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Triumph:
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Varsity girls volleyball opens season with win. Page 7
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Tiger Times volume X X X XV
Au g u s t / S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 3
issue 1
Students reach wider audience through YOUTHECA By Yeni Cho and Sara Shin
Students have pursued their interests by starting clubs outside of school, but have had difficulty finding platforms to launch these clubs. However, this year, several students participated in the annual Global Youth Talk and Activities (YOUTHECA) Expo on Aug. 3 at the Coex Exhibition Hall. YOUTHECA, a student network that runs on an online forum, strives to help youths pursue their interests by allowing them to share their activities with others. At the conference this year, UNICEF executives, along with several other students who participate in clubs outside of school, attended to promote their clubs. Elizabeth Huh (11) delivered the motives of Rewrite Beautiful Action Beta, an organization dedicated to empowering women while Matthew Nam (11) advocated Share Ground Korea, a club that encourages people to donate for a fundraising auction. “Looking at the pictures and talking to the members, I found out that many more schools that were present learned about [UNICEF] and were more than willing to help out,” said Shanna Hurt, UNICEF adviser. “We are talking about a strength in numbers. The more people, the more we can help.” In order to get their message
Campus change accomodates for more students By Sarah Yesl Kim
Photo by Yeni Cho
Explaining their club purpose with posters, Elizabeth Huh (11) and Yuni Sohn (11), leaders of Rewrite Beautiful Action Beta, convince a visitor to sign their part-time volunteer pledge and help to empower women. across effectively, some students chose to make pamphlets posters, while others took an interactive approach. Julia Jeong (12), who had a booth for Scoliosis Youth Awareness club, gave people an opportunity to learn about scoliosis through firsthand experience. “Most people are not aware of scoliosis and do not even know if they have this condition,” Julia said. “To make my presentation more engaging and [to] show how rare this
condition is, I let people measure their own back curves and see for themselves how their spines would be if they had scoliosis.” In the past, clubs such as Scientia and Pearl Buck Student Association presented at YOUTHECA, but stopped attending due to a lack of student interest. Although YOUTHECA was a burden to students because they had to invest their time and efforts while managing other responsibilities, they still
saw the conference as an opportunity to share their interests. “At first, YOUTHECA was definitely a challenge since it was our first time,” said Dustin Yoon (11), UNICEF historian. “However, through the conference, we were able to connect with different groups and in the end, we got over 70 signatures to our donation pledge. I am definitely willing to participate next year and promote our club to others outside the SIS community.”
Seniors face facility changes and hope for privileges By Heejin E Hong
The administration introduced several facility changes for seniors in conjunction with the completion of the new elementary school building. The old Transportation Department office was transformed into the senior lunch room to cater to the relatively larger high school student body and facilitate frequent senior class meetings. Additionally, lockers that were previously on the first floor were moved to the second and third floor of the former middle school wing. “[The administration] received complaints from the elementary school [students] that seniors were using horribly inappropriate language while elementary students were passing by,” said Jarret Lambie, high school principal. “Many grade school students said that they were too afraid to go to the nurse because they had to pass through the hallway.” Despite these changes to senior
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Photo by Christine Lee
Debating about soccer, Taejin Kim (12) and Daniel Hong (12) argue in the senior lunch room. The room was made due to the increase of students. facilities, policies of senior privilege have yet to be implemented. According to Mr. Lambie, in order to incorporate a change in school regulations, a proposal must be presented to the school committee. If it is approved, it then needs the headmaster’s recommendation and consent to be officially implemented. “The HSSC Senior Council has
not put together a proposal [for senior privilege] yet and has not presented one to [the advisers] and the administration,” said Sean Syverson, HSSC adviser. “[HSSC] can work on implementing these changes, but as of now, SIS has no senior privilege policies.” Although senior privilege was a widely discussed topic during
HSSC campaigns, a set proposal has not yet been confirmed. The HSSC plans to propose allowing seniors to order food during lunch period and to arrive late to or leave early from school if study hall was their first or last period. “We want to give seniors the independence to make choices that can help them use time efficiently outside of school,” said Angela Son, senior class president. “Hopefully, [senior privilege] will develop an autonomy that [seniors] can carry with them to college.” Seniors have expressed anticipation and support for the implementation of class privileges, which will address parts of their school life that were disappointing. “Especially with the change in our schedule, the privilege of being able to order food is great to have,” Alex Son (12) said. “My friends and I have already found ourselves hungry as soon as second period ends. I never really liked JJ’s food as much, so with [senior] privilege, we can now eat whatever food we want.”
The completion of the new school building has allowed the school to accommodate the increase of newcomers this year by designating the entire main building for high school students. 47 new students—21 freshmen, 17 sophomores and nine juniors—have been admitted to the high school, a huge increase compared to previous years. “We had to increase our cap [for the number of high school students per grade level] to accept more qualified students,” said Yang-Min Ko, Deputy Director and Secretary to the Admissions Office. “The number of elementary students has decreased, enabling us to balance the loss by increasing the cap for middle and high school.” According to Peter Corcoran, Director of Schools, the decrease in elementary school students and the subsequent increase in middle and high school students are due to new acceptance policies, which require students to have lived three years overseas or hold a foreign passport. Yet, Mr. Corcoran says that it is difficult to determine a single cause behind the increase in middle and high school applicants. “I speculate that [part of it is due to] foreign trained workers moving into Korea to fill in leadership positions at large corporations like Samsung,” Mr. Corcoran said. “People working for these large corporations have come to work in Korea’s corporation pool.” The arrival of foreign trained workers is thought to have resulted in a surprising number of students from Europe, as well as parts from the world other than the United States. Fred Schneider, Dean of Students, hopes this will bring more cultural diversity to the school. “The tendency is for the majority to make the new ones more like them,” Mr. Schneider said. “You can really tell when a student is new by the way they behave. Though they will likely be forced to conform, I hope new students can maintain their individuality.” Mrs. Ko refrains from disclosing specific statistics on the current maximum student capacity to avoid having parents think that it is more flexible than it actually is. Due to this year’s particularly high acceptance rate, the school will be unable to accept as many newcomers next year.
VIEWPOINT 2
AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2013
New schedule necessary to accomodate facility changes
Editorial Changes to Prom, Snowball necessary to reduce spending When a school dance costs about the same as a wedding, it is natural for the school administration to make changes in order to lower expenses. In light of the numerous complaints and negative media exposure SIS received for its costly expenditures, the administration decided to host Snowball in the new gym as opposed to expensive hotel venues in which Snowball was held in previous years. In addition to this change, Snowball is scheduled to take place on Nov. 2, on the day of the SATs. Currently, the location and date of the upcoming Prom remains undecided. Although students may initially be against the school’s concerns with cutting spending, upon closer inspection, they are warranted. School dances such as Snowball and Prom should be relished not for the expensive venues, but for the actual enjoyment of the events themselves, which the administration hopes to emphasize with its decisions. It is understandable for the student body to be disappointed with such changes; it may seem unfair
for students to have to hold school events at less prestigious locations than before, given the events’ longlasting history of luxury. However, the reality of using such venues was that a handful of HSSC members took on the burden of paying the majority of expenses for Prom and Snowball. Not only was this unfair for the parents of these students, but it also discouraged other students from running for HSSC positions. Members of HSSC should not be chosen based on the students’ abilities to pay beyond the school budget, but rather their ability to take initiative to organize events that maintain the interest of the student body. By moving Snowball to the school gym, the administration alleviates this burden, thus balancing the costs more fairly across the student body. While school dances should be special occasions for students to enjoy, the cost to host those events should certainly not rival that of an expensive wedding. Students should not be going to school dances solely for the expensive food or their locations. The
venue certainly contributes to the students’ experience and impression of these events. However, to evaluate a school event by its cost is to misjudge the reason that HSSC organizes these dances, which is to allow students to share meaningful experiences with their peers. On the other hand, any potential changes to Prom should be dealt with delicacy. Although the purpose of school dances is for enjoyment, not extravagance, Prom, which takes place on the Saturday after graduation, is the last school event for seniors. As usual, seniors who are looking forward to Prom will hope that the event will be as memorable as Prom dances from previous years. Hence, in light of these changes, the administration and the HSSC should take measures to ensure that seniors have the best possible experience at Prom. 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.
By Nagyon Kim
With a brand new school year, the administration adopted a new bell schedule for high school students. Although students are having a hard time adjusting to changes in the schedule, they should attempt to understand why these changes are necessary. The largest change to this year’s schedule is the new placement of office hours and activity period, which now take place after the first and second periods respectively. As a result of the shift in the break times, students now have to take two class periods consecutively after lunch. According to the New York Times, people are inclined to feel tired after a meal because of the energy required to digest the sucrose. Drowsiness makes it difficult for students to pay attention and understand the class material. Furthermore, according to Amy Thompson, high school counselor, club meetings might overrun with the lunchtime, obliging students to eat faster than they normally do. Some students may decide not to have lunch at all because they want
to continue on with the tasks they were doing during activity period. However, though these changes are difficult to adjust to, these schedule changes benefit the school as a whole. According to Jarret Lambie, high school principal, the administration adopted the changed schedule this year to coordinate the lunch times of the elementary, middle and high schools. The schedule was also newly arranged so that teachers who teach middle and high school courses as well as art and music classes, have more time to move from the new building to the high school building. For example, Peter Brodhead, English teacher, who teaches both eighth grade English courses and Writing 11, needs to move from the top of the new building to his classroom on the third floor of the main building. Although high school students may struggle because of their backto-back classes, at the end of the day, the new schedule best fits the entire school, and there is no other way all school levels can function properly. Students must realize this and try their best to adjust, instead of complaining about these changes.
Energy crisis pushes school Math department’s introduction of new to join conservation effort curriculum beneficial to student body By Claire Yun
One of the few joys of going back to school is getting some airconditioned relief amidst the humid August weather. However, this year, students arrived in school to find that the classrooms were not much cooler than it was outside. Students complained about the sweltering classrooms, but the air conditioning units have continued to stay turned on at a low setting. This kept indoor temperatures at a level that students were not used to, but t effort is for a good cause. South Korea is currently in the middle of an electricity crisis. According to the New York Times, one-third of Korea’s electricity comes from nuclear power, controlled by the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO). Since early April, investigators have been looking into safety and corruption issues at KEPCO. The investigators found that questionable components were installed in 14 of 23 nuclear power plants, which could put millions of individuals in danger. As a result, six of the plants were shut down for repair and maintenance. These safety investigations are continuing while Editors-in-Chief Jiho Peter Kim Mark Kim Jr. Managing Editor Min Ji Suh Production Editor Dasoo Milton Yoon Graphics Editor Christine Lee Website Editor Darin Son
Copy Editors Celine Hwang Daniel Kim Sara Shin (Web) Helen Song Photographers Yeni Cho Hollis Hwang Kelly Kim Advertisement Amelie Koo (Man.) Claire Yun (Rep.)
Korea has to contend with a summer heat wave on a decreased power grid. According to Jarret Lambie, high school principal, the school follows the government policy. Bum Soo Daniel Chang, Deputy Facility Developer, checks the temperature in six different locations five times a day. The school tries to turn on the air conditioning at 7:30 a.m. and turn it back off at 4:30 p.m. in an effor to conserve the amount of energy used by the school. While students may not realize the urgency of the crisis, on Aug. 11, Trade and Energy Minister Sang Jick Yoon urged citizens and businesses to minimize energy consumption due to the possibility of a national blackout that could result from the stress on the energy system. SIS’s sweaty classrooms are part of this energy conservation effort. According to the New York Times, even President Geun Hye Park is doing her part; she has turned off the air conditioning even when hosting foreign guests, such as Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. It is important that students realize the extent to which the country needs to conserve energy and support the school’s policies to support such efforts. Reporters Jean Cho Jungho Daniel Choi Heejin E Hong Nagyon Kim Sarah Y. Kim Christine Seo Website Reporter Eva Hong Christine Jeong Michael Kim Rosie Dahyun Kim
By Yeena Yoon
The fresh year brought the good news that students will have one less textbook to lug around, as the math department has implemented the use of e-books. Gone are the McDougal Littell textbooks that were used for the past six years; instead, students are using an e-book from the company College Preparatory Mathematics (CPM). This particular program lightens students’ bags and brings online features that are bound to make lives easier. Because this school year marks the second year of the high school one-to-one Macbook program, it is logical for the school to utilize technology to its fullest advantage. One of the benefits of online textbooks is that students no longer have to carry heavy textbooks to and from school. Additionally, students will also no longer have the problem of forgetting their math textbooks at home because they have access to the CPM e-books. In addition, the e-books contain online features that help students at home. According to Laurence Wells, math teacher, there are help links near the questions that direct stu-
Cartoonist Yeaji Park Layout Artists Jaewon Choi Eunie Jang Hareem Kim (Web) Bason Park Patricia Song Yeena Yoon Adviser Mr. David Coleman
dents to provide assistance if needed. Furthermore, hyperlinks to the dictionary, translator and student guidebook are found in the corners of the pages. Although technology is not failproof, students should not face frequent technical difficulties because e-books are available online. Even if a technical complication occurs, because teachers provide students with hard copies of the CPM textbook during class, students should not experience major setbacks in their learning process. Despite the possibility of unex-
Tiger Times seoul international school Songpa P.O. Box 47 Seoul, South Korea 138-600
pected problems, e-books are beneficial learning resources that are not only convenient to use, but also effective in helping students fully comprehend mathematical concepts. As the current generation continues to incorporate technology into their lives, it was only a matter of time before e-books were added to the SIS curriculum. While this change may confuse students at first, it is important to acknowledge the math department’s efforts to improve the quality of education that students receive.
The Tiger Times exercises the right to report on and editorialize all topics, events or issues, including those unpopular or controversial, insofar as they affect or interest the school, community, nation and world. We refrain from publishing material that advertises illegal products or services, is obscene, libelous or invades privacy. We refrain from publishing material that creates a clear and present danger or the immediate material and substantial physical disruption of the school.
AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2013
3
NEWS
Math department changes curriculum to encourage groupwork NEWS BRIEFS of their textbooks. In most cases, By Rosie Dahyeon Kim
It was only last year when students were seen carrying heavy math textbooks to class and back home. During class, students would listen to lectures and silently take notes on their own. However, resulting from the math department’s utilization of a new textbook called College Preparatory Mathematics (CPM) that also has an online version, students have gained access to e-books and have become more involved in group work. Every six years, each department gets the opportunity to reform its curriculum. Having reached another cycle, the math department went through a series of changes. To promote teamwork, teachers divided students into groups of four and gave them roles such as task manager, resource manager, recorder and facilitator. Teachers require that team members look over their respective role duties to fulfill jobs. “Students generally seem to be
Photo by Kelly Kim
Listening attentively to Sue Choi during Algebra 2 class, Jessica Yoo (10) receives directions on how to use the TI-84 calculator efficiently. much more engaged in the work they are given,” said Larry Wells, math teacher. “I see fewer instances of students falling in sleep in class. They tend to learn more deeply if they are given a chance to explain [concepts] to others or have a peer explain to them what they do not
ZEITGEIST Military coup against Egyptian president sparks violence When then-President Hosni Mubarak resigned in February 2011 due to widespread street protests, observers hoped that Egypt would soon become a functional democracy. However, on Aug.14, at least 600 protestors were killed during clashes with government security forces. These victims were supporters of President Mohamed Morsi, who was ousted on July 3 by the military because of discontent with policies that favored conservative Muslims. Islamists were further enraged by the indictment of President Morsi for inciting murder of protestors in Dec. 2012. According to Tony Hurt, history teacher, such instability shows the difficulty of establishing a stable government after a revolution. “Since Egypt did not have a representative government before the revolution [in 2011], it was naïve to expect that a democracy would easily replace the dictatorship,” Mr. Hurt said. “Once united in opposition against the oppressive government, rival opposition groups have realized that they have different ideologies, leading to numerous power struggles and disorder.” Fearing further instability, Western governments have condemned the removal of President
Morsi. Having already cancelled the biennial joint-military exercise with the Egyptian army on Aug.15, the US government is considering cutting military aid. Several European countries have scrapped grants to the struggling nation. However, there are widespread concerns that the suspension of aid will only aggravate the situation. “I heard from [Mustafa Tantawy] my friend who lives in Egypt that people are already suffering from a recession, so I think that cutting humanitarian aid will only enrage the public,” Howon Lee (11) said. “After cutting aid, other countries will also have less leverage because Egypt no longer has a financial incentive to cooperate.” Such volatile conditions in Egypt have led to business concerns for western companies because of the strategic location of the Middle East in the global trade market. “Many countries prefer stability in the Middle East because they have economic interests in the region, such as access to oil and the Suez Canal that allows convenient sea transport between Europe and Asia,” Mr. Hurt said. “The UN, which has usually been ineffective, must restore order in Egypt as quickly as possible to minimize the negative effect on the economy.”
By Jaewon Choi
understand. Group work is an essential skill that students will need in universities or companies.” Unlike previous years, the math department also distributed usernames and passwords to all students to enable them to access their ebooks, the identical online version
students use textbooks during class and e-books for homework. “With e-books, any student stuck on a problem can simply click the hint button on the e-book that will guide them through the [procedure] to solve it,” said Brenda Darling, math teacher. “Also, if any teacher were to find an error in the textbook, [he or she] can immediately fix it on the e-book; it’s a technological aid to everyone.” Because the math department has rarely experimented with curriculum changes in the past, there is no doubt that these modifications will present a new experience for both teachers and students. “Although I don’t like how using e-books requires us to individually print out pages, I value teamwork a lot,” Joshua An (12) said. “I’m not used to these changes yet but I like the new system because it brings fast and constant feedback in a limited amount of time by requiring effective cooperation amongst team members.”
Clubs create new international trip opportunities for students By Jean Cho
Hoping to offer more valuable opportunities, executive officers of Habitat for Humanity (HFH) and Model United Nations (MUN) have decided to change the locations of their respective international trips. HFH members, who built homes in Guangzhou and Thailand in the past, will go to Cambodia and Bali while MUN members will attend Harvard MUN (HMUN) at Boston, Massachusetts, instead of The Hague International MUN (THIMUN) Singapore. “I think changing our building site [will be] a new adventure for us,” said Caroline Kim (12), HFH president. “We are excited to help different communities that we are not familiar with and make new friends at the building sites as well.” HFH members have worked with American International School of Guangzhou students for the past four years and have also visited Thailand for two years. Members, such as Jason Moon (11), expressed enthusiasm about the new venues. “I don’t know what to expect from the new sites but I am certain that the experience will be unforgettable,” Jason said. “I don’t think the location is as important as the actual experience itself.” One problem that MUN encountered last year was that students
who attended THIMUN Singapore, which was held in November, lost their motivation to continue MUN throughout the year, as they no longer had to prepare for another conference. HMUN, which takes place in January, will be much closer to the second international conference, Beijing MUN (BEIMUN), which is in March. “The school wanted a conference closer [timewise] to BEIMUN so that all members could be involved throughout the spring,” said Courtney Caldwell, MUN adviser. “Having both conferences during second semester will keep the club active, which is important for this year because the advisers want to start prepping for [next year’s] Seoul MUN (SEOMUN), which will be hosted at SIS.” According to Angela Jang (10), MUN member, international trips have served as learning experiences because they provide opportunities for members to understand global issues in a new light by engaging in discussions with students from all around the world. “Participating in BEIMUN not only taught me how to become a persuasive public speaker, but it also made me a global citizen,” Angela said. “I was able to broaden my scope of thinking by learning how to consider different sides of a controversy. I can’t wait to go back and absorb all the positive energy.”
Seniors place seventh in NHD
Photo courtesy of Shanna Hurt
Kelly Cho (12) and Sydney Ko (12) placed seventh for their website on Rachel Carson’s “Silent Spring.” After placing first in the group website category of National History Day (NHD) Korea, Sydney Ko (12) and Kelly Cho (12), headed to Washington D.C. for the national competition on June 9. They placed seventh in their division and received the distinction of Best State Entry, the award for the best project submitted by the 24 Korean students. “Preparation for [the competition] required extra research, graphics, and time,” Sydney said. “I felt confident about our entry and didn’t let the competition get to me because I didn’t feel particularly pressured. I wasn’t there for a ‘free ride’ to D.C., but I also wasn’t stressing over placing nationally.”
Tiger’s Eye wins NSPA All-American Award Tiger’s Eye, the school yearbook, won the All-American for the first time in the history of SIS. In addition to this honor, the highest award available from its critique in the National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA), Tiger’s Eye also received four marks of distinction. NSPA recognized Tiger’s Eye for its simplistic cover design, feature spreads, headlines and prose. Only five percent of all entries submitted to NSPA accomplish this feat. “It feels amazing to know that our late nights were worth it,” said Jennifer Lee (12), copy editor. “We’re glad people understand the theme of our yearbook.” Snowball, possibly Prom to take place on campus The annual Snowball dance will now take place in the school gym, instead of in the hotels that were traditionally rented. The location of Prom is still in discussion between the administration and HSSC. According to James Lee (12), HSSC Vice President, the new change will promote school spirit but will require more work from the HSSC. “In my opinion, the location of Snowball and Prom shouldn’t matter,” said Scarlett Kim, HSSC President. “The whole purpose of having a Snowball and Prom is to make lots of memories. In order to make this year’s dances just as special, the entire council and school staff members will have to work twice as hard. The HSSC will have to decorate the gym, find a nice caterer and plan activities that will hopefully attract a lot of students.” By Christine Jeong and Christine Seo
I “DO.� Same-sex Marriage
Approval Rates in America
IN 2013
53%
IN 2006
39 %
6.4%
IN 1996
27 %
AGE 65+
1.9%
AGE 50-64
2.6%
AGE 30-49
AGE 18-29
3.2%
American adults who identify as
LGBT Source: Gallup Poll 2012
Since 1969, when the Stonewall riots took place between the police and citizens in a gay bar, the gay rights movement has gained momentum. With recent court cases in the US overturning the Defense of Marriage Act and legalizing same-sex marriage in California, traditionally conservative countries are now experiencing changes in attitude. With 16 countries already having passed marriage equality into law, acceptance of the LGBT community in Korea is becoming more likely.
Layout by Dasoo Milton Yoon
Graphics by Christine Lee
LGBT rights movement gains momentum but not without resistance By Jungho Daniel Choi and Michael Kim There was controversy over the two landmark decisions made by the US Supreme Court in United States v. Windsor and Hollingsworth v. Perry this past June. This points to society’s increased political and social attention to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) movement. Yet, there is still opposition to this movement. According to the New York Times, about 150,000 French demonstrators marched in June to protest against France’s legalization of gay marriage, indicating that the legislation has triggered disapproval. “I think there’s a limit to which society can achieve acceptance,” said Gray Macklin, counselor. “There are limits to how much a society can change, without changing everything else. As long as the social order is the way it is, I don’t see people getting more tolerant or accepting as they are today.” Russia also successfully passed a law that forbids the public discussion of “non-traditional sexual relations” in locations where minors are present. Considering this legislation to be an anti-LGBT law, many pro-gay organizations have called for a boycott of Russia’s 2014 Sochi Olympics to protest against Russia’s stance on the LGBT rights movement and support LGBT athletes. Opposition also exists in countries that have
fully or partially legalized same-sex marriage such as the US. The American Family Association, a fundamentalist Christian non-profit organization, believes that same-sex marriage is a “moral issue that impacts the family.” Other groups, including the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality, attempts to allegedly treat LGBT individuals by offering conversion therapy. The controversy over the gay rights movement has been an ongoing issue for a few decades. Some have even compared it to other movements in history. “I firmly believe that equality for gay Americans is the major civil rights issue of our generation,” said Anthony Loveday, social studies teacher. “[It parallels the situation] 50 years ago, [when] equality for African Americans and people of all races and ethnicities [was a major concern].” Mr. Macklin differentiated between the civil and human rights (parts) of the LGBT movement, describing the human rights movement as an attempt to increase the social acceptance of the LGBT minority and address social issues, such as anti-hate crime legislation and the civil rights movement as an fight for more theoretical and legal rights, such as gay marriage. “I think that the LGBT rights movement has progressed a lot faster as a result of the movement for civil rights of African Americans because Americans see the flow of history,” Mr. Macklin said. “There was no support originally for gay marriage,
then out of the blue, you see polls saying that people [support] it. I think people look at it and realize this is the direction things are going, and you can either try and hold back the flood or you get washed away.” Mr. Macklin also said that the importance of the two recent court cases in America is often overestimated, and emphasized the role that American society is playing in changing the political landscape. “[Legal changes] will happen over a long period of time,” Mr. Macklin said. “We put a lot of weight into court cases, but I am skeptical about their impact. The impacts of court cases are that they are precedents. But in terms of the general social climate, I think they tend to be irrelevant. If anything, the successes in these court cases reflect the result of a change [in society] than the cause of a change.” According to Christine Kim (12), MUN president, acceptance of the LGBT community and their rights also largely depends on the region of the world, sometimes because prevalent religions in certain areas oppose homosexuality. “I think [the LGBT movement] has been relatively successful in the States—people are becoming more open-minded,” Christine said. “I wouldn’t say it’s happening internationally. Asia is still super conservative, and many people in the Middle East can’t imagine being a part of that community. But I think most of the Western world has accepted it.”
Korean society remains ambivalent about gay rights By Celine Hwang Thirteen years ago, when then-model and actor Seok-cheon Hong “came out of the closet,” he became the first openly gay celebrity in Korea. After arousing controversy due to his sexual orientation, Hong was fired from his prime-time variety show and banned from appearing on television and radio programs for three years. Now, more than a decade later, Korean society remains divided about supporting the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. On June 28, Reverend Jae-chul Hong, chairman of Christian Council of Korea, a Protestant organization representing 45,000 churches, criticized America for abandoning Puritan beliefs. According to the Korea Times, back in May, as a result of Hong’s threats and hundreds of indignant phone calls, lawmakers Han-gil Kim and Won-shik Choi of the Democratic Party renounced their two antidiscrimination bills—bills intended to ban prejudice against people based on categories such as sexual orientation, skin color and religion. “Many people do not like changes in cultural order because it is not easy for them to change something they have known all throughout their lives,” said Alex Lopez, social studies teacher. “Because organized religion is closely related to tradi-
tion and usually represents a sense of community and stability, a significant portion of people who are against gay marriage tend to be people who are religious.” Although Korea remains a relatively conservative society, according to a poll conducted by Pew Research, there has been a significant shift in attitude. While 77 percent of the Korean population expressed their disapproval of homosexuality in 2007, according to the same poll, this year, only 59 percent of Koreans objected to homosexuality. Another survey from the same study indicates that while 71 percent of South Koreans aged 18-29 approve of homosexuality, only 48 percent of residents aged 30-49 and 16 percent of those aged 50 and over do. “Before the start of freshman year, I went to a summer music program in Pennsylvania and, for the first time ever, met students who were openly gay and lesbian,” Yasmin Yoon (11) said. “When I came back to Korea and told my peers about meeting openly LGBT students, they were surprised but did not express any disgust. Rather than purposely discriminating against gay people, I think Koreans are just unaccustomed to the idea of homosexual relationships. Because the younger generation is more used to this idea, it seems natural that as the years go by, Koreans [will] become more under-
standing of gay people.” In keeping with the general trend of growing acceptance, over the summer, numerous events acknowledging gay rights took place in Korea. For example, Director Jho Ghangsoo Kim announced his plan to symbolically marry his male partner, Dave Kim, in a massive public ceremony in Seoul on Sept. 7. Additionally, on June 1, hundreds of people, including Jho Ghangsoo Kim and transgender singer and actress Harisu, participated in the 2013 Queer Culture Festival, an annual event that aims to acknowledge the rights of LGBT people. As the generation of younger Koreans becomes more outspoken in promoting equal rights, acceptance of the LGBT community is becoming more likely. “At my school in Portland, Oregon, a handful of students were open about being LGBT and even students who weren’t part of the LGBT community would partake in clubs that promoted [equal rights],” Jenny Nam (12) said. “Students at SIS seem less comfortable with this topic because they are less familiar with LGBT students and deal with more parental and peer pressure to fit in.” However, because Korea’s pace is so quick regarding [many aspects of society] like technology, business, entertainment and westernization, an unfamiliar topic such as the LGBT movement may not be as far off as we think.”
LIFESTYLE 6
AUGUST/ SEPTEMBER 2013
Students pursue extracurricular EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT interests during summer break By Patricia Song
Working at Dunkin’ Donuts during the summer for 5,000 won an hour is not a typical job students at SIS would choose to do. Likewise, interning at the Grand Hilton Seoul as a rising junior or setting up art exhibitions at the Seoul Metro Art Center to compete in an international art competition is uncommon. However, several students who were interested in dedicating their summers to activities outside of studying got engaged in such projects. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 23.7 percent of teenagers in the United States have worked at least one part-time job. However, at SIS, a majority of students do not work part-time jobs for wages. And yet, Patrick Chin (12) worked at a Dunkin’ Donuts located at Yongsan station, from late June to Aug. 10, unpacking fresh donuts and placing them on shelves twice a day as well as transporting frozen deliveries of milk, yogurt and coffee to the storage. “My dad wanted me to [work at Dunkin’ Donuts] because when he was a high school student in the US, he did summer jobs, which he regarded as important in learning responsibility,” Patrick said. “The job made me realize how fortunate I am, and how spoiled I was in the past because I did not experience the hardships of earning even 5,000 won. I think most students at SIS don’t work part-time jobs because they mostly focus on internships or
jobs that they can include in their college applications.” Other students spent their summers pursuing their passions. On Aug. 18, Stephanie Kim (11) took part in an art exhibition, an international art competition held at the Seoul Metro Art Center, sponsored by the Texas A&M University-Commerce, where she received the Excellence Award for a surrealist painting of herself. “I think I’ve always been drawing as long as I could remember, but I started drawing for real in sixth grade,” Stephanie said. “I entered this competition because it was the first large-scale competition I ever participated in and I thought that it would serve as a good opportunity to see the level of other competitors as well as to prepare me for my future.” Similarly, Togo Tamura (11) worked at the Grand Hilton Seoul from nine in the morning to three in the afternoon to learn more about what he may possibly to do in the future. Through the internship, he was able to observe food preparation as well as gain experience in customer service through communication with hotel guests. “Working and staying at a hotel are two completely different things,” Togo said. “Each staff [member] works hard to make the hotel a perfect and luxurious place to stay at and temporarily being part of that was something new. I was not sure how hotel management would be, but after this internship, I was able to gain experiences that would help me achieve what I want to do.”
What is the “real world” like? Sarah Kim, class of 2003, majored in history and literature at Middlebury College in Vermont. To pursue her passion in writing, she started working as a reporter of International Affairs and Politics at Joongang Daily for the past two years.
1. How did you first develop interest in Journalism? I have always loved writing as long as I can remember and during high school, I found foreign affairs very intriguing. Therefore, I merged my two interests in writing and politics by working at the Joongang Daily. 2. What activities helped you learn about Journalism? In high school, I contributed a few articles to Tiger Times, but devoted myself to MUN as the General Secretary. MUN especially helped me gain more knowledge in foreign affairs. Even in Middlebury College, I was part of yearbook, not the newspaper. Later in freshman year, I had a chance to intern at the Joongang Daily. There, I copyedited, wrote a couple of articles and researched for reporters. After interning at the Joongang Daily, I thought that being a journalist could be a fascinating job. 3. Do you want to continue the job as a reporter? Right now, being a reporter is very interesting. I am currently at the National and Social Desk at Joongang Daily and I get to cover a wide range of topics. My specialty is foreign affairs, which is a subject I have always been interested in. Still, because I enjoy writing, I want to write a children’s book someday. 4. Apart from interning, what experiences helped you get into Joongang Daily? Writing has always been a hobby of mine but I never thought that I wanted to become a journalist. After I graduated from college, I worked as a legal assistant for a couple of years in New York during the financial crisis. That experience helped me realize that I wanted to pursue my true passion in writing and generate my own content. 5. Any words for aspiring journalists at SIS? First, students should leave their options open because journalism incorporates so many different aspects such as politics, society, and international affairs. Currently, journalism is changing and becoming digitized. The news is becoming quicker. Students should also acquire experience interviewing and writing articles by participating in internship opportunities or college papers.
By Amellie Hayoung Koo
S NOW PI E RC E R *8,795,972
*
viewers since Sept. 1, which is more than one-seventh of South Korea’s population
Original author and artist of the French graphic novel “Le Transpercenige” Benjamin Legrand (right) and Jean-Marc Rochette (left) featured in the movie as extras
*
Chris Evans put on a prosthetic jaw in the last scene of The Avengers because he grew out his beard in order to film Snowpiercer
*$53.1
million - the amount of money Snowpiercer earned 15 days after its release
Sources: Naver, IMDB, WSJ, Korea Herald
Graphic by Christine Lee
International film by Korean director polarizes viewers By Yeaji Park
Receiving over eight million views, “Snowpiercer”, a film directed by Joon-Ho Bong, topped the Korean box office this summer. Though it is immensely popular, the science fiction film has been receiving polarized reviews from audiences regarding its plot direction, and is starting a new trend in the Korean filmmaking industry. Originating from a French comic called ‘Le Transperceneige,’ the movie applies a new apocalyptic theme. A supposed solution to global warming triggers an ice age, leaving only a trifling number of survivors alive on a train called the ‘Snowpiercer.’ Social classes divide up the train, and the film depicts a revolt started by the people at the tail section, who are living in poverty, against the wealthy at the front.
Scores of people including Gray Macklin, counselor, complimented the movie for its distinct themes and storyline. “I thought that throughout the movie everything from the lines of the script to every scene and object used had symbolic meaning, which made the movie very creative,” Mr. Macklin said. “[Also], by making the people on the train in Snowpiercer, speak their native languages, it makes the audience feel the powerful emotions of the speaker, and I believe it’s a skill that only Korean directors possess.” Despite the mass of positive reviews by various professionals and audiences, other viewers such as Jessica Yoo (10) expressed disappointment over the plotline due to the slow progression and the confusing roles of the characters. “It was a fun movie but I think that [towards] the end it got quite
tedious to watch and the ending seemed awkward, leaving me confused about what was going on,” Jessica said. “I was also disappointed about the role Chris Evans played because he is my favorite actor but he had a very ambiguous character that I couldn’t understand as well as [his roles as] Captain America or the Human Torch.” Negative and positive comments about the film are equally distributed among the watchers. However, the movie has started a new trend in the field of film and directing. In productions such as “Snowpiercer” and “Stoker”, an American film directed by Chanwook Park, an increasing number of Korean directors have been entering into Hollywood. By becoming prominent with their works, they will be able to push the boundaries of Korean influence even further on a global scale.
DANIEL KIM’S SEARCH FOR
HIDDEN GEMS Earl Sweatshirt- “Doris”
Part of the ever-ascending rap collective Odd Future, Earl Sweatshirt has been garnering media attention for his highly anticipated debut album, “Doris.” Although both the album and the 19-year old rapper have been hyped over the past two years, no single has actually made much of a splash, with the exception of “Earl.” An immediate listen to the album suggests that it would not generate any charting singles, but the album as a whole clears new ground unlike any previous Odd Future work. The most ostensible feature of the album is the length of its tracks; with 15 tracks, the album barely clocks in at 44 minutes. However, it takes more than a single listen to process the dense lyrical content of the album, which is filled with allusions, storytelling and complex
rhyme schemes. Earl’s lyrics are highlighted by minimal production and more significantly, the absence of vocal choruses and hooks. In a stark contrast from Odd Future’s previous work about more vulgar topics, Earl surprisingly raps about more personal and contemplative matters such as his troubled childhood and insecurities about his fame. For example, the most touching punch line in the album is on “Chum,” where he raps, “It’s probably been 12 years since my father left, left me fatherless, and I just used to say I hate him in dishonest jest.” The introspective track is aided by the unadorned beat led almost solely by keyboards and drums. Although from one of the most popular rap crews right now, the album blatantly rejects most modern
trends. Although there are rap guest spots, most of them are from his Odd Future crew and new rappers such as SK La Flare and Vince Staples. The single high-profile guest, RZA merely gives a short hook, aiding more in the productions part on “Molasses.” Forgoing flamboyant guest spots, mainstream conformity and basically all conventions of modern success in hip-hop, Earl maximizes the lyrical gems that he drops throughout the album.
Sports Photo of the Month
Photo by Patricia Song
Jumping up and smashing the tennis ball, Cody Kim (10), varsity boys tennis team first singles, serves the ball to his opponent on Aug. 31 at SFS.
By Hareem Kim and Kelly Kim
Dressed from head to toe as the SIS tiger mascot, James Lee (12) dances along the sideline and the crowd chants loudly. The varsity girls volleyball team claimed its victory against Gyeonggi Suwon International School (GSIS) during its first game of the season in Tiger Gym 1 on Aug. 30. Though the team lost the first set, the players were able to regain their confidence from the supportive crowd and win the game 3-1. “I was actually quite unsure whether we were going to win,” said Joanne Lee (12), varsity girls volleyball team captain. “Firstly, we [haven’t] defeated GSIS [in] two years and we also have so many new players on our team. Yet, another side of me thought that we might win because we are such a strong team with great communication. I would have to say, [the game] turned out better than my expectations in general. [The crowd’s] shouting and screaming in joy, was overwhelming and really boosted all of our confidence.” Like Joanne, Jueun Chung (12), a player who has been on the team for three years, felt amazed after winning the game and described
Seniors participate in invitational basketball camp over summer break By Eunie Jang
As his third basketball season came to an end, Alex Son (12), varsity basketball player, was delighted to find out that he would be able to continue playing competitive basketball over the summer. Luke Elie, director of Coaches Team International (CTI), chose Alex, along with Mark Kim (12), to take part in the invitational East Asia Elite (EAE) basketball program in Beijing, China, from June 10 to July 1. “The purpose of EAE was to help KAIAC students who wish to play at a higher level play against better competition,” Mr. Elie said. “We wanted the players to experience the best competition while learning how to adapt to new cultures. In doing so, we trained the students to be better leaders.”
To recruit players for the program, CTI coaches watched KAIAC conference games to scout players that they thought could compete at a high level. “I look for athletes who can or want to play at the next level,” Mr. Elie said. “I look for students who have exceptional skill or potential. How players interact with each other and lead their teams is very important. The hardest part of the preparation was convincing players to join and [convincing] their parents to let them go to a foreign country with a new group doing a tour that has never been done before.” CTI chose to host the program in China because China has some of the best teams in Asia. According to Alex, the team practiced every morning and played games during the night with the top high schools and professional teams in China.
SPORTS
7 Varsity girls volleyball team starts season strong AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2013
“Playing against the number one high school team in China was the best experience I had this summer,” Alex said. “[Most of] the guys were taller than me, ranging from six foot eight inches to even seven foot players. Guarding them was a new experience, and hopefully I can transfer my improved shooting and jumping skills this season.” Apart from playing basketball games and participating in a televised street ball event, the team toured the Forbidden City and the Great Wall, had team meetings to share experiences and leadership concepts, and even spent an evening watching “Man of Steel” as a team. “We hope to offer this tour every year and perhaps travel to other countries as well,” Mr. Elie said. “I hope to offer similar programs for girls in the future as well. This is only the beginning.”
Photo by Yeni Cho
Waiting for the opponent’s serve, varsity girls volleyball players get ready to receive the ball on Aug. 30 at the new Tiger Gym 1. the win as one of the best moments in her high school volleyball career. According to Jueun, the team was able to win due to its determination and the support from the audience. With the strong spikes from Joanne, Erin Lee (12) and Joanne Choi (12), the team was able to score points against GSIS. “This was the first time so many people came to watch our game and obviously, we didn’t want people to watch us lose,” Jiwon Yoon (11) said. “[During the game], we supported each other despite our mistakes. This is crucial in volleyball because the moment you start getting frus-
trated with each other is the moment you lose.” Though the girls won the game, Cheryl Lambie, varsity girls volleyball coach, still thought there was room for improvement. “I think the girls need to work on positioning,” Coach Lambie said. “They need to think about where they need to go and work on digging and serving. Also, I want them to be aggressive and strike it to the net instead of getting afraid and just popping the ball. For the next games, I hope that they don’t worry and have fun, and that they will play their best.”
MC SPORTS
COMMENTARY This column is a short commentary on sports events that are happening around the world. The commentators, Christine Lee and Milton Yoon, express their opinions about these sports events. This particular episode is about Myungbo Hong, current manager of the South Korean national soccer team.
Milton: Hi everybody! This issue, I’m here to update everyone on some very important information. Following Mark’s resignation as a commentator, my close friend Christine Lee will be sharing the Sports Commentary with me from now on! Christine: Thanks for the intro, Milton! I hope I can do as much as Mark did last year! Milton: Moving on, today we have brought in a truly important figure to match the fantastic occasion! Christine: Arguably the sexiest man in Korean soccer at the moment, every please give a hand to Myungbo Hong! Hong: Thank you! It’s really been a hectic few months ever since I took over the national team. Milton: You’ve had a great influence on Korean soccer; which memory do you cherish the most? Hong: Of course, making my debut with the national team and winning the bronze medal at the London Olympics as the manager is up there with the best, but it would be a sin to not name my 2002 World Cup experience as a player as my favorite. Christine: Of course! Your smile after scoring the winning penalty kick against Spain warmed the hearts of every Korean female soccer fan! On another note, there have been a lot of changes in management for the past few
years; do you think you’re ready for the job? Hong: I believe that this is the moment I finally deserve my chance. I have demonstrated leadership by taking on responsibilities as the national captain and the Olympic manager and know that I deserve to take the next step. It’s perfect timing as well because we have enough time to prepare for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Milton: However, a lot of fans are disappointed with your managerial start, with no wins coming out of the first five international games. Any comments? Hong: I want to remind people that the games we have played so far are only experimental: I wanted to see whether some of the less-experienced players have what it takes and evaluate different formations to observe which one matches our current squad the most. Also, all the players I have been picking all pile their trade in soccer within Korea. Once we include the strong oversea talent that we have, we’ll be able to produce some better results! Christine: I’m sure all of Korea has your back on this, manager! But unfortunately, that’s all the time we have today! Milton: Thank you for spending time with us today and we hope you good luck! Hong: I had a really good time. Thank you for having me!
Disclaimer: Although this column is based on facts, the interviews are entirely fictional.
SMALL TALK By Bason Park
FAUX NEWS
8
AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2013
Student-led global movement instigates widespread revolution
“Always be a global citizen who helps others” has been a moral guide for high school students at Westmore International School for over a decade. In response to the plethora of breaking international news reports regarding the conflicts in the Middle East, students made various attempts to adhere to the aforementioned words of wisdom. “After hearing about the news from my friends about the conflict in Egypt, I subscribed to the New York Times, USA Today and Daily News to ensure that I am actively engaged in global issues,” Emilia Jackson (9) said. “Because I don’t have time to read any articles, I usually leave the newspaper on the floor by my door and glance at the biggest pictures. Although most of my newspapers are used as extra toilet paper, since I’m a subscriber, I consider myself a global citizen.” While piles of crisp, untouched newspa-
pers stack up in Emilia’s bathroom, students such as Immanuel Barnard (12) contrived thoughtful plans to tackle these issues. With assistance from his father, a Goldman Sachs investment banker, Immanuel made prodigious donations in hopes of thwarting the progress of the Egyptian government. “As an aspiring global citizen, I donated five million dollars to a random nongovernmental organization that had the word ‘Egypt’ in its name,” Immanuel said. “Although I have no idea where the money is going to, at least I get recognized and credited for donating my own money and caring for the international community. Besides, what matters is the fact that I donated the money, not what it is used for.” A few seconds after meeting with a private college counselor for the first time, Soumia Thompson (11) became so passionate about becoming a global citizen that he
PHOTO OF THE MONTH
decided to create a new club called Peace in Egypt (PiE) with his friends to raise schoolwide awareness and take decisive action to combat injustice. Seven months after its creation, the club finally managed to present to the school an incomplete one-minute presentation on the history of the Middle East and received warm acclamation from the student body. “During my presentation I mentioned
that the Nile River was essential for the growth of the ancient Egyptian civilization, something I learned while I was awake in my AP World History class,” Soumia said. “After all, even though our club is taking baby steps, we hope to continue notifying the student body with these important facts once or twice a year so that they are reasonably informed. I’m glad that I am making a difference in the world.”
TS SAY N F E D U T S F U T S
ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
1 2 Photo by Yeni Cho
Cheering on in the crowd, Tim Kim (12), Jean Huh (12) and Kiup Lee (11) wave the printed faces of players in support. The first volleyball home game at SIS was held on Aug. 30 against Gyeonggi Suwon Internaional School (GSIS) in the new gym.
3 4 5
New year, new and improved me! This year I’m finally going to stay organized in all my classes, stop cramming last minute for tests and study really hard! Uh, yeah. Probably not. Doesn’t that sound similar to your New Year’s Resolutions? How are those going? Whoa! Who is that?! [Insert name] looks like a completely different person! He/she lost so much weight! Yes, while you sat in a chair all summer at a pointless internship or at your house playing computer games everyday, some people actually moved around and exercised. Shocking, I know. …Summer assignments? Due tomorrow?! I haven’t started yet! You definitely aren’t a true high school student until you’ve finished two months worth of work in one night. First allnighter of the year, only 99 more to go! Four AP classes? No big deal, I’ve got this! How bad could they be? The you in May is coming back from the future right now to slap you across the face. Even the “easy AP courses” you strategically chose are going to be the bane of your existence in nine months. Wow, we’re so far from the LAST day of school! This year is never going to end. Ugh. Trust me, time flies whether or not you’re having fun. High school is a short four years, slack off while you can!
Meet Helen Song
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Disclaimer: All comments are in good fun. Please don’t hate. Appreciate the humor.