Tiger Times Volume 45 Issue 6

Pink Panther:

Drama students prepare slapstick comedy. Page 3

Champions:

Varsity boys basketball team emerge victorious. Page 7

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

J A N UA R Y 2 0 1 4

issue 6

UNICEF reaches out to Cambodian communities

By Kelly Kim and Yeaji Park

Celebrating the ten-year anniversary of UNICEF’s annual trip to Cambodia, 22 members of the club, along with alumnus Nina Yun, previous UNICEF vice-president, traveled to the country on Dec. 22. For four days, through interactions with Cambodian students at the Preak Toal School and Tteukslai School, UNICEF members worked to understand and alleviate poverty.

“Every year we are able to clearly see the changes we have made in the Cambodian communities,” said Shanna Hurt, UNICEF advisor. “Three years ago, there was only one kindergarten class and 16 kids in one of the schools. However, this year, that number increased to 38, meaning that the students’ parents are making enough money to send their children to school. Our mission is to continue to support the growing number of students.”

UNICEF has reached out to Cambodian children through direct interaction and financial assistance.

During the visits to the schools, the members spent time with the children playing games, teaching basic English skills, singing Christmas carols and creating Christmas cards.

Additionally, funds raised by UNICEF through bake sales, the talent show and other events were used primarily to provide supplies such as pencil cases and medicine for the students and their families.

“UNICEF collected donated

Representatives of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) will be arriving in March 2015 to evaluate SIS and renew its accreditation. In preparation for the seventh visit, Peter Kahl, Administrator for Instructional Services, will be overseeing the leadership team, comprised of staff, students and parents, that will create the self-study report showcasing SIS’s improvements over the past six years.

The report will consist of five sections: school community and profile, progress that SIS has made since the last accreditation, critical areas of improvement, evidence collected by teachers and an action plan for the next six years. Staff members will be divided into home groups, which are organized based on sub-

Administration outlines steps for admissions

By Eunie Jang

Photo courtesy of Leo Lee (10)

Folding origami paper, Jane Lee (10) shows Cambodian children how to make snowflakes during a Christmas-themed activity. UNICEF visited two schools over four days, teaching Christmas traditions and songs. clothes and gave them out to the Cambodian students by making sure that each kid liked and fit into what they received,” Jane Lee (10) said. “We had a ton of leftover clothing this year, so we were able to provide some students with more than one article of clothing. Interacting with the Cambodian kids was also more exciting this year because the students knew advanced English as well as many K-Pop songs and Christmas carols.”

Recently, UNICEF has expanded its endeavors in Cambodia from just schools to local communities. Last year, the club built a house

called Dream House One for a poor Cambodian family. This year, they built an additional house, Dream House Two, and fixed water pumps UNICEF built for the community.

Furthermore, UNICEF members visited individual homes and provided families with supplies such as medicine and rice.

According to Eugene Yang (11), UNICEF treasurer, the club has decided to sponsor similar additional projects to further assist the Cambodian families by raising money and sending funds to Neels Kim, UNICEF trip coordinator. They also hope to build a field, provide a

nurse for the students and establish a tighter relationship with the two schools and the community by continuing to visit the schools annually.

“My last trip was especially memorable because I knew that I had to make the most out of my last UNICEF experience in Cambodia,” said Yerin Kim (12), UNICEF co-president. “It’s a great feeling to know that these few days are beneficial for the children. And every year, saying goodbye is always the worst part, but it’s really great to see how much our trip has improved over the years and how much we have accomplished.”

ject departments and focus groups, tion of what we have achieved over which are not organized according the past six years.” to any specific criteria. Within the Since WASC representatives’ focus and home groups, teachers last visit, changes such as the new will gather evidence from March un- grading policy have been impletil June from their classroom activi- mented to meet WASC’s expectaties in preparation tions. In line with to write the report.

Our reputation has such changes reGroups will then garding academic changed. This year’s policies, the muwrite the report starting from Auaccreditation is a cel- sic department gust. has altered its ebration of what we curriculum to en“Our school has become very have achieved over able more focus different over the on differentiation the past six years,” and variety. past six years,” said Peter Corco“If I wanted Mr. Corcoran said ran, Director to teach my class of Schools. “Our reputation has a difficult rhythm, then students changed. There are a greater num- could be introduced to different ber of students who go to outstand- rhythmic practices to suit differing colleges and universities in the ent learning styles,” said Julia Kim, US, and there is an outstanding dif- strings teacher and curriculum leadference in the quality of instruction. er for the music department. “We This year’s accreditation is a celebra- also tried different kinds of concerts,

such as one where we had separate strings, band and choir concerts, and ones where we have a mass finale at the end, with all of the music groups involved.”

In order to ensure student and parent voices are incorporated in the report, WASC will distribute surveys to parents and students by the end of February. The accreditation organization will also select students from the High School Student Council (HSSC) to provide feedback for the report. The Student Improvement Committee (SIC), a subsidiary group within the HSSC, is currently developing a new honor code system.

“The SIC will focus increasingly on student morale,” said Julia Jeong (12), SIC representative. “Although WASC has a lot to do with academics, changing the way students think about school work will develop a healthier student body.”

SIS prepares for 2015 WASC accreditation visit

By Nagyon Kim and Sarah Y. Kim

ttonl.org

“

The admissions office goes through 200 to 250 applications every year, and this process takes two months. The first step for the students is to fill out and submit required forms that consist of transcripts, recommendation letters, report cards with teacher comments and a sample essay with marks from a teacher. Before being allowed to take the required test, Irene De Shazo, Admissions Administrator, looks through every file to decide if a student is eligible to take the test.

“I give great importance to the behavior and attitude of a student, so the letter of recommendation and comments from report cards are extremely valuable,” Mrs. De Shazo said.

Once the student passes the file-orientated admission process, he or she is invited to take the admissions test that consists of English, math and essay sections and engage in an interview with Mrs. De Shazo. A student has to get a score of 85 percent in English and Math, but it is not unusual to accept a student with a lower score if the student exhibits great potential.

After an applicant passes the test, Mrs. De Shazo conducts an interview, where she gets to know the students better.

“A test is just a test,” Mrs. De Shazo said. “We look at other things as well. We are looking for students with critical thinking and [public speaking] skills, because he or she needs to be able to communicate effectively in group and class discussions. When all of it is done, I decide which files I will present to the principal.”

Mrs. De Shazo then meets with the principal and the counselor to make a final decision. The three of them decide whether a student will be accepted or denied.

Students who apply in the middle of the year are special cases that need quick admission decisions, mostly because of their parent’s jobs that require international travel.

“On emergency situations where a family has to transfer right away, we speed up the process,” Mrs. De Shazo said. “It is still important to go through each step. SIS takes pride in accepting only the most qualified students. We want to make sure that they have what it takes to be in our classrooms.”

VIEWPOINT 2

JANUARY 2014

Editorial Implementation of MacBook initiative diversifies educational experience Two years ago, the administration adopted the one-to-one MacBook initiative in hopes of promoting online education and providing students access to online tools and the school-wide internet connection. With school-wide access to tools such as Geometer’s Sketchpad, Moodle, iMovie etc., both students and teachers at SIS benefit from the additional educational opportunities that are available through technology. While there have been several problems and hitches along the road adjusting to the new technology-based curriculum, the implementation of the MacBook initiative has been a success—students are more engaged in an interactive online environment and are being prepared for higher levels of education in a world where competent use of technology is expected in the status quo.

Initially, there were concerns that the technology-based curriculum would clash against teachers and students who prefer a more conventional class setting. Some teachers, who are unaccustomed to using online programs, prefer to

teach without the aid of technology.

Likewise, there are students who struggle to study online. While it has become mandatory for all students to acquire MacBooks and for teachers to use certain online tools such as PowerSchool and Moodle, not all teachers are required to use computer programs or technology to teach. In addition, students are still free to choose their method of study; whether they take handwritten notes or read online textbooks is a decision that is up to them. Regardless of the MacBook initiative, teachers and students can choose to use the available technology based on their own preferences.

The MacBook initiative also prepares students for the future.

In college and later on in life, students will be required to use technology to further their education.

In these competitive and demanding environments, it is essential that students are comfortable with online tools to study for tests and complete projects that require the use of technology. Hence, while the technology-based curriculum may seem extraneous at the moment, it

will eventually benefit students in the future.

It is true that the technologybased curriculum can certainly be improved upon. Perhaps the school can better utilize online resources to eliminate the need for hard copy textbooks. A curriculum based off of tablets is also an option—current elementary students at SIS have access to iPads that engage them in interactive learning. Looking back at the changes and adjustments the school has made in line with the MacBook initiative, it is clear that the technology simply serves as an extra tool that is available for both teachers and students to use. The administration should be commended for implementing a program that not only equips students for the future, but also opens up a variety of educational options for both students and teachers.

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.

Optional school attendance after AP exams promotes effective use of time

By Claire Yun

At the beginning of the school year, the senior class proposed that administrators make attending school optional for seniors after May 16, the last day of AP exams. While it is important that seniors do not completely neglect their educational responsibilities, unless teachers promise productive class periods for the four school days before graduation, there is no need for the seniors to attend school after the AP exams.

Last year, seniors had various concerns about the efficiency of spending time in classes at the end of the fourth quarter. According to Jarret Lambie, high school principal, students complained that teachers would show movies in class rather than providing new and educational material for students. If the only tasks for seniors after AP exams include watching movies, playing games and other non-academic activities, it is unnecessary for seniors to attend class.

Additionally, because the attendance policy requires the graduating class to participate in non-AP cours-

es after their AP exams end on May 16, seniors are still required to attend classes for a week before graduation on May 25. A majority of senior students have no choice but to come to school for only one or two classes every single day. Furthermore, if AP classes are spaced out during the school day in the morning and the afternoon, students are restricted to stay within school campus, forcing them to stay at school idly.

Some may argue that it is important for students to finish their courses no matter what the circumstances. However, it is unnecessary for seniors to be forced to attend school when their class time will be used inefficiently, especially if they will not be taking final exams.

Therefore, instead of spending time at school simply to follow school regulations, seniors should be able to utilize their time designated for non-AP classes freely to prepare for college or partake in activities that can offer more rewarding opportunities. Seniors can get a head start on undertakings such as internships and jobs during the time that may have passed by monotonously with irrelevant classroom activities.

Rodman’s political antics further set back North Korea disarmament talks

By Michael Kim

Indulging in self-titled “basketball diplomacy,” Dennis Rodman, former professional basketball player, made a series of trips to North Korea the past year. While Rodman’s self-purported intentions are to defuse tensions between North Korea and the West, Rodman’s involvement has inadvertently exacerbated the strained relations, complicating the position of the US and its allies involved in the North Korea six-party peace talks.

In 2013, Rodman made three “sports envoys” to North Korea’s capital Pyongyang, during which he struck a friendly relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

On the last trip, he announced his intent to participate in several basketball exhibition matches coinciding with the dictator’s birthday.

Although the US government does not restrict private interaction with North Korea, using sports to further diplomatic relations is conceited and misguided. Not only does Rodman’s “basketball diplomacy” fail to tie in the other five nations involved in the six-party talks, 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.)

but it also lacks the decisiveness of traditional diplomatic endeavors, making it incontrovertibly useless on the grand scale of the US diplomatic effort, which has always called for complete demilitarization in exchange for aid programs.

However, the more pressing concern is the improper picture of North Korea that “basketball diplomacy” paints. Although it is impossible to understand what Kim’s motives may be, the North Korean leader likely views his relationship with Rodman as a propaganda tool.

North Korea has a long track record of glamorizing its poverty-stricken nation with elaborate covers like the Ryugyong Hotel in Pyongyang.

Rodman’s lack of comment regarding North Korea’s human rights offenses or the brutal dictatorship led by his so-called friend is also indicative of his reluctance to deal with important matters and his eagerness to buy into the North Korean propaganda program.

To make matters worse, the Rodman debacle has been sensationalized in the media. This undue attention is tantamount to inviting continued visits in the future

by Rodman or encouraging others to follow Rodman. On a CNN Reporters Jean Cho Jungho Daniel Choi Nagyon Kim Sarah Y. Kim Christine Seo Website Reporters Heejin E. Hong Christine W. Jeong Hareem Kim Michael Kim Rosie Dahyeon Kim

interview, Rodman implied that American missionary Kenneth Bae deserved his incarceration in North Korea since April 2013. Although Rodman has already apologized for his statements, it is obvious that “basketball diplomacy” lacks substance and credibility.

Even if Rodman approaches the diplomatic issue with Kim Jong-un, his efforts are unlikely to impact the diplomatic scene. North Korea is one of the few nations that still stick to the old tradition of “gift-bearing,” which is indicative of its archaic diplomatic relations. While Rodman has certainly brought elements of Western culture like basketball into North Korea, relations between the United States and North Korea remain hostile and formal diplomatic channels are still closed.

In this case, there is little a basketball player can do to improve diplomatic relations. Turning a simple sports connection into a political issue invites unnecessary sensationalism and potential for diplomatic crises. To discourage North Korea’s use of Rodman as a propaganda tool and secure the negotiation table on firm footing, it is imperative that Rodman is removed from the spotlight and real diplomacy is resumed.

Cartoonist Yeaji Park Layout Artists Jaewon Choi Eunie Jang Bason Park Patricia Song Yeena Yoon Adviser Mr. David Coleman

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

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.

JANUARY 2014

3

Temperature decline foreshadows colder winters

By Jean Cho and Sara Shin

Graphic by: Bason Park Source: USA Today

With water frozen in public restrooms and thousands of flights cancelled, the US has recently experienced extreme weather due to the circumpolar vortex, a large mass of cold air that originally hovers over the Arctic. The recent irregular weather pattern has resulted in $5 billion worth of property damage and is thought to have brought the second greatest disruption to the American economy following Hurricane Sandy in 2012, according to Evan Gold, vice president of Planalytics, a company that studies the weather’s impact on business.

The US and Arctic climates have become similar in recent years due to the temperature decline in the mid-latitudes and the temperature incline in the Arctic region.

According to Dr. John Holdren, Science and Technology Adviser of the White House, these similar temperatures have caused the cold air in the polar vortex to reach further into

RECORD R A BREAKING L P X DEGREES! E T V R

“Inmate escapes prison in Kentucky, turns himself back in because of cold.”

-

Babbit, Minnesota

“It’s so cold that you can’t even catch a break in the bathroom.”- aura itto

Green Day, Wisconsin

-37°C

the southern latitudes by replacing warmer air with cold air and vice versa. Temperatures in cities such as Chicago, Illinois dipped under negative 40 degrees Fahrenheit and have been the lowest since 1985.

“The only word I could describe the current weather in the US is ‘odd’,” said Matthew Shin (10), who recently visited New York. “Although the weather in Korea is pret-

ZEITGEIST Anti-government protests destabilize Thailand Fulfilling a pledge to shutdown Bangkok, protestors blocked major roads and intersections on Jan. 13. This situation is the result of an escalation of protests triggered by a controversial amnesty bill from last October that would allow former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to return without facing conviction for corruption. Protestors have also demanded that current Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra resign and have boycotted an election planned for Feb. 2, surrounding polling stations to stop people from voting in advance. According to Jarret Lambie, high school principal who lived in Thailand from 1996 to 2000, such tension is representative of the fact that political divisions are generally based on class.

“Prime Minister Shinawatra’s party has successfully organized the rural people to get votes through incentives, such as providing healthcare,” Mr. Lambie said. “Because half of Thai citizens are rural farmers, [the Prime Minister] knows that she can win the election, even without the support of city dwellers.”

These prolonged protests have had large economic consequences.

According to the Wall Street Jour-

nal, the value of the Baht, Thailand’s currency, has fallen to a three-year low. Also, more than 45 countries advised tourists to avoid Bangkok. With hotels half empty during the peak tourism season, this drop in visitors could cripple an industry that accounts for ten percent of the economy.

“When people think of Thailand, they imagine peaceful beaches and temples,” said Kyle Bae (11), who plans to visit Thailand during Lunar New Year. “So I think that although the violence is mostly limited to Bangkok, when people see footage of protests, they do not want to take a vacation [there] because they fear instability.”

In response, according to the BBC, a state of emergency was declared in Bangkok on Jan. 22 for thirty days to restore order. However, the Thai government emphasized that peaceful negotiations will be preferred to violence.

“When I lived in Thailand, I had two coup days in which schools were closed because the government wanted cars and trucks to be off the street,” Mr. Lambie said. “If the army involves itself in such a manner, it will help restore order but might provoke resentment in the opposition.”

By Jaewon Choi

Lash Perm

All shoc cara

Daily e s

Volume Curling Long Lash Waterproof

-28°C

Detroit, Michigan

-26°C

ty chilly, the cold I experienced in New York was on a whole new level.

No matter how many layers of clothing I wore, the cold penetrated the clothes and made me numb.”

Though the theory of global warming has not yet been proven, scientists such as Dr. Holdren speculate that the recent extreme weather witnessed in parts of the US occurred as a result of global warm-

ing. As 46,500 square kilometers of ice melt in the Arctic every year, temperatures in the region also rise by four degrees Celsius annually, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

“I remember trying to take out my credit card to pay for the meter but it was so cold that just having my hand exposed in the cold for less than 30 minutes was painful,” said Peter Beckway, who recently visited Chicago. “It was so cold that the ink inside the machine froze and printed a blank receipt. Although Chicago did effectively take care of the snow, being trapped in the suburbs during the polar vortex was a great inconvenience.”

Although some media sources claim that the polar vortex is not a warning of the future implications that global warming can have on the planet, such scientists as Dr. Holdren have vaguely concluded that the circumpolar vortex can possibly move into lower latitudes and bring about more extreme weather patterns in other parts of the world, as witnessed this winter.

Obama proposes reforms after NSA surveillance controversy

By Yeni Cho and Daniel Choi

Classified information regarding the US National Security Agency (NSA) was leaked to the public in 2013 by whistle-blower Edward Snowden, an ex-employee of the US Central Intelligence Agency.

The leaks revealed that the NSA is collecting public and private information from domestic and international civilians, corporations and governments, and that they also are storing phone records of American citizens. This revelation led to mixed reactions from the American public.

“I couldn’t believe that other people were surprised about the NSA scandal,” said Courtney Caldwell, English teacher. “What’s fascinating about the uproar over the Snowden leaks is that the NSA’s actions were already legalized in the [USA] Patriot Act from 2001. It’s not anything new, so I think that Snowden is neither the saint nor the traitor that people view him to be.”

In light of the controversy over Snowden’s leaks, President Barack Obama proposed reforming the NSA program.

The NSA currently maintains a database containing phone records, but no actual phone content. On Jan. 17, Obama announced that he no longer wanted the NSA to maintain

such a database, and proposed a new system to be set up by a third entity.

He also proposed that a court order should be required for each phone number that the government wants to query, and that NSA analysts should be restricted from reviewing calls that are more than two steps removed from a phone number with terrorist affiliations.

“These reforms that are being proposed are reactionary,” said Alec Griffin, history teacher. “These reforms aren’t concrete enough, and that was done on purpose. There are always going to be loopholes that the NSA can take advantage of.”

Obama’s proposals have not yet been implemented. However, there is debate over whether these reforms will change much in practice.

“I don’t think that what Obama suggested in terms of reforming the NSA is adequate,” said Dustin Yoon (11), Model United Nations member. “His proposed reforms do not really address the major issues and just sidestep the problem, because he’s still going to keep the NSA program itself running. What the NSA is doing is wrong because this much invasion of privacy is unacceptable, even if it is for national security measures. While I don’t really like Snowden’s method of revealing his information, I think that the information he revealed was very important.”

NEWS

NEWS BRIEFS Drama Club prepares for dfvwed spring musical

Photo by Christine Lee

Faking a French accent, Timothy Kim (12) reads over the script for the upcoming play with the cast.

The Drama Club gathered after school on Jan. 13 to prepare for the production of The Pink Panther Strikes Back, which will be performed on March 20-21. About 40 students will participate in the play, which is a slapstick comedy with contemporary music. Timothy Kim (12) will act as Inspector Jacques Clouseau, while Heejae Jo (11) and Sunny Oh (8) will play the roles of Olga Bariosova and Commissioner Dreyfus, respectively.

“This production is loud and fast paced,” said Simon Williams, drama teacher. “The story includes murder, close escapes, a fabulous love interest and a hero, which will be exciting for the audience. The set is currently being painted and the costumes are being organized.”

Seniors face lower college acceptance rates than last year In mid-December, many seniors were notified of their early college application results. However, in comparison to last year, there were fewer acceptances and more deferrals. According to Fred Schneider, counselor, although the acceptance rates are lower than those of last year, students should not be too concerned because they are consistent with those of previous years except last year,.

“Last year, the acceptance rates were exceptionally high, but that was a matter of luck, not skill,” Mr. Schneider said. “Applicants should acknowledge that to be successful with their early applications, not only do they need high GPAs and SAT scores but they also must have strong, unique characteristics that will make them stand out from the vast number of students the world.”

Korea’s longest railway strike ends with mutual compromise All 35 strike leaders of the recent railway union strike were arrested by Jan. 14, 15 days after the end of the strike. Railway workers organized a strike in response to the government’s plan to organize a new subsidiary of the national railroad company, Korea Railroad Corporation. The strike, which lasted 22 days, ended with an agreement among the two major political parties and the union to form a committee to prevent the privatization of the railway.

“Both sides have to make adjustments accordingly,” Sang Ho Lee (10) said. “Such sizable strikes cannot solve the problem but worsen it, along with citizens relying on public transportation.”

By Hareem Kim

plastic SurgerY, LAYOUT BY YEENA YOON

KOREA’S OUTLOOK ON PLASTIC SURGERY SHIFTS OVER PAST DECADE Bby heejin evangeline hong A participant of a makeover television program “Let Me In,” suffered from a traumatizing childhood due to her unattractive appearance. By virtue of a $23,100 cosmetic surgery funded by the program, she reshaped her facial features and bodyline, gaining confidence she never had before. Her artificial transformation, however, did not disgust viewers. Rather, many sympathized with her story and applauded her change, recognizing the benefits of plastic surgery.

According to The Economist Online, compared to 2003, when 20.2 percent of survey respondents positively considered cosmetic surgery as a mean to fix their facial flaws, in 2006, the number rose to 58.7 percent. As a result of changing attitudes, plastic surgery is no longer a hushed secret for its recipients in Korea.

“I would not say plastic surgery is good or bad,” said Amy Thompson, high school counselor. “Although plastic surgery [was] a taboo subject in Korea, I know people who have done [surgery] and found it a good experience because they thoroughly thought over it. There

was something about their looks that made them unhappy and after [the surgery], they had a much better outlook and mentality.”

Korea lies on the boundary between accepting and expecting plastic surgery. Yet the mounting societal pressure to undergo cosmetic surgery is no longer restricted to celebrities and females, but also to men, who feel that the changing perceptions will open up new opportunities. According to JoongAng Daily, the number of men seeking cosmetic surgery has increased by 15 percent.

“Living in Apgu, the plastic surgery hub, has given my family and myself so much exposure to plastic surgery,” Angela Jang (10) said. “My mom often jokes around with me and my brother, suggesting that we should get nose jobs. [Although] she is joking, the fact that plastic surgery for both genders is a topic open enough to laugh about shows how different things have become in society since several years ago.”

Well aware of the changing reception to cosmetic surgeries, the plastic surgery industry has used the opportunity to market

its service to a wider age range, especially the younger generation. One hospital at Seocho advertised up to a 50 percent sale for graduates wanting double eyelids. Similar special sales for students who have just taken the College Scholastic Abilities Test, the Korean college-entrance exam, have become popular among cosmetics hospitals. Other clinics provide package products to mothers and daughters, providing the same procedures to avoid suspicion from their future family members and other acquaintances.

“The cultural fad for plastic surgery is becoming too much,” said Julia Kim, Strings director.

“Walking by the Gangnam area, I often see people that look like siblings because of surgery. Korea should be frowning, not embracing our obsession with plastic surgery. It is embarrassing being a part of a culture that is increasingly accepting of its people losing their uniqueness and personal identity.”

INFOGRAPHIC IN BEARD IRIS G implants

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BIZARRE PLASTIC SURGERY PROCED

plastic SOCIETY LOOKISM IN WORKPLACE INSTIGATES PLASTIC SURGERY TREND by christine seo and rosie dahyeon kim People deemed “less attractive” received about nine percent lower wages than their “prettier” counterparts, according to a study in 2001 by scientists from the University of Texas.

Lookism, the discrimination of people based on societal notions of beauty, is expected to lead to a growth rate of 30 percent in cosmetic surgery operations each year.

The prevalence of lookism was revealed by an experiment by the University of Messina in Italy in August 2013. Ten thousand identical fake resumes were attached to different headshots that varied in attractiveness. Fifty four percent of the most attractive female job applicants received callbacks, while only seven percent of the less attractive women did.

“If people want plastic surgery, they should be able to get it,” said Jaeha Kim (9), National Honor Society TED Talks speaker on lookism. “The only way to avoid lookism, especially [in the workplace], is to change society’s [perceptions of beauty] entirely,

and an individual cannot do that. [Though] it’s not okay to change oneself that easily, the fact that people need looks to [succeed] in our society justifies the [reason] many people undergo these procedures.”

A poll conducted by the Dove Corporation’s beauty magazine indicated that one in four parents encouraged their children to undergo plastic surgery and that 44 percent of teenagers have considered it. Because of societal pressure to fit Western ideals of beauty including wide eyes with double eyelids, a high nose and a small, V-shaped face, Koreans in particular often resort to plastic surgery. According to the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, Korea is the most cosmetically enhanced nation in the world.

“From [a foreigner’s perspective], Korea is a judgmental culture, which leads to an obsession with plastic surgery,” said Gray Macklin, counselor. “In the nineties, a female’s diligence was shown by the heavy amount of makeup she wore. It took years of my complaining about this complete nonsense to my wife for her

to get past that perception.

The obsession with cosmetics back in the nineties and the plastic surgery fever can both be linked to the same Korean judgmental mindset.”

Lookism was brought to court in California by Elysa Yanowitz, former sales manager of L’Oreal, in 2005. She claimed that there was a campaign to get her to resign because she refused to obey her boss’ orders to fire a worker due to her looks. However, the court dismissed her lawsuit and instead decided that she could sue based on sexual discrimination, but not lookism.

“The direct correlation between a person’s attractiveness and his or her success is going to increase, which raises the question of combating lookism,” Angela Yoon (10) said. “However, cases of lookism are not as simple as other discrimination lawsuits because there is no set standard of beauty. The only way to fight lookism is not through the court, but through the media, which has the power to influence Korean society [to] promote natural and innate beauty.”

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Graphic by Christine Lee Sources: Buzzfeed, ABC News, Huffington Post

LIFESTYLE 6

JANUARY 2014

Sophomore sings national anthem at international fencing competition

SPOTLIGHT: YEAR 2014

By Christine Woo-Kyung Jeong and Patricia Song

A summary of the most anticipated events to come in 2014

1. Expanding cinematic Marvel universe

X-Men: Days of Future Past

The Amazing Spider-man 2

Guardians of the Galaxy

On Aug. 14, Debora Kim (10) was invited to the Korea-USA Elite Fencing Invitational (KUEFI) in Jeju Island to sing the Korean national anthem. She represented Korea in front of 17 university fencing teams and stated that it was a performance that differed greatly from her usual shows.

“Singing at KUEFI was a lot more nerve-wracking compared to singing at other shows.” Debora said. “I mainly sing in talent shows and charity events, which normally require me to focus solely on expressing myself through the lyrics.

However, at KUEFI, I was representing Korea as a singer and felt a lot more burdened. Nevertheless, I am very pleased and grateful to have been given the [opportunity] to sing at such an event.”

According to Debora, her environment has played a significant role in her development of interest in music. With a father who sings at home, Debora has always grown up with music and has become accustomed to it from a young age.

“I always loved music for as long as I can remember,” Debora said. “I used to play the flute until eighth grade [and] the piano when I was little, and [currently] I am teaching myself how to play] the guitar. Music is a huge stress relief

Captain America 2

2. 2014 Brazil World Cup 3. Final episode of How I Met Your Mother 4. First unmanned exploration flight test of NASA Orion’s spacecraft The Orion MPCV (Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle) will serve as the exploration vehicle that will carry the crew to space, provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during the space travel, and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities.

Graphic by Christine Lee Sources: NASA, IMDB, Buzzfeed

What is the “real world” like?

A sophomore at Swarthmore college, Sohyun Kang, class of 2012, plans to major in Computer Science and Studio Art while preparing for medical school.

1. How did you narrow down your majors?

I took Introduction to Computer Science and Foundation Art in my freshman year. Although they are two very different subjects, I gained interest in both subjects. Therefore, I decided to [further explore my options] by taking advanced courses. However, I am not set on my majors and want to [stay open to] all possibilities.

2. How are you preparing for medical school while majoring in different subjects?

Preparing for medical school while learning two other majors could be burdensome, but it is still possible. In fact, a large percentage of the students at Swarthmore have double majors, so I can receive advice from students who are in similar situations.

Right now, I am looking into programs that will exempt me from taking traditional pre-med courses. That way, I can manage to go to medical school and major in two subjects.

3. What are some extracurricular activities you are involved in?

Currently, I am the president of Han, a Korean cultural group that organizes campus wide events that can increase awareness about Korean customs and food. I also visit a local farm every week to take horseback riding lessons. In Korea, horse-riding lessons were expensive and quite rare, but now that I am in college, I can pursue more diverse interests.

4. What are some benefits of liberal art schools?

Swarthmore has about 400 students per grade, so I got to know all the students in my grade and many students in other grades.

Liberal art colleges give complete freedom to their students in choosing courses. Furthermore, Swarthmore has a big lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. This opened a new perspective on issues that I was not exposed to in Korea.

By Amelie Hayoung Koo

that allows me to get away from my concerns, as well as a communication tool that allows me to express myself better than I can with words.

I don’t know how I would have survived until now without music.”

To satisfy her growing desire to pursue music, Debora began taking singing-related courses in the previous school year, and is pursuing Ladies Choir, Ambassadors and Tri-M this year. Because Debora enjoys harmonizing with different voices, she enjoys participating in both school-related concerts and individual shows.

“Debora is a very early person in terms of music,” said Dennis Darling, high school music teacher.

“She found a way to connect verbally to the solo aspect of singing so early in her high school career with her lovely tone, which signals that she is a careful listener, a hard worker and a talented musician.

Now that she has learned the skill of solo singing, she will never lose it and with this great gift, I think that Debora has the talent to do much more in the future.”

However, according to Debora, she does not wish to pursue music as a career, but rather hopes to practice it as a hobby. Throughout her future high school years, she plans to continue to take both Ambassadors and Ladies choir, audition for the National Honor Orchestra and perform in as many school events possible.

DANIEL KIM’S SEARCH FOR

HIDDEN GEMS

Brevity of ‘Mr. Gae’ leaves space for improvement Although Leessang has been actively contributing to the hip-hop scene since 1999, its two members Gil (SungJoon Gil) and Gary (Hee-Gun Kang) have individually risen to the spotlight as public personalities only in the last few years through their appearances on comedy shows Infinite Challenge and Running Man, respectively. Due to his newfound recognition as an individual, Leessang member Gary was able to release his first solo EP, “Mr. Gae,” on Jan. 15.

The album definitely is not a lengthy listen, with only four songs and two instrumentals, but Gary tries to show off as much as he can within the limited time. The single theme that unites the four songs is masculinity; with assertive lyrics and some swear words, Gary explores romantic relationships and his music career. This theme is exemplified in the first single, “ZOTTO MOLA,” in which Gary raps, “Sometimes

when we feel less attached, let’s just fight it out; whether we live in a mire or a mansion is not important, but that we really love and care for each other.” Although Gary touches on heavy subjects, he is able to arouse empathy because his lyrics refrain from being overly poetic or abstract.

The sound of the album surprisingly takes a more trendy turn away from the old school sounds of Leessang’s music. There is the typical R&B slow jam, “Shower Later,” but the most drastic change is Gary’s embracement of trap music. Recently endorsed by Korean rappers such as Taeyang and TOP of Big Bang, trap music has slowly been seeping into Korean pop culture. Gary’s preference for this genre is evident in that the two tracks chosen to additionally be included as instrumentals, “ZOTTO MOLA” and “Mr. Gae,” infuse the American trap sound with Korean sentiments. The two

songs show that Gary is willing to experiment with different types of music, but there are still hints of traditional Leessang, especially in the melodic aspects of the hook. While the musical style that Gary emulates is rooted in complex rhythms, all of the tracks on the album revolve around hooks, three of them even featuring vocalists for the chorus.

The EP, presented after much anticipation and promotion, leaves listeners wanting more. In four songs, Gary created a persona worthy of exploration, and raises expectations for what he could do in a full length LP.

JANUARY 2014

Sports Photo of the Month

Photo by Hollis Hwang

Bethany Ko (10) balances herself in preparation for the pike-basket toss before the basketball home game against ICS-U on Jan. 17.

Every year, Korean-American Interscholastic Activities Conference (KAIAC) cheerleaders have the privilege of attending the cheer clinic hosted by Big Tide Korea Cheerleaders, Korea’s national cheer team.

This year, the clinic was hosted at SIS on Jan. 18, allowing participants to receive professional coaching in preparation for the KAIAC competition on Feb. 8.

“We have clinics every year to promote new stunts, safety, techniques, our team as well as cheerleading,” said Izak Kim, Big Tide cheerleader. “Cheerleading is a very athletic and popular sport, but it is growing very slowly in Korea; many KAIAC schools have cheer teams that receive very low funding and

interest from the athletic department. However, I feel SIS has a good [cheer] program because the number of cheerleaders is high and the athletic director is genuinely interested in helping the cheer team. ” With the clinic taking place at SIS, more cheerleaders were able to attend this year. According to Soo Kim (12), varsity cheer co-captain, the clinic helped the team prepare for the KAIAC competition by clearing confusion and identifying errors in its stunting methods.

“We wanted to do a liberty stunt, but we were struggling with the grips and body position,” Soo said. “The Big Tide cheerleading team helped us resolve those problems. The clinic was also a good chance to see how far we were as a team in comparison to other schools.”

For Jenny Lee (9), varsity cheer-

SPORTS

Undefeated Tigers win AISA tournament for first time

By Celine Hwang and Yeena Yoon

Having suffered its only defeat of the season to KIS, the varsity boys basketball team was unable to proceed to the finals during last year’s Association of International Schools in Asia (AISA) tournament.

However, this year, the boys secured their title as this season’s undefeated team by winning the tournament, which was hosted at SIS from Jan. 24-25. Yokohama International School (YIS) and Korea International School (KIS) placed second and third, respectively.

“This year was about redemption and I could not ask for more because the team executed their performance well,” said Tim Munro, varsity boys basketball coach. “We did not have to rely on one player because a different person stood out in each game.”

On the first day of the tournament, SIS defeated both YIS and Korea Kent Foreign School (KKFS). As the first place team in their bracket, the boys automatically advanced to the semi-final round against Senri Osaka International School (SOIS) on the second day. Although the Tigers were only ahead by three points in the last minute of the game, they

Cheerleaders better prepared for KAIAC competition after attending cheer clinic

By Hollis Hwang

7

leader, the clinic was an opportunity to learn new cheer techniques that may not necessarily be performed at KAIAC. “We tried so many new and different things that we might not perform at KAIAC because of the high level of difficulty,” Jenny said. “I was glad that I got to practice not only with my stunt team but also work on one-man stunts with Sabin. Hopefully we can use the skills I learned at the clinic for next year’s competition.”

Having hosted Association of International Schools (AISA) girls volleyball, AISA boys basketball and the cheer clinic, SIS also plans to host the upcoming AISA boys soccer tournament, according to Ivan Atanaskovic, Athletics and Activities Coordinator. He hopes this will raise school spirit and encourage more students to join sports teams.

Photo by Hollis Hwang

Intercepting the ball, Jake Kim (10) drives past two defenders for a layup at the championship game against Yokohama International School on Jan. 25. The Tigers won 53-27. eventually defeated SOIS by scoring points through free throws.

Following the close game against SOIS, SIS played YIS in the finals. Having defeated YIS in the first game of the tournament, the Tigers were able to win them 53 - 27.

“AISA is the one championship that the eight seniors have not been able to win together,” said Alex Son (12), varsity boys basketball cocaptain. “From the first quarter, it seemed as if our team wanted the title as the first place team more.

While YIS seemed lethargic and tired, we were eager to win and as a

result, we won by a large margin” After SIS was determined as the winning team, Gary Kim (12), Mark Kim (12) and Alex were selected as part of the All-Tournament team.

According to Jake Kim (10), power forward, even after the seniors graduate, the team hopes to keep their legacy alive.

“This year’s seniors are skilled, but the junior varsity team is also talented and full of potential,” Jake said. “The remaining members hope to guide players into the varsity level by applying the skills we learned from upperclassmen.”

MC SPORTS

COMMENTARY This column is a short commentary on sports events that are happening around the world. The commentators, Christine Lee and Milton Yoon, express their opinions about these sports events.

This particular episode is about Sun-Ok Kim, a member of the first Korean women’s bobsled team.

Christine: Hello readers! Welcome to another episode of MC Sports commentary. Milton, do you feel the world brimming with excitement for the upcoming Sochi Winter Olympics?

Milton: I’m shivering in anticipation for the amazing performances that our athletes will give, not because it’s freezing cold outside!

Christine: Well, there’s one female athlete that the nation has taken interest in.

Milton: Yes, she’s the part of the first Korean bobsled team to compete in the Olympics…and a 31-year-old mother! Everyone, please welcome today’s guest, Sun-Ok Kim! Kim: Wow! Thank you guys for having me today.

Milton: How did you become interested in bobsledding? It is usually not considered the most popular of winter sports.

Kim: Well, an alumni from the Korean National Sport University, the university I graduated from, presented me with the opportunity to start in 2011, and I thought, why not? I’ve always wanted to do an “extreme” sport, and bobsledding seemed like the best option.

Christine: On top of all your strenuous training, you have a six-year-old son. How are you

able to balance being a mother and an athlete?

Kim: It’s really difficult, especially because we’ve had to live apart. I considered moving him to Gangwon Province, where I’m training, so that I could take care of him, but it didn’t work out. For now, I’m focusing only on training.

Milton: That experience must be hard as a mother of a young boy.

Kim: Yes, it has definitely been a difficult time, but I never back down from a challenge. I want to come home with a gold medal and make my son proud.

I want to show the world that even a mother can achieve the impossible.

Christine: Your story will certainly have the entire nation cheering for you as you compete in Sochi!

Milton: Your ambitions and achievements will certainly inspire other older athletes to continue to pursue their dreams! Thank you so much for joining us today!

Kim: No, thank you!

Christine: Well, that’s it for our sports commentary, folks!

Milton: We’ll return next month as the Sochi Winter Olympics officially open on Feb. 7! Until then, see you later!

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

SMALL TALK

By Bason Park

FAUX NEWS

8

JANUARY 2014

Rennis Dodman designated first Holy Emperor of United Nations

Amidst an offseason, all-star soccer player Rennis Dodman and his teammates from Real Brookland volunteered to travel to the Democratic People’s Republic of West Korea to ameliorate diplomatic relations between West Korea and the US. The government of West Korea offered $500 billion to players in Real Brookland for a show match versus the national team of West Korea.

On Jan. 7, the West Korean military greeted Dodman and his team with a wild roar of applause and an hour-long firework show as the members of Real Brookland stepped down from an expensive private jet.

On the night of their arrival, Real Brookland defeated the West Korean national team, which consisted of the same military personnel, 20-nil.

“This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us to practice our soccer skills on a really weak team and to gain confidence for the future of our team,” Dodman said. “While playing against the other team, we were si-

multaneously promoting cordial relations between the two hostile nations by sweating together and expressing positive sportsmanship.”

According to Dodman, this game was one of the most revolutionary forms of public diplomacy since the Cold War because it catered positive cultural understanding and a greater interaction between the two countries. It was reported that Kim Sung Hong, the divine dictator of West Korea, invited Dodman to have dinner and sleepover party at his house. Furthermore, the all-star soccer player even sang him a charismatic happy birthday song, which later became the national anthem of the Democratic People’s Republic of West Korea.

“Out of the millions of people in our country, we are the brave ones who are taking the risk and contributing to the syncretism of culture and international peace,” said Sam Pachino, a Real Brookland midfielder.

“We come here away from our beloved fam-

PHOTO OF THE MONTH

ily members and sacrifice our time for the people of our country.”

A few days after the game, following his return from West Korea, there was a unanimous decision made by the ambassadors of the United Nations to appoint Dodman as the first Holy Emperor, a new position created as a result of Dodman’s diplomatic creativity, of the peacekeeping organization. Every other member on the team was awarded random Nobel Prizes in areas such as chemistry, engineering and peace for Real

F F U T S

Brookland’s contribution and display of initiative in West Korea.

“I will never forget this outstanding experience in such a beautiful, thriving country,” Dodman said. “However, there was one thing that I did not enjoy. I don’t really know why but there were so many bruised and stinky peasants walking in the sweatinfested streets with no shoes on. As long as I don’t see those people again, I would have no problem with visiting West Korea again and drinking beer at Kim’s mansion.”

STUDENTS

NEVER SAY

1 2 Photo by Hollis Hwang

3

As Gary Kim (12) scores a layup, the crowd enthusiastically cheers for the boys varsity basketball team. The boys won their first AISA game against Yokohama International School by 57-40 on Jan. 24.

4

I just watched that new Disney/Pixar movie, and I finally think I’m too old to enjoy these animated children movies.

According to IMDB, most of the viewers of Monster’s University, the sequel of Monster’s Inc., were actually over the age of 16. Those movies may be less than three hours long, but the warm nostalgia they leave behind? That’s forever.

I hate it when teachers play movies in class. It’s such a waste of class time during which we could be learning!

While watching movies in class, suddenly even the dullest documentaries transform into action-packed thrillers. I don’t remember ever being so fascinated by the life cycle of sea horses or the causes of the Great Depression!

The temperature at school is perfect today! It’s not too hot nor too cold!

To this day, one of the greatest mysteries of SIS is how it is possible for the indoor temperature to constantly be at an uncomfortable level even with a heating/cooling system.

The only people ever warmed by the heaters are those literally standing right in front of it – everyone else is freezing.

Oh yeah, I read about that in the Terms and Conditions of Service part of the website!

All of us could have sold our souls and promised away our firstborn sons while signing up for Facebook and iTunes, and we would never know.

Meet Helen Song

!

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