disagreement regarding the quality of the group, one thing is undeniable: Subtle Asian Traits has become one of the biggest success stories of the year for Asians in the Western world. Not only has the page achieved enormous popularity as an extensive social media network, but it has also become a sanctuary for members to embrace and laugh at the unique aspects of the Asian experience.

By FIONA CHO Sophomore, Staff Writer

a stressful time, whether it be a heavy load of tests or an emotional struggle. MCR’s musical originality and unique flavor will add a little bit of something to spice up any day.

Although the band’s lyrics are enamoring, more beauty can be found when digging deeper into the implied meanings. The raw and emotional confessions, symbolic stories, and life advice that can be found deep within the lyrics are gems that not many will ever discover. To take a look at some of this band’s amazing work, head onto YouTube and Spotify, and to see more recent works by the band members, head over to their individual YouTube accounts, where they regularly upload new singles.

10 SPORTS Play by Play: Tigers fight hard against the KIS Phoenix

Youn Hwang (10) and Aidan Kim (11) double team a KIS player during the intense match.

PHOTO BY MICHELLE AHN

Preview

On Jan. 18, the varsity boy’s basketball team faced off against the Korea International School (KIS) Phoenix at an away game. The number of students and faculty gathered at the gym was unprecedented. Not only did KIS host their annual pep rally before the game, but our Tiger Sports Council also arranged a new system of “Fan Bus” to invite more students and faculty members to cheer on their classmates. Moreover, a group of SIS graduates from previous years came together to support their underclassmen.

First Quarter

The Tigers started off with a solid jump ball by Richie Kim (11). Although the Tigers did not score on their first possession, they quickly back courted and prevented the Phoenix from a jump shot. The game went on with the point slightly leaning to the Phoenix until Aidan Kim (11) took a fall by an aggressive KIS player. In the

next possession, Eddie Choe (10) drained a three pointer against a tight defender.

Immediately afterwards, Eddie Choe continued his fire with a tremendous block to a layup. With that, the bleacher filled with SIS parents, teachers, classmates, and alumnus went wild — they were jumping up and down, chanting Eddie’s name.

Second Quarter

After taking a quick quarter break, the Tigers returned back with fresh newfound passion. Youn Hwang (10) fiercely drove in through several defenders, earning two free-throws, sinking one. Even when their possession did not result in points, the Tigers continued to make sharp, accurate passes. Halfway through the quarter, these passes helped Bryan Hur (11) score a clean three-pointer. Additionally, several fast breaks were made by the team — a notable one made by Eddie Choe’s acute bounce pass and Richie Kim’s clean finish. With just a few seconds left, Eddie Choe drove in, performed a double clutch, which got

him an And-One. Although the Phoenix still had the lead, nobody seemed to be expressing any sort of disappointment or dissatisfaction of the game.

Third Quarter

The Tigers were still going strong — Aidan, immediately upon receiving a pass, dug into the key and made an impressive almost-reverse lay-up, also receiving and scoring an And-One. During this quarter, quite a scene was made when Bryan Hur and a player from KIS went for a rebound, which resulted in some heavy wrestling.

While Bryan quickly held his hand out for a shake, the KIS athlete rejected the shake, triggering the crowd to boo at the lack of sportsmanship the Phoenix demonstrated.

Nonetheless, the Tigers came back strong and scored on their first offense back.

Fourth Quarter

As much as the game was tough, the Tigers began to show more teamwork than individual plays. Two minutes into

the quarter, Bryan took a shot, which was rebounded and shot again by Eddie, which was then rebounded and put-backed by Bryan once again. Such plays demonstrated intense dedication and concentration that the players had for this game.

Unfortunately, the game concluded with a score of 45 to 51, in favor of the Phoenix.

Overview

The boy’s varsity basketball team embodied the phrase “never give up” until the final second on the clock. Despite the close loss, everybody that attended the game—whether they were an athlete or a fan—was able to spend a memorable night filled with passion and spirit. With the season coming to an end, the boys varsity team will continue to practice hard and increase their chemistry for a memorable finale to their season.

By MICHELLE AHN Senior, Staff Writer

Tiger Sports Council and HSSC spark school spirit during winter season

O

n Dec. 5, there was casual muttering between students and teachers throughout the gymnasium as the basketball players were warming up. The varsity basketball teams are preparing for one of the most highly anticipated games of the entire winter season–SIS vs. KIS. While the players are warming up and the audience is settling down, the sound of drums and rattling of plastic clappers started to fill the gym as well. Along with the pounding of the instruments, parents of KIS basketball players have come to SIS to support the athletes. The students view the gesture as uproarious at first, but the members of the high school student coun-

cil take this as an opportunity to ignite the crowd, as well as the athletes.

“We could not just stand and watch the KIS students and parents beat our school spirit on our own home turf, so Joshua Hahn (11) and I went to get our own drums and instruments to cheer on our athletes,” said Steven Chung (10), HSSC member. “It was really amazing to see all the students and teachers join in, as well as the cheerleaders who joined our supporting chants.”

This basketball game in particular showed that SIS’s student body is fully capable of maximizing its school spirit. This is why Tiger Sports Council, the school spirit club, took the next opportunity to continue raising school pride by setting up

a fan bus event to the next game on Jan. 18 against KIS. Around ten to 20 students rode the school bus to KIS, while 20 to 30 more students attended the game on their own.

In addition, HSSC prepared mini drums and balloons for the away game for both athletes and students to use.

“In the previous years, many KIS students and parents would come to SIS to watch the basketball games, but not many SIS students would attend the away games at KIS,” said Joyce Kim (12), a TSC executive and cheer captain. “But for this away game in particular, so many SIS students and teachers attended and it was a great change to see in our school spirit.”

Looking at this year’s fall and winter sea-

son, the level of school spirit seems reaching its peak. With all the success of the pep rallies, fan bus, spirit week, and various other events, TSC and HSSC will continue to proudly promote school spirit, along with friendly rivalry and competition.

“This [winter] season is one of the best seasons we’ve ever had since I was here for the last eight years,” says Ivan Atanaskovic, athletes and activities coordinator. “It will be great to keep up the spirit in future international school events, but in the end, it is up to the students and their own interest in maintaining the school pride.”

By JOCELYN LEE Senior, Staff Writer

Tiger Times

January 2019

Athletes begin gearing up for spring season

A

fter taking three weeks off for winter break, students often have a hard time readjusting to the homework, upcoming tests, and club duties that resume. Nevertheless, they manage to persevere, and athletes planning to participate in the spring season as part of either the swimming or soccer team are no different. Prospective athletes are currently practicing in order to get back in shape for the season and to display better performance than they did last year. Soccer players play friendly matches with each other called scrimmages, while swimmers hold preseason practices.

“I only want the varsity swimmers to try their best instead of creating an atmosphere where I pressure them to make achievements,” said Jimin Kim, varsity swimming coach. “I think the preseason sessions help to establish the mood of working hard before the season even starts, which helps there to be better practices once the season starts.

Scrimmages are practice soccer games held among returning players and aspiring athletes after school on the soccer field. As long as a student writes his or her name on the sign-

up sheet before the day of, he or she will be able to participate in the friendly match with experienced athletes. These sessions are held sparsely during the first semester and become more frequently held during the second semester right before the season begins. By engaging in scrimmages, players can practice basic skills, test out new tricks, and enhance their endurance in preparation for the tryouts and ultimately the season.

“The tryouts are really difficult because they require a tremendous amount of both skill and endurance,” said Brian Bok (10), varsity soccer athlete. “Therefore, I practice and run a lot before the season begins and the scrimmages serve as valuable checkpoints for those two requirements leading up to the tryouts.”

Swimming, the other Spring season sport, is an activity that calls for excellent cardiovascular capacity and adeptness in the water. As such, tryouts are geared toward facilitating new athletes. Pre-season practices are conducted the same way normal practices would be, but both the teachers and experienced swimmers spend more

time giving advice to newcomers. The advisors often spend time correcting the swimmers’ arm and leg motions, which can be crucial in raising efficiency and decreasing time in races.

“As a swimmer who has been in the team for two years already, I view preseason as an opportunity to get close with new swimmers and help them get ready,” said Andrea Shin (11), varsity swimming athlete. “There might be a lot of critical mistakes in the techniques of inexperienced swimmers, and catching these errors during pre-season helps build a stronger team.”

In high school, students begin to

SPORTS PHOTO OF THE MONTH photo by fiona cho

11

take athletics a lot more seriously than in middle school, mostly because of the elated sense of competition from the frequent matches held against different international schools. Therefore, in order to perform better in the field or the pool, students come together with coaches to organize such practices before the season begins. To many students, especially to novice athletes, these sessions are extremely useful and crucial opportunities to make the cut for varsity teams in the Spring.

By THOMAS SONG Sophomore, Staff Writer

Coach Presse gives first-year member, Sarah Baek (9), feedback on her freestyle stroke.

PHOTO BY FIONA CHO

Former Olympic short track coach accused of physical abuse and sexual harrassment On Jan. 9, convicted ex-Olympic coach Cho Jae-Beom was accused by Korean short track Olympic medalist Shim Suk-Hee of sexual harassment.

According to Shim’s previous testimony, Cho repeatedly physically assaulted skaters under his authority.

Shim referenced an incident when she was in elementary school and Cho broke her fingers. In this same testimony, she also claimed that Cho secretly sabotaged her skates before short track World Cup races to give other Korean skaters an advantage and that in the weeks leading up to the 2018 Winter Olympics, Cho gave her a concussion which caused her to fall at the Pyeongchang games.

Court documents of Shim’s more recent testimony in January not only reiterated allegations of Cho’s physical abuse, but also brought to light new accusations of sexual harassment of Shim beginning from the age of 17. Although Cho has been convicted of physically abusing his athletes, he has denied the new allegations.

“I think in many ways in Korean sports culture the fact that athletes who progress to their mid-teens in competitive sports are ‘all in,’” said Jonathan Ames, Government & Politics teacher. “Because of that ‘all in’ nature, the coaches know that they have total control over the athletes and their futures. In that sense, there is a total domination aspect which can be abused.”

Abusive training in Korean sports is not unheard of, although typically not as severe as the accusations levied against Cho. According to former competitive figure skater Helaine Lee (12), many competitive coaches encourage athletes as young as nine years old to ignore medical orders and to practice despite injuries.

Testimonies from abused athletes such as Shim Suk-Hee have also revealed that many coaches often threaten victims with their athletic careers to keep cases of violence secret. It also not unreasonable to assume that some athletes do not acknowledge exploitation due to the fear of being seen as weak.

In fact, a public 2014 survey by the Korean Sports and Olympic Committee found that although one in seven Korean female athletes had experienced sexual assault in the previous year, but only 30 percent of victims sought help.

“Especially in Korea where the roles between students and teachers are so distinct, I think it is relatively easy for coaches to get away with abusing their athletes,” said Helaine.

“Korean coaching, in general, is very strict. Many coaches use fear through expletives and verbal punishment to train their athletes. These threats and violence often cause athletes to keep quiet about abuse during training.”

After initial allegations of his abuse arose, Cho received a life suspension from coaching in

Korea by the Korean Skating Union (KSU) mere weeks before the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. The KSU later began an independent investigation after the conclusion of the Pyeongchang Games to gain insight into Cho’s specific conduct— whether it was permittable or inexcusable. Finding the alleged abuse more serious than previously reported, the KSU has turned the investigation over to the police.

Cho was subsequently arrested in September 2018 and sentenced to 10 months of jail time for his physical abuse charges resulting from the testimony of Shim. Prosecutors are still investigating the new sexual assault allegations, but only time will tell what the verdict will be with regards to Cho. “I think it’s pretty shocking that even though Korea is a highly advanced, first world country, Korean athletes can still be victims of abuse,” said Alex Hyun (10), former hockey player. “In such a competitive environment, athletes should not be subject to such treatment. It’s time for Korean society to move forward and to reform Korean professional sports. I’m glad that viewers of sports in Korea are growing increasingly concerned with the morality of sports. The first step bringing criminals like Cho to justice.”

By ERIC HWANG Sophomore, Staff Writer

12 SMALL TALK Big Deal

point

an economics column

counterpoint

Gene editing…

When push

comes to nudge Article by Teddy Cho

In his 2008 book Nudge, Nobel Prize-winning economist Richard Thaler recounts a story about a school cafeteria in the US. Not for the first time, a headmaster was tackling the question of how to encourage students to eat healthier.

Should the school ban junk food altogether? Subsidize the salads? Eventually, the headmaster found a simple solution: put the healthier foods at eye level and watch as more students reach for carrot sticks over French fries.

Sometimes a nudge—small, subtle, and easy—is all we need to make wiser decisions for ourselves. Through Nudge, Thaler popularized the notion of nudging, arguing that the state has the duty to create mechanisms whereby citizens could make better choices. When push came to shove in the 2008 Great Recession, nudging was embraced by a vast array of countries and international bodies such as Australia, Germany, Japan, the UN, and the World Bank, offering easy ways of reforming society without committing to large spending programs.

The motivation here is obvious: we humans are poor decision makers, even when it comes to our own welfare. For instance, many people, by virtue of apathy or ignorance, make bad choices about their retirement savings. As such, the government should enact mandatory plan contributions, with opt-out clauses.

Likewise, organ donation schemes should operate in reverse of the current norm: you must actively choose not to donate. More mundane examples include the urinal fly (it turns out that men cannot resist peeing on things: urinal flies have been reported to reduce spillage by up to 80 percent) or a measure directed at people who overload and overeat in fast food restaurants. Eliminate trays and cut down on both waste and waistlines.

Everyone wins!

However, nudging is not always about making things better for bodies or the body politic. Those supersize-me offers at burger chains or the soft drink pricing at movie theatres are examples of nudging, too. So are credit cards, calorie labels, and TV channel bundling.

Critics find the very idea of pro-welfare nudging paternalistic, and indeed the view has come to be known as “libertarian paternalism.” This is government regulation of what many people consider basic political freedom: the ability to choose whatever I want, including things that may harm me—and maybe even the world.

So, where should we draw the line between nudging as useful guidance or unjust coercion? Thaler believes that good nudging means greater welfare for everyone. When nudging reaches too close to big government elitism, as when it suggests that more sophisticated decision makers help the less savvy, it can always fall back on opt-out clauses.

But it is not that simple. Critics argue that nudging compromises not only freedom of choice but also autonomy and dignity. Even when we know that our choices are structured, whether by well-meaning state agencies or rapacious marketing companies—like the ones who opposed the “Big Gulp” ban on oversized soft drinks—we still feel that the experience of freedom is fundamental to selfhood.

A good point, but the central problem remains. We need external measures to make things function, not only because we are often irrational decision makers but also because we are often actively bad people. Insisting on unfettered choice is akin to saying that we should all be playing bumper cars at the carnival when what we really need are traffic laws and speed limits.

So, resent them as much as we like, nudges are not going anywhere. They are as old as barter and as tricky as calculus. The pathos here belongs to the human condition itself. Maybe we should aspire to be better decision makers, but that is so much work. Why not let some wonk’s nudging do the thinking for me, as long as I feel free?

...is a form of genetic engineering in which specific changes are made to the DNA sequence of a living organism.

CRISPR-Cas9, the most well-known gene editing technology discovered in 2012, has seen rapid development since its creation and has thus been the subject of controversy within the scientific community. In December 2018, Chinese scientist He Jian-kui announced the successful use of CRISPR on the embryos of female twins, indicating gene editing of human DNA could be happening in the very near future. … cures diseases: The development of gene editing marks the end of all heritable diseases and health conditions. Not only can CRISPR eliminate microbes that occassionaly cause fatal infections, but it can also preempt mutations during the early stages of embryonic development. Correcting faulty genetic sequences would save future generations from suffering the consequences of heritable diseases and even prevent a significant amount of embryonic failures. According to the National Geographic, an annual two-thirds of human embryos fail to develop successfully, and 7.9 million children, representing six percent of total births worldwide, are born each year with fatal genetic defects. Scientists have the moral obligation to serve humanity; with millions dying from the effects of numerous genetic diseases, it would be unethical to let them die despite having developed the capacity to save them. All existent and future research should fulfill this obligation—to save those in need of science’s assistance. … promotes healthier diets: In addition to its health-related benefits, gene editing also holds great promise in the field of agriculture. With the potential to improve yields and even flavor in crops, this practice can revolutionize the foods that people eat daily. Through the process of selective breeding, crops that are more nutritious, disease-resistant, and prolific can be mass-produced, providing benefits for both farmers and consumers alike. For instance, according to a 2017 press release by the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in New York, the utilization of CRISPR allowed researchers to determine the optimal tomato size, branching agriculture, and shape of the plant that would produce the most yield. Other gene-edited crops include decaffeinated coffee, virus-resistant cacao, and low-gluten wheat. Following the rapid trend of humanity’s increasing population, it seems practical to use gene editing to keep pace with the high demand faced by the agricultural industry today.

Article by Andy Yoon & Sia Cho

… is not without its risks: Contrary to the conventional wisdom, genome editing technologies are not as precise as their creators pronounce them to be; in fact, they could unintentionally cause worse errors within a given patient’s DNA. According to a 2018 study published in scientific journal Nature Biotechnology, the use of CRISPR Cas-9 in a sizable proportion of conducted trials led to large deletions and complex rearrangements at target sites in mouse and human cells—enough to alter these cells’ functions. Among the implications of this research, the most alarming aspect is how unnoticeable these errors are: one of the authors of said study, Michael Kosicki, stated that such deletions, inversions, and rearrangements often “[fly] under the radar.” In other words, even if future trials produce successful results, there is still a high possibility that an error could be simply overlooked when drawing conclusions. Until scientists develop more consistent, precise error-detecting technology, they cannot begin gene editing on humans. Despite the potential immediate benefits of implementation, only when there is almost no risk involved can such technologies be used. … facilitates the rise of eugenics: Although few countries have legislated on genetic modification, those with such laws have all banned the practice for ethical reasons. Additionally, the majority of the scientific community recommends caution and prudence in dealing with genome editing technologies. Critics’ ethical concerns lie not in the immediate benefits of curing diseases that genetic modification would provide, but the dangerous slippery slope it may lead down. As stated in a 2015 study published in scientific journal Nature, genome editing, although initially used with the intention of improving public health, “could start us down a path toward non-therapeutic genetic enhancement.” Instead of correcting diseases or otherwise deleterious conditions, related technologies could be commercialized to improve traits like intelligence, strength, or appearance, leading to a myriad of ethical concerns regarding the meaning of human authenticity. People’s shared humanity roots from imperfections, and such technologies would only create an arbitrary standard of what everyone should strive to become.

Photo of the

Month

by Lauren Kang

Blowing bubbles in the atrium during RAK’s Bubble Event, Youn Hwang (10) relieves his stress by admiring the rainbow spectrum reflected in the bubbles.