Tiger Times Volume 51 Issue 2

Tiger Times pg. 4 news

pg. 2 viewpoint

US restrictions on vaping suggests global intolerance toward e-cigarettes

Emily Oh details Family Fun day changes and evaluates their consequences

volume 51 issue 2 october ttonl.org

pg. 6 focus Eric Hwang and Sarah Ju consider the role and effects of student activism

fam ily fun day

Editorial

This is not clickbait by

Sia Cho and Andy Yoon Co-Editors-in-Chief

Last August, North Korea launched its sixth missile test this year, announcing that it would no longer be receptive to diplomatic talks with its neighbor to the south and US President Donald Trump. Such an abrupt display of aggression aroused international concern, with world leaders going back to the drawing board for reconciliation plans. Although cross-border peace or even reunification has grown increasingly likely in recent months, it turns out that this has all been wishful thinking: North Korea is back to square one.

Over the course of several years, Tiger Times has chosen to continuously report on the sporadic personality of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and the nation’s incessant threats to the stability of the international community. With this recent news about inter-Korean relations, the editors are starting to face a series of important questions. What is media sensationalism? Can reporting on this dictator again this month be considered sensationalism? What are the effects of this phenomenon? And what can Tiger Times do to avoid the negative consequences?

Our generation’s struggle with media sensationalism is evidenced by a recent study released by Our World in Data, which details the most common causes of deaths in the US and which ones the media covers.

According to this report, cardiovascular disease and cancer account for nearly 60 percent of all deaths in the country, whereas terrorism causes less than 0.01 percent. However, what Our World in Data illuminates through its study is that when the New York Times published US death-related articles in 2016, terrorism accounted for up to 40 percent of this news, with homicide coming in as a close second at 23 percent.

Such a discrepancy between the facts and media coverage of the same issue reflects sensationalism at its core, whether news organizations like it or not. It is undoubtedly a pervasive phenomenon, influencing readers’ perceptions on a variety of issues, though contrary to the reality of things.

News about the detrimental effects of vaping may exemplify this sensationalism. Headlines, such as “[s] ixth person dies from vaping,” have taken social media by storm, rapidly inflaming backlash against e-cigarettes. However, these stories, amplified by the 21st century’s accessible avenues for information, blur the line between hard facts and exaggerated truths. Given that the leading causes of death—cardiovascular disease and cancer—contribute to approximately more than half of the 60 million annual deaths worldwide, the twenty deaths caused by electronic cigarettes thus far pale in comparison, though they do admittedly herald a significant turning point regarding our perception of these devices.

What this gives rise to in a society reflecting this phenomenon is a widespread crisis of confidence regarding the present and idealized nostalgia regarding the past. A longing for “simpler times” is the basis of President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign, Make America Great Again, though studies show that the 2010s has been the greatest time to be alive, in terms of lifestyle options, economic well-being, social equality, and scientific advances. As a result of sensationalized news, readers fail to evaluate the status quo through an objective lens.

Of course, by no means is this a call for people to be desensitized and regard up-and-coming global disasters with little concern; in some regards, the conditions of the past may have been more promising than that of 2019. However, it is still important to acknowledge the fact that the dramatization of current events only foments excessive apprehension for the future, hindering our appreciation of the present and obstructing the development of a growth mindset.

In today’s age of ostensible despondency, it is in the hands of both Tiger Times and its readers to approach journalism with an appropriate mindset. With regards to current events, readers should always look at the “forest for the trees” and question the information they intake. As editors of Tiger Times, we need to make conscious distinctions between raising awareness and grabbing attention. By repeatedly asking ourselves whether each article contributes positive value to the community, we need to assess this organization’s impact on readers’ views on an assortment of issues.

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

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VIEWPOINT

On improving Family Fun Day

by Emily

Oh

For the first time in SIS history, admissions for Family Fun Day was free. Reflective of the shift in the way the annual carnival is now perceived by SIS—that it is not only a fundraising opportunity for clubs but also a fun community event—this change is only one of the many the school has taken to cater to students’ well-being. Other changes include club funding based on clubs’ dedication as opposed to the number of tickets collected; HSSC parents, not student officers, assessing clubs throughout the day; and a quota on the number of stamps students can collect. Although seemingly trivial at first glance, these changes resulted in a notably different Family Fun Day. In previous years, clubs were randomly assigned to booths which determined the funding they would receive.

Certain booths were far more popular than others, leaving clubs assigned to their unpopular counterparts underfunded. Evaluating clubs based on their effort and organization, the new funding process is far more transparent and fair, rewarding clubs based on their merit, not luck. No longer burdened

with having to pay for booths, students were also encouraged to participate in a diverse range of activities with the free stamp policy this year. However, despite such promising and positive changes, a number of issues still remain unaddressed.

For most high school students, the phrase “Family Fun Day” conjures images of throwing friends into an inflatable pool. Several safety concerns arise from such mayhem: electronics are lost and damaged, unsuspecting elementary and middle school students are splashed with water, and students without an extra set of clothes face an uncomfortable ride home. Some have proposed assigning clubs consisting of the oldest and typically most mature high school students, such as National Honor Society (NHS), to these stations. Yet, most students will continue throwing each other in regardless of how many warnings they receive and from whom they receive them. Rather than stripping students of their primary source of fun, we should consider other potential solutions for issues that have yet to be addressed, such as setting up another pool in an area designated for all friend-throwing and water gun business. Other booths

that pose such serious issues could be replaced with this designated area.

Twenty feet away from the inflatable pools, students playing pocket soccer run off campus and onto driving roads unsupervised, retrieving the balls they kicked over the field fence. As shown in previous years, simply relocating the booth farther away from fences to the middle of the field poses even more dangers—students still managed to kick balls over, more were likely to get hit by flying balls, and they would occasionally land by the food stands. Stocking up on spare balls is also useless as students manage to kick all of them over, forcing students to hit the roads. Replacing dangerous booths with safer alternatives is the next logical step in securing students’ safety.

While safety concerns may still persist, we must appreciate the school’s efforts to cater to the best interests of students. Some may say free admissions were simply a necessary change given the declining elementary and middle school body. However, it increased the event’s accessibility, helping to fulfill the purpose of Family Fun Day: providing a carefree day full of fun for primary and secondary students alike.

Rising Sun Flag in 2020 Olympics causes controversy

by Jiwon

Lee

As one of the most publicized conflicts between South Korea and Japan since the end of the Japanese occupation of the Korean Peninsula in 1945, the Japanese-Korean trade war has consistently made headlines for the past few months. With long-suppressed cultural and historical undertones characterizing the lasting tension between the two countries, the dispute is continuing to intensify in magnitude. The increasingly souring relationship between the two nations has reached new stages, and its most recent victim has been the controversy surrounding the Rising Sun flag. Despite the escalating nature of the issue, neither side is willing to back down from the conflict.

The Rising Sun flag was created by Japanese feudal lords during the Edo period, beginning from approximately four centuries earlier and lasting up until the late 19th century. In 1870, it was officially adopted as the war flag of the Imperial Japanese Army, and has persevered as the nation’s military flag despite continual opposition from neighboring Asian countries who have come to associate the symbol with the wartime crimes committed by the Japanese government and military.

While the rights of the Japanese military to use the Rising Sun flag had been continually disputed in the decades following the end of World War II, the Japanese government’s decision to allow Olympic-goers to bring this controversial flag into the stadium has triggered widespread criticism from multiple Asian countries, the most outspoken of them coming from South Korea. In a press conference following the decision, South Korea’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Kim In-chul condemned the Japanese government for failing to acknowledge their historical wrongdoings, and that it was “well aware” that the Rising Sun flag is interpreted as a reminder of the Japanese imperialism and militarism that dominated much of Asia during the 20th century.

The rising sun flag: a symbol of history or oppression?

The Korean Sports and Olympic Committee (KSOC) also spoke out against this contentious decision, stating that “a flag symbolizing war is not suitable for peaceful Olympic Games,” and that “the Rising Sun flag is akin to a symbol of the devil to Asians and Koreans, just like how the swastika is a symbol of Nazis which reminds Europeans of invasion and horror.” The decision made by the Japanese Olympic Committee was heavily criticized when compared with the response given by the South Korean government after Japan took to offence the use of the Dokdo flag during the PyeongChang Winter Olympics in 2018.

Dokdo is a small group of islets located in the East Sea, the body of water bordered by the Korean Peninsula, the Japanese archipelago, and Russia. Having been a part of Korea since 1696, the islets were seized by Japan in 1905, just a few years prior to the Japanese invasion of the Korean Peninsula and Manchuria.

Despite having original plans to adopt a flag depicting this island at the Winter Olympics, diplomatic concerns raised by Japan prompted the KSOC to avoid using the flag out of respect for the International Olympic Committee’s rule to avoid politicizing sports events.

The Japanese Olympics planning

board, however, has failed to give a similar response as the one presented by its Korean counterpart, and has made the decision to continue ignoring the contentious nature of the Rising Sun flag­­—which, an issue that has been acknowledged by sports governing bodies such as FIFA and subsequently banned at other international sporting events.

Although the hostile relationship between Japan and Korea has periodically revealed itself throughout the years, the most recent disagreement concerning the Rising Sun flag has proven to be an unprecedented uniting factor among South Koreans in their long-standing ethnical rivalry with Japan. This incident has, in fact, aggravated diplomatic relationship between the two countries beyond its worst in the past two decades.

It is with unanimous agreement that South Koreans argue for this incident to not be taken lightly; to them, this is not a mere infringement upon the pride of the country, or a petty squabble over some trivial sporting rights—this signifies disrespect for the historical suffering that previous generations of Koreans have gone through, some of whom are well-alive today and vividly remember what the Rising Sun flag symbolizes.

Tiger Times October 2019

Tiger Times Staff

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.

Volume 52 Issue 2 October Seoul, South Korea TTONL.org a free publication of

Seoul International School

Paper Editors-In-Chief Sia Cho Andy Yoon

Website Managing Editors Kate Lee Fiona Cho

Graphics Editor Lynette Kim

Website Editor-in-Chief Eju Ro

Production Editors Claire Lee Youngjin Park

Photo Editor Lauren Kang

Paper Managing Editors Chris Lee Brian Ham

Copy Editors Eric Hwang Alice Lee Joanne Yang Jiwon Lee

Social Media/ Marketing Directors Emily Bae Emily Oh

Video Editor Andie Kim

Reporters Teddy Cho Christopher Shin Joanne Yang Irene Kim Katherine Suk Jenny Seo Sarah Ju Emily Sung Sarah Baek Jennifer You Sunny Lee Sally Lee

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Layout Artists Ashley Kim Eddie Hahm Clara Lim Adviser Ms. Wendy Grant

Viewpoint Feature:

Evaluating the sunbae-hoobae relationship Is the grade class dynamic as toxic as we believe?

What role should upperclassmen assume?

The changing landscape of class culture

by Brian

Ham

What exactly does it mean to be an upperclassman? Of course, as one rises through the ranks of high school, a progressively heavier workload is expected, as well as an increase in stress as one struggles to juggle life and education. When I walked into school on my first day as a junior—just one step away from being the alpha in the high school— there was no updated list of privileges to greet me at the front gate; I did not unlock a whole new set of skill moves only obtained by age. Rather, I inherited an unwritten code of actions.

It is true that to a certain extent in SIS, a hierarchy of sorts exists between the upperclassmen and underclassmen, stemming loosely from Korean culture. In a cultural sense, many Eastern countries strongly value the idea of obedience; for example, the teachings of Confucianism state that the “subordinate owes obedience and honor to his superior,” whether it be a family member to the father or a student to a teacher. Additionally, age serves as more than just a number. Much like the Spanish usted form, the Korean language uses honorifics simply based on the age of the person you are talking to. However, the unique hybrid of Western and Eastern cultures that results from an international school can bring out the best of both worlds. In SIS, this respect is not necessarily expressed through excessive pandering and 90-degree-bows but rather manifests

itself in a mentor-student relationship that proves beneficial for all those involved. When viewed in this light, there is nothing inherently wrong with having an unwritten hierarchy embedded in our culture, as long as it does not spiral uncontrollably by extending to bullying or extortion.

When one hears about the Korean hierarchy, his or her first reaction may be imagining a system of oppression where people gain power simply for existing on this Earth for a longer time. While this may be true in the most extreme cases, this outlook tends to overlook the primarily positive impacts of such a system. Rather than silencing the new generation of high schoolers, this dynamic encourages a mentor-student relationship between the seniors and the freshmen that helps them navigate the treacherous waters of high school.

For a concrete example of this phenomenon, we can turn to the clubs of SIS, a microcosm of the school itself. Without an already established hierachy, enforcing club policies and deadlines would be a tough task to accomplish without excessive intervention from the adviser. However, because a general system of authority already exists, clubs can function smoothly and provide a rich learning experience involving leadership. Additionally, through group activities and international trips, a sense of camaraderie builds between members and the underclassmen, and what results is a dynamic where respect is still kept for elder

members, yet also a sense of friendship. A similar progression happens on athletic teams, but once again, the SIS culture in this context also differs massively from a purely Confucianism school of thought; a freshman screaming at a senior to pass the ball during the heat of the moment is not necessarily an uncommon sight.

The benefits also go the other way: with the respect one gains by becoming a junior or a senior, he or she also gains a sense of responsibility to take care of underclassmen who will soon be suffering through the same courses and making the same mistakes he did a couple years ago. Whether it be through official channels like the National Honor Society or just general guidance, upperclassmen in SIS naturally become mentors for those following the path they paved before.

Many academic clubs are creating a sustainable system of tutoring where students can simultaneously learn from upperclassmen and pass on knowledge to underclassmen.

The Mu Alpha The recently began a system where, for example, a pre-calculus student can receive tutoring from AP Calculus students while also teaching current Algebra 2 students. Model United Nations also sets up a buddy system where newcomers are paired with experienced members to facilitate their transition into the club; the same dynamic occurs between AP Seminar and AP Research students.

Of course, the hierarchy system is not completely devoid of negative effects. One

might say that the existence of this system leads to a wider divide between grade levels.

One example of this is the existence of a pseudo-senior lounge: the newly renovated passageway on the third floor has generally served as an area for seniors to work on applications and relax. In a similar manner, many juniors and sophomores relax in the library while freshmen take up residence in the various couches lining the hallways. In no way are these labels set in stone by the administration or the students; once again, this is one component of this unwritten code of action between the seniors and underclassmen.

However, it is unfair to attribute this separation to the underlying dynamic between underclassmen and upperclassmen. As this phenomenon is not necessarily the result of the system: regardless of how equally each grade level is treated, there will always be an irremovable barrier between the grade levels due to subtle cultural differences as well as a natural tendency to gravitate to those taking the same courses and sharing the same life experiences.

Rather than cracking down on any form of hierarchy as being detrimental to society and oppressive to a certain group, let us celebrate the positives of this relationship as an embracement of the many cultures encapsulated by the walls of our school. In such a competitive academic environment, it is nice to know that a group of people who have survived what you are going through right now are there to help you out.

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NEWS

News Briefs

by Chris

Lee

Koreans join global climate strike

Students march at climate strike in Gwanghwamun on sept. 27, holding up signs reading “protect our 2050.” photo courtesy of Jessica Terbrueggen

Over 500 protestors took to the streets on Sept. 27 in front of the Sejong Center to demand greater measures to mitigate climate change. The strike, held from Sept. 20 to Sept. 27, was part of a global movement initiated by activist Greta Thunberg. The demonstrators, who included several SIS students and teachers, demanded that the South Korean government take on greater responsibility in resolving the climate crisis.

“The climate strike movement is a very important movement. It’s certainly not new, but I feel like there’s been an increase in attention,” said Allyson Lee, AP Environmental Science teacher. “It’s definitely good that it’s a youth-based movement, especially with leaders like Greta Thunberg and Autumn Peltier.

Politicians have certainly seen the evidence and are aware of the knowledge associated with climate change, but they are just not acting. It’s going to take another leader or another group to lead the movement.”

HSSC revamps food cart menu

At the Open Meeting held on Sept.

25, the HSSC announced a new menu system for the fall semester. The HSSC will introduce a new seasonal menu at every Open Meeting, beginning with the “cup rice.” The newly introduced seasonal items will only be available for a limited amount of time, although the HSSC has stated that they may extend sales of popular seasonal menus.

“I definitely hope the HSSC’s new seasonal food system will attract a lot of students,” said Yihyun Kwon (12), Senior council HSSC member. “The seasonal food system will allow students to try out a wider variety of snacks. In addition to light snack items like nachos, we plan to offer more substantial ones like cup rice to help hungry students.”

DMZ club hosts photo exhibition

On Sept. 17, the DMZ club hosted a photo exhibition in the atrium, displaying pictures of birds, insects, frogs, and various other forms of wildlife found near the 38th parallel. Such pictures of wildlife stood in stark contrast to the pictures of landmines, barbed wire, and other military establishments taken in the same location. These pictures were taken by the DMZ club throughout the past year during their monthly visits to the border.

“It is definitely interesting how an area marked by political tensions can sustain such a well-developed ecosystem,” said Bryan Hur (12), DMZ group leader. “We need to realize that the DMZ is not only a place that separates two countries but also an area inhabited by all sorts of wildlife.”

Graphic by Ashley Kim

US states announce vaping bans

by Christopher

Shin

In response to growing concern over a mysterious outbreak of vaping-related lung illnesses and deaths, US states have ramped up efforts to limit access to e-cigarette products.

On Sep. 4, Michigan made the first statewide attempt to prohibit the sale of vaping devices.

New York, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts soon followed suit, implementing similar bans on flavored e-cigarettes and related products. While the new legislation appears to be a positive step toward curbing vaping among America’s youth, questions regarding both its feasibility and effectiveness remain unanswered.

“I am in general support of the ban on flavored e-cigarette products in the United States,”

said Joshua Hahn (12). “Originally, vapes were meant to be an alternative to smoking cigarettes. However, they have now become a gateway substance for cigarette use. Companies such as JUUL have been capitalizing on the teenage use of e-cigarettes, and their wide range of flavored products especially appeal to the youth.”

Despite the strong stance federal and state governments are taking against vaping products, many are still concerned about the potential emergence of a black market. According to reports by the New York Times, regular vape users are already stockpiling e-cigarette products for personal use or after-market sales. In fact, many online forums comprise of users commenting on their plans to reserve nicotine pods and sell them for

an even higher markup once bans officially go into effect.

“My biggest concern regarding the vaping bans in the United States pertains to the potential emergence of a black market for flavored e-cigarette products,” said Sean Rhee (11). “We have seen similar situations arise in American history as well. For example, during Prohibition, the bans on alcohol were largely unsuccessful because people were able to illegally stockpile and smuggle alcohol. Hopefully, history will not repeat itself.”

Although many have expressed their doubts regarding the enforcement of the vaping bans, others are much more optimistic about the overall impacts of the legislation. For example, some point to the bans’ potential to shift the public perception of vaping. Citing historically

successful smoking legislation such as California’s strict laws against indoor smoking, many hope that the new bans will, in a similar fashion, send a strong social message that decreases the allure of vaping among youth and eventually curbs behavior.

If the legislation is successful in the United States, countries such as South Korea may also implement similar bans.

“While legislation alone will not eliminate the problem, bans on the sale of e-cigarettes may eventually lead to the development of a culture that is less accepting of vaping,” said James Kowalski, social studies teacher.

“By highlighting the harmful health effects of vaping, the new legislation sends a clear message that devalues and even vilifies the use of e-cigarettes.”

Attack on Saudi Arabia’s oil plant intensifies tensions

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by Sarah

Baek

n Sept. 14, missiles rained down on the biggest oil plant in the world. These drone and missile attacks devastated Saudi Arabia’s Khurais oilfield and the Abqaiq oil-processing facility, and thick plumes of smoke were visible from space when the sun rose a few hours later.

As a result, a total of six million barrels of oil were lost, marking the day as the world’s biggest disruption to its energy supply, with a 20-percent oil price increase.

While the media has speculated that the attack was organized by Iran, understanding the history of the intense relationship of three countries—Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the US—is crucial. The recent attack has the potential to bring an unprecedented amount of damage to the world’s energy supply, and may even raise the risk of war.

“I think President Trump’s flimsy stance is an interesting choice,” said Aileen Kim (11), MUN delegate and member of

the forensics team. “We’ll have to see what impact it brings. He does seem to be somewhat confusing with his stance; he seems to be both supporting and not supporting the recovery of Saudi Arabian damage. Additionally, he seems to be overtly hostile and yet possibly cooperative to Iranian interests.”

Saudi Arabia and Iran are locked in a fierce struggle for regional dominance. This long-standing feud is exacerbated by religious differences: while Iran is largely Shia Muslim, Saudi Arabia considers itself as the leading Sunni Muslim power. Although the two are not directly engaged in conflict, they are still involved in a variety of proxy wars around the region.

Additionally, the intervention from other western countries, including the US, Germany, and Britain, by selling arms to their political allies, caused international criticism. Saudi Arabia is currently involved in a fight against the rebel Houthi

movement in Yemen, which they claim strengthens Iranian influence in that region. Even after successive reports from UN experts demonstrating that Iran provides considerable assistance to the Houthis from Tehran, the Iranian government denies these accusations of military support, in terms of both weaponry and technology.

“Diplomatic process is a great idea, but I’m not sure whether it is possible,” said Morgan Miller, social studies teacher. “I mean, in the Arab peninsula, it’s pretty bad, especially with the civil war, poverty, and blockades. As a global citizen, keeping pu with the news is very important. Also, it never hurts to know more about what is happening in the Middle East; being aware of how the governments are aligned, and what that means for us.”

Leaders around the world have paid close attention to the recent crisis and expressed their stances, partly due to the huge influence of Saudi Ara-

bia’s oil supply. Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, sees no reason to end arms sales to Saudi Arabia, and prefers a diplomatic process rather than violence, an opinion shared by many other European nations. Comparatively, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has stated that he is ready to take President Trump’s stance blaming Iran for the attacks by providing military help to the Saudi Arabian government.

“I’m concerned that this incident has the potential to ignite direct armed conflict between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which could expand to include other countries as well,” said James Kowalski, social studies teacher.

“Any such conflict could also cause serious disruptions for countries not even directly engaged in it. South Korea, for example, as an oil-importing country, could face serious threats to its fuel supplies.

Tiger Times October 2019

5

Politicians shave heads in protest against justice minister Cho Kuk

by Irene

Kim

In recent months, a new trend is emerging among South Korean politicians: shaving their heads in public to demonstrate their grievances and to protest social and political plights. This trend has especially spiraled after the shocking revelation that Justice Minister Cho Kuk, a prominent jurist and politician who has served as the President for Civil Affairs, has been involved in the corrupt dealings surrounding his daughter’s acceptance into Seoul National University, one of the most prestigious universities in Korea. As a result, politicians have been demanding the justice minister’s dismissal and protesting through sakbal, the shaving of their heads.

“Students need to have faith in the education system,” said James Kowalski, AP Seminar and US History teacher. “Any sort of instances like this will make students feel less inclined to try harder if they know that the system is already rigged and people who have connections and wealth are prioritized. Not only are individual students impacted by the negative consequences of these actions, but society as a whole is also suffering. There must be transparency and equity implemented into the system.”

Along with Cho’s corruption allegations concerning his daughter’s admission into Seoul National University, his family and relatives

have also been found to have made investments in a private equity fund. As the prosecution for Cho Kuk’s family is taking place, the chairman of the Liberty Korea Party, Hwang Kyo-ahn, shaved his head at a plaza near Cheong Wa Dae, the presidential office, to protest against the justice minister and to endorse his dismissal.

“I personally think that head shaving is playing an important role currently,” Yewon Yun (11) said. “Every day in the news, I always see the issue of politicians shaving their heads coming up and how politicians are participating in sakbal where they are taking turns to shave their heads in order to increase their voice for the dismissal of Cho Kuk. Head shaving is alerting people because it is extremely visually shocking since politicians are doing this in public.

However, I believe that it is still true that sakbal is having a major impact on current Korean politics.”

Politicians in Korea have seldom utilized sakbal as an aggressive and extreme method to visually convey a political and social issue to the public and to have their voices be heard. Such practice of resistance has been maintained due to the Confucian culture that is deeply embedded in the country. In Confucianism, which highlights filial piety, harming any part of your body, such as hair, gifted by our parents, is an unforgivable manifestation of disrespect. Hence,

Graphic by Irene Kim shaving the head would display a person’s determination in a way that is theoretically almost worth risking their lives. However, despite the cultural significance of this act, others also call into question the real intentions and effectiveness of politicians who are proceeding to shave their heads in protest.

Although visually shocking, some argue that head shaving lacks the strength to actually persuade the public in the country to take action in a political or social affair since it does not involve pain or sacrifice.

“I think sakbal is an extreme response to corruption,” Michelle Chang (11) said. “People who shave

their heads are not necessarily going to take a stance against it since it does not take direct action against current corruption in the Korean government. I believe that rather than sakbal, or any personal response, actions should be more governmental. For example, signing a contract or trying to interview people more directly in order to lessen corruption would be a more effective action of protest rather than taking actions more personally.”

Our Korean ancestors have utilized head shaving in the past as a means of promoting independence and democracy. Social minorities

who did not have power have used head shaving as a form of protest; as a result, some of the public believe that these politicians are not social minorities and think that they are only putting up a show. Despite such controversies, sakbal is currently serving the role as an extreme act to assist politicians to express their opposition against Cho Kuk and to grant them a chance to have a voice. It seems that it has been effective, as justice minister Cho Kuk resigned on Oct. 14th, along with President Moon issuing a public apology for the scandal.

America’s forgotten pastime truth in numbers

by Brian

Ham

Every summer vacation, I pack the same essential items: clothes, toothpaste, soccer balls, and before closing the suitcase, a few books I hope I will find at least a couple of hours out of two months to read for fun. My hopeful but unrealistic plans always fall through; this year in particular, I realized that with being a junior comes a crushing workload topped by AP summer assignments. Just a couple years ago, I was the kid who would spend his summer days with a diabetes-inducing ice cream cone, poring through novels, staying up until midnight with a book under the covers. What happened to that child, and how did he die?

Citizens across the United

States suffer from the same epidemic. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average American between ages 15 and 54 reads for less than 10 minutes a day, a 30 percent decrease from 2004. The trend is evident no matter how the data is framed: men and women, the rich and the poor, and the youth and the elderly all devote less of their time to reading for pleasure as the years roll by. Even more worryingly, the Pew Research Center found that 27 percent of American adults had not touched a single book for the entirety of 2018.

This phenomenon is not limited to the United States.

Throughout the 2018-‘19 year, the 700 middle and high school students and teachers attending SIS collectively checked out 1,899

books from the secondary library.

Estimating each novel to contain 300 pages—roughly 90,000 words—and the average high school student’s reading pace to be 250 words per minute, we see that an SIS student spends less than three minutes a day reading for pleasure. In summary, we spend more time brushing our teeth than opening books not assigned by our teachers.

When citizens spend just an hour a week reading books, what exactly do we lose? Bookstores are the biggest victims, as they are slowly becoming a dying breed. Manhattan boasted 386 bookstores in 1950; today, that number is down to 80. The impact is being felt across the ocean, as one of Itaewon’s most famous foreign bookstores, “What the Book,” also suddenly closed its doors. But bookkeepers are not the only ones with a stake in this issue. Activities like reading can slow down memory loss by 32 percent, according to the Amer-

ican Academy of Neurology, and reduce stress levels by more than 60 percent. Scientific studies suggest that e-books are not a viable substitute, as we use different parts of our brain when jumping from the paper to the screen.

Wayne Gretzky, one of the greatest hockey players of all time, scoffs at those who accredit his success to winning the genetic lottery, saying that “I have put in almost as much time studying hockey as a medical student puts in studying medicine... nobody would ever say a doctor had learned his profession by instinct.”

The same goes for writing: natural talent only takes you so far, and the greatest writers are usually avid readers who spent countless hours learning the quirks and mannerisms of the written art. One must be familiar with the way words are carefully selected and fashioned in creative contexts so that he may incorporate unique structures into his own writing. Allan Little, former correspondent for the BBC,

summarizes it best when he notes that “to use this language well, you have to love it.”

But perhaps more importantly, reading offers so much from a purely sentimental perspective: the inexplicable feeling of being drawn into a book so strongly that time seems to stop, where the imaginary world the author builds in your mind grows so extensive that the boundaries between reality and fiction dissipate. By following the paths of complex literary characters, we are actually reading about our own lives. All of us have a little piece of Jay Gatsby’s fruitless dreams, Yossarian’s relatable cowardice, and the helpless wandering spirit of Jake Barnes inside ourselves; we all felt the same pain when we closed the covers of “Charlotte’s Web” or “Bridge to Terabithia.” Books have this incredible capacity of conjuring imagination and making us feel emotion, bringing fictional qualities to life.

The new youth movement:

Eric Hwang

a modern revitalization of student activism

During the week of Sept. 26, thousands of students all across the globe marched out of their classrooms. Some were met with enthusiastic support, others with sneers and mean glances. Some walked among an endless sea of supporters, others in groups of a few dozen. Some cheered enthusiastically, others screamed in anger. Some marched in sunshine, others trudged on in rain. Unifying them all was a mixture of frustration and a call for change. The 2019 climate strikes —created, promoted, and led by students— captured the world’s attention.

Beyond climate change, student activism has seen an international resurrection over the past several years.

On an increasingly diverse range of topics, from gun violence with the March for Our Lives Movement to racial injustice with Black Lives Matter, young people have found it necessary to take matters into their own hands.

At first glance, especially due to the diversity of issues, these protests may seem unrelated. However, while student protests are not as thematically unified as activism in the past, such as the Vietnam protests in the 1970’s, the rapidly growing number of independent initiatives forms a larger trend across the globe. According to an annual survey done by the Higher Education Research Institute of UCLA, around one in 10 modern American college freshmen are likely to participate in student activism, the highest rate since 1967.

To a certain degree, this trend can be seen as a response to inaction from adults, particularly in the modern American political climate. For instance, students across the United States hosted school walkouts on April 20, 2018 to commemorate the 19th anniversary of the Columbine mass shooting. However, nearly two decades after the Columbine incident, the bloodshed has continued. In fact, the April walkouts were equally, if not more, inspired by the hundreds of mass shootings, most notably at Parkland in February 2018, that have taken place over the past several years. Despite a majority of

Sarah Ju Throughout history, issues in the world perpetually arise to affect the peace and stability of an ideal society. As a world constantly searching for means to better itself, occurrences of public activism are inevitable and necessary to reflect on the actions of mankind as a whole. Youths are frequently described as the leaders of the next generation, and it makes sense that they should have a say in what is necessary for political or social reform. For Korea in particular, student activism played a major role in shaping the country, despite the many struggles students faced to declare their opinions in a loud and stubborn nation.

During the Korean independence movement in 1919, students played a major role in vehemently protesting Japanese oppression. For instance, the March 1st Independence Movement of 1919 occurred as Korea’s Proclamation of Independence was signed, starting the period of activism for liberation in Korea. Many students walked the streets shouting manse, adding to the fervor that shook the country’s grounds. Additionally, the Gwangju Student Independence Movement in the push for Korean independence illustrated the extensive effect that students had on important national matters. Korean students were forced to sing the Kimigayo, the Japanese anthem, but they refused to comply and instead shouted for independence. Ultimately, the immense amount of powerful resistance from Koreans led to the country’s liberation.

Student activism was also a key factor in Korea’s shift toward democracy from the mid-1900s. In 1948, Rhee Syng-man became the first president of South Korea, but passed new laws that allowed him to rule for more than two terms, the original legal tenure of presidential authority. Following the rigging of the fourth consecu-

Americans from both sides of the aisle supporting some degree of “common sense” gun regulations, such as universal background checks for gun purchasers, a historically inactive Congress has failed to pass any major restriction for more than 20 years. In fact, the last major regulation predates the Columbine incident. Likewise, in terms of climate change, students have responded to inadequate global action and America’s failure to pass a Green New Deal with student climate strikes and the Sunrise Movement. Young activists have stepped up in fields where they believe adults have stalled, taking action in impressive numbers.

In the context of Generation Z’s psychology, particularly in the US, this is hardly surprising. The current generation of youth has lived through the 2008 financial crisis, only to witness the arrest of a single high profile banker. They have experienced the war on terror, only to be spied on by their own government via the PATRIOT Act. They have experienced inflamed racial tensions and division, only to be met with historically vicious partisanship in Congress and a polarizing President. Thus, predictably, Generation Z is often highly skeptical of higher institutions. Instead of relying on authorities, whom they perceive as unreliable, young protestors have taken the mantle for change themselves.

The rise of modern student activism can also be attributed to social media. The Internet has given protestors and supporters a platform to instantly reach millions of people across the world. For instance, students have often used social media to promote movements like #BlackLivesMatter and #MeToo, allowing for more young people to participate in activism and helping initiatives reach global audiences. In addition, student leaders have taken advantage of social media to organize protestors in ways and numbers previously impossible for youth. Last year in the US, thousands of protestors convened in Washington D.C. at the March for Our Lives event, which was organized online by high school

survivors of the Parkland school shooting, to demand legislative gun control. More recently, 16-year-old activist Greta Thunberg led the international 2019 September climate strikes largely thanks to her viral online fame.

Student activism, to a certain degree, even exists at SIS. Besides community service clubs, which promote their respective causes, on numerous occasions, students have driven change within the SIS community.

Just last year, a Tiger Times viewpoint article by Brian Ham (11) regarding the administration’s activity period backpack policy directly led to lunch line reforms which helped reduce wait times and panicked rushes that often caused backpacks to be left in inappropriate places to begin with. For as apathetic as SIS students may believe their community to be, the ability to mold their environment exists within reasonable reach. Student protests do not necessarily have to take the form of marches and demonstrations. Expressions of student voice via the newspaper, grade level representatives, and counselors can all serve as effective avenues for making a difference. Furthermore, even if tangible change is not achieved, often initiatives can be considered successful if they raise significant awareness or revive public debate on a topic.

In this sense, youth activism is more accessible than ever, both internationally and at SIS. As a new generation of young voices matures and develops, students in the future will undoubtedly again march together, alone, in sunshine, and in rain. However, student activism will equally take place online, on social media, and via student writing. The information and digital era has provided the institutionally suspicious Generation Z with a unique opportunity to instigate change. They have answered the call, and if the past few years are any indication, they will continue to do so for years to come.

The unique role of student activism in South Korea tive election, Korean students asserted that this was unjust and thus the demonstrations of April 1960 began, shouting for Rhee to step down from office. Eventually, the overwhelming cries took over the nation until Rhee stepped down and ended the twelve-year long period of tyranny. After the dictator Park Chung-hee gained power, Koreans had seemingly lost their fight for democracy. However, in the subsequent military rule, many Koreans protested on May 18, 1980. Regardless of the many obstacles, student activists continued to persist for democratic reform. In June 1987, citizens claimed that it was necessary to directly elect governors, and after many incidents of bloodshed and resistance, they finally achieved democracy.

Amid the constant demonstrations of student activism in Korean history, one thing that has differentiated Korea from the rest of the world has been the continuous unity and passion of its youth resonating within the entire country. As exemplified by the opposition to authoritarianism as well as the Japanese regime, student activists have always been brought together as one.

Rather than it merely being an allotted group of people fighting for their own rights, Korea has been a nation as a whole fighting for its beliefs.

Though it is arguable that Korean society has improved as a whole through developments such as the achievement of democracy or indepdendence from colonial rule, it is crucial to keep in mind the consistent value of student activism in today’s status quo. For instance, only a few years back, the great amount of protests against President Park Geun-hye managed to alter the course of Korean political history forever, impeaching the president and bettering the nation based upon citizens’ views. Another example of the key role

that student activism plays in Korean society today is of student climate strikes in recent years, in which students not only cause change, but also bring a surplus of awareness to the issue.

On a smaller and more personal scale, such instances of student activism have occurred within the SIS community. For instance, the Gender and Sexuality Awareness club (GSA) has been holding activities such as movie night featuring LGBTQ characters, wearing rainbow braclets, and making sex-ed pamphlets, all atempting to raise awareness about issues in the world and the chool community. Additionally, the school’s Green Club attended the recent climate strike, raising the schoolwide level of advocacy for current world issues. While it is true that the historical occurrences of student activism within Korea are on a much greater scale than such occasions of school-related activism and fight for very different causes, they parallel each other. This is because the instances of club involvement, as well as the vast amount of Korean student activism depict that advancements toward better lives through student voices is something that is effective and valuable in molding society.

Regardless of whether the actual protests make a tangible change or not, there are numerous lessons people can collectively learn together through student activism. These instances teach that it is of utmost importance to stay actively engaged in current issues and events, and that students, despite being young, can still evoke great change as the leaders of the future. As Korea, as well as the rest of the world, takes larger strides in developing societies of equality and justice, the clamoring voices of the student youth must not be ignored in shaping the world we will live in tomorrow.

8

LIFESTYLE

iPhone 11 elicits mixed reactions

by Jimin

Lee

On Sept. 20, Apple Inc. introduced the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max to the global market. According to Apple, these models possess advanced tech specifications, including improved battery life, wide true-depth cameras, and A13 Bionic chips. Aside from these hardware improvements, the phones come in diverse colors; the iPhone 11 comes in purple, green, black, yellow, white, and red, while the iPhone 11 Pro and the iPhone 11 Pro Max come in midnight green, space grey, silver, and gold.

“The iPhone 11 models have unique features that distinguish them from their predecessors,” said Soomin Kim (11), current iPhone XS user. “My friends and I are fond of the vibrant colors in which these phones come. In my opinion, mint and purple are especially appealing to the eye. Because of their aesthetic qualities, I think the iPhone 11 will definitely attract customers.”

Aside from the new color options, the iPhone 11 Pro’s triple-lens camera also grasped the public’s attention.

Following Apple’s official release of the phone, lighthearted memes about its design surged in popularity across social media platforms. Some users compared the lenses to various objects, including fidget spinners, bubble tea, induction plates, and coconuts. Others found resemblances between the triangular arrangement of camera lenses and shocked expressions of cartoon characters such as SpongeBob and Pikachu.

“Although I am not interested in actually purchasing the iPhone 11, I have found several memes about the iPhone 11’s characteristic camera lenses to be quite humorous,” said Joshua Hahn (12), current iPhone 7 user. “I think these memes reflect a natural response from the public toward new iPhone models.

As shocking as it may be at the moment, I believe people will eventually become accustomed to the design of the iPhone 11.”

While there has been some significant discussion on the exterior design of the new iPhones, other users have acknowledged the superior photography options available on these models.

Equipped with a wider scope of footage and clearer display than ever before, the newest generation of iPhones is capable of recording 4K videos and taking photos in night mode under dimly lit settings. At the same time, however, some users have expressed doubt regarding the necessity of such capabilities.

“I understand the ease of having portable high-quality cameras on phones, especially for people who are interested in photography,” said Kendall Sadler, an English teacher who currently owns the iPhone XR. “People can easily access and share photos. For my uses, however, I find that the iPhone model I have is already more than adequate.”

Like their predecessors, the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max have received ambivalent responses from the public since their release.

Whether people come to embrace the phones’ new, distinctive features will likely be determined with the passage of time.

Marvel and Sony fight for rights over Spider-Man

F

by Jiwon

Lee

irst appearing in the comic book Amazing Fantasy No. 15 in 1962, Spider-Man is a character with a long history.

Spider-Man, initially depicted as a typical teenager facing everyday struggles, gradually matures through the arc of the comic series and later evolves into a superhero striving to save the lives of citizens in his city.

Perhaps one of the most iconic Silver Age heroes, Spider-Man has played a significant role in the childhoods of generations of viewers around the world.

Thus, it comes as a surprise that in 2019, 57 years after its debut, Spider-Man is facing one of the greatest conflicts in his career.

Marvel, a branch of comic book publishers working under Disney, first licensed Spider-Man rights to Columbia, a subsidiary of Sony Pictures Entertainment, in 1999. Disney and Sony renewed the contract in 2015, when Sony permitted Disney’s Marvel Studios to incorporate Spider-Man as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Fast-forward to 2019, and a major fall-out between the two major film corporations has resulted in Sony

calling an abrupt end to the deal.

A major cause of this conflict has been Disney’s demands for a greater studio financing stake in the upcoming Spider-Man films, despite Sony buying film rights for the comic book character in 1999.

“I first started watching superhero movies with my kids,” said David Bonar, AP Physics teacher and father of two. “As someone who has fond memories watching MCU movies with my children, I will definitely miss Tom Holland playing Spider-Man and his role in the MCU. Whereas I do not feel much about the financial dispute between Disney and Sony—it is their personal business to sort out—WI am slightly concerned on how Marvel will continue the MCU storyline without Spider-Man, who was so well-connected with many of the other characters, and how these characters themselves will go without mentioning him.”

According to online news site Deadline Hollywood, Disney and Sony agreed on a 5-to-95 percent co-financing arrangement in the initial licensing terms set in 1999. Disagreement arose when Disney reportedly asked Sony to increase the split of the profits to

Movie Review: Joker

by Emily

Oh

Joker, an origin story that follows DC Comics’ iconic Clown Prince of Crime, was released on Oct. 2. Besides winning the Golden Lion award at the Venice Film Festival this August, Joker accounted for 52 percent of Korea’s weekend box office, earning 16.2 million dollars within five days of its release.

Following failed comedian Arthur Fleck and his descent into mania, Joker leaves its audience with a twinge of sympathy for Batman’s nemesis, delving into the years of trauma that shaped the Joker into the homicidal maniac he is known as. In particular, we learn that Joker’s trademark laughter isn’t simply maniacal. As a laminated card Arthur carries around with him explains, he has a condition—the Pseudobulbar affect—that causes him to break into painful bursts of unprovoked and uncontrollable laughter. Unnerving to hear and indistinguishable from sobs, Arthur’s pathological laughter is a coping mechanism he developed as a child to endure his delusional and abusive parents’ beatings.

Despite his efforts to explain and control his laughter, Arthur is repeatedly ostracized and beaten, encouraging a spiral from fragile hope into increasingly outsized acts of destruction.

Reflective of his accelerating mental deterioration, Arthur’s actions become progressively callous: although his murderous deeds were initially in self -defense, he eventually crosses a felonious line, chasing after a helpless victim to spray them

down with bullets. Such gruesome scenes are juxtaposed by lighthearted ones that immediately follow, allowing snippets of what appears to be humor, creating an uncomfortable experience that is unsettlingly dark yet comical. Joker has a skin crawling uncomfortableness—created not only through such juxtaposition but also through extensive closeups of Arthur’s gut-wrenching frail frame covered in purple bruises, through minutes of his heartbreaking laughter, through his realization that his most prized relationship is merely a figment of his imagination, and through viewers’ acute awareness that they are emphathizing with a psychopath—sets it apart from its predecessors in the superhero universe.

a 50-50 division. Sony proposed that the two companies maintain their initial financial arrangement, which Disney refused.

Sony received much criticism for its decisions, with fans also critiquing Disney for its overreliance on box-office dominance ever since its purchase of Marvel in 2009.

“I have always felt a special connection to Marvel superheroes, partially because of the company’s ability to give a sense of uniqueness and individuality to each character while also successfully incorporating humorous undertones throughout the movie,” said Leo Park (11), long-time supporter of Marvel.

“Despite Marvel’s success in pulling off this daunting task while simultaneously building a huge fan base for its movies, the company only received a mere five percent of the total profits from the franchise––something that I believe is extremely unfair for them.”

The most recent actor to have played the role of Spider-Man in the MCU is British celebrity Tom Holland, who has revealed that the two films scheduled for the Marvel Spider-Man series will not be cancelled.

However, future plans for MCU Spider-Man movies have been deserted. Meanwhile, Sony will not be able to incorporate Spider-Man into its own extended universe until the remaining two MCU films are produced and the terms of the negotiations made in 2015 are met. However, there still exists the possibility for a peaceful conclusion to the recent debacle between the two companies, an end result many onlookers and fans hope will be achieved.

“As someone who grew up watching American superhero movies, the split between Disney and Sony came as a shock to me,” said Jessica Ahn (11), avid Tom Holland fan. “Spider-Man is also one of my favorite characters, and while the role has been played by prestigious actors such as Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire before, I saw Tom Holland as a perfect fit for the innocent, ‘goofy’ image Marvel gave Spider-Man. The fact that the split between Disney and Sony signals an end to Holland playing Spider-Man is such a shame.

I hope that the two companies can reconcile their differences and agree on an amiable outcome for the issue at hand.”

In addition to captivating its viewers by setting up scenes in a unique way, Joker attempts to shed light on the factors that enable and the stigma surrounding mental illnesses. Arthur goes in and out of failing counselling sessions, his underpaid social worker growing increasingly apathetic and frustrated with his inability to describe his thoughts.

As a result of insufficient government funding, his appointments are cut altogether. Reflective of the reality for mental health patients, Arthur is left without anyone to talk to and unable to receive or take his medication, exacerbating his mental unravelling. Joker underscores another sad truth: more often than not, psychiatric patients, like Arthur who has spent his entire life in

hopes of fitting in, feel the need to hide all facets of their illnesses to be accepted by those around them, even if it means not receiving treatment. Although the film is not solely responsible for eliciting change, it may help herald conversations around the need for better mental health services.

If the gritty qualities of Joker are any indication of the future artistic direction of the DC cinematic universe, DC could perhaps stand to provide genuine competition with the Marvel Comic Universe through contrast instead of replication. Although Joker can be enjoyed by both those who have and have not kept up with Batman franchise, it, with its macabre scenes and humor, is not for the faint-hearted.

Tiger Times October 2019

9

Tekashi 6ix9ine testifies against former crew in court

by Emily

Bae

On Sept. 18, Daniel Hernandez, more popularly known as rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine, testified in Manhattan’s federal court against his former crew, the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods. After previously pleading guilty to charges pressed in November 2018 for gang activity and use of firearms, Hernandez detailed the workings of the Nine Trey gang. The infamous prison crew, founded 25 years ago, has been involved in various acts of violence, including assaults and shootings. The rapper also testified against two of his former confidantes, Aljermiah Mack and Anthony Ellison, members of the crew who allegedly kidnapped him, for their involvement in firearms cases. Although Hernandez has not formally cut ties with the Bloods, with the promise of prosecutors to reduce his sentence should he testify against the gang, he has openly discussed his knowledge of its crimes and inner workings.

“I am aware that Tekashi 6ix9ine has been affiliated with the Nine Trey gang as the rapper’s income from his music production funded the gang’s operations,” said Whitney Meininger, choir and music teacher. “If he’s truly part of this gang, it’s a really dangerous move to start revealing their inner workings. The Bloods are notorious for being ultra-violent. After he openly testified against the gang in court,

he already started receiving death threats from some of the gang members. Ultimately, he has been labeled as a traitor in the rap industry, which will negatively impact his career.”

Due to death threats 6ix9ine has been receiving, prosecutors have indicated the possibility of him entering the witness protection program. In the past, the government has effectively protected high-profile witnesses and encouraged them to start new lives.

Unfortunately, in Tekashi 6ix9ine’s case, returning to ordinary life, unrecognized by others, might be difficult given the tattoos all over his body, especially on his face, and his rainbow-colored hair. Given the risk the rapper is taking, this trial has drawn a lot of attention from many people, especially his fans.

“I think what most surprised me about this trial is the rapper’s eloquence as an informant rather than his affiliation with the gang,” said Celine Choi (11), former fan of Hernandez. “I know that his rap style changed after he partnered with the Nine Trey gang. His lyrics have gotten more violent and powerful and he has even featured some of the gang members in his music videos.”

Tekashi 6ix9ine has not always been characterized as violent.

His mash-up of heavy metal and hip-hop was fresh in the hip-hop industry. After he became affiliated with the gang, his style of music

changed. According to Hernandez, this new style was a blueprint that he found attracted attention from the public and, in turn, boosted his career.

“I don’t think it’s surprising that

6ix9ine was part of the gang,” Kevin Lee (12) said. “Being affiliated with it and changing his style of music helped him garner attention, which he needed to gain a lucrative career.

What we should be concerned are

the implications of his testimony.

His open discussion of the gang can severely damage his career and impact the rap industry as gang affiliations become more significant problems.”

Vegan skincare products gain popularity in Korea’s cosmetics industry

by Jennifer You

South Korea, a hub of trendy beauty products, has continued to lead the cosmetics industry with new beauty products. As typical Koreans value smooth, glowing, and pale skin, longstanding beauty expectations have led to extremely advanced formulas for skincare products. In August 2018, the emergence of a new Korean cosmetic brand, Melixir, sparked the interest of many customers. Although this company has only recently made its way into the market, it has already inspired many other cosmetic companies to follow suit. The introduction of Melixir’s vegan products marked a revolutionary change for South Korean skincare products, with more companies emphasizing the importance of introducing vegan products to their own makeup lines. A major reason for the sudden rise in vegan cosmetics is the public’s growing interest of the environmentally friendly, and comparatively healthier options that vegan skincare products provide.

“Although I certainly haven’t heard of the vegan brand by the name Melixir, I am certainly interested in this new introduction of Korean vegan products,” said Angela Kim (10), customer to the cosmetic industry. “I have not attempted to apply any vegan products onto my face in the past.

But now that I’m aware of these better alternatives for skincare, I am truly thrilled that brands like Melixir advocate for these vegan products. I am fascinated by the innovative ingredients made by these vegan brands and hope for the rising trend of vegan products.”

Melixir practices distinctive management of its products. The unique nature of its products include Plant-Derived Squalane Face Oil and Vitamin C Youth Serum with Niacinamide. Consumers of vegan products prefer these products because of the natural ingredients found in them. However, despite the fact that these vegan brands have huge potential, many people are still unfamiliar with vegan products due to their late introduction into the industry. Although vegan products are not yet mainstream, they recently began garnering more attention from customers.

“I’m aware that vegan product establishments have recently been introduced in Korea,” said Yewon Kim (10), frequent consumer of skincare and makeup products.

“Although they aren’t a huge trend, these vegan products are still considered a better option than many other skincare products in its consideration of the environment. I personally haven’t applied vegan products onto my skin; however, I am eager to test these products out to see if they are indeed a suitable

fit.”

Many people are transitioning from non-vegan to vegan products for many reasons. In an effort to make more ethical purchases, customers deem that using vegan cosmetic products is the “right choice.” Some customers believe that using vegan cosmetics are more ethical than non-vegan alternatives that rely on animal testing and include ingredients derived from animals. Others claim that these vegan skincare products help reduce the harmful environmental effects of carbon emissions from chemical testing and manufacturing through alternative means of production. Furthermore, these vegan products are also extremely helpful for people with sensitive skin, as they help prevent skin breakouts, acne, or blemishes.

“It is smart to buy vegan products that are created without chemicals, since it also stops the horrific process of animal testing,” said Leslie Gregori, forensics team coach and English teacher. “It shows that vegan customers have a strong social mind, and they are aware of the things that could help the world. The skin care products in Korea are top notch and most of the world would look to the cosmetics in Korea. So, with companies like Melixir, Korea could initially take a stand and change the whole cosmetics industry to start leaning towards more vegan products.”

Gaining popularity, vegan ampule is dropped into a glass bottle from various cosmetic brands.

photos by Katherine Suk

10

SPORTS

California passes law to pay student athletes

O

by Eric

Hwang

n Sept. 9, the California

Fair Pay to Play Act passed through the State Assembly by a unanimous vote of 73-0.

The bill, which had been previously approved by the State Senate, will allow college athletes to profit from endorsements as well as their own image or likeness. Currently, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has strict amateur athlete rules that prohibit student competitors from profiting on any aspect of their image.

If signed into law by California Governor Gavin Newsom, the act will prohibit the NCAA from punishing California student athletes with these regulations beginning from 2023.

“In my opinion, the current NCAA policies are extremely unfair in the perspective of college

athletes,” said Younchan Hwang (11), varsity volleyball and basketball player. “Although I have a great passion for sports, I do not have any plans on becoming a pro athlete in the future. However, a significant number of Division 1 athletes have the intention of playing professionally, which adds more value to their physical attributes and skillsets, but these athletes are forced to put these valuable physical assets at risk without compensation. For instance, the NBA requires players to attend at least one year of college, meaning student athletes are wasting a year of their valuable career in college games while risking a possible injury without receiving any adequate compensation.”

As expected, the NCAA has protested the Fair Pay to Play Act. The non-profit organization claims that the bill would remove an im-

portant distinction between professional and amateur athletes.

Several high-profile universities, such as Stanford and the University of Southern California, have also raised concerns. If the act is signed into law, California colleges may be disqualified by the NCAA from national championship tournaments due to their unfair advantage in recruiting athletes. Furthermore, according to the Wall Street Journal, the act will likely be challenged in court over a potentially unconstitutional violation of the Commerce Act, which prohibits states from interfering with interstate commerce.

“In my opinion, even if the bill is signed into law, the NCAA will simply find a way to compromise with Californian colleges important to the organization’s success,” said David Lim (11), varsity cross country runner. “Although they

Varsity girls tennis team makes history claiming victory over SFS Crusaders

by Emily

Sung

On Sept. 18, the varsity girls tennis team broke a four-year losing streak against the Seoul Foreign School (SFS) Crusaders, defeating them at their first home match of the season. While there were lower expectations regarding this game, as the SFS tennis team has been regarded as undefeatable, the team was able to win by a close margin of 3 to 2 after preparing rigorously through practice drills and playing their hearts out. Although the team faced challenges throughout the game, they were nevertheless able to prevail against one of the strongest teams in the division.

“We played SFS in a friendly match at the beginning of the year,” said James Tyvand, varsity girls tennis team coach. “I knew that the key to winning this match would be strong performances from our doubles players.

As for single matches, we also needed to win one of the three games, despite the fact that our opponents are traditionally very strong singles players. Fortunately, our second doubles team and second singles player did end up winning. A lot of this success can be attributed to the players’ hard work and strong understanding of how to play better matches.”

There were two main matches that contributed to the team’s victory — Elin Min’s (11) second singles game, and Christine Yoon (11) and Alexis Lee’s (12) second doubles game. Elin’s game was against a player she had lost before in a very close match. This match was also very close, as the difference between the two scores stayed marginal. Elin, however, did not lose her resolve throughout the match and continued to play as hard as she could, with strong serves that threw her opponent off balance and helped her take the game home. Christine and Alexis’ game started off

have threatened to remove California colleges from the NCAA, large athletics programs such as UCLA and USC being kicked out of the NCAA would negatively impact the revenue and popularity of the organization. Thus, we will most likely find NCAA executives scrambling to find a way to reach individual agreements with these big college names.”

Due to the many concerns and unanswered questions regarding the bill, the NCAA has requested that the act be suspended until October, when the NCAA’s internal research committee will announce its results regarding profits from student likeliness, name, and image. On the contrary, proponents of the Fair Pay to Play Act, including prominent athletes and politicians such as LeBron James and Bernie Sanders, have called for the bill to move forward as planned. Sup-

Toronto Raptors embraces multicultural approach

T

Shaking hands to begin the game with the SFS players, Christine Yoon(11) and Alexis Lee (12) finish off the doubles match with a victory. photo courtesy of Elin Min

very differently from Elin’s game, however, as they fell behind 4 to 1 from the onset. However, they then bounced back and caught up to their opponents, eventually outscoring the opposing team and winning the game 8 to 6 in the end.

“Since we knew SFS was a strong team, we were really nervous before the game,” said Alexis Lee (12), second doubles player.

“In the beginning, we were losing miserably, but we stopped obsessing over each point we lost and instead concentrated on making fewer mistakes. Shaking off our nervousness during the game really helped us catch up to our opponents and win the match. I really did not think we could win, but because it was unexpected, it felt more meaningful than any other win.”

Despite the minimal training and team-building the team went

through, the team has achieved victory during the first few weeks of the season. The coaches and athletes are excited to see how they will improve not only as individual athletes, but also as a team. This victory has led the team to have higher expectations, as they have broken a long-held record this early on.

“The match was one of the longest hours of my life and left me with an indescribable feeling,” said Elin Min, second singles player. “A tennis match usually lasts an hour, but since my opponent and I were evenly matched, the game lasted two hours. It was an incredible feeling to win because we worked toward this one victory for years, and the team has constantly been talking about how good it would feel to win this match after our losses to SFS for the past four consecutive years.”

porters claim that student athletes deserve a portion of the billions of dollars in revenue generated annually by their talents and efforts. The architects of the act also cite the bill’s buffer period; even if Governor Gavin Newsom signs the bill into law, it will not take effect until 2023, allowing lawmakers to address recent concerns.

“I think the bill is really more of a publicity stunt at the moment,” said Jonathan Ames, Athletics and Activities Coordinator. “It’s not going to come into effect anytime soon, but it really does do a good job of highlighting the challenges that college athletes face, especially those who have the potential to go pro in a high paying sport…

There are a lot of variables that need to be figured out prior to any law that goes into effect, but it’s good that there’s a conversation about it.”

by Katherine

Suk

he Toronto Raptors, the reigning champions of the National Basketball Association (NBA), launched a branded sport hijab in association with Nike on Sept. 13. The team announced its official launch by uploading an advertisement on Twitter with the quote, “inspired by those brave enough to change the game.” The release of sport hijabs emphasizes the Raptors’ long-standing embracement of multiculturalism and support for Muslim female athletes, prompting mainly positive responses from the public.

“The new hijab does seem like a positive cultural phenomenon,” said Hannah Kim (10), varsity cheerleader. “However, compared to the serious crisis occurring in Muslim countries, the hijab may not seem as serious, which may offend some Muslim individuals. It seems a bit ironic that while the world should be implementing military support to the Muslim countries that are vulnerable to attacks, it is providing sports hijabs which seems like a lighter issue.”

However, the release of the product was also met with controversy, with some Muslims arguing that the hijab should be celebrated but not to the extent that religious oppression has been completely vanquished.

Rita Panahi, an Iranian-Australian columnist, reposted the Toronto Raptors’ post on Twitter with the caption, “while women in Iran risk their lives to fight against this tool of oppression, cowards in the West celebrate the hijab in the name of ‘diversity’ and commercial opportunity. Gross.” The financial sustainability of the product has also been questioned. Uplifting, altruistic marketing strategies have not been historically successful in past sports products. For example, the Adidas Human Race series by Pharrell Williams, a shoes series that was aimed to tackle the global issues such as gender inequality, started off as a big hit. However, its fame depreciated quickly, and the series is now remembered as just an ordinary business

venture from Adidas. The hijabs also aimed to resolve issues present in society, so experts are predicting that it is going to follow the same path.

“I truly believe that the Toronto Raptors made a mindful gesture launching the sports hijab for Muslim athletes,” said Soomin Kim (11), varsity volleyball player. “Up until now, athletes, no matter what sport they were competing in, had limited methods in showing their religious or cultural identities. It is about time that athletes also got a chance to represent who they are with pride. Combining the sports industry with the diverse culture that our world embraces as of now will make athletes stronger and more united than ever.”

Regardless of the ensuing backlash, the launch of a branded hijab for Muslim athletes is a noteworthy event in the sports industry. This product may give Muslim female athletes a message of inclusivity and representation, enabling these women to reconcile their identities with their sport careers. These sentiments ring true especially for Muslim athletes in places like Saudi Arabia, where women were previously banned from participating in basketball games. Even after they were allowed to play the sport, the dress code was extremely restrictive and the facilities were insufficient.

This product may symbolize a small turning point in female athletes’ freedom of expression. In fact, the Toronto Raptors gained support from not only Muslim athletes, but also the general public for taking a step forward in potentially diversifying the sports industry.

“I think it is really cool how Toronto Raptors considered the cultural inclusion,” said Timothy Munro, physical education teacher.

“There may be one controversy which is the fact that some people may think their religious practices are taken lightly, but if the Muslim athletes are fine with this, then I think it is a really good change in the sports industry.”

Tiger Times October 2019

11

Lee Kang-In scores his La Liga debut goal

by Clara

Lim

photo of the month

On Sept. 26, South Korean soccer player Lee Kang-In of the soccer team Valencia CF scored a goal during the team’s home match against Getafe CF, a higher-ranking team. With his team leading the game by 2-1, Lee scored 39 minutes into the match. He assisted the cross pass from Rodrigo Moreno with his right foot, netting the goal. Despite a final score of 3-3, his goal left a strong impression on many soccer fans, while marking Lee’s debut goal as an attacking midfielder in La Liga.

“As one of Lee’s fans, it was breaking news when he scored that shoot. Not only because it was his debut goal, but also because he made a clever run into space, receiving the ball from his teammate,” said Hugh Kang (11), varsity soccer player. He was surrounded by his opponents when he got the ball from Moreno. With the limited amount of space he had, he assisted the low cross and scored.

His shot was very quick, confident, and efficient. Although the game was tied by Getafe rallying with two goals in the second half of the match, Lee’s goal impressed not only his fans, but also many football lovers.”

This game was his first time playing in the starting lineup in

Laughing as the fall sports teams are presented to the crowd, Dennis Choye (11) enjoys the lively atmosphere of the first pep rally of the year. photo by Sarah Ju

Valencia CF. Before this, he was part of Valencia Juvenile A, an under-19 team of Valencia. Last year, he had an international breakthrough in the football community by playing an important part in the FIFA U-20 World Cup, representing South Korea. In recognition of his outstanding play, he also won the Adidas Golden Ball Award. At 18 years old, Lee’s goal in La Liga made him the youngest foreign player to score for Valencia. Hearing the news, many Korean fans expressed delight at Lee’s achievements as a Korean soccer player.

“Because Kang-in Lee is only 18 years old, and thus is the youngest foreigner in Valencia CF to score a goal, I think it really rooted his position as a potential rising superstar in La Liga,” said Suzy Choi (10), varsity soccer player. “Compared to the U-20 division that he was previously playing in, La Liga is definitely a bigger challenge and a greater opportunity for him. I hope he grabs his chance to be a better player.”

Lee’s goal brings him better chances to be playing on the starting line up in future games, as well as being selected as a leading utility player. Under his previous coach, Marcelino García Toral, Lee was only allowed to play for 6 minutes as a substitute. However, un-

der his current coach, Albert Celades, he has already played for 126 minutes. Moreover, as has proven his ability by scoring in the recent match, Lee’s prospects for future opportunities and growth seem to be high.

“Kang-in Lee showed great potential ever since he started showing himself in the World Cup,” said Francisco Choi (10), varsity soccer player. “With great passing senses and precise shooting abilities, it is safe to say that that man

had a bright future. I think his recent debut goal definitely proved his worth in La Liga, and it will provide him many more opportunities. I am looking forward to see a Korean soccer star play in the European league.”

12

SMALL TALK

Joanne Yang word of the month

Sustainability. This word is defined as a method of utilizing a resource for long periods of time without depleting or permanently damaging it. With the accelerating pace of industrialization and intensive human activities like the burning of fossil fuels, the international community is currently facing a pressing threat to the sustainability of life on Earth: climate change. As climate change leads to long-term changes in global temperatures and weather patterns, it has significantly impacted not only environmental activists but also politicians, leaders, and ordinary citizens around the world. As we face new political challenges in combatting climate change, it is becoming increasingly necessary to understand the meaning and importance behind sustainability and recent environmental activism.

In September, millions of concerned and passionate activists poured into the streets in one of the biggest climate change strikes in history. According to The Guardian, these protests took place over 120 countries including the United Kingdom, Germany, Philippines, Brazil,

the US, and Australia, where the police observed more than 300,000 participants. As school administrators in the US authorized 1.1 million students to attend these strikes, youths played a momentous role in expressing their concerns about the environment. They were joined by tech employees at companies like Amazon who successfully pressured their executives to purchase 100,000 electric delivery trucks and to become carbon neutral by 2040. Employees even demanded that Amazon stop provisioning cloud-computing support to companies reliant on fossil fuels, showing the public’s growing awareness of the threats to Earth’s sustainability.

Amidst the increased pressure from citizens, world leaders congregated at the UN climate change summit held on Sept.

23. Some concrete measures taken toward sustainability include the commitment of 65 countries to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, and wealthy countries like South Korea, Germany, and Britain pledging to double their funds toward the UN’s Green Climate Fund—a program that aids developing countries in reduc-

ed bas

llege Adm .. Co

ns w issio ere On a lottery system

BY CHRISTOPHER SHIN

For the second consecutive year, the college admissions process in the United States has been embroiled in controversy. Last year, it began with a class-action lawsuit against Harvard University over its treatment of Asian Americans during the admissions process. This year, it continued with a scandal involving rich parents and a criminal scheme to get their children into elite universities such as Stanford, Yale, and the University of Southern California. These issues have highlighted the fact that deep inequities exist in the competition for spots at the nation’s top universities, and the search for an answer to these problems has resulted in some interesting hypotheticals. For example, what if college admissions were based on a lottery system?

For the sake of argument, the lottery system will require students to meet a minimum SAT/ ACT score and GPA requirement in order to have their names entered into the electronic “hat” that will determine their future university. Surely, this type of system would come as a shock to many, especially to those belong-

Sustainability

ing to a small subset of privileged Americans. However, interestingly enough, this system has been proposed by multiple educational experts and think tanks.

Those in favor of the system cite its fairness, as it works toward leveling the playing field for students of varying classes and race.

Meanwhile, others worry about the potential negative impacts on student motivation and the inability of skilled students to access programs that truly match their abilities or interests.

There appears to be little doubt that a lottery system would save both time and money for students and their families. For example, the pursuits of extracurricular activities to pad resumes have put enormous financial tolls on many families and are completely inaccessible to low-income students.

Additionally, the pressure exerted by college admissions has pushed high school students to strive for increasingly tougher standards of academic achievement that have led to further investments in tutors, after-school programs, and college consulting. A lottery system would help ease the financial burden on parents and eliminate the disparity between

ing emissions. Despite these steps, many activists were disappointed by the lack of progress. According to the New York Times, the world’s greatest emitters of greenhouse gases—India, China, and the US—have not given pledges of increased action ahead of the 2020 deadline to update their sustainable climate plans.

President Trump showed a lack of interest in sustainability efforts, and rather proposed to stop anti-pollution and fuel-efficiency standards for cars, counteracting the green policies of the Obama administration. By officially revoking California’s ability to implement stricter emission standards than those of the federal government, California may soon have to abolish its policy against tailpipe pollution— the largest source of gas emissions in the United States. The new rule, which would lower the requirement on automakers to build vehicles that achieve 54.5 miles per gallon to only 37 miles, would permanently block states from regulating vehicle pollution.

As public initiatives are being minimized by the relatively dormant efforts in international summits, more govern-

different social classes.

The system could also potentially foster an environment that is more conducive for risk-taking among students. According to Barry Swartz, a psychologist at Swarthmore College, high school students, recognizing that their admissions are based on chance, would be able to more freely follow their true interests and passions rather than seek activities and accomplishments that they believe elite colleges prioritize.

Despite its potential benefits, a lottery system is an imperfect solution to an extremely complex problem. Many especially worry that the lottery system could harm a student’s motivation. For example, if a student met the minimum standards for eligibility, he or she would have few external incentives to work harder toward their college admissions. This mindset could eventually lead to less academic productivity among high school students. Furthermore, a lottery system could shift too much emphasis on the minimum requirements for eligibility and only exacerbate the problems it set out to solve in the first place.

The college admissions process still has a long way to go before it is truly fair, and a lottery system cannot be the only answer.

ment policy is needed to build truly sustainable communities. On a positive note, however, South Korea is taking noticeable strides toward the sustainability of its resources. According to the Korea Herald, an oil refining enterprise of SK Innovation, SK Energy, is unprecedentedly issuing green bonds, asset-linked instruments which would empower environmentally friendly businesses. SK Energy announced that it will issue green bonds worth $251 million and use the funds to construct desulfurization facilities in Ulsan that would produce 40,000 barrels of low-sulfur fuel oil, demonstrating the increasing cooperation between public and private sectors in sustainable efforts.

Moreover, the current administration is planning to invest $439.8 million in renewable infrastructure and adopt more efficient solar power stations. Evidently, on a national level, sustainability efforts are making stable progress. However, for climate change to be fully addressed, the contributions of only some nations are inadequate: all nations must fight in unity for the sustenance of the planet and our livelihoods.

Writing memos of encouragement, students leave a positive message for seniors on the Random Acts of Kindness board.

month photo of the

WHAT IF .