Tiger Times Volume 45 Issue 2

Educational Insight:

Students interact with college admissions officers Page 2

Smashing Victory:

Tennis teams defeat opponents with ease Page 11

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

Tiger Times volume X X X XV

issue 2

SEPTEMBER 2013

Family Fun Day undergoes organizational change

By Rosie Dahyeon Kim

Parents, teachers and students from elementary, middle and high school gathered on the field on Sept. 28 to enjoy the fourth annual Family Fun Day (FFD). This year, the parents of the High School Student Council (HSSC) students took charge of FFD because the SIS Parent’s Association disbanded. The parents made a series of changes to the event due to school starting a week later this year.

According to Ki-Jung Ko, one of the HSSC parents in charge of activities, many parents worried about the cold weather because the event was held later this year compared to those of other years. The parents made last minute changes by removing the pool that was to be located at the end of the rocket slide due to concerns that students would be more vulnerable to colds if they were drenched in water.

“We had no choice but to change the pool to the Tiger Bounce,” Mrs. Ko said. “Many of the parents thought that the Tiger Bounce was still an excellent [replacement] because of the participation rate and because tigers represent SIS. Overall, FFD ended well because of the amount of responsibility students took into account.”

A total of 30 booths were run by various clubs. Although the prof-

Grading policy to reflect types of knowledges

By Jungho Daniel Choi

Photo by Hollis Hwang

Overseeing children in their boats, Erin O’Sullivan (10) guides participants of the Paddle Boat Ride. Family Fun day was held on Sept. 28 with various booths bustling with activity despite the cloudy weather. its from last year’s FFD were used mainly for the benefit of SIS clubs, the parents decided to donate the money raised this year to help children with cancer.

“As a member of the HSSC, it makes me proud that the [money] raised from such a big event is not going to be selfishly spent solely on our school,” said Alice Rhim (10), sophomore class secretary. “I think that as a privileged school, [SIS] has an obligation to help the less fortu-

nate, and we are doing exactly that.”

According to Yoon-Hee Cho, one of the HSSC parents in charge of activities, there were no major problems in running the booths or making the food this year. The HSSC mothers took measures to ensure students’ maximum recreation at FFD by varying the food made and games available. They further ensured safety by taking out dangerous activities from last year, such as Logging which caused many injuries.

Compared to last year, there were five more booths.

“My kids most enjoyed the Tiger Bounce,” said Ivan Atanaskovic, Director of Activities. “I enjoyed all three FFDs that I’ve gone to, and I think the most important aspect is that it [enables] the SIS community come together in any form or shape. I know that everyone is working their best to make the food and games the best quality, and I [appreciate] that.”

Tri-M encourages students to pursue interest in music

By Celine Hwang

From budding musicians to aspiring composers, over 40 students applied to join the Tri-M Music Honor Society (Tri-M), an international music honors society sponsored by the National Association for Music Education. Tri-M was formed by unifying two music clubs, the National Music Honors Society and the Music Composition Club (MCC). According to Benny Char (12), co-president, the two music clubs were integrated into Tri-M to encourage student involvement.

“We started MCC to motivate students to pursue their interest in music,” Benny said. “However, the club’s name intimidated some students because most students lack experience in composition or music theory. To promote musical interest, we expanded MCC into Tri-M so students can join if they want to compose music or play an instrument.”

ttonl.org

Photo by Kelly Kim

Debora Kim (10) and Dr. Dennis Darling discuss future plans for the club, including the different concerts Tri-M members will perform.

Students who met Tri-M’s requirements—those with at least a B grade point average and those involved in at least one high school music class—were able to apply.

Throughout the year, Tri-M members will be given opportunities to demonstrate their talents in musical performance and composition.

“Although members will be sep-

arated into groups, their roles will be interchangeable,” said Christine Kim (12), co-president. “Members can get involved in [projects related to] composition or performance depending on how they feel. The line between the two branches is [ambiguous] because we want everyone to be able to incorporate musical talents in a variety of ways.”

This semester, Tri-M executives have arranged two trips to an orphanage, one trip to a retirement home and one trip to a hospital where members can perform.

Aside from these activities, TriM will participate in collaborative projects with other clubs. For one such project, the Cinema Club will create a music video of Tri-M members performing an arrangement by the composition section of Tri-M. Likewise, Tri-M will create compositions to accompany Cinema’s Club in its original 1-3 minute films. For Tri-M’s joint project with Dance Club, the two groups will co-host a charity concert around October.

“With the introduction of TriM, there has been a diversification in membership,” said Dennis Darling, Tri-M adviser. “We have singers, wind players and strings players as well as students who are interested in different types of music. We want our composers to have a place where they can compose and our performers to have a venue where they can perform and serve others.”

When SIS students returned to school on Aug. 19, many were not aware of the changes to the grading system. Starting this year, students will be graded based on percentage values set for different categories of learning, rather than values set for different types of assignments.

“All subjects will have grading categories which are intended to connect specific assignments with the standards that we’re trying to measure students against,” said Jarret Lambie, high school principal.

“The easiest way for students to think about it is that instead of giving you information on how you did on tests, we want to give you information on how you do with particular types of thinking.”

According to Mr. Lambie, each department developed weighted categories, depending on what they considered to be crucial thinking skills. For example, the social studies department implemented three categories: knowledge and understanding, critical analysis and synthesis and performance and application, which are worth 40, 40 and 20 percent respectively.

Faculty members, such as Estella Duan, Chinese teacher, have already benefited from the changes.

Ms. Duan said the introduction of new grading categories affected the foreign language department.

“I think this [system] is good, because it tells students specifically if they are better at speaking, writing, reading or listening,” Ms. Duan said. “When learning languages, you have to know all four skills. If you can only write, but cannot speak or have really poor listening comprehension, your language skills are not developing [in a balanced way].

This [system] is helpful for students, because they know which skills they have to study more.”

Students such as Ryan Kim (12) see the merits of this system in gauging students’ strengths, but still remain ambivalent on the effect that it may have.

“Before, someone could get a good grade by doing as little as going to Sparknotes, but this [policy] might allow teachers to now get a better understanding of what each student is like,” Ryan said. “But it may seem like there hasn’t been a change, because kids will still obsess over getting good grades.”

VIEWPOINT 2

SEPTEMBER 2013

Editorial Online club application process needs revision In an effort to streamline the club application process, the SIS administration implemented an online common application last year—application questions became standardized, and students had the freedom to choose which clubs they wished to apply to on a separate, online form. This year, students additionally had to select the order of preference of clubs they wished to join, which allowed clubs to select students based on their chosen priorities. While the implementation of a uniform application was made with good intentions, the administration and clubs should work together to solve some of the problems to improve the common application for the future.

When the administration first implemented the online application a year ago, it requested clubs to submit supplementary questions.

However, only two clubs responded; thus SIS administrators chose to use the four questions that are used in the current application. While the standardization of the application system is more efficient, the

vagueness of the questions failed to provide clubs with proper insight of applicants. For example, clubs such as Seoulite were unable to properly assess the applicants; in such publication clubs, writing samples are important when evaluating a potential applicant’s proficiency. The online common application had no room for such samples.

The administration also set a specific date for clubs to release their list of accepted members. Although some clubs finalized the list of accepted members earlier than the planned date, they were not allowed to release the list, causing unnecessary problems for certain clubs. With school starting a week later this year, this further hindered certain clubs from getting started on their respective projects. Clubs such as Forensics that have external events associated with other schools were unable to properly organize their club members in time.

In addition, certain aspects of the common application were exploited by students. One of the purposes of the common application is to ensure that students are able to

Greater transparency needed in distribution of funds for FFD

By Sarah Y. Kim and Claire Yun

Normally, workers would not pay to work. High school students involved in clubs were forced to pay, however, as volunteers, for Family Fun Day (FFD) admission tickets that cost 5,000 won each, regardless of whether or not they participated as a consumer. The students who work at FFD can better appreciate the effort that they put into the event if they know exactly where the profit of their work is used for.

According to Kijung Ko, head of the sophomore moms’ organization, the money from FFD is equally divided between elementary, middle and high schools in order to fund their respective events. A fixed amount of money is also given to each participating club. Clubs were informed that they would receive a fixed amount of 200,000 to 300,000 won, in addition to the money raised from the number of coupons each club received.

However, the whereabouts of rest of the profit remain unclear. According to Ms. Ko, there are plans not yet fully developed to send money to impoverished cancer patients 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.)

so that they can afford proper treatment. It is commendable that this money is going to charitable causes, which creates a philanthropic school community. However, the specifics of this plan, such as the amount of money required and the organizations involved, should be notified to all of those who worked to raise the money in FFD. Though students should be grateful for the work that the Parent’s Association (PA) does, there is a lack of gratitude and understanding that students have concerning why they should pay fees for FFD. This is due to a lack of transparency on the PA’s part. Although each club was informed of the amount of money that they would receive, the specifics of the event, such as the total profit and distribution for charity, remain obscure for most students. This lack of transparency can easily mislead the school community and make it unable to properly appreciate Family Fun Day as a fundraiser benefiting students as well as people in need.

Students will be more willing to give money if they have a concrete idea of where the money is going; in fact, greater transparency may serve as an incentivize for students to donate money to causes they care about.

Reporters Jean Cho Jungho Daniel Choi Eva Hong Nagyon Kim Sarah Y. Kim Christine Seo Website Reporters Heejin E. Hong Christine Jeong Michael Kim Rosie Dahyun Kim

join at least one club of their first choice. However, the application was programmed so that students were able to choose every club as their first choice, rendering the administration’s efforts fruitless.

As a result, according to Shanna Hurt, UNICEF adviser, students who followed instructions were at a disadvantage when considered for admission into clubs. This resulted in a skewed application process.

To improve the application process, clubs should collaborate with the administration to ask supplemental questions specific to their interests. The priority system should also be more strictly enforced to prevent students from cheating the system. These changes would effectively standardize the application process while making the process more efficient and easier for both clubs and students.

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.

Afterschool college meetings call for greater student enthusiasm, interest

By Min Ji Suh

Various colleges admissions officers come to SIS every year for students who are interested in learning more about universities located abroad. Students are strongly encouraged to take advantage of these afterschool meetings to talk to admission officers about specific application procedures and the various academic and social opportunities provided at different schools.

Yet, according to Fred Schneider, SIS Dean of Students, meetings have hit low attendance rates this year, and students who did attend demonstrated a lack of preparation and initiative to ask specific questions regarding their academic careers and interests. It is important for students to understand and appreciate the value of interactions with admission representatives, the people who will eventually be evaluating their applications in the near future, and show up to these meetings with at least a general purpose in mind.

The primary cause of low student interest in some schools stems from judgment and name recogni-

Cartoonist Yeaji Park Layout Artists Jaewon Choi Eunie Jang Hareem Kim (Web) Bason Park Patricia Song Yeena Yoon Adviser Mr. David Coleman

tion. According to Mr. Schneider, students attend only the meetings of colleges whose names they have heard and think they know, only to show up and have nothing to ask.

When students see a list of unfamiliar school names, they tend to lose interest, even before getting to know what those schools offer.

Such disinterest reflects shallow decision-making and overlooking of legitimate, worthwhile academic experiences. Students generally tend to show more enthusiasm for more renowned schools, as reflected in the high attendance rate at the Sept. 11 college meeting for the University of Pennsylvania and Brown University.

Juniors especially should be seeking help and advice through college meetings to plan for their futures. But it is difficult to find those who are interested in attending these meetings, mostly because students have designed the list of colleges they want to attend primarily based on results from the previous graduating class. College meetings, unlike personal research and opinions, offer a first-hand opportunity for students to interact with admission officers from institutions that provide financial aid and excellent academic programs. Now is a time

Tiger Times seoul international school Songpa P.O. Box 47 Seoul, South Korea 138-600

for questioning and discovery—getting to know different colleges from people who are immersed in campus life and live through the college experience on a daily basis.

Therefore, when students attend these meetings, they should prepare questions of their own directed most likely towards a field of study of their interest. Many students run out of questions to ask and are pressured by parents to interact with admission officers in hopes of increasing their chances of getting accepted. Questions should go beyond the arbitrary and aim to find the most appropriate school fit for an individual and his or her passion. Parents should not be the only ones to instruct their children to ask particular questions, but students should also be motivated to seek what is best for themselves.

College is an important step in students’ lives, and students and parents should cooperate together to make wise, realistic decisions.

By taking advantage of such college meeting opportunities provided by the school, students can get a more comprehensive picture of the various academic benefits and options available to them at a wide array of institutions.

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.

SEPTEMBER 2013

US must delegate Syria responsibility to UN

By Michael Kim

After both Syrian president Bashar al-Assad and Russian president Vladimir Putin embraced US Secretary of State John Kerry’s unofficial plan to confiscate Syria’s chemical weapons, US president Barack Obama temporarily cancelled plans to send US troops to Syria. President Obama faced immense pressure from the international community to resolve issues with Syria’s chemical weapons usage. Although halting military plans is the first step in taking a less confrontational US role in the region, the next step is completely delegating responsibility to members of the UN, a strategy akin to how the Libya crisis in 2011 was resolved.

The Syrian conflict, which began on March 15, 2011, has taken approximately 100,000 lives already, and more than two million refugees have fled to neighboring countries.

The political struggle between the

Sunni Muslim majority and the Alawite minority has drawn-in several key players to the table, including Iran, Turkey and Russia, who all have economic and political ties with Syria.

The US has been involved in the Middle East for far too long for it to be a nation without a personal interest in the region. All three of the previous US incursions in the Middle East ended in increased oil dependence on foreign exports following the invasions (Iraq in 2001, Afghanistan in 2003 and Iraq again in 2003). Not only is there strong anti-US sentiment in the Middle East, but there have also been more violent demonstrations near a US embassy in the Middle East than any other region of the world.

The success of indirect US involvement in the Libya crisis can serve as a model for President Obama’s assistance in defusing tensions in Syria. America’s intervention in Libya showcased international cooperation between Europe and the US. Prompt action through

54%

14000 deaths estimated

September 5-9 “I will not vote to send my son, your son, or anyone's daughter to fight for stalemate.”

VS. IS THE CPM MATH PROGRAM EFFECTIVE

NO Tiger Times investigates the efficiency of the new cpm math program

“The only realistic way to [support the opposition] is with foreign airpower” - Sen. John McCain (R. Arizona)

August 21

Chemical attack in Damascus

37% Graphic by Hollis Hwang Source: Reuters, Politico, Paul.Senate.Gov

CPM curriculum hinders student comprehension

By Jungho Daniel Choi

Realizing that spoon-feeding mathematical concepts is an outdated educational approach, the math department implemented the Common Core standard curriculum as a part of its periodic five-year curriculum cycle. This curriculum change is necessary to foster an active, independent academic environment to positively affect students’ learning.

Following the example of thirtyfive US states, SIS adopted College Preparatory Mathematics (CPM) textbooks, which feature fewer lessons and simplistic number problems, but emphasize word problems and independent investigations. Following CPM’s suggestion, students are organized in groups of four, with each person assuming the role of the task manager, resource manager, recorder/reporter or facilitator.

Math curricula have often been dismissed as tedious because of their passive learning environments. Students interact solely with teachers, only in the form of answering occasional questions. As the audience, students can scarcely contribute to the learning environment. CPM, however, encourages cooperative learning as students engage with one another and tackle problems. A study by Kristina Whicker from the

Journal of Education in 1997 compared the results of a lecture-based pre-calculus class and a collective learning system, which revealed that collective learning promotes greater understanding whereas a traditional curriculum encourages memorization.

Furthermore, CPM instills social skills, such as discussion and teamwork, necessary for college preparation. Discussion-based learning, usually in the form of study groups, constitutes the core of college curricula, rather than lectures.

It is only logical for college preparatory high school classes to expose students to a similar environment.

For students struggling in math, the new curriculum offers a less intimidating environment to ask questions and work at their own pace; they can share questions with their respective group members instead of slowing down the entire class.

Granted, group members must be familiar with the concepts to a certain extent in order to help one another. Yet, not only are groups organized to ensure that no one is left behind, but groups are also free to request the teacher’s assistance. Popular student opinion has expressed discontent with the new math curriculum. However, CPM provides the perfect opportunity for students to better prepare themselves for the future.

August 19-23

- Sen. Randal Paul (R. Kentucky)

YES

By Heejin E. Hong

VIEWPOINT Decreased support for Syrian intervention after chemical attack

the installment of the no-fly zone was crucial in preventing further loss of life from Libyan airstrikes.

Both Iran and Russia have proposed plans to get involved in the Syria issue. Iranian president Hassan Rouhani’s moderate political view and President Putin’s preparedness to act in Syria should be incentives for President Obama to delegate different roles to other nations and take an indirect role by offering humanitarian aid to help alleviate the refugee crisis.

Given the multiple times the US has been involved in the Middle East, the rising anti-US sentiment direct US involvement entails and the political restraint advised by nations with a vested interest in the conflict, the US should take a less direct approach in resolving the Syria issue. President Obama has taken the first step in securing peace in Syria by endorsing Secretary Kerry’s plans. The next step should be the introduction of a catalyst to the peace process to members of the UN Security Council.

Groupwork beneficial for students in math program

3

College Preparatory Mathematics (CPM) is a new math program that utilizes textbooks containing few investigative word problems and emphasizes student collaboration.

Each student plays a role that helps math discussions progress, as students learn concepts together. The teacher’s role is to present questions about math that students can investigate. According to Jarret Lambie, high school principal, this system is designed to prepare students for college, where students are expected to learn to solve problems and take responsibility for their own learning. However, this program, with all its good intentions, has the potential to hinder students’ knowledge and understanding of math.

High school students may not be ready for such discussion-based systems of learning because investigative discussions require certain levels of basic prior math knowledge. High school students are still learning these fundamentals, meaning that teachers still must lectures to some degree. This is especially true for students studying lower levels of math because it is the first time that they are encountering these mathematical concepts. Students must be taught the basics before they can begin their investigative practice.

In addition to the concern of putting investigation before basic skills development, each group member has an increased influence on how well students learn math.

When students work in groups, inevitably, there will be breakdowns in communication. These breakdowns can hinder the learning of the material, jeopardizing the ability for those students to retain information.

In the cases when no one in a

group is able to solve the problem, the teacher assists them by guiding them to the answer. However, this is less efficient when compared to information being conveyed to the entire class. Math courses, especially AP courses, have set curricula that the class covers in one year. Because investigation takes longer, it is safe to assume that the CPM program won’t be able to cover as much material, thus compromising the schedule that the class needs to follow. In order to follow the schedule, some concepts may not be covered, for the sake of group work.

The increased use of investigation may also mean that students get less practice applying concepts that they have learned. According to W. Stephen Wilson, a professor of mathematics and education at John Hopkins University, mathematics is a field where students should be exposed to traditional math programs, meaning that students should learn concepts by not only understanding them, but also repeatedly applying them to practice problems. CPM needs to even out students’ need to learn through investigation and the necessity of repeating exercises that help reinforce learned material.

A better balance must be achieved between intentional teaching and discovery learning through group work. Certain classes from last year and this year have managed to do this, with teachers lecturing and explaining concepts at the beginning of class, then investigating further in groups near the end. This way, students will be able to gain a basic knowledge of the concept that they are trying to understand, and then be able to apply the instruction they have received through investigating the concept further. This current math system must be changed by finding a balance between this system and the old one.

NEWS 4

SEPTEMBER 2013

NEWS BRIEFS Teachers participate in annual Peace Run at the DMZ Ducks welcomed on campus

Photo by Hollis Hwang

Floating on the pool, two ducks adopted by Dr. Kim spend time together on the SIS campus.

Dr. Kim introduced two ducks, Odolee and Osoonee to the SIS community this past summer.

Although he initially adopted only Osonee, he decided to purchase Odolee to provide Osonee with companionship. Odolee was rescued from a slaughterhouse at Moran Market on the day before Bok Day, the hottest day of the summer when it is a Korean tradition to eat duck stew.

“I brought in one baby [duck] from Sukchon Lake this June and basically nurtured her like a child in my office,” Dr. Kim said. “But soon enough, her yellow feathers turned white, and she matured into a full-grown duck. This certainly was a most unexpected event, but these ducks have brought great joy into my life.”

Students subscribe to Lynda

The SIS administration invested $6,500 to provide students with access to Lynda, an online library of tutorial videos produced by experts in the technology industry. Lynda offers videos that cover a variety of topics on how technology can be used efficiently and separates videos by difficulty level, ranging from beginner to advanced.

“We used Lynda once or twice in Graphic Design II because there was not enough time for us to learn the techniques in class,” Sarah Hahn (10) said. “I feel like Lynda allows us to get accustomed to new software because it provides useful information that we wouldn’t have known about otherwise. Not a lot of people know about it, so the school should advertise it more.”

Sophomore selected as Korean debate representative Lauren Ahn (10) attended tryouts for the World Schools Debate Championship (WSDC) on Saturday, Sept. 14. After the tryouts, the coaches determined the top five debaters of the Korea National Debate Pool. One of the selected debaters, Lauren has been attending weekly practices in order to prepare for WSDC, which will be held in Thailand next year.

“I used to think that debate was all about being stylistic in delivery,” Lauren said. “Now I understand that the content of the speech is more important than the style. Meeting debaters with so much dedication toward debate made me determined to become a better debater.”

By Jean Cho

By Christine Seo

Nineteen teachers, new and returning, arrived at school by 5:30 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 8 to travel to the fifth Cheolwon Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) Peace Marathon. For new teachers, the experience served as a way to learn about Korea’s history and culture, as well as an opportunity to socialize with colleagues.

Knowing that many new teachers would want to visit the DMZ, Shanna Hurt, social studies teacher, began organizing the yearly trip as soon as the arrival of new staff members was finalized last spring.

“This year, the race was well-organized and it was very convenient for us to travel to the DMZ,” Mrs. Hurt said. “They had a shuttle bus all set for us and at the marathon, there was a tent labelled ‘SIS.’ The event was a good experience to get to know the new teachers and welcome them into our community.”

Runners could choose between four distances: the 5K, 10K, half marathon and full marathon.

“Mr. Hurt and I run everyday

Photo courtesy of Shanna Hurt

Celebrating the end of their long run, teachers take a break to enjoy the luscious green view of the DMZ. A total of 19 SIS teachers participated in the DMZ Peace Run, which took place on Sept. 8. so we made sure to keep at it before the marathon,” Mrs. Hurt said. “Mr. Lopez also ran every week because this was his first half-marathon. He ended up completing the entire 21 kilometers in under two hours.”

The purpose of the trip was to

promote peace between the two Korea’s. According to the event’s organizers, Hankook Ilbo and Cheolwon county, the race attracted nearly 7000 people, including 500 foreigners.

“I think the marathon was re-

ally helpful, not only for the new teachers to get a better idea of what Korea is like, but also for them to be more connected,” Kevin Shin (10) said. “Just as teachers tell students to go outside with their friends, teachers also need the same leisure time.”

Administration to launch new New facilities provide benefits standardized testing policies for writing buddies program

By Hareem Kim

Major changes were made to AP and SAT test policies this year. The SIS administration made AP test requirements stricter and College Board lifted SAT test restrictions for SIS and several other schools.

Seniors who sleep during AP tests will have to take a retest made by the respective subject teacher.

Last year, according to Gray Macklin, counselor and AP coordinator, 133 out of the 351 tests taken by 84 seniors were scored as one. The school believes that the poor test results were due to the mutlitude of students who had already been accepted to colleges and slept during the test. To prevent seniors from not taking AP tests seriously, Jarret Lambie, high school principal, will enforce this rule.

“APs are college-level work and the final exams are the conclusion of [students’] hard work,” Mr. Lambie said. “Students need to be putting effort into their work until the end.

Students should not just think about colleges but also about the unpredictable future that might require AP scores, such as transferring col-

leges or [earning] a masters degree.”

Back in July, College Board decided to offer only four SAT Reasoning Tests and two SAT Subject Tests for the 2013-14 academic year in South Korea. College Board also prevented the administration of certain subject tests in Korea. These restrictions, however, were lifted for U.S Department of Defense schools in Korea and closed testing centers.

“Going to Japan to take tests not offered in Korea is a lot of pressure, financially and time-wise; when I heard I could take the test in Korea, I felt relieved,” Jessica Chung (11) said. “Personally, I think the College Board’s decision to restrict SAT tests in Korea is justifiable but unfair since they are generalizing that all Koreans go to hagwons.”

Although the new policy allows students from certain schools in Korea to take SAT tests, according to Mr. Macklin, SAT Supervisor at SIS, College Board’s decision does not seem fair to some students in Korea.

“I’m confused about why College Board lifted the regulations for us,” Mr. Macklin said. “Excusing us from the regulations while holding other schools with similar demographics but different classifications to the new policy just doesn’t seem

By Yeena Yoon

Four years ago, Brian Devine, eighth grade English teacher, developed an inter-grade writing program at SIS to foster interaction between grade levels. He organized two writing buddies programs, one involving elementary students and another directed toward high school students.

The writing buddies program originally involved eighth grade students acting as an intermediary between high school and elementary students. Students in World Literature classes would edit nearly finished versions of essays written by middle school students, while the eighth grade students would give writing tips to elementary students and edit their essays.

According to Mr. Devine, while the middle and high school interaction always happened online via Google Docs, the process of conjoining the middle and elementary school was unorganized. Previously, each eighth grade class was split in half, and teachers had to move sections around. However, this year, newly-built facilities, including the

new multipurpose room, have improved the organization of the entire program by helping teachers plan and arrange the meetings more efficiently.

“Last year, we had a lot of spacing issues and trying to organize everything was really hectic,” Mr. Devine said. “[The new building] makes the entire process so much easier because now we have the multipurpose room where both classes can meet. It surely does take the pressure off the teachers. Now we only have to send emails to set up a date so it works out really nicely.”

In order to utilize the new location and enable more frequent interaction and in-person conferences, teachers have decided to increase the number of times all three grades meet from twice a year to three times. “[One purpose of this program] is to form a better community [within the school],” said Erin Hogshead, English teacher. “I think seniors should be the role models, and should form relationships with underclassmen. As an eighth grader, having a high school student give you a lot more attention, is remembered more and also more concrete for them.”

SEPTEMBER 2013

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April 4 2012

Tokyo Electric Power Company announces dumping of 9,100 tons of highly contaminated water

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300 tons of highly contaminated water discovered to have leaked into sea and ground

Sources: CNN, Greenpeace International, Gunma University

EAST CO A

Aug. 19 2013

ST OF JA

PAN

April 5 2012

Fish caught 50 miles off coast found highly radioactive

Sept. 6 2013 Korea bans all fishery imports from Japan

Graphic by Helen Song

By Sarah Y. Kim

The March 2011 earthquake that triggered the Fukushima nuclear plant crisis seems to have left behind much greater long-term damage than anticipated, with radiation levels 18 times higher than previously reported. On Sept. 6, the South Korean government banned all fishery imports from Japan due to the leakage of radioactive water from the damaged plant into fishing waters.

“This is the worst nuclear crisis since Chernobyl, in the former Soviet Union in the mid 80s,” said Khadijah Mumtaz, science teacher. “From what I read in the news, as this is on the eastern coastline of Japan, it will take 5-6 years for the radiation to reach Korea and [by then], it will be diluted anyway. I would imagine that the most severely affected areas would be those in Japan, as it is very hard to contain nuclear radiation, [especially] in fish caught on the eastern coast of Japan.”

Whether Japanese products are safe for consumption is yet to be determined, as information on the effects have not been solidified. The radiation, which was left to leak for several months due to inactivity on the Japanese government’s part, has

Black box theater enriches drama department

By Yeni Cho

Dancing in a simple, black performance space that reflected her moves with a special shadow-lighting effect, Nicole Chun (12), Dance Club president, performed K-pop boy band EXO’s single “Growl” on a video posted on Facebook on Sept.

7. In response to her friends who were curious about where her performance was filmed, Nicole commented that she utilized the new black box theater, which was constructed this summer in what was previously the band room.

The Black Box Theater, also known as the Experimental Theater, became popular and prevalent during the 1960’s and 1970’s because of its economical cost. It consists of a large room with black walls and a flat floor. The simple, unadorned

performance space is considered to be a place where “pure” drama can be explored because it focuses less on technical elements compared to other production stages and more on the human expression.

“The actors can perform everywhere [within the theater] and the audience can be placed anywhere,” said Simon Williams, drama teacher. “We can even make the audience move around and interact with the actors during the performance, which makes the place extra versatile. It is a dynamic performance space, and is also convenient, as it is available for both middle school and high school drama classes.”

In this new experimental venue, Advanced Drama students will be performing a play called “Actor’s Lot,” which will be released in the beginning of December. The production will focus on an argument between two gods on how the new

drama space would be used—for the purpose of comedy or tragedy.

“The play itself is a device piece,” Mr. Williams said. “It is a combination of new work and already published pieces. The students will write the whole play by themselves, and they are hoping to bounce the audience emotionally around through the message of the play.”

At the moment, it is confirmed that the play will not be opened for students, but only for a selected audience of administrators and parents by invitation.

“Limitations really don’t exist in the black box,” said Heejae Jo (11), Advanced Drama student. “The play might look less formal due to stereotypes of it being ‘offstage,’ but I hope audience members can open their eyes on how the theater can be a different world entirely and how it can become a whole new world in a short amount of time.”

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made its way into Japanese seas and into some marine life.

“I was living in Tokyo so [the crisis] did not really affect our area that much,” Jung Yup Kim (10) said. “[However], we still had to check where products came from and we tried not to buy fruits and vegetables that were from Fukushima.”

The Japanese government claims that their fish is still safe for consumption. According to Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihede Suga, Japanese food and water must pass safety inspections that are stricter than any other in the world.

However, much of the South Korean media, which is heavily investigating the issue, is skeptical of Japan’s claims.

Rumors have spread that some Japanese fishery products have been falsely labelled as imports from South Korea or Russia. Japan’s economy has relied heavily on its fishing industry, which is the largest in the world, and South Korea has been one of its major export markets.

Skeptics believe that the Japanese government is merely seeking to continue business within their fishing industries despite concerns that radioactive water has leaked into fishing waters.

The Japanese fishing industries are not the only businesses harmed by the Fukushima nuclear crisis.

South Korea’s domestic seafood sales are also decreasing, and businesses like the Seoul’s Noryangjin Fish Market have suffered a major drop in sales of products like the Japanese-imported Alaska Pollack.

Still, the South Korean government chooses to overlook these problems due to the public’s concern and the risk of receiving criticism from the public. South Korea shows distrust toward Japan for what they judge to be a lack of transparency regarding the issue of whether its fish are safe to consume.

Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has criticized the South Korean government’s decision, saying that it lacked an internationally accepted scientific basis.

The already present tensions between South Korea and Japan could be further exacerbated if the case is taken to the World Trade Organization or the International Court of Justice, which are both possible choices for the Japanese government.

“In my opinion, the ban on fish was not necessary if the government was regularly checking the radiation levels on the fish that were being sold here,” Ms. Mumtaz said. “I personally have not stopped eating fish since this [crisis]. However, I do think about it and I would be uncomfortable eating fish in Japan.”

ZEITGEIST Syria and Snowden controversy sparks tensions Last month, US president Barack Obama cancelled a meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin after Russia granted asylum to Edward Snowden, an American citizen who revealed that the US was involved in a massive surveillance program. Due to Russia’s continued refusal to transfer Snowden to US authorities because of the lack of an extradition treaty, US-Russia relations have become strained. “[Russia] granting refugee status to [Edward] Snowden was like a slap in the face for the US,” said Shanna Hurt, history teacher. “His leaks about the methods used to gather intelligence not only have been embarrassing, but also have harmed the safety of US troops whose lives depend on the reliable information gathered.”

The already strained relationship has been further damaged because the two countries have disagreed on the most effective method to deal with the civil war in Syria, particularly after President Bashar Assad allegedly used chemical weapons against rebel forces. This debate dominated the recent Group-of-20 meeting, which was held in St. Petersburg, Russia, from Sept. 5-6, as the US sought the support of other countries to militarily intervene in Syria. Russia already expressed its opposition to any military strikes or sanctions against Syria by vetoing

resolutions in the United Nations Security Council.

“I think that Russia is hesitant to agree to measures that will ban trade with Syria because Russian companies have profited from the civil war by selling guns and ammunition to the Syrian government,” Mrs. Hurt said. “I also think that Russia wants an ally in the Middle East to counteract US influence in the region.”

However, on Sept. 15, Russia and the US reached a framework on how to eliminate Syria’s chemical weapons arsenal. Under this agreement, Syria has to report a comprehensive list of its weapons by the end of September and destroy production equipment by November. Also, all of its weapons must be destroyed by mid-2014.

President Obama reiterated that if Syria fails to comply with this diplomatic plan, he is willing to resort to military strikes.

“Having participated in Model United Nations (MUN), I know how difficult it is to enforce international agreements and treaties,” said Judy Kim (11), MUN student officer. “However, if the conditions are successfully implemented, the situation in Syria could be improved without military strikes, which will be beneficial for all sides. The US might become involved in another long-term conflict that will last for years if it attacks Syria.”

By Jaewon Choi

THE BRAINS BEHIN Songdo introduces technological innovations

By Sara Shin

An eco-friendly city that provides residents with a park modeled off of New York’s Central Park and houses with up-to-date technologies all within walking distance to each other is no longer something that appears in dreams.

Korea’s first “smart” city, Songdo, is an area that utilizes modern technology to provide a more comfortable lifestyle while promoting environmental-friendliness. This international business district started construction in April 2001 and is expected to finish in 2015.

With the collaboration of international real estate and electronic companies— Gale International, Posco Engineering and Construction, Cisco Systems, 3M, Consentini and United Technology—Songdo is celebrated not only for its innovative designs and technologies but also for its status as an aerotropolis; Songdo is located seven miles from Incheon International Airport.

“I think after living in Korea for six years, Songdo will never be truly ‘finished’,” said Andrea Clark, former SIS teacher and current Chadwick International Athletics Coordinator.

“Everywhere you go, in and out of Seoul there is a construction project happening, and the same is true in Songdo. Projects out here are constantly reshaping our little city, and more people are moving out here. I had the opportunity to see Songdo four and a half years ago and I can say that Songdo has changed so much and it is continuing to change.”

According to a study by Gale International, in 2016, Songdo is expected to house 65,000 residents and 300,000 commuters. With 40 percent of its 1,500 acres of land reserved for open space and the rest for apartments and offices, Songdo, according to British Broadcasting System (BBC), also maintains an ex-

Songdo Convensia: the largest column-free interior space in Korea

ceptional level of environmental friendliness.

All buildings are rated according to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, an organization in the US that evaluates buildings on five criteria areas: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources and indoor environmental quality. Also, there are underground machines that eliminate and recycle trash and return certain wastes back into the environment as nutrients or soil.

Despite Songdo’s advanced and “green” technologies, according to BBC, its streets are empty and less than 20 percent of the commercial office space is occupied.

“The only concern I have about [Songdo] is what will happen if there is another global financial crisis,” said Art DeFilippo, elementary school principal and member of Songdo coordinating board. “[Songdo] was going full blast and when this financial crisis hit, with the American housing markets failing, all companies stopped moving there. John Hopkins University Hospital was planning to move in, but stopped once this crisis hit.”

Though Songdo may be undesirable because it is located two hours away from Seoul, studies conducted by the Korean Ministry of Future Planning predict that Songdo will garner the international audience it hopes to attract.

“Smart cities demonstrate how advanced our world is today and what our world will look like in the future,” said Judy Kim (11), member of Science Club. “Apple amazed everyone with the iPhone and now all people own this device. I think smart cities will be the next iPhone, except more advanced and sensational on a whole new scale. It is really cool how Songdo is one of those cities from movies.”

68-story Northeast Asia Trade Tower: the tallest building in Korea with an advanced wireless system

Smarter cities introduce indicate changes in futur

By Daniel Kim

The word “smart” usually brings to mind recent innovations such as smartphones that have changed the way that millions of individuals function. To remain parallel to the development of individual technological developments such as laptops and smartphones, several cities have made an effort to reform the traditional structure of a city, hiring corporations to improve “smart cities” with modern technology.

Although the definition of smart cities is still vague, it is clear that many international governments and corporations are pursuing cities more reliant on information and communications technology (ICT). For example, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, incorporates an operation center connecting 30 government agencies to manage transportation systems and prepare for emergency situations. Cities also utilize data analysis to create algorithms that make predictions about different aspects of society, such as crime management and job availability.

“In Seoul, I find several technological aspects that are so convenient,” said Marilou Pagarigan, Technology Support teacher. “I see bus signs that use satellites to tell me how long a bus will take to come, and in the future, I see more advances for people who are not necessarily so tech-savvy. Maybe subway transits will talk, like in movies—‘I have a destination suggestion. You are going north. You can ride on subway Line 1, or the bus going in this direction.’ I think it’s really cool how cities are continually developing technology to make our lives more efficient.”

Other important aspects that corporations and governments are pursuing for smart cities are self-sustainability and environmental care. As energy resources run out and pollu-

Chadwick International School: an international school that provides a state-of-art learning environment

Incheon Arts Center: a multifunctional cultural complex

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progressive solutions, re lifestyle, technology

tion increases, environmental concern is becoming one of the leading issues for cities. In Masdar, United Arab Emirates, water and trash are monitored and analyzed, while the streets are kept entirely car-free by the use of personal rapid transit of electric cars underground.

“Since corporations do have a more money, they will lead the way in looking for renewable resources,” said Sara Broadhead, environmental science teacher. “I think most developed countries, with its technology and money, will solve environmental problems to an extent, and the problem lies more with developing countries, such as China or India. Of course the whole problem can’t be solved with just a few cities changing, but someone has to be the leader in moving towards more sustainable practices.”

As for any other fast-paced development, smart cities and their implications have led to polemic perspectives. Greg Lindsay, visiting scholar at New York University, argued that the emphasis on planned urban development led by corporations such as International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) in Rio de Janeiro or Cisco in Songdo, South Korea, hinders organic growth and that it is impossible for technology to simply manage the intrinsically unpredictable nature of humans.

“Although I look forward to all the conveniences that future technology will bring, I can’t help but think about all the negative things that people say about further development,” Douglas Chang (11) said. “I’m always reminded of Fahrenheit 451 or Wall-E; I imagine robots doing everything for people, making people lazy and stuck in their homes. I guess we really can’t do anything, but just sit and watch where society leads us.”

Songdo International City Hospital: a hospital supplied with the newest medial and diagnostic technologies

Jack Nicklaus Golf Club: a clubhouse that includes 18-hole championship golf course, fitness center, luxury villas and condominiums

Layout by Bason Park Graphics by Yeni Cho Source: Songdo IBD

LIFESTYLE 8

SEPTEMBER 2013

Famous animator retires after over 40-year-long career

By Patricia Song

Many claim that he is the world’s greatest animator. Fanatics claim to have seen every single film he directed. So when Hayao Miyazaki announced his retirement at the Venice Film Festival on Sept. 1, the world was in shock and disbelief. His influence on the animation world is undeniable with films like Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle or My Neighbor Totoro.

Miyazaki, 72, started his career in the 1970s with his work in anime, Japanese cartoons, for television. In 1985, he set up Studio Ghibli, where he directed and drew his next 18 animations by hand. Miyazaki rarely used computer animations and hand-drew his animations instead.

He became internationally renowned for his film Spirited Away, which earned him an Oscar for Best Animated Feature in 2001.

Miyazaki’s work has had significant impact on several students.

Akane Yasuda (10), a big fan of anime, grew up watching Miyazaki’s videos on her VCR and was taken aback by the news that one of the most respected animation directors had retired.

“This wasn’t the first time Miyazaki had announced that he was retiring, so I was really hoping that it was one of those [semi-retirements] again, like he had after the release of Princess Mononoke.” Akane said. “I am still so depressed that he retired

because no other animation film can top his films because, one, you can actually imagine being inside the worlds within each animation, and two, as you get older and more mature and you watch the films again, you recognize the deeper meanings.”

“

He is very magical. Miyazaki’s films are very inventive, even more than other anime, in which Miyazaki creates worlds that are unlike anything you have ever seen,” said Peter Valerio, math teacher.

Not only do students remember Miyazaki by watching his movies, but they also pay homage to him at his museum located in Mitaka, Japan.

“It made me feel as though I were one of the characters in his movies,” Annette Hong (12) said.

“The museum is basically a tribute to Miyazaki where there is a workshop that displays the production process of his films. There was also a gift shop at the end and the tickets were 35 mm negative exposures of

scenes from his movies. It brought back many nostalgic memories and really hit close to home because I lived for his works since the young age of four.”

Although these films are seemingly targeted towards young children, many adults have also enjoyed the films for their cinematography and storytelling. Peter Valerio, math teacher and movie enthusiast, has also watched most of Miyazaki’s films and believes they are of high creative value.

“He is very magical,” Dr. Valerio said. “Miyazaki’s films are very inventive, even more than other anime, in which Miyazaki creates worlds that are unlike anything you have ever seen. His animations always have similar tones, but each unique story is really what appeals to all different ages. As an adult who watches an awful lot of children’s movies, I can say that some of them are terrible, but Miyazaki’s films don’t talk down to children; they tell good stories that are good to enjoy.”

Miyazaki’s most recent film, The Wind Rises, a fictional biography about Jiro Horikoshi who was a designer of two fighter aircrafts used in WWII, was screened for the first time in the Venice Film Festival. There, Miyazaki announced that this would be his last movie.

Although Studio Ghibli will still be producing animations without Miyazaki, his original films will be missed.

The Japanese Walt Disney

Hayao Miyazaki Graphic by Dasoo Milton Yoon Wisest Words: “I would like to make a film to tell “For me, creativity is really like a relay race. As children we are handed a baton. Rather than children it’s good to be alive.” passing it onto the next generation as is, first “All my films are all my children.” we need to digest it and make it our own.”

Best Work My Neighbor Tororo Howl’s Moving Castle Kiki’s Delivery Service Spirited Away

Twitter Record

- Miyazaki’s movie Castle in the Sky set the record for the most tweets per second with a record of 143,199 tweets during one second - The 1989 movie broke the record when televised in Japan on Aug. 3, 2013 - Viewers were urged to send tweets during the movie to symbolically join forces and help the main character cast a magical spell - The record number was 25 times the usual number of tweets

Honors - Won a total of 82 awards from International Film cermonies - Awarded the Person of Cultural Merit by the Japanese government - Holds the Golden Lion, the highest possible allocade for an individual awarded at the Venice Film Festival - Included in the Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in 2005

Source: IMDb, Jeff Delgado, The Economist

Ministry of Gender Equality and Family What is the “real world” like? generates widespread controversy in Korea Joanne Koo, Class of 2004, graduated from Yale University and Harvard Law School. She is planning to start working for Ernst &

1. What inspired you to study law?

Coming from a family with many business experiences first led to the direction of exploring marketing and management.

However, I realized that studying law could transform society in a more positive direction than operating or working in a company. I understand that many people think it is a cliché reason, but honestly that is the true purpose of good law.

2. How did your work experience benefit you?

After graduating from college, I spent one year at a US law firm in Hong Kong as a paralegal. This experience was immensely helpful to me in figuring out what exactly it was that corporate lawyers did on a day-to-day basis. Working in Hong Kong not only helped me gain more comprehensive knowledge on the actual usage of law, but also broadened my perspective while living abroad.

3. Which activities in high school and in college helped you achieve your goal?

I wouldn’t say there were specific activities that led me into a career in law. Rather, the clubs and extracurricular activities allow room for experimentation, so I spent high school and college trying out different things and activities to figure out my likes, dislikes, strengths and weaknesses. Still, these experiences helped me find out that I was both interested and was a good match for law school.

4. Any last word for aspiring lawyers at SIS? Use your time in high school to really get to know yourself. I know high school might not be the best place to explore law, but many internship experience and classes can help you figure out if law or any subject of interest fits you.

By Amelie Hayoung Koo

By Christine Seo

The recent actions of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family (MOGEF) have taken over forums on many popular Korean search engines, such as Naver and Daum.

This department of the government is known for the opposition it receives from netizens, Korean SNS users, who question the cabinet’s significance. The official role of MOGEF is to foster the care of the general youth, promote women’s rights and stimulate a happy family dynamic. Some people fully support these values, but those who are against the ministry claim that the ministry’s programs and campaigns are useless and not influential. “[MOGEF] is a hot issue in Korea right now and a lot of people are split down the middle about whether to support it or not,” said Gray Macklin, school counselor. “I think it is an honorable department that is needed in a largely maledominated society like Korea. The government should advocate for the people who don’t have a level of strong cultural protection. In Korea, the police won’t even intervene in domestic violence issues until the violence becomes an actual crime.

I think that a department that is working to improve that situation is worthwhile. Why shouldn’t the government organize its power to

protect the rights of children and women who are free in the political sense, but not culturally?”

Two of the most infamous programs that generated the most criticism were established in the second half of 2011. “Shutdown,” a program created to combat teenage gaming addiction, restricted children under the age of 16 from playing Internet computer games from midnight to 6 a.m. MOGEF then began banning Korean songs that they deemed inappropriate for minors. The ban determined that the songs could not be broadcast before 10 p.m. on television and purchase of the banned songs would require identification that the buyer was over 19 years old. MOGEF eventually had to withdraw some songs from their list because of lawsuits from large entertainment companies, like S.M. Entertainment and Cube Entertainment. Since the start of the ban list, over a total of 2,000 songs have been banned.

“I think the government is important but it should [only] govern what it needs to,” Toby Han (10) said. “I should be able to make my own conscious decisions to listen to the music that I want to and play games when I want to. That decision should not be in someone else’s hands. [MOGEF] has an extreme point of view that I, and many others, do not agree with.”

When it was revealed in Janu-

ary that MOGEF would be adding 14 billion won onto their budget plan of 537.9 billion won, there was immediate backlash from Korean netizens who spread comments on popular forums and sites such as Naver and Daum.

“Giving extra money to MOGEF is bound to create problems in the future,” Lauren Ahn (10) said.

“The problem is that the government is not thinking about how to use the funds in a smart way. Future campaigns are going to cost a lot of money and we’re going to need more of them as technology develops. If they continue to spend money on insignificant campaigns like Shutdown right now, a lot of funds will be wasted for the future. The ministry will ask for more money later on, creating an unhealthy economic cycle. The bottom line is that we need to think not only about today, but also about tomorrow.”

MOGEF is now focusing on better serving multi-cultural families by creating public service announcements that advocate welcoming multi-cultural families into Korean society. According to the ministry, quite a significant number of foreigners have flooded into Korea, raising the foreign resident population to about 1.4 million.

Experts agree that the tre0nd will continue, as more foreigners will immigrate to compensate for the diminishing Korean population.

SEPTEMBER 2013

K-pop group Crayon Pop hops to top

By Nagyon Kim

With their signature “fiveperson engine dance,” members of Crayon Pop uploaded a music video of their song “Bar Bar Bar” on YouTube on June 23, along with another video of the group urging its fans to download it as soon as the song was released online. Little did they know that the song would lead their group to become a household name within a few months.

Still, fans have mixed feelings as to whether the group is truly talented, or just lucky to obtain publicity.

“They did a good job making themselves unique [among all the girl groups],” said Julia Kim, strings teacher. “Still, it’s mostly about the dance, not the song. It’s fun [to listen to], but it’s not really musical.

Even so, since they presented something new to the culture, [I think]

they deserve this success.”

Crayon Pop is a five-member group consisting of Gum-mi, Ellin, Cho-A, Way and So-yul under the management of Chrome Entertainment. The group officially debuted last year on June 24 with its single “Bing Bing,” but did not garner publicity, which forced the group to perform on the streets of Hongdae because its singles were not popular enough to be shown on public broadcasts. However, since “Bar Bar Bar” went viral in Korea, Crayon Pop has been looking to reach out to an international audience.

“I definitely like [Crayon Pop],” Eunice Kang (11) said. “They tried a concept that no other girl groups [attempted], and they appealed to all audiences without being too pretentious, fake or showy. I really admire their confidence in promoting a unique concept.”

After the album steadily climb-

9

LIFESTYLE

CRAYON POP

What you didn’t know about

ing up the charts since its release, the group finally reached first place on Korea Broadcasting System’s Music Bank on Aug. 30, beating Exo, a popular boy band from SM Entertainment. According to Eunice, considering how Exo is backed up with advantageous support from a large company, Crayon Pop’s triumph reflects the amount time and effort the girls invested in this song.

Still, the public has yet to figure out if these girls truly deserve success.

“When I first heard that Crayon Pop and Exo [were battling for the top spot], my friends and I just laughed, because we thought Exo would definitely win,” Julie Hwang (9) said. “When we heard that Crayon Pop [won], we realized that Kpop was no longer purely about the quality of music. I thought it was unfair for a group full of untalented people to gain so much popularity in just a matter of few months.”

Five member girl group: Gum-mi, Ellin, Cho-a, Way, So-yul

5

Saw success in Japan prior to becoming popular in Korea Won first music show on the Aug. 30 episode of KBS Music Bank Graphic by Christine Lee Sources: Allkpop.com

Samsung releases first edition Chess club adviser to participate in national tournament from different countries will be new tant aspect of Ms. Pagarigan’s life, of Galaxy Gear smartwatch and exciting for me, and I hope to she stopped playing after college

By Yeaji Park

By Christine Woo-kyung Jeong

Samsung, one of the world’s leading smart phone producers, may have brought forth a hightechnology table turner in its battle against its rival Apple. The company recently introduced the Galaxy Gear, a wristwatch equipped with an electronic interface. The smartwatch will be available for purchase at $299 starting October.

Smartwatches have been on the market for nearly two years. The Italian company, Blue Sky, released the first smartwatch “I’m Watch” in January 2012. It was deemed by critics of CNET, an American tech media website, as a “multitalented and useful” gadget.

However, smartwatches have not been well received by the public, due to their unappealing aesthetics, impracticable features and short battery life. As a result, smartwatches mostly remained as shelf-warmers, rarely receiving signs of appeal from the market.

With the first edition of its smartwatch, Samsung attempts to break these barriers. The Galaxy Gear is made of a silver bezel frame and a changeable textured rubber band that is offered in sixdifferent colors. The exterior of the Galaxy Gear is unlike that of any other previous smartwatch, shattering the stereotype of the unseemly achromic gadget.

The Galaxy Gear’s multifaceted ability can replace the functions of a basic mobile phone. According to Samsung’s head of mobile communications, J.K. Shin, the gadget will enable its user to perform tasks such as sending messages, receiving calls, taking photos, recording conversations and even running 70 different applications.

Despite its technological advances, the smartwatch does have certain drawbacks; the Gear necessitates a constant Bluetooth connection to an Android smart phone, carries an oversized Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode (AMOLED) screen, is more than twice the price of its wristwatch counterparts and can function for only a day before requiring to be charged again. “[The Galaxy Gear] is a neat toy. It can perform interesting tasks and the concept of smartwatches is quite trendy at the moment,” said Paul Kang, Information Technology Coordinator. “But how many more internet connected devices do we need? I’m not sure of the practicality that Samsung’s smartwatch will serve. I only see people using it for fashion purposes.”

However, according to CNN, the smartwatch industry is likely to develop into a 1.5 billion dollar market within a year. Consequently, Samsung will have to face many competitors in the battle over smartwatches. Various technological enterprises that already have or are planning to join the smartwatch craze include Intel, Qualcomm, Nissan, Apple and Sony. Samsung released its Galaxy Gear one week prior to Sony, escaping the title of a “fast follower.”

“Samsung did great by entering this rising market,” Joshua An (12) said. “Samsung not only became one of those early adopters of the technology but also it made another stand against foreign competitors, such as Apple, that Samsung is still well alive and is willing to go beyond the existing markets. However, I will buy [the smartwatch] after some time, when it is equipped with better technology and available at a cheaper price.”

have a good cultural experience from the tournament.”

Ms. Pagarigan’s enthusiasm for chess started during her childhood and led to her involvement in various chess-related activities throughout her college life. Jiwhan Moon (9), member of the SIS chess club views Ms. Pagarigan as a great mentor and skilled opponent.

“I usually play online chess games before KAIAC [chess] tournaments and try to review various traps and skills,” Jiwhan said. “However, playing with Ms. Pagarigan is helpful because she is an experienced and extremely talented opponent who is familiar with certain chess tricks and tactics. Instead of simply teaching me, she gives me feedback on what I could improve on, which helps me learn to become a more skilled chess player.”

Although chess was an impor-

With more than a decade of experience, Marilou Pagarigan, chess club adviser, has been overseeing the chess community at SIS for three years. This year, she will have an opportunity to participate in a chess tournament hosted by the Bongcheon Chess Club (BCC) on Oct. 5 and 6.

The BCC is one of the most active chess clubs in Korea and is affiliated with the US Chess Federation and Russia’s Tchigorin Chess Club.

The tournament will include players of different races and cultures, which is one of the many features of the tournament that Ms. Pagarigan is looking forward to.

“I am looking forward to winning the competition because there is a monetary prize if you [win] the championship,” Ms. Pagarigan said.

“Competing against other [players]

and has not been playing the sport professionally for 15 years. Her desire to resume her professional interest motivated her to sign up for the tournament.

“I won the Women’s Grand Finals when I was a college student, but after leaving the Philippines, I stopped playing,” Ms. Pagarigan said. “When I found out about this competition, I was quickly drawn in because it was a great opportunity for me to play against professional opponents.”

With just a few weeks left until the tournament, Ms. Pagarigan has expressed mixed feelings of apprehension and excitement.

“When I see anything that I’m interested in, I always try to be part of it,” Ms. Pagarigan said. “This is important because it helps you discover what you like and want to do in your life.”

DANIEL KIM’S SEARCH FOR

HIDDEN GEMS

Arctic Monkeys continue to mature on ‘AM’ Arctic Monkeys shocked the music community in 2006 with the release of their debut album, “Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not,” which placed fourth on “The Top 100 Greatest Albums of the Decade” by New Musical Express (NME), ranking above other bands, such as Arcade Fire and Radiohead.

Some music fans joined the media in praising Arctic Monkeys, but some were left in confusion as to exactly what warranted so much praise.

Throughout the past seven years, Arctic Monkeys were reevaluated as they released studio albums every few years. By now, Artic Monkeys have shed much of their hype and seem comfortable in producing the music that they want in their fifth album, “AM.” Although promoted as a mix of hip-hop and rock, the album is more

of an extension of the rhythm-centric rock that came to define the Arctic Monkeys’ sound. It is embarrassing to 90’s G-Funk for front man Alex Turner to dub the album as “a Dr. Dre beat, but given an Ike Turner bowl-cut.”

However, the album’s strength does lie in driving backbeats and repetitive riffs. The single, “Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High” comes close in blending hip-hop and rock as it combines an emphatic bass loop with a machine-like drum section.

In other parts of the album, the band forgoes their signature rhythm for poignant ballad cuts, which strengthens the melodic section—a weakness in previous Arctic Monkeys works. “No. 1 Party Anthem,” ironically about the insecurities of an encounter in a club, is built in traditional British rock fashion. The fade out in the “come on, come on” of the

chorus, backed solely by clean electric guitar, gives an unexpected anthemic element to the ballad.

Developing the mature sound hinted on their previous release, “Suck It and See,” Arctic Monkeys’ new album is slower in pace and more sophisticated in lyrics. As a listener, it may be slightly disheartening that “AM” confirms the band’s reluctance to remake the frenzy of its earlier works (“I Bet You Look Good on the Dance Floor,” “Brainstorm”), but it is consoling that they are not concerned with mindless self-imitation.

SPORTS 10

SEPTEMBER 2013

Sports Photo of the Month

Photo by Christine Lee

Sprinting through his last lap, Kevin Chun (12) races to the finish line at TCIS. Various schools made their way to Taejon on Sept. 25 in order to compete.

Teachers take swing at Korean culture

By Jean Cho

Jumping up and down to the thumping rhythm of the drums, enthusiastic baseball fans gathered in front of their conductor as they began to dance to their team’s song in synchronization. Teachers and members of the Korean staff attended a baseball game between the Doosan Bears and the Samsung Lions on Sept. 1. Hoping to socialize with their colleagues and get a better taste of Korean culture, nearly half of the SIS staff attended the baseball game at Jamsil Stadium.

New teachers such as Michael Ganus, band teacher, expressed surprise after attending their first Korean baseball game. According to Mr. Ganus, the entire atmosphere of the stadium was different from that of an American baseball game, mostly due to the crowd and their active involvement in the game.

“I honestly don’t know how much of the actual game I watched because there was just so much entertainment everywhere,” Mr. Ganus said. “Compared to an American baseball game, the level of crowd participation was a hundred times higher and this really made the game enjoyable to watch. I loved to see [the crowd] so into the game. ” Korean baseball is well known for its various attractions such as the

snacks, cheerleaders and crowd conductors. By sampling new food such as squid on a stick and by cheering under the leadership of the crowd conductors, teachers were able to experience a new aspect of Korean culture.

“In a typical American baseball game, the fans usually just sing one classic song about baseball and that’s about it,” said Courtney Caldwell, English teacher. “But here [in Korea], every single player had his own song. I was impressed by how the crowd knew all of the dance moves and lyrics for each song because that really shows some level of dedication.”

According to Irene De Shazo, Director of Admissions, the SIS administration has been hosting the annual baseball trip as a tradition to offer staff members an opportunity to interact outside of the classroom environment. According to Brian Mellon, science teacher, the new teachers were able to connect at a personal level by spending quality time together.

“It was fairly easy to form bonds with all the new teachers since we were experiencing the culture shock together,” said Brian Mellon, science teacher. “The baseball game was a perfect outing for us because it was something so familiar yet unfamiliar. We don’t have exact plans for future outings but all the new teachers hope to further explore the city.”

New PE teacher brings his passion for rugby

By Hollis Hwang

A tournament week meant working out twice a day. A rare vacation meant thrice a day. Ever since his teacher advised him to join a team sport, Cristian Iga, new physical education teacher, made rugby a commitment to himself and his teammates from the age of eight.

Since then, he has never stopped playing. When Mr. Iga was 16, he joined the Chilean national team for players under the age 19 and played in the World Cups at Italy, Romania and Chile, while also qualifying for the World Cups in Wales, England and France.

As Mr. Iga had expected, rugby’s tight training schedule caused him to sacrifice much of his own social life. However, the sport, in return, enabled him to play, exercise and travel together with an exclusive circle of teammates.

“I was always more into team sports than individual sports,” Mr. Iga said. “With rugby, it is all about teamwork, so more than having personal goals, I focused more on how to work as [a part of] a team. On the field, that was what dominated my mind: work super hard with teammates. And the experience I had during those years really changed my life. I’ll never change those years.”

Aside from teamwork, practice was key. Through repetition and persistence, Mr. Iga was able to overcome difficulties—the bad practice

Photo Courtesy of Cristian Iga

Clutching the ball, Mr. Iga tries to get past his opponent at a game against Fidji in Santiago, Chile at the Prince Wales Country Club. days, 13 surgeries and the high expectations college professors had regardless of his sports career. During those hectic times, Mr. Iga relied mostly on the support he received from his coach.

“When things got hard, Rodrigo Venegas, one of my best coaches in Chile, was who I turned to for support,” Mr. Iga said. “[The] relationship you build with your coach is super important; it is something that lasts forever. You keep it with you for the rest of your life.”

Although it is Mr. Iga’s first year at SIS, he brings with him a plan to start a rugby program in the second semester with Taejon Christian

International School and British schools in Seoul. Nothing has been decided yet, but Mr. Iga hopes that by starting out small, rugby will become an official sport at SIS. “Mr. Iga has great knowledge and was a very successful rugby coach,” said Ivan Atanaskovic, Athletics and Activities Coordinator.

“He is willing to show his talent, offer his knowledge and share his experience to our students if there is enough student interest. It would be a shame not to use the expertise we have here with him. And the whole purpose is for fun; I would personally like to see more students outdoors, physically active.”

SEPTEMBER 2013

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SPORTS

Varsity tennis teams emerge victorious in first match against OAHS

By Kelly Kim

A swift overhead serve from Michael Sun (10) flies across the court and eludes the opponent’s grasp. The eight sets for the first singles boys match between Michael and the Osan American High School (OAHS) player lasted less than 15 minutes. As predicted by Tony Hurt, girls varsity tennis coach, both the boys and girls varsity tennis teams won all the games they played against OAHS on Sept. 27.

“I [knew] both the boys and girls varsity tennis teams would do well because they are both strong teams,” Coach Hurt said. “All of our players are fairly strong, and both teams have good chemistry. Although we had a tough game against the Seoul Foreign School (SFS) teams, we can get back on the winning track.”

SIS won all three boys singles games by 8-0. The first boys doubles won 8-0 and since the OAHS boys double team did not have enough players for the second doubles, the SIS and OAHS boys varsity tennis teams played the second doubles game for leisure.

“I think the game against OSAN was relaxing compared to our previous game against SFS, be-

Photo by Patricia Song

Michael Sun (10), boys varsity number one singles, serves the ball to his opponent on Sept.

27 against OAHS at the home courts. Both boys and girls varsity teams achieved success. cause we already defeated them last year,” said Andre Lee (12), boys varsity tennis team co-captain. “I just had fun meeting new players instead of stressing out about winning the game.”

The girls team also defeated all three games against OAHS. At the

end of the match, the overall score for both teams was 7-0.

“The game against OAHS was not a tough match but it brought the team one step closer to winning the championship,” said Amy Ryu (11), girls varsity second singles player. “The opposing team did not

Senior expresses hope for his first cross-country season

By Eunie Jang

As the rain falls and spectators run to escape the sudden deluge, Dong Gi Park (12) races ahead to finish his race. Dong Gi, a new runner on the varsity cross-country team, joined this year to take on the challenge of running while continuing to play other sports.

This year is Dong Gi’s first and last season of cross-country. Besides running, he is also involved in the SIS swimming team and fencing outside of school. Although athletes participate in sports because of competitive reasons, Dong Gi decided to join cross-country for of his personal interest in the sport.

“I was very excited to take a break from all of my [other] sports and try something new, fun and meaningful for my senior year,” Dong Gi said. “I chose cross-country [because] I had always wished to try this sport but never really had a chance to. The fact that my best friends as well as my favorite teach-

ers are part of the team also played a significant role in [my decision].”

Recently, Dong Gi has been receiving emails from fencing coaches from colleges asking for his updated performances. As fencing requires time and effort, Dong Gi’s parents advised him to concentrate on one sport, but Dong Gi did not want to quit either of them. In order to manage both sports at once, Dong Gi talked to the cross-country coaches to come up with a solution.

“I am grateful that Alec Griffin, [cross-country coach], generously considered my situation and discussed this issue with the other coaches,” Dong Gi said. “They provided a solution that allowed me to stay on the team while having time to keep up with my commitments outside of school. I feel very fortunate and grateful to remain on the team.”

Despite this year being the first year of Dong Gi’s competitive running, he placed fourth in the first meet of the year at Yongsan International School of Seoul and sec-

ond in the following meet at Taejon Christian International School. According to Coach Griffin, Dong Gi’s chances of placing first gave hope to the team.

“Dong Gi already improved his time by a minute between the first two meets,” Coach Griffin said. “I hope that Dong Gi reaches his full potential, because he is on his way [to doing so].”

According to Dong Gi, crosscountry and swimming are sports that require different skills, but the training he received from swimming helped him adapt quickly to running.

“The need for lung capacity is similar in swimming because breathing is inevitably important,” Dong Gi said. “ I think I benefitted greatly from swimming. Because running takes longer than swimming, it’s important for me to pace and endure the pain until the end.

I don’t exactly expect to place first; I run without thinking about placing on top and just concentrating on trying my best.”

have strong players to begin with, but they also had a lack of players.

Both SIS teams [practice a lot] inside and outside school, which is why we were able to win easily.”

According to Jisoo Kim (12), girls varsity tennis team captain, there is still room for improvement

despite the effortless game the girls varsity tennis team played against OAHS. In the future, the girls varsity tennis team hopes to continue to perform well so they can advance towards their ultimate goal of placing first in Korean-American Interscholastic Activities Conference (KAIAC).

“Our main weakness was the overall lack of persistence,” Jisoo said. “However, one player, Patricia Song (10), picked herself up and continued to play against SFS and won the tiebreaker. In the game against OAHS, we did well in supporting each other and we should continue doing this. [By following Patricia’s model], we wish to win all the games for the rest of the season and to beat SFS during KAIAC.” After finishing the two games of the season against SFS and OAHS, there are five more games left in the season.

“Besides the game against SFS, I think the remaining games will be manageable,” said Bryan Cheun (12), boys varsity tennis team cocaptain. “SIS and SFS are usually the top two teams, which is why SFS is our biggest rival. If we just play like we did during the game against OAHS, then I think we won’t have a problem.”

MC SPORTS

COMMENTARY This column is a short commentary on sporting events that are happening around the world. The commentators, Christine Lee and Milton Yoon, express their opinions about these sporting events. This particular episode is about Dennis Rodman, former Chicago Bulls basketball player, and his relationship with North Korea.

Christine: Hello! Welcome to another episode of MC Sports commentary. Yet again, North Korea and a very special American have been making the headlines.

Milton: Yes, Mr. Dennis Rodman has established an interesting relationship with North Koreans and their leader, Kim Jong-eun.

Christine: Well, who better to hear from than the man himself?

Everyone, please welcome Dennis Rodman!

Rodman: Thank you, it’s a pleasure to be here in South Korea today.

Milton: We’ve heard that you’ve been making frequent trips to North Korea. What’s going on?

Rodman: My man Kim and I have been talking intensely about basketball! He’s a dedicated fan of the Chicago Bulls and as a former member, I thought it would be nice to discuss our mutual passion.

Christine: You also mentioned earlier in September that you would be training the North Korean national basketball team. How do you think other Americans view your actions?

Rodman: The thing is, America needs to open up when it comes to dealing with North Koreans.

They like basketball and they’re

as normal as the rest of us. That’s why I thought of this basketball diplomacy; even enemies can become friends when united through sports!

Milton: Even when the government sentenced Kenneth Bae, an American, to 15 years of hard labor in a North Korean prison?

And, according to UNICEF, more than 25 percent of North Korean children suffer from malnutrition in 2012?

Rodman: I have no comment on that.

Christine: But don’t you believe that as an American, a citizen of a country with which North Korea has strained relations, you should act as an unofficial ambassador and promote peace?

Rodman: All I want to do is play and teach basketball with people who love the sport, regardless of their political reality. Nothing more, nothing less.

Milton: Well… this has been an interesting interview. Please, everyone thank Mr. Rodman for taking the time to talk to us today!

Rodman: Thank you. I’m taking a flight to play a game of three v. three with some of my North Korean friends now!

Christine and Milton: …We’ll see you guys next issue!

Disclaimer: Although this column is based on facts, the interviews are entirely fictional.

SMALL TALK

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SEPTEMBER 2013 Graphic by Christine Lee Photos by Yeni Cho, Hollis Hwang, Kelly Kim, Christine Lee

FAMILY FUN DAY 2013

The fourth annual Family Fun Dway, held on Sept. 28, featured games, food, rides and more.

By Bason Park

FAUX NEWS

School imports golden chicken; shrine built to honor its arrival

In an effort to enrich the school quality for students, Simon Parajo, headmaster of Fulmersham High, allocated $6 million, half of the school’s tuition fees accumulated over several decades, to construct seven new buildings, four school gyms, two football fields and one ice hockey rink. However, most of the money was used to import an extremely rare breed of bird from the jungles of the Amazon: the golden chicken.

The golden chicken was flown to school on a jumbo jet. On the day of the chicken’s arrival, all classes were cancelled and all students and parents were required to attend the welcome ceremony of the newest addition to the school zoo. As the chicken paraded through the school gates, it was lionized with a red carpet and a warm, convivial applause.

“I feel honored to be a student of this school; the addition of the golden chicken to our family of animals is more than enough proof,” said Marcos Johnson (12), student representative. “Observing this chicken inspires me and I feel motivated to go to school.”

Although the decision to import the chicken was initially criticized by the students because they thought that the school should spend more money to improve its quality of education, eventually, members of the school community supported the decision after they realized that the golden chicken was a one-of-a-kind and would become the school’s new mascot.

From leftover funds, the school hired architects to construct a holy shrine in honor of the golden chicken. Located at the center of one of the football fields, the holy shrine is a three-story monument full of treasure. The pen on the third floor consisted of a buffet of high quality sushi so that the chicken can fully savor every meal, and the leftovers were transported to the school cafeteria.

“It was an enormous sacrifice, but overall, building the shrine was worth it because it enables the students to appreciate the chicken even more,” Mr. Parajo said. “The chicken will become a symbol of hope and education, and we will require students to visit the shrine at least once a day.”

According to Mr. Parajo, there were a few instances in which a group of parents and students conspired to steal the golden chicken. In order to prevent future robberies, the headmaster called for maximum security comprised of FBI bodyguards and an installation of high quality CCTV cameras around the shrine. Students such as Maya Patison (9) who were caught trying to steal the chicken acknowledged their wrongdoings and swore allegiance to the chicken.

“From now on, I am never going to order fried chicken when I get hungry,” said Maya. “I realized that the chicken belongs to our school and that we should never take irreverent actions. After all, as long as the chicken is safe, there is nothing to worry in this school.”

STUFF STUDENTS SAY ON SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES

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I have three tests, four projects, two quizzes and an essay due this week! I am so stressed! I am so tired!

While I completely understand your feelings of misery and panic (yay high school), complaining on your friends’ Facebook walls and uploading photos of you making #sadfaces on Instagram may not be the most productive use of your time. Why not get started?

Happy birthday [insert name here]!

Thanks to Facebook, you will never forget anyone’s birthday ever again. But this “special day” has been reduced to notifications and “HBD”s. If you really care about people’s birthdays, you can congratulate them (gasp) face-to-face.

GUYS PLEASE START WORKING ON OUR PROJECT IT’S DUE TOMORROW AND WE HAVE NOTHING DONE [Tag group members here].

Ah yes, the true purpose of social networking! This is what it means to be connected to people, right?

I hate you so much get out of my face (or similarly vague and angsty status indirectly targeted at someone).

I cannot tell if you are trying to pick a fight or trying to gain people’s attention… Either way, you failed. Diaries still exist; use them! *insert picture of people doing questionable things* When you are Facebook friends with your teachers, your uncle and middle school students, you may want to think before you upload. And when the infamous college admissions officers check out your Facebook, your profile picture is worth more than a thousand words.

Meet Helen Song

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Disclaimer: All comments are in good fun. Please don’t hate. Appreciate the humor.