Tiger Times VO L U M E 4 9 | D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 7 | I S S U E 5 | T T O N L . O RG
12.15 8.14 Last Day of First Day of Semester 1 Semester 1
10.18 Fall Season Pep Rally
10.19 Fall Season AISA
11.8-9 Annual Production “Wizard of Oz”
9.23 11.10-12 SIS hosts SEOMUN XX
Family Fun Day
SEMESTER IN REVIEW
Editorial Attention! Attention!
By Andrew Ham and Diana Nakyoung Lee Co-Editors-in-Chief The loudspeaker exhorted the crowd to cheer, to applaud, to make some noise, and the crowd remained quiet. Surrounded by stone-faced students more interested in talking to each other than watching the Pep Rally, we felt nervous about doing anything to demonstrate school spirit—and we, along with many others, have felt this way about so many “school spirit” events for so long. Many articles, teachers, and HSSC representatives discussed this idea of SIS “lacking school spirit” in the four years we have been in high school. However, after becoming the oldest students in the school, we have come to realize that there may be another, quieter factor at play: younger students may be more afraid to express themselves and participate in these events because of the oppressive age hierarchy that prevents them from “acting out.” Part of the age hierarchy culture at SIS is that younger students are expected to fall in line and avoid being gwanjongs, or attention-seekers. What this creates is an environment where students, especially freshmen and sophomores, are afraid to dress up during Spirit Week because they don’t want to be judged by upperclassmen. We never realized the extent to which this problem pervades our school before we became seniors. It is irresponsible to make sweeping generalizations and say that SIS students are such a special breed of high schoolers who are especially lacking in school spirit. From our observations, the toxic expectations that compel students to fit the mold and live modestly rather dictate our student body’s unwillingness to participate in such events. Once one senior derides a freshman for being too outgoing, too loud, too gwanjong, it prevents others from joining in; the social costs outweigh the perceived benefits. Only as we prepare to leave has it really hit us that in the end, individuals are accountable for both cultivating and displaying communal spirit and pride. In many ways, we hold in our hands the means with which to amend and add to the SIS narrative; we can change what four years at SIS entails for our peers and staff. While we are happy that our classmates have planted and nursed so many seeds for future growth—pep rallies and barbecues, gardens of gratitude and Just 4 You concerts—we cannot help but think that in occupying ourselves with building infrastructure, we lost sight of the human element. In growing up, gazes aimed far off at university campuses and beyond, we grabbed onto the higher rungs of our hierarchical culture and left behind the ability to empathize: to remember how intimidating it was for us, at the start of it all. While we are happy and grateful for our class’ many contributions, we cannot help but admit that we have failed to steward our community into one where both freshmen and sophomores feel comfortable being bold on game days, taking chances and enjoying festivities to their hearts’ content, celebrating openly the people and memories they will find here and carry on as invaluable gifts. It may be too late for us to say, but we still have a semester left; we want our underclassmen to understand—don’t be afraid to spray your hair pink, wear your fluffiest pants on Pajama Day, deck yourselves in orange and black, run with that crazy Halloween idea. We will try our best to cap our chapter with a different ending. Write yours with all the colors we were too afraid to try.
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 President Trump’s visit to Korea means
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ince President Trump’s inauguration, many uncertainties have surrounded his administration—especially regarding how it will conduct foreign policy during his presidency. The jingoism that came from Trump over the course of his campaign and the early months of his presidency undoubtedly caused anxiety for many Asian allies of the US, including Korea. In this respect, Trump’s recent visit to Korea symbolizes a relatively rational approach he seems to be taking on foreign policy, contrary to his belligerent rhetoric. This may be something that the international crowd should be cheering for, but judging from Trump’s behavior thus far, such may only be a temporary fanciful illusion devised by Trump. As Trump toured Asia, the world’s attention was focused on how he would address the many controversial issues surrounding North Korea, Russian involvement in the 2016 presidential election, and the US’s relationship with China. Going against concerns raised regarding how Trump will approach such issues, the president’s demeanor was refined and polite. Unlike his previous statements of putting “America first” in his foreign policy outlook, he reflected a win-win approach to US relations with many Asian countries on this tour. South Korea was particularly met
with surprise by Trump’s very pleasant speech at the national parliament. Overall, Trump showed a strange amount of praise, particularly emphasizing the strong alliance between the two countries. If Trump was so polite and enthusiastic on this trip as we always wished for him to be, why is this a problem? What we must keep in mind is that if this were any other president visiting Korea, the Korean public would not have analyzed his every action with such scrutiny. Yet Trump’s visit and conduct holds exceptional significance as it portrays such a radical shift from his initial approach to Korea and the US’s other allies in Asia. At this point, the president has already shown such types of unpredictable behavior far too often. Yes, he may have an unconventional presence in the political scene both domestically and internationally through his notoriously active Twitter account, but such presence does and should not condone the unacceptable conduct he has shown thus far, from misogynistic remarks to the support he has shown for policies that marginalize minorities and immigrants. All Trump’s visit to Korea shows is that once again, he can paint a facade for the international community. This ability has dangerous implications. As Trump is a politician more than capable of changing his stance on critical issues that face
the world today, this leaves the US as an indecisive actor in the scope of international relations. Nothing Trump does should be taken as having greater implications. His rhetoric and content are shortsighted to serve their purposes, whether that be winning over voters or fostering support from foreign countries. If Trump moves forth with the America-first attitude he initially showed, the security of Korean citizens will most likely be threatened. This was made clear by the dangerous lines of rhetoric exchanged between Trump and Kim Jong-un and the resultant escalation of tension in the region. Trump has shown that he is willing to risk the safety of Koreans for the sake of US national interest. This comes into stark contrast with the blissful ignorance with which Trump approached this topic on his Asia tour. We should not be clapping our hands just because Trump’s speech went successfully as scripted. It shows nothing other than the fact that the US government has clear interests in maintaining its strong alliance with South Korea, which was a given. Rather, amid such necessity to strengthen ties, an unexpected factor has entered the equation: Donald Trump. By Hannah Kim Junior, Staff Writer
Free speech, free hate: homophobia in the hallways Day in, day out. The busy lives that SIS students experience with the same people they have known for years makes it easy to disregard the words carelessly thrown around on a day-to-day basis. Hearing “that’s gay” no longer strikes an uncomfortable chord; such phrases, in both Korean and English are as mundane as a “hello.” The idea of an LGBT community itself feels no more relevant than an article about the Pride Parade that happens to pop up on Facebook feeds. For many students, the small rainbow “Safe Space” signs stuck on classroom doors with tape signify no more than mere decorations—a sentiment that may even resonate with staff, with some teachers commenting that they “really do not understand the point of the signs.” Though such aspersions ring in the hallways on a daily basis, students fail to recognize the immediate consequences of their actions. After all, it is hard to feel the implications of an expletive aimed at a relative minority in a homogeneous population of Korean-American teenagers. Not only do most of us lack shared experiences that culturally incriminates a word, but also choose not to modify our actions when we are criticized for our insensitive behavior. However, part of the blame goes on the so-called “allies,” who cease their criticism after one try because they are not rewarded with immediate change. After all, could there possibly be a chance that students at SIS could be anything but cisgender and hetero-
sexual? Of course. The lack of student protests for unisex restrooms does not equate to a lack of genderfluid, nonbinary students. The lack of openly homosexual couples does not equate to a lack of homosexual or bisexual students. An LGBT community exists at SIS, and they do not deserve to be ignored. Imagine a student cast out by their peers. Their words are ignored and silenced by others. Their textbooks are thrown away and they are verbally harassed on the way to class. Though active participation in the abuse and watching it happen are two different things, both perpetuate the plight of the victim. According to Psychology Today, the “bystander effect” occurs when the individuals choose to not interfere in a situation due to the societal pressures of the majority. By refusing to correct one’s ingrained bias, and assuming that repeated criticism will not take its effect, we are all galvanizing the bystander effect. Constantly hearing “that’s gay”
and letting it slide perpetuates an environment where LGBT individuals are not welcomed. If SIS students are “Global Citizens,” would the entire population fit a stereotype? Change cannot occur overnight. However, contributing to the bystander effect only accumulates animosity among the student body. The walls of prejudice, neglect, and eventual alienation cannot be broken down until they are recognized and addressed as a barrier. The community of peers on the other side deserve the same respect as any other individual does. So protect student voices. Protect teachers’ voices. Speak out for them—because for them, the Day of Silence might be years upon years of silence otherwise. Become their voices, so that they can join in without having to single themselves out, without having to brand themselves as being “different.” By Dawn Kim and Eju Ro Junior and Sophomore, Staff Writers
Tiger Times
December 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
Sia Cho Kirsten Huh Andie Kim Andrea Kwon Hannah Kim Chris Lee Kate Lee Eju Ro Andy Yoon
Graphics Artists Jina Kim Youngseo Jhe Photographers Angela Choe Lauren Kang Jocelyn Lee Reporters Michelle Ahn Fiona Cho
Adviser Mr. David Coleman
Viewpoint Feature: How can we address a culture that wastes both material and personal resources?
In a sea of opportunities, waste reigns supreme
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IS students care so much, and so little at the same time. We obsess over grades, yet often pay little attention to the state of the place at which we spend the majority of our time. The wasting of resources is one such area that is often disregarded within the student community, and it clearly demonstrates the lack of consideration we have for our surrounding environment. In an unsympathetic manner, many of us try to shy away from the problem, adopting an attitude of aloof indifference. Such is the very attitude we must change in order to build a stronger sense of community within and throughout SIS. The deeper issue with this type of behavior is that when we waste resources we act like a third-party that is entirely disconnected from the school community, when in reality, we are both the perpetrators and the victims. The wasting of resources comes in many forms: aside from the obvious example of school supplies, many of us waste intangible resources such as time and relationships with other people. Although we have an abundance of chances to make satisfactory use of such tools through the inherent privilege of being here at SIS, several of us often choose not to, regardless of whether these resources are material or intangible. I think it is safe to say that, as a whole, we are cognizant of the excessive use of material resources, such as paper, school supplies, and the heating/cooling system. Many students fail to take a couple extra seconds to check if their settings are set to
print double-sided, and end up with a 20page packet instead of 10. Furthermore, we often don’t make use of the recycling bins in our school; while these special containers exist in virtually every classroom, most students fail to utilize them and throw away all sorts of trash in areas that are not meant for recycling. These recycling bins give students an opportunity to easily and conveniently do their share, yet the bins are often ignored and seem to lack purpose within the school community. In a similar vein, resources such as time, space, and relationships at SIS are also being “wasted.” For instance, students are often encouraged to drop by teachers’ classrooms during office hours and activity period if they need extra help on their studies and assignments. Teachers dedicate both their time and classroom space to these extra, formative learning experiences, but their dedication is often not fully appreciated or respected by the student community at large. Many do not take advantage of these opportunities, often citing the common excuse that they are too busy with other work like projects or test prep during free periods. We also use this excuse that we are “too busy” to do anything other than work dedicated to studying and school when we are presented the opportunity to spend time with our family. Personally, when my parents ask if I want to go out for dinner or hang out on weekends, I usually respond by saying that I need to study for a test next week or catch up on homework due the next day. Even when I may not have an
assignment coming up, I have gotten into the habit of forgoing the “fun” that I deem time-wasting and occupying myself with “productive” activities instead. However, proper prioritizing means balancing academic life with personal affairs, and often the family time we neglect could be enjoyed if we used our class time more wisely. Perhaps the most common example of waste can be observed within in the classroom. Take a careful look around in your classes, and you may come across a student or two scrolling through their Facebook feed, watching YouTube videos, or studying for a test the following period—all actions that distract them from staying on task and making full use of their class time. The use of social media during class is to be expected, but these students, myself included, often do not think about these actions, their intentions, and the long term consequences that may result. Again, this type of behavior is not inherently bad, but it represents an attitude and a lack of focus that lead to mindless waste, in this and other areas. It may be surprising to know that our school, which has a long record of academic excellence, still struggles with this type of off-task behavior. While these issues are often perpetrated by a small handful of individuals, all that is necessary to correct this growing concern would be a short, thoughtful response on behalf of the student body. For example, using the recycling bins, closing Facebook, showing up for meetings and paying closer attention in class would all help combat this culture.
So what exactly does all this signify? Essentially, the overarching theme here seems to be mindlessness. We waste thoughtlessly and without a care because we have so much. Our school is teeming with opportunities and resources, yet we constantly overlook them and undermine their importance. And by acting so carelessly, we are indirectly disrespecting our school and the benefits that it is attempting to bestow upon us. While our intentions may not be ill willed, our dismissal of resources may come off as being ungrateful or a little frosty. The good news is that there are several ways for us to move forward in resolving this issue. Clearly, this type of dilemma is not difficult to solve. Even though it is deeply rooted in students’ minds and fueled also by subconscious thought, by hacking away at the culture of waste and trying to pay even a little more attention to our school’s resources, we may slowly be able to alter the way we treat resources and our perspectives. After all, it is not too late to start a new culture of recognizing, appreciating, and making use of the various resources we have, both material and otherwise. Currently, the wasted resources and opportunities at SIS are sitting in a dark supply closet somewhere, rusty and decrepit from disuse, and it is up to us to breathe life into these unused resources and give them a sense of purpose again. By Fiona Cho Sophomore, Staff Writer
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NEWS
News Briefs
By Andrea Kwon and Andy Yoon
Staff Writers
Spirit Week wraps up as a success
Introducing the discovery of DNA, Tim Hunt passionately explains how his peers aided his protein molecule discoveries. Photo by Angela Choe
Nobel laureate Tim Hunt visits SIS
Sir Tim Hunt, Nobel Prize laureate for Physiology and Medicine for his pivotal research about cell cycle controls, visited SIS on Nov. 28. His lecture was held in the auditorium during Activity Period, and covered his work on the cell cycle. During his visit, Mr. Hunt traced his experiences at Oxford and Cambridge, explaining how his esteemed colleagues guided his discovery of cyclin. “It was interesting to see a scientist as famous and important as Tim Hunt,” said Ellie Cheong (11). “His research was a great innovation to his field and I think listening to his speech enabled me to gain a further understanding of cell cycles.” With dashes of humor and personal anecdotes, Sir Hunt discussed the trials and tribulations that led him to produce his data, and the importance of curiosity and collaboration in scientific research.
Coffee meeting updates parents
On Nov. 29, the parents gathered in the auditorium to attend one of SIS’s monthly parent coffee meetings. The presentation, according to James Gerhard, high school principal, successfully gave parents an update as to what has been going on for the past few weeks through the contributions of the entire leadership team and even some students, including Aileen Kim (9) and Alex Hyun (9). “To students, SIS may seem like a familiar place, but to the parents, I would not be surprised if they feel sincerely out of place,” said Gray Macklin, high school vice principal. “With this in mind, it is only right to give them regular guidance as to what their students are doing, how they are doing it, and why they are as well.”
Winter concert brings joy to audiences
With students practicing both afterschool and during class, the HS Choir, Band, Strings, and Orchestra performed at their annual winter concert on Nov. 30. Led by Whitney Meininger, the new HS Choir teacher, the students in Choir delighted the audience with a number of wellloved songs, such as “12 Days of Christmas” and “Hallelujah.” The HS Orchestra, Strings, and Band performed a number of pieces, including “Carnival Overture” and “Glaciers.” Among the great harmony of instruments, the work of brilliant soloists particularly shined in the symphony performances. While some of the pieces had been rehearsed since the beginning of the semester and had been already played for the judges at a KAIAC event, others were practiced just for this Winter Concert. “Every year, our ensemble gets stronger and stronger,” said Michael Ganus, HS Band and Orchestra conductor. “HS Strings received a platinum award at KAIAC, and the HS band won a gold, which means our performances are really skillful and musical.”
Holding a photo booth sign created by the HSSC, Youn Hwang (9) participates in Meme Monday, a new addition to Spirit Week this year. Photo courtesy of HSSC
From Nov. 13-17, the HSSC launched the first Spirit Week of the 2017-‘18 school year. This annual event, in which both students and teachers dress up to express their school spirit, has been part of SIS’s culture for the past several years. As it has been in the previous years, each day of this year’s Spirit Week represented unique themes: Meme Monday, Twinning Tuesday, Wacky Wednesday, Throwback Thursday, and Spirit Friday. “It’s really great that members of the student body are noticing that this year’s Spirit Week brought in more participation than in previous years; that is so nice
to hear,” said Kendall Sadler, high school English teacher. “What was different from the past years was that the HSSC organized the event using a committee system, rather than just by grade level counsels. I have to say the teamwork between the different committees really made this Spirit Week exceptional.” Of all the days of this Spirit Week, an especially large number of students dressed up with their friends to celebrate Twin Tuesday. Students “twinned” their looks by wearing similar clothes with a friend. Some students even arranged to twin in groups of three or more. Hwang
Jae-ho (10), Gordon Kim (10), and Yoobin Lee (11) dressed in matching outfits— they had on blue jeans, white-collared shirts, and black ties. Similarly, Angela Kim (11) and Katie Lee (11) wore white shirts with pink plaid skirts, bringing a positive atmosphere to their classes. “Every year, Katie and I dress up for Twin Tuesday,” said Angela Kim (11). “In previous years, I did not see many people dress up, but this year, a lot of people participated in the event. I saw several cute outfits that I want to try out in next year’s Spirit Week, such as overalls with plaid shirts. I also realized that many teachers were dressed up on this day. For example, Mr. MacEvoy-Hein and Mr. Miller had on matching jerseys, and I thought it was cool that teachers were joining in on the event.” Although the conventional wisdom is that SIS lacks school spirit, Spirit Friday served as an indicator that was certainly not the case. A great number of people dressed themselves in orange and black and attended the basketball game after school against Seoul Foreign School (SFS)—the first game of the season. Even though it was just a friendly match, the crowd passionately cheered on SIS athletes by applauding and singing along with the cheerleaders. The cheerleaders heightened the fervor of the game with their spectacular routines and chants. “It was great to see so many people dress up in tiger colors to truly represent the school,” said Alex Oh (11). “I have to admit that in the past years, no one really dressed up, but this year was different. Overall, I feel like this change really supported the athletes—they played exceptionally well against SFS, a school traditionally thought to be ‘invincible.’ I hope that SIS will be able to maintain this spirit in the following years as well.”
By Kirsten Huh Junior, Staff Writer
Clubs embrace festivity with holiday themed activities
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nce again, it is the coldest, yet most heartwarming, time of the year. As the winter holiday season approaches, the long-awaited Christmas carols, festive streetlights, and Thanksgiving feasts have slowly returned. On the SIS campus, festivity takes shape in the form of many club activities; most notably, Random Acts of Kindness (RAK), the National Honor Society (NHS), the National Art Honor Society (NAHS), and Tri-M Music Honor Society have each launched their holiday-themed projects. In the spirit of gratitude, RAK set up their Thanksgiving “Garden of Gratitude” display in the atrium Nov. 15-22. In days leading up to the event, middle and high school students and teachers etched notes or pictures about what they were thankful for on small cards. The cards were then each strung up in the atrium with fairy lights and watercolor cards. “I really love how this project encourages us to be more appreciative of what we have,” said Eddie Ko (11), RAK executive. “And as I was putting the cards up, I saw so many sweet and genuine notes. I think being able to read what
other people are grateful for encourages readers to reflect on their life and become more grateful, too.” Throughout late November, NHS also hosted its annual Christmas toy drive. All donations raised by members were used to purchase Christmas gifts for children at a local orphanage. According to Chloe Chung (12), NHS president, as much as Christmas is an enjoyable holiday for those who can afford gifts and festivity, NHS hopes to make it just as special for orphans who may not have the same privileges. “Both for the orphans and us, the toy drive is a meaningful holiday event,” said Chloe. “It really reminded us of the true values of the Christmas season such as love, sharing and caring.” Tri-M and NHS also hosted a joint Christmas themed “Just 4 U” concert. While Tri-M hosts monthly “Just 4 U” concerts—casual performances in the atrium—the Christmas concert was their first collaborative and themed performance of the year. To add Christmas flair, Tri-M invited the Ambassadors and Blue Note jazz club to perform Christmas carols.
“With the upgraded quality of music offered and treats like hot chocolate provided to the audience, this Christmasthemed Just4U concert successfully spread the joy of music,” said Monica Lee (12), Tri-M vice president. “We were able to contribute a small donation to the NHS Toy Drive through this concert, thus aiding a good cause for this holiday season.” To add to the holiday cheer, RAK and NAHS also collaborated to create and put up Christmas decorations across the high school building. Members of both clubs made about twenty decorations each— paper cutouts of hollies, Christmas trees, snowflakes, and snowmen—and put them up on walls that were once bare and dull. Although some clubs have been hosting annual holiday themed projects, many of these are relatively new to the school. Holiday cheer, growing each year with more club collaborations, seems to have made winter at SIS a much more spirited time. By Eju Ro Sophomore, Staff Writer
Tiger Times
December 2017
Saudi-Yemen conflict escalates with US intervention
The crisis between Saudi Arabia and Yemen that began in 2015 took a new turn with increased intervention by the United States in recent years. Everything began in 2011 when Yemen underwent a political transition from authoritarian ruler Ali Abdullah Saleh to internationally recognized leader Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi. When the citizens were unsatisfied with Hadi’s government, a coalition of Yemenis, also known as the Houthi movement, rose up against his government. Hadi subsequently fled the country in 2015 and requested the
Saudi Arabian government to restore his power, which resulted in the intervention of Saudi-backed forces in Yemen. “What this is really about is the Shia-Sunni split,” said Michael Silber, AP World History teacher. “It’s also about how the Saudis do not want a Shia government that is friendly to Iran, which has now become their major enemy in the region.” Currently, the Human Rights Watch and the United Nations have labeled Saudi attacks as overstepping the boundaries of international law. During President Oba-
ma’s administration, US support to Saudi Arabia saw a decrease; however, the Trump administration has resumed its direct support mainly through arms sales. “I think the important part is that the forces are blockading humanitarian aid to innocent people, leading to a high number of deaths,” said Katie Lee (11), MUN vice president. “Not only to resolve matters of power but also for the sake of upholding human rights, something must be done.” While Congress passed a resolution delineating that US support toward Saudi
Arabia is in fact unauthorized, the resolution is non-binding and therefore has no legal authority. After the White House delivered a statement that it is “committed to supporting Saudi Arabia,” it became clear that the US has made Saudi Arabia its formal ally regarding the Yemen crisis. “I think US intervention in support of Saudi Arabia makes sense, however this is only going to antagonize Iran and is only going to cement the division that now exists,” Mr. Silber said. “On the one hand, you have Saudi Arabia, US and Israel, and on the other hand, you have Syria, Iran and potentially Russia. In some ways, [this intervention] undermines the deal that Obama struck which was to peacefully resolve the nuclear deal. If anything, that is not going to happen.” The Saudi-Yemen struggle is not one that has recently emerged in the past few months but is one that has become multi-faceted over the past two years. As both actors have beliefs they view as legitimate, it is evident that the conflict will not be solved through simple negotiation. With the US now playing a role, the end to this conflict seems to have been pushed back even farther into the future. “I think US foreign intervention in the Middle East is always problematic,” Mr. Silber said. “I think that when the US gets involved, as we have seen in its involvement in the Gulf Wars, what inevitably happens is that it will anger one or more of the sides. This will not create a peaceful solution, but rather, I think what it does is to exacerbate the tensions that are already there. To the best of my knowledge, it has done little to necessarily improve such relations.” By Amy Jungmin Kim Junior, Staff Writer
The More You Know
TIME's demise may just be America's future The famed red borders have ceased to exist. No, Time Magazine still exists, and will continue to exist in the near future (although it has been stuttering in recent years). However, with the recent acquisition of Time Inc. by the Meredith Corporation, I fear that such a monumental publication has only just begun its long descent into mediocrity. The curious fate of Time, in some ways, is emblematic of how I see the United States today in two ways: one, it has fallen victim to commercialization and big business, and two, it has been embroiled in the engulfing storm of controversy that is Donald Trump. Starting with the first: this is definitely not a recent trend, but it is disheartening to see how such venerable publications that used to dictate the American psyche can be traded around like stocks on the New York exchange. The Meredith Corporation, which is focused on publishing home recreation and lifestyle content, was in fact open to acquiring
Time Inc. a few years ago as well, but turned down the offer because it did not want to inherit Time, Fortune, Money, and the other timely, current eventsoriented publications that they were not interested in. Little has changed since then, except, perhaps, that Time needs the money more. But that just makes me more fearful for other publications, and print journalism as an industry. It is no secret that newspapers are earning less revenue than before, and if publications begin to supplement their incomes by selling themselves out to larger and larger companies, it is difficult to imagine how journalistic integrity can be preserved when the very entities that are being criticized sit in on board meetings. This commercialization has been aided by none other than our current President, who has taken clear sides in the entertainment industry and is consistently engaged in some controversy or another with major
publications. For a long time, it was CNN (and still is), but most recently citizens of then United States were treated to the spectacle of their leader squabbling with Time over whether he had been asked to be their Person of the Year or not. While this engaging storyline was making national headlines, the devastating tax bill that the Republican Congress has proposed, which would grant the wealthiest the tax breaks they invested in during the election (through the repeal of the estate tax, for example, which even Tom Price admitted disproportionately benefits the rich) and take funding away from middle and lower class Americans (notably through the repeal of the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate), has slowly gained momentum in our legislature. Soon, it may even be law. Even today, our President has endorsed an alleged pedophile and sexual predator to make the laws that dictate how American citizens should live. Earlier
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By Andrew Ham in the year, he literally tweeted a GIF of him “tackling” CNN, a clip taken from when he appeared in a special episode of WWE—yes, our President was wrestling with Vince McMahon before discussing policy with Nancy Pelosi. At this point, it seems like I’m writing the same story, over and over. There’s always some Trump controversy; there’s always a more sinister, quiet piece of legislation sneaking through Congress. Time is merely the most recent victim of this cyclical story of madness that is holding the nation in its grasp. We, as a responsible citizenry, would be remiss not to see the probable future of the American public in Time’s current predicament. Just like Time was combatting Trump one day and bought out by one of his allies the next, we may be fighting Trump bravely currently— but sooner or later, we may just as well fall under the control of some wealthy, powerful companies and people (if we haven’t already).
A CHRISTMAS TALE: the truth behind the holidays By KATE LEE & MICHELLE AHN It is starting to look like that time of the year again: snow in the yard, flashes of red and green on the streets, stockings hung up on decorated walls, and a mixture of seasonal greetings and carols ringing in the cold, crisp air. Yes, Christmas has finally arrived. Despite the festive and purpose of the holiday, however, the meaning behind Christmas is unique to each and every person.
Origins of Christmas The festive atmosphere of Christmas has existed for over a millennium – but how did people start celebrating this holiday in the first place? 2000 years ago, Christians began to develop a holiday for commemorating Jesus Christ’s birthday. However, they could not agree on a specific date because there was no confirmed record of Jesus’s birthday in the Bible. In fact, this uncertainty of the Jesus’s birthday led to a series of heated debates among devoted Christians who had clashing opinions on the exact date of the Christ’s birthday. Later on, the religious devotees finally landed on a consensus when the Pope eventually declared for the official celebration of Jesus’s birthday as the Dec. 25. Having an important significance to any believer of Jesus, the Christmas holidays appealed to numerous religious devotees around the world. Thus, the meaningful jubilee rapidly spread, first across all parts of Europe during the eighth century then being recognized as a prominent holiday in other parts of the globe. However, while the true origins of Christmas are important to remember, it is also important to note that the Christmas holidays most people know of today did not really begin until the 1800s. Specifically, the Christmas we celebrate now with common festive practices such as setting up Christmas trees and gift giving by Santa Claus began with stories that were told in relatively recent centuries. Christmas stories regarding the origins of holiday practices not only explains why they exist, but also spreads warmth by worker . For instance, a story of Santa Claus and how he became the universal gift giver to children is based upon a generous man named Saint Nicholas. Saint Nicholas was a monk who was known for his kindness and piety, as he had the reputation of great generosity. The most eminent story of him follows that he secretly dropped presents down the houses of people in need. One day, St. Nicholas was caught dropping gold into a chimney of a poor man’s house. Realizing that he had been caught doing what he wished to do secretly, the Saint begged the man not to reveal his identity to others for he did not want attention from people all to himself. Yet, the news spread that it was St. Nicholas who did those great deeds, and soon everyone began relating St. Nicholas to the character Santa Claus, another secretive but generous person. As such, many other Christmas stories present the warmth and significance of each holiday activity that is enjoyed by countless people every year.
How Christmas is celebrated around the world People in other cultures interpret the holiday differently and celebrate it in their own unique ways. In other words, individuals with distinct religions and cultures do not necessarily celebrate Christmas, but commemorate another seasonal holiday for a disparate, yet still meaningful purpose. For instance, one very eminent holiday apart from Christmas is Hanukkah, an event celebrated by Jews to commemorate the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem during the Maccabean Revolt of the second century BCE. In this holiday, occurring for eight days during Dec., Jews light up one candle on the menorah each day, each leg of a candle representing a miracle day for the Jews. They typically recite blessings during this ritual and display the menorah next to a window to constantly remind themselves about the miracle that inspired the holiday. Christmas in Latin America shows a completely different scene. Christmas, better known as Navidad, extends over the entire month. Although the day of Christmas remains similar to the popularized tradition, they also celebrate ‘Dia de los santos inocentes’ or ‘Day of the Innocent Saints’ on Dec. 28. This day is dedicated to tricking each other into believing in silly stories and jokes—much like April Fools Day in the UK and USA. This tradition originates from people all over the world seeking to remember the babies that were killed on the orders of King Herod when he was trying to kill the baby Jesus. Christmas gifts in Latin America are also delayed. Instead of opening presents on the morning of Christmas, children write letters to the “Kings” about what they want on Dec. 26 and open their presents on Jan. 5. Perhaps for these children, Jan. 5 may be more awaited than Christmas itself. Christmas may be interpreted in various ways among people who celebrate it with their own cultural methods. However, at the end of the day, the annual seasonal holiday stays warm in everyone’s heart, for it is not only a time of giving out greetings and presents, but also a time to commemorate an event that is important in one’s culture or religion.
LAYOUT by YEJUNE PARK
My first Christmas at Seoul International School was an unforgettable experience because one of my student made an ornament for me. Especially because I did not know many students at the time, the tiny artwork touched me even more. As I was walking around the dong on a nice Sunday afternoon, I came by a nice community event to celebrate Christmas. On the outlook, I was the only non-Asian person around the entire square and could easily be assumed to be outcasted. However, instead of giving me strange glances, the organizers of the event took me to a seat and handed a warm cup of tea. Thanks to the warmth of the tea and heart of the community, I was able to spend an unforgettable experience as a foreigner in Korea.
Eddie K
o
One day, when I was 6 years old, I was playing on the playground when suddenly, my mom startled my sister and I, saying that Santa had visited our house and brought us a special gift. We immediately jumped up in excitement after hearing this great news, and rushed to our house to see what he had brought us. As soon as we flung the door open, we saw a small white puppy looking up at us with its round, beady eyes, whimpering and wagging its tail. At that moment, my heart melted with happiness as I scrambled to pet the small puppy. This was the most special and magical Christmas I had, since it was the day Santa had brought a miracle to our house.
t n a n o C . s M
Every Christmas season, our family of five always had a tall Christmas tree warmly lighting up our frozen house. On Christmas day, boxes upon boxes of presents would be piled underneath the tree. To make such tradition possible, at least two of the siblings—me, Sydney, or Bethany—would jump onto the boxes and get the job done. But this one year, nobody wanted to put up the Christmas tree—the tedious process of unboxing, wrapping the lights, and putting up the ornaments had struck us all. We were all upset at the absence of our winter guardian, but we were all stubborn. After several days of procrastination, however, my sister decided that we could wait no longer. She got a piece of paper, cut out a tree, and stuck it on the wall that we would normally have the tree stand by. It was a (describe the paper tree), but it meant the same for us. Our tradition remained firm regardless of the colorful lights and once again, we had a pile of presents under the paper tree. From then on, we have kept this altered tradition as our special Christmas celebration. Others may think that we are just a lazy family, but our Christmas holiday spirits are undeniably warmer than any other.
n h A a l e g An
8 LIFESTYLE How net neutrality may end the internet as we know it
The days for spending time on Facebook, browsing Google, and watching videos on Youtube may soon be over with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to vote to end net neutrality, the principle that Internet Service Providers (ISPs) must treat all content on the internet equally. Without this, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) will be able to limit internet speeds and disparately charge for access to certain websites and content. “The internet has been set up and has been run under net neutrality since it was created,” said Andrew Kim (12), an avid internet user. “It would be wrong to suddenly restrict the internet with strict costs and payment especially since the internet is supposed to be a very free place where anyone can do whatever they want to do. Limiting this freedom would be redefining the very nature of the internet.” Since taking office, the FCC chairman Ajit Pai, who was formerly a lawyer for Verizon, made strides toward ending net neutrality. In May, the FCC voted to put Pai’s “Restoring Internet Freedom Order,” an order aimed at repealing net neutrality, and on Dec. 14, the FCC will officially vote on the final draft of the order. Such actions garnered severe backlash from the internet community. Many believe that repealing net neutrality will only bring harm and the benefits will only be felt by multimillion dollar corporations like Netflix, Google, and Amazon. “Without net neutrality, everyone wanting to use the internet will have to pay higher prices,” said Diane Lee (12), member of the internet community. “Higher internet speeds means higher prices, and access to more content also means higher prices. And the people who will pocket all this extra revenue will be big corporations that already dominate the internet, allowing them to make the internet another means to make large sums of money.” In other words, what this means is that the days of freely watching funny Youtube videos that close friends recommend, aimlessly scrolling through Facebook, reading news sites to become more aware of what is going on in the world, and using the internet to conduct research for a school paper could be over. Because without net neutrality, users will be forced to pay for entertainment, news, and information. “I think without net neutrality, the internet is on the path to become similar to cable services,” said James Lee (12), a self-proclaimed lover of internet media and memes. “Just like on TV where you need to pay for certain channels like CNN, Disney Channel, and HBO, you would need to pay for certain websites on the internet if this order is passed. This means that I will have to be mindful of the costs as I surf the internet and therefore will not be able to do so as freely. If that is the case, I do not think I would love the internet as much as I do now.”
By Justin Chang Senior, Managing Editor
Restaurant Review: Aori Ramen
Photos courtesy of Soomin Lee When Aori Ramen first hit the Korean foodie radar, it was well known for being founded and owned by Seungri, member of Big Bang and a K-pop icon. Celebrities owning restaurants are not uncommon in Korea: Korean barbecue joint Yook-ChilPal by Kang Ho Dong, casual dining pub TMI by Yoo Ah In, the list continues on and on. Nonetheless, as this restaurant was not only relatively new but also, allegedly, especially good, it was garnering large amounts of social media attention. Intrigued, I had to go see for myself if the restaurant lived up to the hype, or if the extolment was just coming from fans of Seungri. Hidden in the cracks of Seoul’s bustling city life, Aori Ramen was a restaurant that was hard to find and easy to miss. Navigating through the nooks and crannies of the Chungdam area, continuously checking back to a navigation application, I finally located the restaurant two floors above a convenience store deep within one of the alleyways. Making my way up the staircase, I was surprised to find that the waiting line for the restaurant extended out of the restaurant all the way down to the second floor. Hitting myself for not making a reservation, I proceeded to make my way to the register, write down my name, and wait. Luckily after 20 minutes, seats finally opened up for my two friends and me. Being able to really explore the restaurant now, I could see that the space was small
JUKEBOX JEWELS MisterWives BY DAW N K I M
and economical, much like many modern day Tokyo facilities, but at the same time gave off a distinct traditional Japanese ambience. On one side of the cramped restaurant were several roomy booths that seated multiple people, adorned with Japanese cultural embellishments and ornaments. On the other side were lines of compact booths snugly separated by dividers that seated one person each, each booth housing compartments in which to put your belongings, a built in tissue dispenser and built in service button. The concept of the single booth struck me as intriguing but not surprising, considering the intense cultural self-reflection that resulted from the isolation of the Sakoku era. In any case, as we had not made reservations, my friends and I were seated at three adjacent solo booths and began to order. The menu consisted of two main options: Aori Ramen and Aori Ramen Lite, the latter of which had fewer toppings than the other. The basic Aori ramen toppings consisted of—in addition to the chashu (marinated pork belly) and scallion present in the Lite option—ajitsuke tamago (fermented hard boiled egg), menma (fermented bamboo shoots), and dried seaweed. One could also add and adjust additional toppings and modify varying degrees of spiciness to match one’s liking. In this way, Aori Ramen’s menu was definitely simplistic, but you could probably have your meal in a hundred different
Winter months in Korea are especially dreary. Korea’s winters are generally a washed-out limbo between the months of autumn and spring, complete with dry weather, weak and measly snowfall, and muted white skies that feel vaguely claustrophobic. Winter here is defined by the cold, a singularly dry, sharp blandness that settles into our bones regardless of the parkas and sweaters we bundle on. But one listen to “Let the Light” by MisterWives releases a torrent of colors back into the world, allowing swaths of yellow,
ways. I ordered an Aori Ramen with extra chashu, extra scallions and extra garlic with moderate spiciness. My meal took around 15 minutes to come out, but it felt like an hour as I was practically starving myself staring at the people on the opposite booth heartily indulging on their own ramen. When my meal finally did come out and I started to inhale the noodles, I found that the dish exceeded my expectations. The broth was deep and rich, giving off a hearty flavor that felt rustic but would definitely satisfy the urbanites of Seoul. The craggy, imperfect noodles were perfect in scooping up the broth of the ramen, so that with each mouthful I got an additional burst of flavor. I found the chashu to be especially delicious, with the perfect fat-to-meat ratio and smoky kick. The dish was so good that I finished it in five minutes. Maybe it was because I was so ravenous, but one ramen did not feel like enough to satiate my hunger. Luckily, my friend had some ramen leftover so I happily took some of his before hurrying up to catch a movie, pitying the long queues of people still waiting for a seat outside the establishment. All in all, I definitely recommend Aori Ramen as a must-go place if one is craving for a good, hearty piece of authentic ramen––but don’t do it on a whim. Make a reservation first. By Jeremy Nam Junior, Staff Writer
grey, and blue to settle in the background and rid its audience of their worldly stresses. MisterWives was organized when lead singer Mandy Lee (real name Amanda Lee Duffy) teamed up with bassist Etienne Bowler and drummer William Hehir in late 2012. The trio–now turned a fivesome with the addition of Bowler’s friends, Jesse Blum and Mike Murphy–gained a prominent position in New York’s live music scene as early on as February 2013, when
Tiger Times December 2017
9
Large readership fuels quality of webtoon industry Reading webtoons is one of the most common ways of killing time for people in South Korea. Over recent years, the webtoon culture has steadily taken root in the nation, and its influence only seems to be expanding. Webtoons had previously gained popularity as a fun but light genre to read. Yet as viewership increased over time, their content and style have begun to diversify and take on distinct characters. Although, many readers go so far as to appreciate and interpret only the artistry, the factors that attract readers to read the webtoons are multifaceted: they include artistic skills of the illustrator, the integrity and strength of the storyline, and the author’s consistency, effort, or beliefs. Tower of God – Fantasy “Tower of God” is one of the most acclaimed, if not the most famous, webtoons of all time. Readers have classified this series as of equal standing as “One Piece” or “Attack of the Titans.” The plot is set in a fantasy world where Twenty-fifth Bam,
in the process of finding his friend Rachel, opens the door to the Tower of God. He joins the competition of climbing the tower—every floor harbors several obstacles that he and his trusted teammates must overcome. Competitors climb the Tower of God for one reason: the last one standing can achieve whatever he or she desires at the top. “Tower of God” started in 2010 as SIU’s debut webtoon. The compelling magical setting, creative plot, and relatable characters all contributed in raising the merits of this proclaimed masterpiece. The success of this webtoon, however, is tied to SIU’s shining efforts and dedication. Over the course of seven years, SIU has demonstrated great improvements in his artistic techniques, strength and depth of the story, and complexity in details. As the readers put it, SIU is the “epitome of consistency,” for he has never once strayed from the main plot or fail to satisfy his deadlines. Lookism – Fiction
This story begins with Hyung-seok Park, a high school boy, as he is bullied by the infamous members of the school’s “gang” or the iljins. One eventful day, Park wakes up in another body—tall, handsome, and athletic—next to his short, fat and “less beautiful” original. After learning that he has the ability to switch back and forth between bodies, Park realizes the radical differences in the way people approach him based on the body he uses. “Lookism” is celebrated for its creative and fruitful content along with its artistic merit. Following the meaning of its title, the webtoon was supposed to address the issue of society turning their backs to those who are considered less beautiful. However, the webtoon remains controversial due to its alleged “embellishment of lookism” and hypocritical message. With God – Fantasy “With God” begins with a beautifully unique introduction: the main character goes to hell. Ja-hong Kim, a middle-aged
man who has lived a relatively uneventful and tedious life, succumbs to alcohol overdose. The afterlife, or purgatory, presented to Kim is often cruel and cold, but fair. Kim must be tried through seven stages or realms in order to reach heaven, and every trial measures the good and bad deeds he accomplished in his life. His sharp and adroit lawyer, Jin Gi-han, assists him throughout his journey and helps him win trials against even the most horrifying odds. The merits of this webtoon lie not only in its unique setting and plot, but also in its weighty evaluations of the life we lead— only highlighted by its analysis of Kim’s afterlife. Despite its brevity and relatively simple illustrations, its deeper meaning resonates in every episode; readers will not be able to help but build a gut-wrenching emotional rapport with this deeply philosophical series.
By Andie Kim Sophomore, Staff Writer
Christmas carols for the holiday season, reviewed
A Pentatonix Christmas Deluxe – Pentatonix
In recent winters, Pentatonix has grown increasingly admired for its outstanding Christmas albums. In 2014, the group released its first holiday-themed album, “That’s Christmas to me,” and proudly stood as second on the Billboard 200. Pentatonix then saw success again with “Pentatonix” and “A Pentatonix Christmas.” On Oct. 20, the a cappella group produced “A Pentatonix Christmas Deluxe.” The album captures their unique voice, with beatboxing and harmony providing character to each song. One adored by many is “How Great Thou Art,” featuring Jennifer Hudson. Powerful vocals dominate the song with rhythmic beats in the background, which provide a strong base for the song.
Everyday is Christmas – Sia
Sia is receiving great applause for her Christmas album, “Everything is Christmas,” released on Nov. 17. Ranging from funky and bubbly to slow and rhythmic, the album displays Sia’s well-known, diverse artistic talents. Two popular songs are “Santa’s Coming For Us” and “Snowman.” “Santa’s Coming For Us” boasts a cheerful vibe, while “Snowman” features soothing piano melodies. This album captures the hearts of millions as it affords
the band was noticed and signed by their label, Photo Finish a day after their first show. Their small yet conspicuous popularity brought them a meteoric rise to the spotlight as the band gained opportunities to tour with and to open for bands such as Twenty One Pilots, Panic! At The Disco, and Walk the Moon. Much like M1LDL1FE, MasterWives’ heyday seems to be just dawning. Freshly back from opening for Panic! At The Disco on the North American leg of their “Death of a Bachelor” tour, the group is active and busy promoting their newest studio
them a much-needed break from traditional Christmas songs—Sia’s magic provides a certain twist that the usual jolly tunes and incessantly jingling bells cannot.
You Make It Feel Like Christmas – Gwen Stefani
On Oct. 6, Gwen Stefani surprised the public with her very first holiday album. In “You Make It Feel Like Christmas,” the singer released multiple songs including “Let It Snow”, “Christmas Eve”, and “My Gift Is You,” each perfectly capturing her merry Christmas spirit. The title track, “You Make It Feel Like Christmas,” features Stefani’s lover, Blake Shelton as accompanying vocals. The affection expressed is incomparable to those of other singers. Along with the captivating harmony of the two, the song attracts listeners with its upbeat chorus—bells ringing cheerfully and trumpets blaring in the background.
Let It Snow – 98 Degrees
As a follow-up to their first Christmas album in 1999, 98 Degrees released their second, “Let It Snow,” on Oct. 20. Despite an 18-year gap between the albums, the perfect harmony of the four singers is just as enchanting as the first, garnering attention from people all over the world. Specifically, the quartet’s harmony is exemplified in the
album, “Connect the Dots.” Starting from the onset of the tour, the group appeared as a musical guest on the talk show “Late Night with Seth Meyers” in March, gone on a domestic “MisterWives Band Camp Tour,” and released two music videos, “Oh Love” and “Drummer Boy” on March 30 and April 20 respectively on their YouTube channel “MisterWivesVevo.” Boasting an impressive record of over 11 million plays for their single “Machines,” the New York based group is currently on their “Connect the Dots” tour with fellow musicians Vinyl Theatre and Smallpools.
title track, “Let It Snow.” The gentle instruments in the song especially underscore the singers’ beautiful voices.
Warmer In The Winter – Lindsey Stirling
Famous American violinist Lindsey Stirling ventured to release her first holiday album, “Warmer In The Winter,” on Oct. 20, 2017. Featuring numerous eminent singers, such as Sabrina Carpenter and Troy Andrews, the album is meeting success. In specific, Stirling and Carpenter collaborate
For a band that produces predominantly pop and alternative dance songs, MisterWives features surprisingly honest yet hopeful messages in their works. “Never Give Up On Me,” their newest single, dots the whitewashed world with spots of bright yellow with its casual yet expectant words (“Never give up on me | Don’t you give up on me.”) “My Brother” from their album “Connect the Dots” provides a touch of grey to the scenery, waking despondent minds and encouraging them to continue on with their day with its gentle yet determined mantra (“Don’t let
in “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch.” With Stirling opening up the song by beautifully playing the violin, Carpenter mesmerizes the listeners by adding the cherry on top to the song with her powerful vocals. Additionally, Stirling works with Andrews on the song, “Warmer In The Winter.” In this song, Stirling, as well as playing the violin, lures the audience with her enchanting, sweet voice that harmonizes flawlessly with that of Andrews. By Kirsten Huh Junior, Staff writer
your true self turn to stone | When you’re wandering, when you’re wandering.”) But the band’s best pick would arguably be “Hurricane” from their first debut album “Our Own House,” a brazen anthem awash with themes of youthful rebellion and innovation (“We’ll do this our own way | Can’t change the storm of a hurricane.”). MisterWives’ discography is a consistent picker-upper on even the most vapid, jejune days. Craving a boon to tide you over until the end of the year? Check out MisterWives on Spotify, YouTube, and Melon.
10 SPORTS
Play-by-play: Tigers face off against SFS Crusaders
Photos by Lauren Kang
Facing a tough opponent, the varsity boys basketball team focuses on improving their playmaking and shooting during their home game on Nov. 17.
Preview
On Nov. 17, the varsity boys basketball team faced off against the Seoul Foreign School (SFS) Crusaders at Tiger Gym 1, in their first home game of the season. Facing a team deemed unbeatable may have been a challenge; nonetheless, the Tigers carried out their resolute and well-practiced plays, backed by spirited encouragement from fellow students and cheerleaders.
Quarter 1
The Tigers won first possession, but struggled to earn their first point of the match, which ultimately came as a free throw from Andrew Lee (12). They soon reclaimed their steady rhythm and ideal routine, marked by a well-placed layup from Austin Jeong (11), made possible by a keen, swift pass from Andrew. The Tigers rolled out intense play as both teams fiercely attempted to claim the lead, but the
first quarter ended unfortunately with the Crusaders eight points ahead.
Quarter 2
The second quarter began with the Crusaders scoring a three-pointer and an additional free throw. Nonetheless, the Tigers retaliated with a jaw-dropping series of consecutive three-pointers by William Chung (12) and secure defensive play from Wonjai Lee (12). As they closed in consistently with the Crusaders, the Tigers were fouled repeatedly, and tension both on court and in the bleachers only intensified. Amid high stakes, John Ban (12) was able to extend the Tigers’ scoring streak by earning additional free throws along with his layup, successfully wrapping up the second quarter with a tie of 28-28.
Quarter 3
The Crusaders claimed their first point a
minute into the third quarter with a corner shot, regaining their lead. As the Tigers struggled to score, William earned an uplifting point with his free throw, hinting at tides of change. A flawless routine of quick passes and transitions disoriented the Crusaders, opening space for Wonjai to land a brilliant three-pointer. Eric Kim (12) earned another point with a solo fast break to layup transition, attempting to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. In the last few minutes of the quarter, Bill Lee (11) lost possession over the ball, allowing the Crusaders to score. However, Bill immediately recovered to his strong defensive play and guarded the basket at critical times. The quarter ended with the Crusaders in the lead.
Quarter 4
Bracing their drive and synergy for the last stretch of the game, the Tigers sped up their play. Once again, the Tigers earned
their first point with a free throw from Andrew a couple minutes into the quarter. The next point came from a rebound by Timothy Kim (12), who inspired heated cheers from the crowd. The Tigers decided to focus on defensive play in the fourth quarter. Wonjai stopped a Crusader from his attempt at a layup and disoriented the Crusaders’ play. In the last minutes of the game, Andrew was severely fouled by the Crusaders, but stood strong and earned two additional points before the buzzer went off.
Overview
Although victory eventually fell to the Crusaders, the Tigers stood strong and resolute by defending the team’s synergy, unity, and secure play. By Claire Lee Sophomore, Staff Writer
South Korea takes dramatic victory against Colombia
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fter their victory against Syria on March 28, the South Korean national soccer team started to go downhill. The team had ended their previous season with six consecutive losses and their Federation International de Football Association (FIFA) ranking fell to 62nd place. The team was in misery, their fans were discouraged, and the situation only seemed to worsen with every game they played. Then, on Nov. 10, South Korea won the match against Colombia 2 to 1. As a turning point from the previous six losses, the game surprised South Koreans with its success and left many people asking one question: what had propelled them to victory? Though it is difficult to pinpoint a single specific factor that directly led to their success, there were key changes made to the team prior to the Colombian match.
First, Taeyong Shin, the national team’s coach, had trained the players to follow the 4-4- 2 formation of four on defense, four mid-fielders, and two forwards. This strategy was previously used in their game against Thailand on Mar. 27, 2016 and demonstrated a thorough defensive cover of the field. In the Colombian match, the strategy addressed what seemed to be the team’s biggest problem: the players were too far apart from each other, which allowed the opposing team to easily dodge their tackles. This interpretation of and proper reaction to the team’s weakness allowed them to improve and strengthen their strategy. “South Korea’s use of the 4-4- 2 formation enhanced the team’s ability to score goals by strengthening the team’s midfield,” said Kristina Hyunseo Kim (11), varsity girls soccer player. “I think we can also apply this technique to our games
during the upcoming soccer season. As a team, we have only tried the 2-4- 4 formation. Although it allowed us to win several games, we also want to try a fresher approach, like the 4-4- 2 formation, which would strengthen our defense.” Another key factor was the contribution of the three star players, Heungmin Son, Geunho Lee, and Joseph Ko. The game against Colombia had placed Son and Lee as the two strikers. In a series of practices aimed to adjust the players to their new positions following the 4-4- 2 formation change, the athletes also found ways to cover for each other’s weaknesses and provide space for each other by keeping certain areas clear. Ko’s effective defense against Colombia was beyond expectations, setting the stage for the strikers to perform properly. “Perseverance plays a huge role in the team in any sport,” said Steven Cho (12),
varsity boys soccer player. “The game against Colombia is a great example of how perseverance may lead to success. Chile has better skills than Korea, but our morale and teamwork made all the difference. I think our varsity soccer team can learn a lot from the perseverance of the national team when we play our games. Even though we lost many talented seniors last year, if we work well as a team, we can be just as, if not better, than last year.” The value of the game lies not only in the national team’s victory, but also in the rise of spirit and confidence of the nation as a whole. The game against Colombia was a turning point and allowed the team to open their eyes to more effective strategies, redeeming themselves of previous disappointing losses. By Andie Kim Sophomore, Staff Writer
Tiger Times
December 2017
Sports Photo of the Month
Raising their fists, members of the varsity cheerleading team encourage the varsity boys basketball team to defend the hoop. Photo by Angela Choe
11
College basketball season begins
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new season for college basketball opened on Nov. 10. Many have restlessly waited 221 days since the end of the previous season in hopes of their team winning this year. Prior to the start of this season, however, FBI investigations have caused many players to be suspended. The FBI is currently looking into more allegations of bribery and corruption among coaches and sportswear companies. “This year, there is no clear favorite [to win],” said Mark Dominguez, middle school math teacher and basketball fan. “I think it will turn out to be one of the current top five, since they already have a strong start to the season. However, anything can happen between now and March. Especially when the conference games start in December, the games become a lot more intense. In previous years, teams have changed like night and day from the start of the season to the end.” It has been a long-standing tradition for analysts, fans, and even players to make predictions on the projected performance of teams. According to CBS Sports, Duke University and Michigan State University are the current favorites to win the championship. CBS Sports states that while Duke University is expected to have a strong start to the season, Michigan State University is expected to improve throughout the season. Fans are also interested in individual talent. CBS Sports further stated that Jalen Brunson from Villanova University is expected to display great individual prowess throughout the season. “Duke currently looks like one of the best
college basketball teams ever, and I predict that they will win,” said Bryan Hur (10), college basketball fan. “Once again, it seems like the prestigious programs will dominate because they are the ones able to recruit the best high school players.” This particular season, the suspension of multiple coaches and players has created concerns for teams. On Sept. 29, the Attorney’s Office of New York filed complaints based on FBI investigations that revealed massive webs of corruption connecting the sport’s top officials from seven universities. Allegations generally claim that sportswear corporations bribed multiple universities’ sports programs to influence players into signing contracts with the companies. “The games will be missing an essential part if more coaches and players are suspended,” said Alexander Cha (11), college basketball fan. “Many of these coaches and players are important in games. This may mean that unexpected results may occur due to suspensions.” Despite the strong turmoil caused by the FBI investigations, many students and teachers are expected to follow college basketball. In addition, the popularity of college basketball is expected to surge in March, when the annual March Madness tournament will take place. Both students and teachers have traditionally participated in the bracket challenge, in which fans aim to predict the teams that will advance to each round. By Chris Lee Sophomore, Staff Writer
Rebound the basketball: Korean Classic Tournament On Nov. 18, the varsity girls and boys basketball teams participated in the Korean Classic Tournament against three other international schools: Korea International School (KIS), Taejeon Christian International School (TCIS) and Yongsan International School of Seoul (YISS). The varsity basketball teams played three matches against the three schools and were able to bring back the second and third place plaque, marking a steady start for the rest of the season. “The importance of this tournament does not lie in whether we win or lose at the end of the day because it is just three ‘practice’ games to mark the start of the season,” said Chris Koester, varsity girls basketball coach. “However, it is still a special opportunity for the basketball players to get acclimated to new positions and combinations, and for me to get a better understanding of their strengths and weaknesses so that we
can chart our course for this season.” Though winning was not the primary objective of the varsity teams going into the tournament, both teams nevertheless excelled against their opponents. The varsity girls team won the game against KIS with a score of 36:34, and the game against TCIS by 39:20. However, the team lost to YISS by nine points with a score of 19:28, ranking second in the overall tournament. The team’s success can be accredited to the whole team’s collective effort as it has tried different tactics and come up with an effective strategy beforehand. “Basketball requires a lot of strategizing, so there was a lot of pre-game coordination involved,” said Grace Oh (11), varsity girls basketball player. “However, reflecting upon our performance during this tournament, our entire team, including Coach Koester has extremely high hopes for this
season and we wish that we can mark a powerful end to our powerful start.” Likewise, the varsity boys basketball team was also successful in the matches against TCIS, winning by a score of 75:36. Unfortunately, the team lost to KIS and YISS with scores of 37:50 and 48:56, respectively. Thus, the team placed third overall in the tournament. Similarly to how the varsity girls team prepared for their game, the varsity boys team also developed a strategy before the tournament in order to effectively plan out their game. According to Andrew Lee (12), varsity boys basketball player, the team pursued a more defensive strategy, which put more pressure on the other team and in turn prevented the opponents from shooting. “The tournament was very helpful in that we could see our progress as a team and find out areas to work on, as well as
strengthen our teamwork in the beginning of the season,” Andrew said. “It gave us an idea of other teams and their skill levels, so that we could build upon and adapt new strategies. It also highlighted our team’s strengths and weaknesses, which is extremely important in working toward improvement.” With a memorable day of building new friendships between different teams as well as an opportunity to compete in non-competitive matches with other schools, both the varsity girls and boys basketball teams will continue training until the end of the season, with approximately 14 games left to go. Although their season will be on hold during winter break, the varsity basketball teams will be back on the courts by January. By Junie Kah Junior, Staff Writer
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SMALL TALK
As I wrap up my last first semester at SIS, I am packing up my soapbox here. I thought I had been prepared to say goodbye for some weeks now, but it’s still bittersweet. My real estate will go to the other brilliant, upcoming writers we have on staff, whom over my three years in Tiger Times and two on Idealog, I have grown to love; I know you will, too. This issue, I will share one last yearbook-worthy philosopher quote with you, as promised: “When you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss also gazes into you.” - Friedrich Nietzsche I love Nietzsche’s boldness. His statements clutch your chest as if it were soil and root unrelentingly down into it. “God is dead,” and “That which does not kill us makes us stronger” are both unforgettable and iconic. While the latter quote did inspire a Kelly Clarkson hit, Nietzsche’s statement on the abyss is far often repeated with a kind of weight and gravity, sometimes almost softly in reverence. In his analogy, Nietzsche captures both the Hegelian dialectic and his characteristic individualism. The full quote goes like this: “Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.” The first half seems pretty simple. It is risky,
however alluring, to assume that it will be easy for an individual to preserve a separateness with the beast while wrestling it. Where the individual—the thesis— and the monster—the antithesis—meet, we must also consider possibilities of a synthesis. But Nietzsche urges us to prod further: what if the antithesis were an abyss, instead of a beast? A literal nothing, a categorical void? How would the individual interact, then? Against its emptiness, Nietzsche’s exaltation of the individual (or ubermensch) burns at its brightest. In mentioning the abyss Nietzsche hints that clashes of dualities will induce not only conflict, but also self-creation. As we meet the monster’s eyes, and as hints of monstrosity begin to flicker in our own, we may have clench our firsts and grind out the firm, somber reminder: “I am not the monster.” In doing so, we will have added to our understanding of ourselves. And even in staring into an abyss, we will feel it gazing back at us, speaking, shedding light on our passions and human natures, because the focal point of these interactions were never really our opponents; it was in us—at the cores of self-creation—at the heart of the individual. This semester, I fell in love with a book called Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace. In explaining competitive junior tennis in his soft corporate dystopia, Wallace has private tennis academy senior and
child prodigy Hal Incandenza honestly narrate: How promising you are as a Student of the Game is a function of what you can pay attention to without running away. Nets and fences can be mirrors. And between the nets and fences, opponents are also mirrors. This is why the whole thing is scary. This why all opponents are scary and weaker opponents are especially scary. See yourself in your opponents. They will bring you to understand the Game. To accept the fact that the Game is about managed fear. That its object is to send from yourself what you hope will not return. For a long time, I was afraid that in the beloved works of great thinkers, I would only find my own ignorance. But two years with Idealog has carried me here; the abyss is so much less frightening now. I go to scrub my eyelids in frustration, to give Descartes and Wittgenstein and Beauvoir and Hegel my best, to try to understand and grow, as long as it takes. Wish me luck! I really appreciated every kind, supportive word. I hope you enjoyed this journey as much as I did. Thank you so much for having read Idealog.
i • dea • log
i • dea • log
the • individual
Goodbye, Diana
diana • na kyoung • lee
FAUX NEWS
Zodiac Horoscope Fun
Most Read, Most Trusted Sagittarius You are always surrounded by those who love you, but you are not loved. Find space for yourself during what used to be down week, because new “skills based exams” mean tests during down week and projects during exam days. Capricorn Both your enemies and friends will want to convince you to take a side, but you must remain neutral. Only when winter break starts will you realize your (lack of ) friends, and fighting will only result in a diminished number of people to meet up with. Aquarius Good things are coming, but if you are not ready they may pass by you. Unless you are an applicant this college season, because admissions don’t care about your feelings or readiness. Pisces Your neighbors will have happiness, which will give you happiness in turn. You can calculate the amount of happiness expected through an application of steady state diffusion, where flux is proportional to the concentration gradient. Aries Commit yourself to a cause. Unless you don’t have causes to commit yourself to. In which case, my condolences.
Taurus You will lose as much as you earn. Re-evaluate the “investments” you put into the Saturday lottery. Gemini If your work is boring, it’s okay to look the other way for today. (You will totally not regret the procrastination in 24 hours, my oracle self swears to Apollo.) Cancer You will come onto unexpected wealth. A one-eighth of a single hundred-dollar bill on the road with no value, perhaps, or a size upgrade on McDonalds french fries. Leo In conflict, do not blame others but rather take responsibility. Honestly this is just good life advice. Virgo You will face great loss. Specifically, you will become allergic to cats and Nutella. Libra In order to obtain a desired object, you may lose another. It’s like Boyle’s Law—sacrifice pressure for volume, volume for pressure. Scorpio As you grow older, you may realize the difficulty of keeping up good relationships. But really the only valuable relationship worth keeping up is the relationship between you and your blanket.
BY JOYCE LEE
PHOTO OF THE MONTH
Concert, Marking one of the many highlights of the Winter Band. School High the for number a Kevin Han (12) conducts Photo by Jocelyn Lee