Tiger Times Volume 49 Issue 4

Tiger Times

VO L U M E 4 9 | N OV E M B E R 2 0 1 7 | I S S U E 4 | T T O N L . O RG

Editorial

The new mid-term policy, reevaluated

By Andrew Ham and Diana Nakyoung Lee Co-Editors-in-Chief The new mid-term policy certainly seems to signal a change in direction; yet whether it will be “new” in practice still remains to be seen. Among the uncertainty growing as December inches closer, it stands to reasons that some students and teachers have found the concept of skill-based exams harder to grasp and put into practice. For example, in language classes such as AP Chinese or AP Spanish, writing or sitting for an exam solely based on language skills, without a set range of key vocabulary or grammar structures, may prove a more daunting task then they would have been in conventional form. Moreover, some teachers would prefer to harness the conventional mid-term exam as opportunities to inspire a thorough, factual review of the semester. In AP Economics, for example, students will be given a cumulative, final exam of sorts that covers all vocabulary, formulas, and graphs included in the AP Microeconomics curriculum, prior to the official discussion-based mid-term. It seems that the most clearly defined change instigated by this shift has been increased flexibility afforded to teachers in the ways they would have their students review the course content.

Still, the option to choose a skill-based exams seems to have been on the table for quite some time.

For the second semester exam, last year’s Government and Politics class, for example, each produced 10-minute documentaries on a topic of their choice, reviewed by Mr. Ames. In place of a formal exam, students presented their videos to other classmates, along with a very brief presentation. In such ways, it would be incorrect to consider the new skill-based policy a complete overhaul of precedents. The trajectory of reform this policy charts is not necessarily simple nor linear.

Regardless of these complications and nuances, ultimately the new exam system is a step in the right direction and a fitting model for what academics at Seoul International School should be. These new, performance-based exams test transferrable, interdisciplinary skills that will be required of students wherever they go and whatever they study.

Instead of memorizing historical facts, students will debate them, and learn how to synthesize logical arguments, critically analyze opposing viewpoints and claims, and apply them in a persuasive, concise, and clear manner. These, rather than how quickly one can write in an hour and a half, are the true skills that are prized by society.

Moreover, the fact that these exams will not require some fancy, daunting gym display is especially heartening. Having students take their midterms in normal school day environments will help them to assess in a comfortable setting, and will also ameliorate the tendency of SIS students (and students in general) to stress unnecessarily over exams.

The school has long told us not to worry excessively about their midterms, but frankly it was impossible to do so when every down week, exam schedule, and the ultimate strangeness of midterm week made us feel that, at the very least, these tests were somehow more important. Fortunately, the leadership team and staff have backed up its words with action, and we hope that students will be able to treat their exams like what they are: normal, standard tests.

This editorial began with a discussion of the current challenges that the new midterm policy faces, but such obstacles are to be expected for any new policy that proposes to revolutionize a long-standing practice. The student body should be supremely confident that over the next few years, the performance-based examination method will create happier students who will be better-equipped to tackle college and beyond.

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

2 VIEWPOINT What the American flag should mean Since the establishment of the country through a military effort for independence, the US has observed particular societal respect placed on the American flag and the people— particularly members of the armed forces—who represent it. Widely celebrated public holidays like Memorial Day and Veterans Day show the cultural significance that such respect for military soldiers holds in America. Despite the importance of paying due respect to soldiers as fellow Americans, the US has come to consecrate the flag and its representations to an extreme extent.

In the US, American flags that hang on houses and public buildings, regardless of the occasion, are not unusual. This kind of overt, bold and emboldened patriotism seems unique to the US, at least in comparison to Korea. The military, while it serves a critical purpose, is not deemed so heoirc and rarely do air shows open our football games. Patriotism shapes the American identity, and hence any action or word standing against it is seen as treacherous and appalling. For instance, when NFL players took a knee during the singing of the national anthem as a means of nonviolent protest, they were publicly condemned by the President for disrespecting the American flag. At this point, an important distinction must be made: speaking out against current flaws in the sociopolitical system of the country does not equate defying or disregarding the United States.

Currently, under the Trump administration, an unwelcoming

political climate has been created.

Since the beginning of Trump’s presidential campaign and the many rallies that were held throughout the US, the general sentiment in the country seemed to be supporting the marginalization of minorities. In fact, such has been paralleled with the overall increase in racist remarks and instances of discrimination and violence stemming from white supremacy. It is a clear problem that people feel uncomfortable discussing and dealing with problems that exist in the nation due to the belief that they are being unpatriotic by doing so. This is merely a façade to justify ongoing problems such as racism, sexism, and many other societal issues that continue to plague the country.

The US has historically been hailed as a remarkable example of freedom, both constitutionally and socially, as the land of the free. Particularly, freedom of speech and expression is a constitutional right that has been considered paramount throughout

American history. In order for the US to continue to move forward as a country that embraces and honors diversity, public discourse must be freely possible and prevalent.

For this development to occur, Americans must let go of the jingoism, or extreme patriotism, that is being used to defend themselves against dissenters. This does not mean that brave and praiseworthy soldiers should be honored any less or that love for one’s country should be considered negative. However, to achieve greater things, Americans must move on from hiding behind the walls of military honor at any occasion they seem to be threatened. Confrontation is precisely what the country needs.

Political fragmentation will eventually become the impediment to growth, and it is the rightful duty of American citizens to prevent such. Speak up for the great country we are proud to call home.

By Hannah Kim Junior, Staff Writer

Now that the college application cycle is over

F

reshman, sophomore, junior year—I’ve seen seniors struggle through November and thought that life would be defined by college applications, dividing my existence into two time periods: a before and an after application. Nov. 16 has now come and gone and the student-side of the application cycle has mostly concluded at SIS. Our CommonApp main page is full of green checkmarks. All there is left to do is wait.

And yet, I feel empty—not anxious about any result—but empty.

I have traced my emotional insecurity back to the broken expectations I have had for our school over this year, not as an administrative entity but as a community. One Friday morning, as I stood in the middle of the atrium surrounded by colorful letters in the Random Acts of Kindness’ Garden of Gratitude, I also heard various members of faculty direct their criticism at the senior class as a whole. Some were laughing casually, some mocking, and some just plain angry at their students’ decisions to not come to school in favor of writing and submitting their college applications. Throughout the day, the comments only became more and more evident—extending beyond hallways, prefacing classes and personal conversations,

and emerging sporadically through extracurriculars.

Such blatant stereotyping of the senior class struck me as a mismatch of priorities between our students and teachers, and a lack of awareness regarding what causes such mismatch. To be honest, the criticism that we are receiving from teachers is warranted. Lesson plans and tests become useless if no student attends class. And yet, as applicants, our priority for that week in November is chronicling the last eighteen years of our lives in a series of essays, not tests nor homework.

We ask that people remain aware of the paradoxical nature of such criticism—that we must be selfperceptive adults who know our own limits when we sign up for classes or extracurriculars, yet when it comes to college season we seniors are irresponsible children who abandon their education. We ask that they acknowledge that such criticism is hard to shrug off when it comes from those who we’ve come to respect and model ourselves off of over the time we’ve spent together. It left a sour taste in my mouth, especially as paid personal days become more an more an established part of general professional and corporate practice, and many do choose to use them for reasons that do not determine the

path that their lives will take.

We get seven absences in every class per semester—the choice to use them should be up to us, especially because we require parent approval to miss school. If those who have raised us and have observed us at the closest capacity over the course of our lives believe that it is justified for us to miss school, perhaps it is the right decision made by more than one rational person.

But beyond understanding, the real question lies in how we can address the contrasting viewpoints for that one week in November.

Fundamentally the issue is with time.

Time, or its limited quality, is what causes the psychological stresses that come with deadlines, and there are realistic limitations—we have to have the time to manage in order to manage time.

Perhaps we can choose to extend our deadline for a time beyond Nov. 16. We can encourage teachers and staff to alleviate workloads during the week before application deadlines, so our time can be allocated between tasks. It’s a stressful time of year, for all parties involved. The solutions suggested can only work to alleviate such stresses.

By Joyce Lee Senior, Co-Production Editor

Tiger Times

November 2017

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

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Tiger Times Staff Paper Editors-In-Chief Andrew Ham Diana Nakyoung Lee Website Editors-in-Chief Soomin Chun Nicholas Kim Paper Managing Editor Justin Chang

Website Managing Editor Alice Lee

Communications Director Marie Park

Production Editors Joyce Lee Soo Min Lee

Copy Editors Junie Ye Joon Kah Dawn Kim Jeremy Nam Grace Yang

Graphics Editor April Kim Photo Editor Ryan Jang

Layout Artists Amy Jungmin Kim Claire Lee Yejune Park

Youngjin Park Graphics Artists Jina Kim Youngseo Jhe Photographers Angela Choe Lauren Kang Jocelyn Lee Reporters Michelle Ahn Fiona Cho

Sia Cho Kirsten Huh Andie Kim Andrea Kwon Hannah Kim Chris Lee Kate Lee Eju Ro Andy Yoon Adviser Mr. David Coleman

Viewpoint Feature: Why the SIS student archetype is inherently problematic How accurate is the stereotype of the Korean student that spends all his or her free time in hagwons?

What is the line between an enthusiasm of academics and an obsession with it?

The harms of a student stereotype and how to address it

T

he design of the international school, especially the one we attend, presents a conflicting dynamic of cultures and academic outlook. The juxtaposition of Confucian values and Western education has constructed a unique group mindset, fostering a trend of hagwon culture and an unhealthy focus on grades rather than the actual learning. More importantly, however, and perhaps more problematic, this trend has encouraged the stereotype of the typical SIS high school student; a student whose one objective is to get good grades and overcome any and all obstacles in that endeavor. This academic fervor, of course, is necessary to achieve those grades, even if it means selling their souls to tutors and consultants.

As a result of this stereotype, some seem to hold the misconception that most if not all SIS students get academic help outside of school, and consequently may not need to expend much effort in learning the subject matter. The same can be said for teachers, who may occasionally forgo substantive material with the understanding that the material is covered in hagwons.

The co-understanding of this stereotype has also, to a degree, led some students to believe that they are being unfairly labeled as slaves to the hagwon system, a stereotype which, if true, poses inherent harm to the learning experience here at SIS. That is not to say that there is a lack of foundation on which teachers may harbor reservations about hagwon culture.

It is true that there is a trend of academic

obsession and that such a trend is problematic; as a matter of course, it is undeniable that there is an overemphasis on grades and hagwon culture here at SIS. It is easy to see why a teacher or administrator may have, over the years, become disillusioned with the value of learning in our school environment; in a society where the school should be providing the student with the necessary tools for the full curricular experience, the fact that students have committed themselves to hagwons may make a teacher feel less valued. Furthermore, occasional yet consistent instances of blatant and severe cheating scandals may have solidified in teachers’ minds that such examples are simply the norm here at SIS. However, considering this trend as a universal truth is a harmful misconception to harbor in an educational environment, as it comes with a plethora of dire implications to student learning.

For one, this stereotype actually perpetuates a dangerous cyclical process: because of the misconception of some teachers that all their students go to hagwons and thereby may not cover some content, students may actually be forced to go to hagwons to catch up on the untaught material, lest they fall behind their peers. In this way, teachers may actually inadvertently be reinforcing the hagwon culture through omission instead of actively working with students to effectively address it. The fact is that––in spite of the overall trend of academically minded students––not all students actually attend hagwons. Period. Most of those who do, only attend one or two and usually

for subjects in which they struggle and/or as a supplement to their courses, not as a replacement. Therefore, if teachers hold the misunderstanding that all students attend hagwons, it inherently harms the students who do not get extra help in their classes, as they are either left to their own devices in gaining the learning experience, or forced to contribute to the trend by attending hagwons.

To use an analogy, Blackstone’s formulation in criminal law comes to mind: it is better that ten guilty people escape than that one innocent suffer. It is important, thereby, that even if there is only one student in the entire school who does not attend hagwons, that teachers make sure not to design their curriculum with the preconception in mind that all students do, as doing so would throw off the competitive curve in an unfair manner.

I recognize that my position on this issue does not apply to all, or even most, teachers at this school. There are many who recognize that the prevailing SIS student stereotype is not all encompassing and strive to treat SIS students like they would any other student from any other school. However, as important as it is for students not to generalize all teachers as harboring this preconception, it is even more important that teachers do not generalize our student body based on the students who display an unhealthy academic obsession through a clear reliance on outside help.

To address this problem, we must nurture the existing relationships between teachers and students. In these relation-

ships, a communicative rift––most of the time perpetuated by the student––separates teacher and student, establishing a rigid Confucian-esque hierarchy. Such relationships only work to reinforce the stereotype of the SIS student; for many, the silence is only broken when they argue for what may be a fraction of a fraction of a point on their summative assessments, which does not help toward breaking the stereotype of grade obsession. From this perspective, we only have ourselves to blame.

This is not to say that a grade-orientated mindset is necessarily a bad thing in and of itself, but this self-perpetuating stereotype has thus made it so that whenever a student expresses a legitimate, sincere concern with their grades, they see themselves as lumped together with the students that only care about the number on Powerschool. As many students want to distance themselves from this, the communicative barrier between teacher and student may once again be solidified.

The existence of the student stereotype ultimately holds us as the biggest stakeholder, and most of the time we have the most incentive to change it. And we’re in luck: the reality that teachers are more or less unaware to this unique plight of SIS students can be broken down as we demonstrate that we are more than hagwons and tutors. But to break down these perceptions, we must first break down the barriers between teacher and student.

By Jeremy Nam Junior, Copy Editor

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NEWS

News Briefs

By Fiona Cho

Sophomore, Staff Writer

SIS hosts SEOMUN XX, leads global discussion on populism

Decked in black, girls basketball team managers Diane Lee (12) and Michelle Kim (12) gleefully hug the tiger, Diana Lee (12).

Photo by Ryan Jang

Students participate in Spirit Week

In the week of Nov. 13-17, HSSC hosted their annual Spirit Week, organized by freshman council. The week kicked off with Meme Monday, which replaced Monochrome Monday from last year, and culminated with Spirit Friday, which coincided with the first home game of the season.

“For Spirit Week, we had a photo booth set up for people to come and take pictures with their friends each day,” said Eddie Hahm (9), freshman council president. “We also had special activities prepared for a few of the days. We really tried to increase participation by promoting through social media, but we still had supplies prepared for people who forgot, such as masks on Meme Monday and face painting on Spirit Friday.”

Cindy Presse trains for full Ironman

An Ironman Triathlon, which is considered to be one of the hardest one-day sporting events, consists of a grueling 4km swim, 180km bike, and a full marathon (a 42.2km run). Cindy Presse, SIS Aquatics director, plans to compete in the coming Ironman race in July at Lake Placid, near Montreal. She competed in a Half Ironman this past summer in Muskoka, Ontario, and since then she has been trying to stay fit in order to prepare for her next race.

“There’s a couple things I’ve been doing to prepare,” said Ms. Presse. “First, I’ve been reading up. I got a few new books because I’m self-coaching myself a lot of disciplines and the books help me in creating my own program. Second, I’m just working on my building phase, setting monthly goals. My weakest link right now is cycling, so my focus for the fall was the cycling aspect.”

SIS teachers join Ultimate leagues

Ultimate Frisbee is a popular sport in the US that is steadily expanding its influence to Asia and beyond. Many Koreans have been caught up in the game recently, with many leagues being formed throughout the country.

Three high school teachers from SIS, who also happen to be frisbee enthusiasts, have joined the masses: Raymond Marangelo, David Coleman, and James Gerhard.

“In the States, there are many different Ultimate Frisbee leagues, especially in colleges,” said Dr. Gerhard, high school principal.

“The system here is pretty similar. There are leagues you can join if you sign up, and you are put into different teams after rating yourself on how good you are. There are usually four to eight teams in a league, and we participate in tournaments during the weekends.”

Hosting SEOMUN XX. advisors, delegates, and members of the Secreteriat from SIS actively engage in the conference.

Photos courtesy of Seoulite

On Nov. 10-12, SIS Model United Nations hosted the 20th SEOMUN conference at COEX. The conference, under the name of SEOMUN XX, drew more than 600 students from 25 schools.

These students participated as delegates by representing nations in one of the 14 committees. From SIS, six members of the Secretariat, eight chairs, 20 delegates, and three advisors participated.

“I think the response from the participating schools was overly positive,” said Jonathan Ames, MUN adviser. “I have not heard any negative comments on the quality of debate. In terms of the organizational aspects, I think it happened seamlessly. It could not have happened without the support of the Secretariat. Everyone had different responsibilities, and we had continuing communication. The planning required all members to help and aid each other.”

The Secretariat was composed of Nicholas Kim (12) as Secretary General, Andrew Ham (12) as Deputy Secretary General, Sky Park (12) as Deputy Secretary General, Michelle Ahn (11) as Administrative Director, Sophia Song (12) as Technology Director, and Amy Kim (11) as Design Director. Members of the Secretariat started planning for this vast conference in the spring of 2017.

They held meetings after school and also during MUN club meetings for the preparation of SEOMUN. “Global populism is topical because we seem to be retreating to what I thought were antiquated notions of nationalism,” said Mary Ghadimi, MUN adviser. “I think the most important aspect of our collective existence is our common humanity. While we’re all different, it’s our unity in diversity that matters. Through this conference, we hoped that delegates would realize this.

The theme guided delegates in their thinking and offered them a chance to reflect on the policies of the countries they represented.”

Each year, SEOMUN has a unique theme that serves as the focal point of each discussion. This year’s theme was ‘Global Populism and National Identity,’ a stark contrast from last year’s theme, ‘Embracing Diversity.’ This year, the United Nations Refugee Agency had the debate focus on promoting cross-border cooperation, which correlates with this theme. In addition, a guest speaker was invited to discuss this issue. Donovan Storey, the Deputy Director of Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), was invited to give a speech at the opening ceremony. His speech focused on how

the environment contributes to global populism and national identity.

“We wanted to make this year’s conference a bit more memorable because this year is SEOMUN’s 20th anniversary,” Sky said. “So we offered Korean cultural entertainment to alter the mood. Also, this conference’s agendas are being debated globally, so it was interesting to see how the debates worked out.”

SIS students also participated as delegates in SEOMUN XX. 21 delegates from SIS were spread out in 13 committees. Students from SIS started preparing for SEOMUN XX through the MUN club meetings that have taken place twice every week.

“I prepared for SEOMUN by thoroughly researching all three topics in my committee,” said Christopher Shin (9), MUN member. “I made good use of the tutoring system and was able to ask any question. Tutor answered all the questions I had regarding the complex rules of MUN. With the help of the MUN club meetings, I was able to participate in the conference and engage in the debate.”

By Chris Lee Sophomore, Staff Writer

Tiger Times

November 2017

President Trump cancels plans to visit the DMZ In times of escalating tensions between North Korea and the US, President Trump declared a possible visit to the demilitarized zone (DMZ) during his stay in South Korea from Nov. 7 to Nov. 8. Recently, the two nations displayed an increase of mutual negativity and tension, as demonstrated by their leaders’ fiery rhetoric toward each another and North Korea’s continuous missile testing near South Korean airspace despite firm warnings from the US government. However, on Oct. 31, the final decision was announced— President Trump would not be going to the DMZ. The DMZ, also known as the 38th Parallel, was created in 1953, and it has served as a zone to separate North and South Korea for the past 64 years.

As did President Obama in 2012, most US presidents since the Korean War have set foot on this particular region. However, President Trump broke the presidential custom by deciding that he would not visit the DMZ. “I believe that President Trump not going to the DMZ is a wiser choice

because his going there may amplify already existing tensions,” said Katie Lee (11), MUN member. “I was afraid that the direct visit to the DMZ would possibly encourage another missile testing from North Korea, or propel Trump into calling Kim Jong-eun “rocket man” or other derisive names, leading to greater conflicts between the two nations.”

In regards to President Trump’s canceled visit, a senior administration official replied that there have already been three US officials, Vice President Mike Pence, Defense Secretary James Mattis, and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, there recently, deeming the visit as “cliché” if President Trump were to go. The official added that there wouldn’t be enough time in the schedule for President Trump to visit the DMZ, as his stay in Korea is planned to be short.

Instead of making his intended visit to the DMZ, President Trump claimed that he would head to Camp Humphreys. President Trump’s new destination is a relatively recently constructed US Army Garrison

near Pyeongtaek. In response to the public’s questions regarding the change in plans, a senior administration official explained that President Trump would visit Camp Humphreys because he could reach out to US citizens there and accentuate the burden South Korea is undertaking in order to support its alliance with the US. “I suppose we should be thankful that President Trump didn’t cancel his South Korean visit altogether,” said Michelle Ganus, middle school social studies tecaher and high school Forensics coach. “I do believe that had the President chosen to not visit South Korea, it would have reflected negatively on the United States and possibly dampened the morale of the US troops that are stationed at Camp Humphreys. However, I’m not buying the statement that the President is trying to draw more positive light to South Korea’s role by choosing to visit Camp Humphreys instead of the DMZ.”

By Kirsten Huh Junior, Staff Writer

The More You Know

Guns cannot be “controlled” I will never forget the day I pikced up the call from my uncle telling me that he had been held at gunpoint by a policeman—in his own house, of all places. It was the first week of my summer vacation in the United States, and for the most part the quiet suburbs of Silver Spring, Maryland had received us foreigners with respect and acceptance.

As it turns out, someone in the neighborhood had called the police about a suspected burglar in the area. The cops arrived, began scouring the homes, and found their suspect—a middle-aged Asian man drinking his morning coffee and reading the newspaper next to an open window (of course this meant that he was suspicious; who drinks coffee and reads the newspaper in the morning?). In a matter of seconds, my uncle went from reading about the closing of the local laundromat to staring down the barrel of a gun, and in a matter of seconds I was introduced to the harsh reality of what “gun culture” really means in America.

The reality of gun violence is not fully encapsulated by the mass shootings that captivate media attention; most firearm crimes are concentrated in the everyday conflicts that fly under the radar,

those “crimes of passion” between friends, family, or strangers where the presence of a gun escalates a fight to a potential murder scene.

Of the 14,022 homicides America experienced in 2011, 11,101 were committed with firearms.

After a certain point (I suggest 80 percent), guns become the common denominator of all lethal crime, and therefore the issue on which to focus (rather than mental illness or even background checks).

The misconception with the current debate over gun control is that it assumes that legal ownership of a firearm is inherently good or acceptable—that somehow, if Mr. Responsible owns a gun it is a safe gun and not a gun that cannot be used in a violent crime. After every shooting, we also hear supposedly progressive commentators saying the same thing repeatedly: “we need more background checks.” To gun-ridden America, these measures sound fresh, radical, and therefore part of the solution. They are not.

Every time America compromises on gun control, it loses, because we can’t just ban Bump Stocks or semiautomatic weapons and assume that all the other types of firearms will just somehow disappear from the streets. We saw this

By Andrew Ham Senior, Co-Editor in Chief

in 1994 with the Federal Assault Weapons Ban, which specifically targeted semiautomatic assault weapons but failed to make a dent in gun violence for the next decade.

The explanation of this misconception is gun culture—the nationwide desensitization and acceptance of gun violence as a given, an uncontrollable epidemic that cannot be eradicated. The mere fact that we call it gun control, rather than gun eradication, is indicative of this self-defeating mindset, which is very troubling .

When we think of solving murder, we thinking of stopping it altogether, not controlling it.

What America needs for its gun problem is a sweeping ban on guns themselves, no conditions attached. Yes, it will be a monumental task to recollect all 253 million firearms in circulation; but a comprehensive and nationwide recollection program that enlists the supports of the States will be the only way America can stem the tide of gun violence and eventually eradicate it. We need to stop talking about gun control, we need to stop compromising on lives—it’s time for politicians and activists to begin talking about eradicating this disease from society.

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“The Wizard of Oz” reborn on SIS stage This year’s production was definitely special ... the cuteness factor was off the scale.

For this year’s annual school production, the drama department took on one of the most beloved musicals of all time, “The Wizard of Oz.” John Arthars, head of the drama department, is directed the production with Whitney Meininger and Michael Ganus, choir teacher and band teacher respectively. The cast, crew, and the full pit orchestra have been rehearsing on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and even Saturdays to get their performance polished and up to high standards. The official opening night was on Nov. 8, although there was a performance for the elementary school on Nov. 7 as well.

According to Mr. Arthars, the cast and crew worked tirelessly to create a performance that is as believable and captivating as possible.

“This year’s production was definitely special,” Mr. Arthars said. “Along with many middle and high school students, we also have 21 first graders playing munchkins this year, so the cuteness factor was off the scale. Also, we’ve worked really diligently and carefully on the sets and the costumes to make the Land of Oz come to life.”

As “The Wizard of Oz” is a particularly well-known musical among the student body, expectations for this year’s production were high. One of the lead roles, the Cowardly Lion, was played by Eddie Ko (11). Though he has performed in annual plays since he was in sixth grade, he found his experience in “The Wizard of Oz” to be special.

“I felt that this was definitely an awesome experience that I am so grateful for,” Eddie said. “This role—and this musical itself—has been interpreted in so many different versions. Most people know more or less what to expect, so it was up to me to meet those expectations as well as add my own touch to the character.”

In addition to the cast, another important piece of the production was the pit orchestra. Unlike in previous musical productions, in which piano were used for accompaniment, a full live orchestra provided music to the delight of the cast and directors. The orchestra, conducted and selected by Mr. Ganus, rehearsed separately until this week, when it joined the cast and crew for a full rehearsal. Although the members are all experienced members of ensembles, it is their first time participating in a pit orchestra. This served as a unique opportunity for both Mr. Ganus and the musicians.

“It’s one thing to learn the notes and rhythm, but it’s another thing to put it together with the acting and singing. So it’s fun, but challenging,” Mr. Ganus said. “I think it’ll be great, especially because it’s not canned music that never seems to start or stop right. I think it’ll be awesome when it’s live musicians; it gets more kids involved, and it makes it so much more of a student production.”

While the cast, crew, and orchestra are putting together their final pieces of the production, the rest of the student body is waiting with high hopes for Nov. 8, the opening night.

“I am always excited for the annual productions, and even more so this year because ‘The Wizard of Oz’ is a musical I already know and love,” Jaeho Hwang (10) said. “As much as I already know the show, I am extremely excited to see how the cast pulls it off in their own personal way. Hopefully their hard work will pay off.”

By Eju Ro Sophomore, Staff Writer

Layout by Young Jin Park

HARVEY WEINSTEIN

ROGER AILES

KEVIN SPACEY

the silence that screams Exploring innate societal pressures

By Ye Joon (Junie) Kah

There is a certain atmosphere of silence that women have to adhere to in society. Maintaining this silence is not a choice, but a necessity to survive the competitive malebased industries of Hollywood, government, and journalism. In these key industries, women who should be able to express their voices are limited by the societal gender imbalance.

Just two years ago, a notable case bolstering the legitimacy of this “rape culture” occurred in Stanford University, when Brock Turner, a student athlete at Stanford, raped another woman while she was intoxicated. This story then proceeded to spread in popular news outlets, not necessarily for the story itself, but for the sentence that followed the verdict: only six months of confinement, compared to the prosecutors’ recommendation for a six year sentence.

However, the case of Brock Turner is only the tip of the iceberg. The depth of this issue does not end with mere legal implications; it is significant because of the larger issue at hand—the unfortunate culture of violence that is being perpetrated in our society.

Similarly, recent allegations of sexual harassment against popular film producer and studio executive Harvey Weinstein have shocked the world, as the pervasiveness of sexual harassment within the Hollywood industry had not been meaningfully explored until this point in time. Unfor-

tunately, while Harvey Weinstein is the direct perpetrator of the schemes, the ubiquitous issue of victim blaming and being silent bystanders is what exacerbates the normative nature of sexual harrassment that stands today.

Only recently has the media been covering the full details regarding the different cases of sexual harassment.

With newspaper outlets being a major source for the flow of information, they play a crucial role as the mouths and ears for different groups. Thus, with people like Weinstein blocking the coverage of reports on sexual harassment and news outlets complying with such acts of censorship, the media plays a tacit role in propagating rape culture as well.

In addition to the media acting as a cork for the cases of sexual harassment, victim blaming is a common social phenomena that puts the guilt on the victims for being sexually assaulted. Recently, popular actress Mayim Bialik was accused of victim blaming after her opinion regarding the Harvey Weinstein case was published in a New York Times article. Bialik stated that “[she] do[esn]’t act flirtatiously with men as a policy,” in which she received severe criticism for being insensitive to the victims of Weinstein.

The implications of victim blaming extends further than the action itself—it is important to understand the true reasons behind why putting guilt on victims of sexual assault is inherently dangerous. Firstly, it exacerbates and

normalizes the existing social current that protects rapists, but most importantly, it removes the opportunity for women to speak out in these different industries.

Lastly, the silent bystanders, similar to the media, play a role in extending rape culture as those who know of the situation refuse to speak, meaning that no significant change can take place. In another famed instance, it was revealed that actor Matt Damon kept silent in midst of the Weinstein controversy, and even worked to coerce other women to not speak about the issue to the press.

The larger problem of silent bystanders is that even those who have a substantial amount of influence on society do not speak out, meaning it is virtually impossible to address the problems of sexual assault that need to be tackled.

However, a recent movement shows how there is hope in fighting back this forced silence—namely, the ‘Me Too’ movement that has been sparking on social media platforms combats this issue of silence, as many people have linked hands to express their disapproval against sexual harrassment and violence in all sectors of society.

The legal system has its inherent issues, but before these problems have even dared to settle, the social stigma and the unfortunate silence that is expected upon women points to the deeper issue of the present rape culture.

The structural silencing of victims of sexual abuse

By Chris Lee

In the wake of recent sexual allegations, the great number of familiar faces being accused of misconduct has shocked the public. The accused have tended to have several characteristics that can account for their fame: they are CEOs, television hosts, and tycoons who have established authority, power, and wealth for themselves. Rampant sexual misconduct among the wealthiest and most powerful broadly illustrates the role of systematic frameworks in dealing with sexual abuse, its legal remedy, and its discussion in the media. Three frameworks play the largest roles: major corporations, the legal system, and the media.

In many large corporations, which are traditionally male-dominated, there is a norm of turning a blind eye toward allegations of sexual violence. In several recent cases, corporations have neglected the formal complaints and well-substantiated allegations of sexual harassment. In other cases, the corporations have actively helped the perpetrators, often shielding powerful male employees from their female accusers. To take just one prominent example, several victims of Roger Ailes, the former CEO of Fox News, were fired or demoted as a result of approaching Fox News executives with accusations of harassment by Ailes. Reflection on past cases would tend to suggest that companies typically lend support to those in power by default without attempting to distinguish perpetrators from victims.

Corporate indifference has created a culture in which male employees engage in harassment and abuse of female employees with impunity. Men who have superior positions feel protected by their companies and act without fear of reprisal or exposure. Women, on the other hand, are silenced and subjugated. With their careers and jobs at stake, many choose to stay silent. This behavior is more clearly illustrated with accusers of Harvey Weinstein.

While it has apparently been known in the movie indus-

try that Weinstein has been involved in sexual misconduct for some time, victims have only recently begun to come forward. In coming forward so many years after the reported abuse, a great many victims have stated that they were wary of making accusations that risked amounting to nothing other than their own demotions or even dismissals. Such was especially the case because of Weinstein’s established dominance and influence in the industry.

Situations get increasingly complicated when victims attempt to seek redress from the justice system. In ideal conditions, the judicial system would be a haven for victims. In reality, women have little to no success in bringing their attackers before the scrutiny of a courtroom. According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), 994 perpetrators out of every 1000 are found not guilty.

According to RAINN’s analysis, perpetrators of sexual violence are less likely to go to jail than robbers and those who commit non-sexualized forms of assault.

Habitually, police decide not to refer cases of sexual assault to prosecutors. According to ABC News, this behavior seems to be attributable to two kinds of considerations. First, police enter an involuntary calculus of possible ramifications on the alleged perpetrator’s life. The perpetrator’s future and career may be severely damaged if he becomes involved in a sexual abuse case. Even if they are not found guilty, the perpetrators may be unable to recover from rumors, exaggerations, and libel. Thus, the police often decide not to report crimes for the sake of the perpetrator’s continued good reputation and social standing. Second, there is an unspoken skepticism towards women who report such behavior. Without letting the jury or judge decide, the police assume the role of interpreting the law and decide whether an arrest is indeed necessary and legitimate.

In addition to the characteristic skepticism of law enforcement officials, even the lawyers who are meant to help women often engage in re-victimizing them. In many cases, they first ask whether it is consensual or regret sex.

This and other, similar lines of questioning place undue pressure on the victims. Though possibly unintentional, this kind of questioning is, in reality, a legally sanctioned form of victim blaming. Women are thus discouraged and often shy away from seeking legal counsel.

Lastly, the media has an implicit structure that dictates how men and women are portrayed in society. Though often subtly, the media places a disproportionate spotlight on victims. As Jackson Katz, an educator on gender violence prevention and education, stated in a TED Talk, “We talk about how many women were raped last year, not about how many men raped women … So you can see how the use of the passive voice has a political effect. [It] shifts the focus off of men and boys and onto girls and women.”

Katz’s statement perfectly summarizes the role of media.

Through an implicit yet skewed presentation of the facts, the media also ends up discouraging women from coming forward, placing more pressure on victims than on perpetrators of sexual crimes.

Across several frameworks, the structures of corporations, behavior of the legal system, and bias of the media all stand in the way of achieving justice for victims of sexual abuse. Men are often allowed to escape without repercussions, while women have no alternative courses of action than to remain silently trapped in their own habitually imposed subservience. If society were to interrogate and ultimately dismantle such frameworks, however, this could possibly provide some hope of redress for victims.

8 LIFESTYLE

A taste of Boston: Emack & Bolio’s source: Flicking Myth

Thor: Ragnarok rocks our socks Thor: Ragnarok has everything a Marvel title should: the characteristic comedy, plenty of fabulous eye-candy, and an immersive world. However, it departs from the conventional, simple storyline of a hero’s journey that Marvel usually reinforces and focuses on the unique and surprising development of its main character: Thor.

As an heir to a kingdom from his birth, Thor is not a relatable hero. Nonetheless, he certainly has heroic qualities: he is powerful, righteous, and courageous. However, he seemed to have ulterior motives in previous Thor movies, and he was mostly portrayed as a dumb character that does not know how to use his power with purpose.

Thor takes a turn from a somewhat arrogant, not entirely likeable character to one that learns the importance of Asgard, his home kingdom. Thor learns to protect not just the place itself, but his people. Having a purpose in Thor’s actions makes Thor much more of a hero than a friendly dunce that happens to have superhuman powers.

The characters had solid lines and acting.

Thor, as a starter, was far more compelling in this story than the other characters, as he had a reason for fighting. While, like the other movies, Thor is kind of at times portrayed as a dumb character, he is much more capable in this film than in the others.

Another strong character is Valkyrie, one of the legendary female Asgardian warriors.

The movie portrays her as a powerful female character without forcing unnecessary discussions on feminism. Her lines bounce off of Thor’s harmoniously, and make her a very likeable character. Her past reasonably justifies her character and her power as a fighter while still being relevant to the story, unlike other instances when unnecessarily powerful individual that come out of nowhere.

Comedic aspects were present throughout the entire movie, from the very start when Thor was spinning around while the “villain” of the story was trying to talk to him, to all the way to the end credit scene when Thor and Loki basked in their success as an enormous ship rose right in front of them.

There are many parallels between Thor: Ragnarok and Gaurdians of the Galaxy. Both feature similar kinds of comedy, ragtag team dynamic, and even music. Overall, if you liked Guardians of the Galaxy, it is probable that Thor: Ragnarok would be enjoyable too.

However, Thor: Ragnarok, while good, had some flaws. One of these flaws that are present in many of the hero genre of movies is the Ex Machina phenomenon, when a character just becomes mysteriously powerful enough to fight against the foe that they were not supposed to be able to fight. There are also moments when sometimes the coincidences are too incredible, bizarre, and therefore a little unbelievable.

Despite such flaws, Thor: Ragnarok is an incredibly fun movie to watch. It is definitely not perfect, but it is also definitely an enjoyable movie that manages to appeal to a casual crowd by being purely entertaining, and at that, it excels.

By Young-Jin Park Sophomore, Staff Writer

E

ven from a block away, the green sign with “Emack and Bolio’s” in glowing purple letters is distinctly noticeable.

Commonly known as the “cereal cone ice cream place” among SIS students, Emack and Bolio’s has recently gained popularity, especially with the proliferation of videos by various Facebook food pages that showcase the extravagant ice cream cones of the new store.

Located in Garosu-gil, one of the most popular places to hang out in Gangnam, Emack and Bolio’s lies on a street with heavy daily traffic of young people. Even within Garosu-gil, its location next to near other popular restaurants like Emoi, Brooklyn The Burger Joint, and Aori Ramen adds to its appeal. As I did, many others may be willing to go to Emack and Bolio’s for dessert after having a nice meal nearby, especially as the weather gets colder in the winter and people do not want to walk long distances.

Upon entering the store, I was met by a large menu board and display of the various elaborate cones that can be chosen by the customers. There were high seats to sit in along the wall, but there was no large space where customers

JUKEBOX JEWELS DRESSES

BY DAW N K I M

could remain comfortably for a long time like there would be in a café. As people, myself included, usually like to be at dessert places or cafés where they can stay and converse with others for an extended period of time, Emack and Bolio’s did not seem like a place I would go to for such purposes. The walls were painted with cartoon drawings of ice cream and other objects that seem to fit the theme of the store. When placing my order at the counter, I had to decide whether I wanted to get a cone or a cup, what type of cone I wanted if I was getting a cone, how many scoops of ice cream, and what flavors I wanted.

The employee recommended that I get either a Fruit Loops Marsh “Mallow” cone or Coco Pops Marsh “Mallow” cone with Space Cake and Cake Batter ice cream. I got one scoop of Cake Batter ice cream in a Fruit Loops cone. My friends all got the Coco Pops cone and each got a different flavor of ice cream, Space Cake, Mudpie, and Salted Caramel Chocolate Pretzel, which allowed me to taste the many different flavors the store had to offer.

As soon as we ordered our ice cream, the employee began scooping big scoops

of ice cream onto large cones. I received my ice cream, and couldn’t be but surprised at the size and palatable visual of it. The Fruit Loops cone had many pieces of cereal tied together with each other and to the cone using marshmallow, and set perfect stage for the scoop of ice cream. The Cake Batter was unlike any other ice cream flavor that I have tasted, both in terms of its visual and taste.

The Mudpie had espresso bits in it, and indeed had a very strong coffee taste.

If I had to choose one ice cream flavor as my favorite, it would be Space Cake.

The cheesecake taste blended in with pieces of red velvet cake was truly phenomenal. I personally very much enjoyed the Fruit Loops cone, but both signature cones had tastes above expectations.

Having a bite of the ice cream and a bite of the cone, both which were made with special recipes, I could tell what differentiated Emack and Bolio’s from any other ice cream place in Korea. If you are ever at Garosu-gil, I recommend you try ice cream from Emack and Bolio’s: you will not regret it.

When I was nine years old, I experienced jetlag for the first time in my life. A little too late for the timetables of Seoul and too early for Michigan, I woke up in the early morning–3 or 4 a.m.–to a world covered in snow, from the tennis court to the pine trees. At that exact moment, everything was static and ethereal, as if I was living in a Tom Brown painting. Listening to “Frozen” by Dresses, the memories came flooding back.

Dresses was born in early 2012 when vocalist Timothy Heller discovered

fellow vocalist Jared Ryan Maldonado at a battle of the bands concert held by Maldonado’s high school. What started from a simple Facebook request soon budded into a formidable career for the Beverton, Oregon-based duo when their first album “Sun Shy” took off, paving way to achievements such as opening for English singer and actress Kate Nash in 2013, and having their song “Blew My Mind” featured on celebrity blogger Perez Hilton’s 2013 album “Perez Hilton Presents Pop Up #3.”

By Hannah Kim Junior, Staff Writer

Tiger Times November 2017

9

Weighing in on SIS faculty’s Biggest Loser contest

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aculty members at SIS have been embracing an active and health-conscious lifestyle for the past few years. Physical education teacher Ray Marangelo, Aquatics Director Cindy Presse, and Chinese teacher Angelika Lin have previously provided yoga classes for students and staff members. Throughout this year, many teachers have cultivated this pastime into a hobby by visiting a local yoga studio on a regular basis. The staff members have also found other means of exercise, including but not limited to tennis, running, biking, and swimming; however, the impact of participation in various sports can now be even more effective through the start of SIS’ very own Biggest Loser challenge.

“Dr. Shelby has a regular exercise routine through High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), and Ms. Presse has been training for months for the upcoming Iron Man competition,” said David Coleman,

coordinator for teaching and learning and a participant in the Biggest Loser contest.

“There are also large biking and yoga communities within the staff, so many members of the faculty are attentive and cautious about their health.”

In late September, high school counselor Chris Thomson suggested that the staff participate in a “Biggest Loser” contest together. “The Biggest Loser” is a famous American reality television series wherein overweight contestants compete to lose the greatest percentage of their body weight to win a large cash prize. Similar to the television show, around 10-15 staff members agreed to organize the contest and pitched in to create a considerable monetary prize.

After ten weeks of dieting, cash rewards will be given to the top three participants.

The initial weigh in was recorded on the first week after Chuseok break. Contestants have continued to record their weekly progress since then.

“I knew of the American TV show before and how the competition is structured, so I am not necessarily creating anything new,” said Mr. Thomson, the high school counselor. “But at my previous school [that I taught at], we did something similar to the show, so I thought the staff at SIS would also be interested in participating with me.”

A number of teachers who sought to begin a healthier daily routine were encouraged to join this contest by other teachers and the overall healthconscious community within the staff.

From decreasing their food portions to incorporating cardio into their exercise routines, the contestants are now on the road to attaining a healthier lifestyle.

Because of this competition, many teachers have become much more cognizant of their diet and exercise. Teachers who are not in the competition are also continuing to support their fellow colleagues through

this difficult journey.

“Even though I am not in the competition, I would still strongly advise the teachers to set goals more set to their physical activity and diet rather than just the numbers on the scale,” said Ms. Presse, physical education teacher. “It should not just be about losing weight and achieving that goal, but about making a change in lifestyle and maintaining a healthy routine, and I really hope that will motivate them after the competition, regardless of winning or losing.”

As the finish line of Dec. 15 looms closer and closer with each passing day, teachers are determined to maintain their fitness journey until the end of the competition and even afterwards. The staff has been and will continue to support each other and promote a healthy lifestyle.

By Jocelyn Lee Junior, Staff Writer

Seoul Fashion Week challenges traditional norms

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rom Oct. 16 to 21, the Hera Seoul Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2018 took place at Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP). Fashion designers, models, tourists, and Koreans interested in fashion attended this spectacle. However uncommon it is to see great masses of people with unique and innovative clothing that follow the newest fashion trends in Seoul, for the expanse of a week, the Korean public was able to observe and experience a collection of the newest fashion phenomena.

The three prominent concepts of this fashion week were genderless generation, modern traditional, and street wear funk.

The first theme strove to tackle the conventional clothing of men and women by presenting models with clothes that hid body features through masks or loose dresses.

In contrast to the first idea of challenging cultural norms, the theme of modern traditional embraced a collaboration of modern and traditional Korean fashion.

This look showcased models dressed in classic, chic dresses with jipshin, traditional Korean sandals. The third concept emphasized the youth street culture of Seoul, combining young and casual looks. Models were dressed in comfortable clothing such

As bright as their start was, Dresses had an especially ambiguous ending. Despite releasing their second and final album, “Let Down” merely a year ago, promotion for the album is nowhere to be seen.

Any articles and interviews featuring “Sun Shy” as well as the duo’s romantic relationship are dated back to 2013 or 2014. The duo produced four singles, two albums, and one EP before they mysteriously disbanded sometime around 2016 or 2017. A casual sweep of the internet yields very little intel on the band’s activities

as sweatshirts and sneakers from popular brands.

“I formed a stronger sense of respect towards the designers after the show,” said Madison Hong (11), a student at Seoul Foreign School (SFS). “I was amazed at how they thought of such unique and interesting themes. I especially liked the theme of genderless generation because it challenged conventions. In past fashion shows, women wore revealing, tight clothes to show their femininity, but this show displayed the total opposite look. This theme directly expressed the designers’ disapproval of gender norms, and I have to say I grew more supportive of the designers of this theme. This is the first time that I was able to connect with not only the clothing but also the designers themselves.”

While there was a continuation of similar trends from previous fashion weeks, ranging from kid models to street style looks, this particular event also introduced creative endeavors. It presented the first Black Asian models in Korea, such as Han Hyun-min, a 16-year-old Korean-Nigerian model. This venture was a stark break from tradition, as a predominant mass of Korean and European models typically walk fashion shows. Of the attendees at the

or achievements. Even now, the band has no offical website or Wikipedia page. A Twitter account for the band existed until April 2015, before it was deleted with no clear explanation. All that remains active is Heller’s Twitter account, active and busy with promotion for her new solo project. Sandwiched between links to Teen Vogue articles and Spotify screencaps, Heller posts anecdotes of past emotional abuse and Zoloft use, leading fans to a prevailing theory that Maldonado and Heller’s relationship may have been emotionally

fashion week, an interesting trend was the rise of twinning. Increasing numbers of people, whether among families, friends, or couples, began to dress in clothes with similar patterns, fabric, or colors. As a result of these innovative fashion trends, expectations are heightening for the next fashion week.

“I really enjoyed this fashion week, especially because it took on a whole new style,” said Bonny Minn (11). “I liked that there were Black Asian models in the show; I got a stronger feeling that the Korean culture was becoming more accepting towards people of other races. Also, I now have a totally different view towards twinning after going to the fashion week—in the past, I used to think that wearing twinning clothes was bizarre. I never thought it was an appealing look, but the attendees at the fashion show changed my thought. They introduced me this trend that I someday want to try out with my friends; it would be interesting to wear similar style skirts and matching hats with them. If there are twin days at school in the future, I will definitely dress up with my friends.”

By Kirsten Huh Junior, Staff writer

abusive as much as it was romantic.

Dresses’s discography is best described as a depressed cousin of a Seafret and Savoir Adore lovechild. Heller’s frank, candid lyricism is supported by the band’s varied use of instruments, providing a prosaic atmosphere unique to each song.

Lighter picks such as “Painting Roses” and “Blew My Mind” feature stereotypical yet pleasant ukelele and guitar riffs, while calmer selections such as “Friends are Dead” and “Frozen” opt for bass and drum riffs that sound considerably roomier.

Topped with Heller and Maldonado’s vocals, Dresses presents a well-constructed assortment of songs perfect for fits of frustration and surges of elation alike.

Though Dresses ended on an ambivalent note, one thing about their music is certain: rain or shine, fatigue or hyperactivity, Dresses provides a nice dose of music to reassure and reaffirm its listeners on particularly rainy days. On days that require an extra kick to get out of bed, turn to Dresses on Melon, YouTube, and Spotify for a warm, fuzzy respite.

10 SPORTS

Health consciousness increasingly defines SIS lifestyle

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Listening to Mr. Shelby give lessons in the fitness center, Ms. Conant rows passionately during a teacher workout lesson on Nov. 9.

Photo by Lauren Kang

ealth consciousness has recently expanded at SIS, especially among the teachers. Understanding their own bodies and healthy alternatives to their present lifestyles, the teachers have become more sensitive to their choices. It takes more than awareness, however, to maintain one’s physical and mental health. Numerous teachers have taken action to bring about a healthy change to their own lifestyles. Some of their health-promoting activities include working out weekly, transforming dietary choices, and participating in programs.

“It is much easier to put on weight as you get older and it is harder to stay fit,” said Patrick Young, English teacher. “Therefore, [the teachers] have to come up with ways to become healthier and fitter. I think everybody realizes now that you have to eat healthy, otherwise the evidence is very clear of what will happen in the future. Fortunately, I think most have realized this and are moving toward a better, longer future for themselves.”

Teachers are attempting to improve their dietary choices by incorporating vegan alternatives.

A whole food service named “Sprout” delivers vegan food to teachers’ apartments. Through this new service, teachers who are unable to leave the school’s proximity are now able to access diverse options. This has succeeded in providing solutions for busy teachers who desire to eat healthier meals.

“Everything has changed. Veganism has transformed my life by making me feel better,” said Jessica Terbrueggen, English teacher. “I do not get tired as often because I do not have a lot

of fat and heavy food within my body. Health consciousness is an important issue that I have come to focus on, and the fact that others are as well empowers me.”

Teachers are also integrating exercises and workout routine into their daily lives. Those who share a common interest in a particular activity have formed weekly meetings, helping teachers add some discipline and regularity to their regimens. Every Thursday, for example, a number of teachers lace their basketball shoes to partake in a scrimmage, while others roam the streets of Seoul, either on their bikes or by foot. In addition, teachers often participate in various sports events. James Gerhard, high school principal, participated in the DMZ Peace Marathon held in September in order to encourage a healthy lifestyle of regular exercise. Such effort has allowed them to become role models for others striving to develop healthier daily routines.

“Last spring, I planned on participating in a 5K race for the SIS teachers triathlon,” said Kendall Sadler, English teacher. “It was just one of the things I was doing in order to get fit and become healthier. To prepare for the race I started watching online Yoga YouTube videos.

Yoga makes me feel much better, and you are just moving your body in a way that makes you feel different. I like how yoga makes me feel mentally and physically as well. It feels like things that are trapped inside kind of get let out. Hopefully, this is applicable to all others who wish to form healthier habits as a whole.”

By Claire Lee Sophomore, Staff Writer

Basketball and cheer seasons open with intensive tryouts

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s the fall season comes to an end, a new season awaits for athletes participating in winter sports.

This transition opens up a new opportunity of great potential and anticipation for both coaches and players hoping to join the basketball or cheerleading team.

Whether it is in the form of strategic planning or heated competition, a considerable amount of dedication comes from the teams to contribute to a dynamic season each year.

“Our goal for this season has not changed,” said Tim Munro, varsity boys basketball coach. “For basketball, and all competitive sports, the ultimate objective is to win. But what is more important is to know at the end of the season that we were better than when we started—I just want the players to walk off thinking that they have accomplished the best that they could.”

Basketball team tryouts were held on the first week of November. Players had been preparing for the upcoming season by attending pre-season open gyms, which focused on further honing the skills necessary in a game, such as shooting, passing, and dribbling. During the two days of tryouts, athletes would exert their maximum efforts into showcasing the same skills amidst the competitive atmosphere.

According to Coach Munro, these athletic abilities were part of the criteria that were assessed during the tryouts, along with teamwork and game savvy. Though the wide range of talents and the large body of competition made the selection process difficult, the coaches were determined to construct balanced rosters that would benefit the whole team in the end.

“Each member of the team has a different role, a different job that has to be fulfilled to the best of their ability,” said Chris

Koester, varsity girls basketball coach.

“With all the players giving up themselves to make the team better, we can continue to play hard to our maximum abilities, and get the most out of it. Ultimately, though there will be both good things and bad things happening on the court, the idea is to remain positive, and to understand that we make mistakes but fix them and move on.”

On the other side, tryouts for the cheerleading teams were also held on Nov. 7. Athletes were encouraged to attend the clinic through Nov. 1-3 to get a head start on the season and show dedication to the team.

With the main goal of cheerleading being to motivate players, both coordination and enthusiasm make up the key components of maintaining the spirit of the teams. To ensure a successful season, the cheerleaders focused on building individual abilities as well as chemistry among the team

members.

“For this year’s cheerleading team, I am excited about all the advanced skill sets that we will be able to develop through the season,” said Yunah Han (12), varsity cheerleader. “Since we hosted a lot of preseasons this year, we were really able to work on building stronger fundamentals and team conditioning. Not only that, but based on previous experiences, forming bonds with the underclassmen will also contribute a lot to having good team spirit.” With the combination of individual talents, team cooperation, and effective execution of strategies, prospective results are forthcoming for the winter season. As SIS tigers, the teams will once again represent our school to continue the legacies of previous years.

By Sia Cho Sophomore, Staff Writer

Tiger Times

November 2017

11

Unexpected string of injuries hampers NBA players

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pirits were high in the season opener between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Boston Celtics: the Celtics were debuting their star acquisitions, Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward, the Cavs were looking for their first win as they continued their Eastern Conference dominance, and the NBA was expecting high viewership and quick cash.

Five minutes in, Irving, spotting Hayward cutting in from the right, threw up and alley-oop for the former Utah forward to finish. Instead, Hayward collided midair with LeBron James, landed awkwardly on his left foot, and dislocated his left ankle and fractured his left tibia. Stunned fans and players watched on in shock, wincing at the grotesque injury, the first of many that came in the season’s first few weeks.

“It was bad, one of the grossest injuries I have ever seen,” said James Fischer, English teacher.

“And yet, I couldn’t stop re-watching the video over and over again. It was probably morbid curiosity, the shock about how something like this could happen.”

Jeremy Lin was ruled out for the season after hurting his knees, Chris Paul exacerbated earlier injuries in his first game with the Houston Rockets, Kawhi Leonard is still recuperating, Milos Teodosic strained himself in the first week, Nicolas Batum tore a ligament in his left arm, Nikola Mirotic suffered a concussions and fractures to his face after a scuffle with teammate Bobby Portis, and Larry Nance Jr. Injured himself a month later. Yet, some of the teams were able to adapt to the injuries. For example, in the Celtics, both Kyrie Irving and Jayson Tatum are carrying the load, James Harden is carrying the team at the

SPORTS PHOTO OF THE MONTH

Houston Rockets, and D’Angelo Russell is leading the Brooklyn Nets. Still, other teams like the Chicago Bulls is being seriously hampered by this string of injuries.

“It’s very unfortunate that so many players got injured either before or in the beginning of the season,” said Andrew Lee (12), starting small forward for the varsity boy’s basketball team.

“Players like Gordon Hayward and Jeremy Lin had high hopes for this upcoming season and they had trained very hard during the summer to make a big impact this season. It’s a relief, however, that most teams are still playing very well.”

Though injuries are common in the NBA where physical contacts between players occur on a daily basis, many speculate that recent changes in the league’s schedule are the culprits behind these recent injury woes. The 2017-2018 season began 10 days earlier than in previous seasons, which commissioner Adam Silver explained as a way to spread out all 82 games in the season over a longer period of time in order to provide players sufficient time to rest and recuperate. Instead, the abrupt start of the season hindered many players’ abilities to get in shape during the off- season in preparation.

“I think one of the main reasons that so many injuries are happening is because the NBA season started extremely early,” said Eugene Chung (12), basketball fan. “Many players should get the rest that they not only deserve but also need because the sport is very strenuous. Without rest, injuries are prone.”

By Justin Chang Senior, Staff Writer

Leading the offense, Andrew Lee (12) dribbles the ball up the court in the season opener against SFS.

Photo courtesy of Yujin Lim

Houston Astros crowned MLB World Series champions

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he 2017 Major League Baseball World Series kicked off on Oct. 24 with the first game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Houston Astros. The games marked an end to the post-season, a grueling race to the top between the best teams in the country. Through these battles, the Dodgers emerged as champions of the National League (NL), while the Astros were crowned victors of the American League (AL).

Both teams were considered serious contenders to the throne even before the start of the regular season. The Dodgers have been post-season regulars for quite some time, and critics predicted this year would be no different. Many sports critics also had high hopes for the Astros, given that the

team finally had a stellar lineup after years of rebuilding. Thus, it was not surprising to watch the two teams breeze past the different rounds of the tournament and meet each other at the top.

The Dodgers took the first win, defeating Houston 3-1 through Clayton Kershaw’s phenomenal pitching. The Astros then redeemed themselves by taking the next two wins, including the grueling 2 nd game in which five homeruns were hit during overtime. The Dodgers tied it up in Game 4, but the Astros then pulled ahead by winning Game 5, another intense game that extended into extra innings. An explosion of hits and homeruns, Game 5 ended in a 13:12 win for the Astros, an unusually high scoreboard for a World Series game. Houston

now had only on game left to win, but the Dodgers pitchers and batters executed their plays calmly in Game 6, taking the game 3:1 and tying the series once again.

It all came down to Game 7, which was played at the Dodger Stadium. The Astros came out strong early in the 1 st inning and recorded two points, aided by an error from Dodgers outfielder Cody Bellinger. They were able to pull ahead in the 2 nd with a two-run homerun from George Springer and a hit from Brian McCann, leading 5-0.

From there on, it was an easy closeout for the Astros. The Dodgers scored one point in the 6 th inning, but were unable to use that momentum to catch up. Subsequently, the Astros were crowned World Series hampions, with Springer winning the World

Series MVP Award.

“I thought the World Series this year was impressive,” said Paul Kim (10), a Dodgers fan. “Firstly, both the Dodgers and the Astros gained star pitchers in the trade deadline, so I was really curious to see how that would play out as a butterfly effect. In general, it was just a really exciting series of matches, and there’s so much to talk about.

I guess a few highlights are the 8 homeruns hit in Game 2, star players such as Kershaw and Cody Bellinger having great performances, and Game 5, which was then best game of offense you could ask for in a WS game.”

By Fiona Cho Sophomore, Staff Writer

12

SMALL TALK

Yearbook quotes by philosophers

By Diana Na Kyoung Lee Each November, in a small, self-contained coming-of-age ceremony of sorts, each senior selects a quote of 155 characters or less to represent them in records for years to come in the last yearbook of their high school career. Philosophers, unsurprisingly, are one of the most popular sources of these short and sweet nuggets of wisdom. Yet behind the soundbite often lies a greater torrent of contemplation and anguish. In this issue and the next, we will explore the yearbook-worthy stories behind the most commonly quoted words of the wise.

“I think, therefore I am.” -Rene Descartes If you see yourself as an intellectual who navigates life with a healthy dose of scepticism--and is haunted by the occasional nightmares about an evil demon watching from under your bed--this is the quote for you. An English translation of “cogito ergo sum,” this quote is the bedrock upon which Descartes stands within an outstretched sea of doubt.

In his Meditations, Descartes embarks on a great journey of Cartesian scepticism--or exaggerated scepticism--in order to discern what exactly he may wholeheartedly believe in, without a doubt, knowing that our senses and intuition may sometimes

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deceive us. In order to do so, Descartes sets a gripping premise: an Evil Demon of supreme power reigns over us, and it has the power to generate illusions of almost inconceivable scales. “The sky, the air, the earth, colours, shapes, sounds” are all just dreams whipped up by the Evil Demon. When we have negated the existence of both our corporeal body and our sensory perceptions, what is left?

Must we also negate our very existence?

This is where Descartes finds hope. For the Evil Demon to deceive us into thinking we are nothing, we still must be something. The Demon cannot trick us into thinking we are something, because otherwise, there would not have been anything for it to mislead. Thus, in the moment in which we are thinking that we are something, we can know with untainted certainty that we exist: cogito, ergo sum.

“The unexamined life is not worth living.” -Socrates While this quote is meant to be interpreted quite literally, the stakes behind Socrates’ assertion is often downplayed to make it seem as if it were one of his casual musings. This is not Socrates suggesting that we add self-reflection into our morning routine, after herbal tea and Sun Salutations; as Plato records it,

Local senior struggles with senioritis squared

Most Read, Most Trusted After the conclusion of the 2017 college application cycle, there have been increased reports of senioritis on senioritis. An increasing number of seniors have called in “sick,” “dead,” or “both.” Yet the rise of a new disease has been reported at alarming numbers—senioritis on senioritis, or senioritis squared as the scientific community has christened the disease.

The disease causes an increase in guilt-trip hormone levels, leading seniors to display symptoms characteristically opposed to the regular symptoms of senioritis, the seasonal disease that strikes after the application season is over. The original disease involves a drastic decrease in the will to live, general lack of productivity, and a desire that pulls students to their bed instead of their desk. But patients of senioritis squared express an increase in guilty emotions, that actually lead to an increase in productivity.

Reporters of Faux News went to Class, a clinic for senioritis squared patients. There was a small crowd, with one or two students missing.

We conducted an interview with a senior who wished to remain anonymous.

Hello, Mr. Senior. Let’s first talk about potential causes. What do you think has caused this new disease to spread amongst the student popula-

this is Socrates grinding his heels into the earth after the jury has already sentenced him to death--as he explains why it would be meaningless for him to ask for exile, for he would be subjected to the same backlash regardless of the place. “Perhaps someone might say: But Socrates, if you leave us will you not be able to leave quietly, without talking?,” he says.

“Now this is the most difficult point on which to convince some of you.”

Socrates has literally decided that the unexamined, unquestioned, unphilosophized life is not worth living; he signed his proposition in hemlock ink.

Fortunately, philosophy did not die with Socrates; it lived on with his pupils and their own, and with self-taught curious souls, and with inquisitive, cynical, idealistic, rational, utilitarian, existentialist--and casual--philosophers, for generations on end, like an infinite blossom tumbling forth into the unknown.

We don’t need to have been gifted with Socrates’ intellect or courage to refuse a life unexamined. We must simply share his curiosity.

Next issue, we’ll open with Friedrich Nietzsche’s “If you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss also gazes into you.” And we’ll end with my farewell to Idealog.

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tion? ”I am permanantely concerned about my own productivity. Ever since freshman year, I was always followed by the ghost of homework past, of the tests future, and not having my ghoul-friends nearby after I finished writing my apps made me anxious and lonely. So instead of ignoring them, like most patients of senioritis would, I’ve decided to embrace the darkness.”

Why not just make new friends?

“I’m a senior. I don’t make new friends.”

Do you still have priorities?

“My distinct lack of trust in other people, resulting from four years of seniors who have given up work post-November 15th, means that everything is a priority for me.”

But what about all the people complaining that seniors have given up?

“Just because my attitude has turned less friendly and more utilitarian doesn’t mean I’ve given up—I just feel a less distinct need to suck up to people as much.

Frankly, I feel much better not having to smile at people I dislike all the time.”

Thank you for your time.

“Thank you for your journalistic integrity.” The senior smiled.

BY JOYCE LEE

Giving thanks, Jeffrey Ann (11) observes the display staged by Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) in the atrium.

Photo by Ryan Jang