Tiger Times Volume 51 Issue 8

Tiger Times

Issue 8 | Volume 51 | May 2020 | TTONL.org

2 Editoral

Farewell, Tiger Times

Viewpoint 3 Extended Facing SIS' misogynistic culture

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Truth in Numbers The bright side of COVID-19

2 VIEWPOINT

Editorial

Farewell, Tiger Times by

Sia Cho, Andy Yoon & Eju Ro editors-in-chief

With only very little time remaining before the school year ends, we seniors are tasked with bidding farewell to SIS virtually and impersonally. In spite of this anticlimactic culmination to our four years of high school, it has been a journey that all of us nonetheless will cherish as we embark on the next chapters of our lives. High school at SIS has hardly been easy, with the pressure of academic excellence always upon us, but that is not to say we are not grateful for everything that it has offered us—lessons that will enrich our lives for years to come.

We would first like to thank Mr. Coleman, the adviser of Tiger Times during our sophomore and junior years. Aside from his journalism-savvy advice, his inclination to propel personal growth within each and every one of the reporters is something we all have genuinely appreciated. To Ms. Grant; we are certain the transition was far from simple to navigate. However, in spite of this difficulty, she consistently generated ideas for this organization’s growth, and she always sought to incorporate our ideas in her vision for TT. And to Mr. Colaianni, Dr. Gerhard, Mr. Macklin, Mr. Schneider, and the rest of the staff, thank you for always being the first to pick up our newspapers, provide your input, and consistently support our ideas. It has been very meaningful working with everyone involved in the production of each issue.

Over the last three years, Tiger Times has undoubtedly seen a lot of change; from fresh columns to new staff members, dynamic transitions have constantly inked our pages. Nevertheless, its purpose has always remained the same: to engage with current events and address both the school and student body.

For seniors, Tiger Times has not only been a collection of mini-races to meet deadlines, but also a reflective journey providing valuable time for growth. With every issue, we actively engaged in discussing global and local events, exchanging opinions through multiple perspectives and extending our support to underclassmen who were beginning their transition into the world of journalism.

We have encountered criticism, controversy, censorship, and countless other obstacles all under the looming pressure of deadlines.

And yet, through it all, we have grown to become perceptive journalists with a broadened scope of view.

When we first walked into Tiger Times as intimidated, clueless sophomores, we learned by watching and leaning on our editors. They managed to get us to Pyeongchang during the Olympics to publish an entire special issue. They patted us on the back and conferenced with us after school when our first Extended Viewpoint pieces were turned down by our advisers. They were the ones we turned to in times of crisis, ranging from a published typo to a disapproving administration. We can only hope that we pushed through this strange year in the same way.

So as with every year, it is now time for the current editorial board to hand on the torch to next year’s team. With all the uncertainties and falsities permeating the media today, we hope that the new Tiger Times staff will continue to critically examine and speak the truth regarding issues most pertinent to our student body. We hope that as editors, upperclassmen, and mentors, we have prepared the upcoming editors to not only set deadlines and enforce style guides, but also to help younger journalists recognize that they, and no one else, have the platform to invoke change in our school community.

Impact of coronavirus on college application

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by Jiwon

Lee

uring the last few months, seniors across the world have anxiously awaited college decision results to be released. With most final announcements having been made, many of these seniors have decided which college to attend during the next school year. Due to the coronavirus situation, however, the possibility that colleges may have admitted less international applicants has become a matter of concern for some international high school seniors. Especially with previous claims that some prominent US colleges could have possibly discriminated against Asian students in the college admission process, this paranoia has spread to a bigger audience. However, such allegations are largely unfounded; Princeton notably tweeted that “the coronavirus outbreak and its effects have no impact on how we evaluate applicants to the university,” yet anxiety levels over the college admission decisions have not died down. However, this panic over the coronavirus’s supposed effects on the college admission system is likely an overreaction. Particularly, with the coronavirus also running rampant across the US, it is safe

to assume that colleges will not discriminate against students during the admissions process based on race, since all races are being equally affected by the current situation.

Furthermore, the coronavirus outbreak has not only affected seniors and their potential college acceptances; juniors, in particular, have also been heavily impacted. Most importantly, an unprecedented number of tests required for the college application process have been cancelled; in South Korea, both the March and May SAT tests were cancelled, meaning that juniors who had planned to take the SAT I test in March will now have to wait an additional five months for the August SAT I test. Moreover, China’s National Education Examinations Authority cancelled the IELTS, TOEFL, GRE and GMAT tests, all of which are necessary for college and graduate school applications.

Such interruptions in international test schedules may very likely cause less international students to apply for American colleges next year, since many of them may not qualify for the admission process. However, this problem is not exclusive to international students; the growing threat of the coronavirus in the US may also mean that juniors attending Ameri-

can high schools may face the same difficulty.

A possible solution to the aforementioned issue could be to give some leeway to students affected by test cancellations due to the virus when reviewing college applications. In fact, such measures have been implemented at a few higher-level educational institutions earlier this month, with universities such as Case Western Reserve University declaring that they would allow students to apply without an SAT or ACT score for admission in 2020. While such individual measures are truly laudable and should be modeled, more general solutions are required so that all affected students can be granted similar accommodations for their current situation. For example, the College Board and other college admission sites could cooperate with students and university application teams worldwide to schedule makeup tests for cancelled assessments, or all colleges could take SAT and ACT scores off the “required for admission” list.

With many universities in the US going on break or switching over to virtual classes, college students have also seen the ramifications of the coronavirus. Numerous SIS alumni have returned to Korea because their university classes

have been switched to a virtual system and have been asked to leave the campus by their colleges. Moreover, students staying abroad who had previously been attending or have been accepted into colleges in the US have expressed their concerns that if the coronavirus situation is to be extended until August, travel bans may prohibit them from attending university during the first few months of the 2020-’21 school year. As a crucial stage in students’ lives and their development into members of society, maximum effort should be put into devising a solution that preserves students’ rights to a proper education — both at the high school and college level — without compromising anyone’s safety. To do so, both educational institutions and individual students should cooperate to produce a feasible resolution to the current issue. Moreover, while it is still early on in the pandemic, it is important to note that the actions taken by both parties under these circumstances will set a precedent for responses to future emergency situations; announcements should be made after careful consideration, because the decisions made will not only affect the current circumstances.

Are paid summer programs worth it?

by Emily

Oh

Since the dawn of time, several prestigious universities around the globe have leased out their incredible campuses with top-notch facilities for the purpose of summer programs, allowing high school students to experience the life of a typical college student. In addition to giving students a chance to live in undergraduate residence halls, enjoy meals in dining halls, and engage in excursions and activities on historic college yards and student centers, such programs also give ambitious students a chance to explore and pursue their passions in and out of the academic realm. More often than not, students and their parents are often under the impression that such programs will increase their chances of matriculation at prestigious institutions and pour thousands of dollars into them.

However, the gatekeepers of these universities—admissions officers feared by students and parents alike—have repeatedly emphasized that such programs rarely give students an advantage in the college admissions process.

While most programs claim to select participants on the basis of merit, the pool of applicants and admittees is primarily comprised of students from considerably affluent families.

Ranging anywhere from $5,000 to $12,000 and upwards, the

program costs are somewhat absurd to some, especially when taken into consideration with other costs such as the non-refundable application fee and transportation expenses. However, we are students attending a private international school with an yearly tuition of over 20 thousand dollars. For most SIS students, the costs that paralyze students from low-income families are typically justt insignificant strings of numbers that can be taken care of without trouble.

While most programs offer fee waivers and student aid, they are more likely to select students who are able to pay for the entire program as such programs are for-profit organizations that stay afloat on funding provided by participants. As such,

acceptance into paid programs are more so reflective of whether or not a student can afford the program than whether or not they are qualified. In other words, there are thousands of equally qualified students who simply cannot afford such programs; as admissions officers are aware of the role of each student’s financial background, the completion of certain summer programs are more indicative of wealth than accomplishment.

Although there are several high-caliber summer programs that are entirely free, they still incur great transportation fees, and demonstrating that you are passionate and capable of organizing and securing various learning opportunities independently is equally as impressive.

Perhaps more and most importantly, students could find alternative methods of demonstrating their interests and passions over the summer by doing independent work rather than shelling out tens of thousands of dollars for structured courses on prestigious campuses. Whether that is composing a reading list of books on an area of interest for the summer and attaching it to their application to demonstrate a depth of intellectual curiosity or partaking in free weekly writing competitions/ reading challenges hosted by renowned publications such as The New York Times, there are inexpensive ways to discover whether or not a certain career or field is right for you.

Tiger Times

May 2020

Tiger Times Staff

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.

Volume 51 Issue 8 May Seoul, South Korea TTONL.org a free publication of

Seoul International School

Paper Editors-In-Chief Sia Cho Andy Yoon

Website Managing Editors Kate Lee Christopher Shin

Website Editor-in-Chief Eju Ro

Production Editors Claire Lee Youngjin Park

Paper Managing Editors Chris Lee Brian Ham

Copy Editors Eric Hwang Irene Kim Joanne Yang Jiwon Lee Graphics Editor Lynette Kim

Adviser Ms. Wendy Grant

Video Editor Andie Kim Photo Editor Lauren Kang Social Media/ Marketing Directors Emily Bae Emily Oh Layout Artists Ashley Kim Eddie Hahm Clara Lim

Reporters Jimin Alice Lee Joanne Yang Irene Kim Katherine Suk Jenny Seo Sarah Ju Emily Sung Sarah Baek Jennifer You Sunny Lee Sally Lee

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

Viewpoint Feature:

What efforts can be made to uproot the dismissive culture regarding sexual issues of SIS? The student culture of SIS is one that normalizes misogyny.

Prevention measures must be taken to stop the aforementioned problem by the students, victims, and the

Facing the misogynistic culture of SIS

by Emily

Sung

On March 23, social media platforms were plastered with hashtags, posts, and comments about the atrocities caused by South Korea’s deep-rooted misogyny. Countless students from SIS posted about the Telegram Nth Room Case, attempting to raise awareness about the egregious violence inflicted upon the involved women, who were threatened and forced into sexual slavery. However, the responses they got in return were characterized by discontent and annoyance. On one occasion, I overheard a conversation between some upperclassmen, who were complaining that these stories were “annoying” and calling those girls “dramatic, overreacting attention seekers.”

Students who posted about the incident, however, were not overreacting in any way. For years, South Korean women have harbored a paranoid fear developed by the numerous cases of sexual abuse and assault, spanning from illegal hidden cameras to child pornography. When the Telegram Nth Room was exposed to the public, women were shocked that 260 million users had paid to watch the room’s content, some of whom were their trusted friends.

Thus, many frightened female students in SIS encouraged their peers to sign a petition that called for the public disclosure of the names of all Telegram Nth Room users. This, contrary to the beliefs of some in this school, is completely understandable and logical, and in no way overreacting to a very real problem.

SIS’ student culture is one that is largely dismissive of sexist treatment against women. Some of the above attitudes have been ingrained in the minds of the student body, causing the normalization of semi-misogynistic attitudes. Many students are not aware of the seriousness of sexual abuse, shown by the aforementioned comments that do not recognize the importance of raising awareness on this matter. However, this issue does not simply stop at the awareness level. Some students of the SIS community are also perpetrators of sexual offenses, albeit verbally and not physically, making sexual jokes against female classmates. No matter how close they might be to the targeted female friend, sexual slurs are in no way acceptable. Although they claim that it was only for fun, lighthearted purposes, they do not realize how insulting it really is and how offensive it sounds to

women. In addition, some male students judge their female classmates based on their looks and bodies, rating female students on a number scale and objectifying them as a mere tool for amusement. If anyone were to speak up against this disrespectful practice, the student would be dismissed, labeled as overly sensitive. As such, not many female students have the courage to directly face these issues, resulting in a vicious cycle of derogatory treatment of women.

The ones who are ultimately responsible for this unacceptable behavior are the students themselves. It is up to the members of our own community to provide kind yet firm reminders to halt any future offensive language. However, the school also has a stake in this issue in that it can implement some additional measures to help combat indirect sexual harassment in SIS. It is of utmost importance that appropriate mechanisms are enforced by the school to issue adequate punishment for the offenders. Some preexistent measures are outlined in the Parent-Student Handbook, where it is stated that verbal bullying, including making negative references to one’s gender can be punished on different levels, “depending on the severity of the behavior and the individual

student’s previous disciplinary record.” Such consequences, however, must be strengthened and emphasized throughout the school community as many are unaware that these measures exist and can negatively affect themselves.

It is also important to note, however, that even if the school tries to stop these derogatory comments in the hallways or in the cafeteria, it is not going to be easy, as these comments, usually made in Korean, are out of reach for the leadership team to readily detect and stop. Unless they are reported to the office, they would simply be unaware of who is exhibiting this sexist behavior. As a result, other solutions must be put in place to preempt this problem instead of punishing people afterward. Potential methods to combat this might be a sexual education curriculum implemented in biology or PE classes. The current sex ed. curriculum that SIS has implemented is limited to lessons in two to three P.E. classes. Unfortunately, this is nowhere near enough to stop this misogynistic culture. It is understandable that due to the conservative nature of the country, along with the general tabooed notion of this topic, it is commonly shunned by educators. Nevertheless, it is a pressing topic to be addressed not only in high school,

but also in one’s younger years, so that students are not raised in an environment that normalizes the objectification of women.

If prevention does not work, the only way to break the vicious cycle is punishment. If the school punishes wrongdoings such as academic dishonesty or bullying, it is completely reasonable to implement a clear-cut punishment system for sexual harassment as well, along with strengthening the currently existent one. In order to identify the perpetrators, the school must open up an environment that the students who feel personally victimized can easily approach and confide in a trusted adult in the school and tell them what they are going through. This would include teachers and especially counselors, who would have to strive to create a comfortable environment for the students to freely speak about this issue without fearing name-calling and ostracization from their peers.

Ultimately, whether or not change can happen in SIS depends on the mindsets of the perpetrators themselves, who must come to the realization that the issue at hand is indeed a serious one, and that it is nothing to be made fun of.

4 NEWS News Briefs

by Katherine

Suk

AP research official presentation gets modified

Due to the school closing, AP Research students had to make adjustments to their final presentations. Since students are unable to do a physical presentation in the atrium like they always did, an alternative way was announced in order to earn the presentation credit. Students are now required to turn in their digital portfolios to the College Board and their presentations to Mr. Silber for a class grade.

“Since the presentation takes a huge portion of the AP research course, the school closure had a big impact on this class,” said Bryan Hur (12), member of the AP research course. “Even though many assignments are now unable to be completed, both the teachers and college board staff tried their very best to fill up the empty space within the given limitations.”

COVID-19 sparks controversy on vaccine monopoly

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by Joanne Yang

he coronavirus (COVID19) is an escalating pandemic afflicting 199 countries around the world.

Originating in Wuhan, China, the infectious disease is claiming lives of particularly the elderly demographic. As the confirmed cases and casualties increase by day, private pharmaceutical companies are working alongside government research firms to find a vaccine.

The race for a vaccine, however, sparks concerns of countries not sharing significant medical information with one another and attempting to monopolize prospective cures for its own citizens, endangering the interests of the global community.

“Normally, competition among private companies and researchers for a cure to a disease is understandable,” said Shawn Yoon (11), MUN member. “Companies all want a patent in order to maximize their profits, and this self interest sometimes spurs innova-

tion. However, I think in times of global emergencies like the coronavirus, an alternative approach like cooperation is more important.”

The Welt am Sonntag newspaper reported on March 15 that President Trump offered around a billion dollars to lure researchers at CureVac and secure a vaccine exclusively for the US. CureVac is one of the leading biotechnology companies in Germany that specializes in mRNA-based vaccines producing disease-fighting proteins in human bodies.

According to Reuters, CureVac’s co-founder Florian von der Muelbe announced that the company is experimenting with multiple vaccines and hopes to have one ready

by June or July to test on human subjects. Though the US denied the allegations, the German newspaper incited anger in Berlin. The Minister for Foreign Affairs Heiko Maas expressed his criticism of Trump’s nationalist move and emphasized that medication

developed in Germany would be shared with the rest of the international community.

“A clear problem of countries trying to buy research firms and develop an exclusive vaccine is that the final price of the life-saving drug would be hard to afford,” said Evelyn Hur (11), member of SIS Medical Society.

“If the US manages to monopolize the drug, developing countries will be harmed because they have weaker healthcare systems and insufficient resources to contain the virus. I believe that the poorest and most vulnerable people will suffer the most from this competition.”

In response to such concerns, some European countries including Norway and Britain are working with non profit organizations to ensure that there is no monopoly of the vaccine. According to the New York Times, they are investing in multinational organizations like the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Initiative to fund and provide vaccines to the most urgent areas regardless

College Board makes significant changes to upcoming tests due to COVID-19

School clubs seek for meeting alternatives Most clubs, especially clubs with a large number of members, are taking a break after the beginning of virtual learning because of the difficulty with arranging a separate meeting or call. Some clubs such as MUN is currently holding a separate online club meeting with SEOMUN secretariats and advisors in order to plan for SEOMUN XXIII next year.

“Clubs like MUN are currently holding online meetings to plan for SEOMUN next year because it takes a lot of planning,” said Mr. McEvoy-Hein, advisor of the MUN club. “Clubs can make different decisions depending on how immediate they need things to be done. If they have assignments that require deadlines, then that could be done virtually.”

Music classes continue their practice and performance The music classes require recordings of their music as proof of practice. Based on the recordings, the teachers determine the areas students lack and arrange the next class accordingly. For band classes, they also have written tests as well as informational video assignments. The music classes are currently focused on looking for alternative ways to share their practiced music with the community since concerts got canceled. For example, the band department released a video on March 31 of a musical performance by combining the recorded videos of students playing their parts together.

“Even though it is difficult for us to have a group practice, we are trying very hard to bring the best out of this limited situation,” said Hannah Kim (10), member of HS strings and orchestra. “Even though the individual recordings take a long time to complete, it does prove to our directors that we are putting in a lot of effort into this class and that we are improving day by day.”

of the cost. The European Commission also responded to the possibility of a US monopoly by offering an additional sum of $85 million to CureVac. Despite such efforts, however, geopolitical competition for the vaccine continues. A Chinese company offered $133.3 million to the German corporation BioNTech for equity stakes. Meanwhile, the F.B.I in the US is conducting numerous investigations to identify and remove scientists, mostly of Chinese descent, who are suspected of sharing or stealing research.

“In any sort of pandemic, countries should keep communication as open as possible and share accurate information on the number of infectees and how widespread the disease is,” said James Kowalski, MUN advisor. “Instead of closing off borders and having a self-interested line of thinking, collaboration among countries to find and distribute vaccines is more optimal for long term success.”

by Alice

Lee

Taking into consideration various challenges presented by the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) around the world, the College Board recently made several official announcements regarding the administration of their upcoming standardized tests. On March 16, the College Board announced the cancellation and refund of the SAT exams originally scheduled for May 2.

Although the June SATs are still expected to take place, it remains unclear when the next soonest test date will be due to the ongoing uncertainty of the situation.

“The College Board’s decision to cancel the upcoming SATs makes sense and demonstrates foresight,” said Gray Macklin, high school vice principal. “I believe the vast majority of the impact on students is going to be psychological rather than practical because students tend to overemphasize the importance of the SATs compared to other factors such as letters of recommendation and academic transcript. Nevertheless, the College Board is working very closely with schools to make sure that any potential impact can be minimized.”

Additionally, the College Board declared that the 2020 AP exams will be administered online from May 11-22 at the same time and day, regardless of time differences across geographic locations. According to the College Board, the format and content of the AP exams have been altered to accommodate for the current circumstances; instead of following the traditional test structure that involves multiple-choice and free-response questions, students will need to answer timed open-book free-response questions for the majority of the AP subjects.

“Students should possess a broader understanding of concepts and be ready to apply their knowledge in order to be successful on the AP exams this year,” said Peter Alden, AP Environmental Science teacher. “It is a challenge right now for students and teachers to adjust to the sudden changes in such a short amount of time.

Additionally, although the College Board claims that they will take numerous measures to prevent cheating, I am concerned about integrity issues that could arise given the nature of online testing.”

To help students stay actively engaged with their learning and review of test content, the College Board is offering free resources that students can easily access online. Students can solve practice questions for the SATs on Khan Academy and watch review lessons organized

by AP instructors on the College Board’s YouTube channel. Furthermore, the College Board has stated that they are searching for alternative ways to administer the SATs in the future in case the current situation continues even after May. “I think that the free online resources provided by the College Board are well-intended and helpful, especially during these unprecedented times,” said Hannah Kim (10). “I plan to prepare for the upcoming tests by solving practice problems and getting well-acquainted with the necessary content. Still, I think the idea of administering future exams online is risky since the College Board has yet to clarify how they are going to track down and penalize cheating.”

Tiger Times

May 2020

5

Putin approves constitutional amendment to extend terms in office

by Jiwon

Lee

Ever since his rise to power in 2000, Putin has taken the place of de facto political leader of Russia; alternating between the title of president and prime minister with fellow politician Dmitry Medvedev, Putin’s grasp on power in Russia has extended for approximately two decades. However, with Medvedev resigning from office in early 2020, a new constitutional reform has been put forth to keep Putin in power. According to Russian law, a president is granted a maximum of two consecutive presidential terms. These current term limits would have made Putin obliged to leave office in 2024. However, this new constitutional proposal would conceivably allow up to four consecutive terms in office, extending Putin’s term in office until 2036.

“The proposed constitutional amendment is essentially a ploy

by Putin to extend his presidential term by an additional 12 years,” said Brian Bok (11), government and politics student. “This, however, is an unsurprising development. Putin has exhibited a very strong will to retain his leadership position for the past two decades that he has been in power, eliminating much of his political opposition through all means possible. Moreover, as can be seen by his reaction toward any public disagreement toward his political actions, Putin is likely to use forceful methods to oppress any future protests or complaints issued by his people.”

While Russia’s ruling class has largely remained supportive of this alteration to the constitution, others have voiced their concern over the increase in presidential power that the revised constitution would grant Putin, most notably

the power to appoint government officials to the constitutional court — the judicial branch that wields the power of ruling a law constitutional or unconstitutional — himself. Granting the president the power to hand-pick judges to be seated on the constitutional court would cause a severe imbalance in political power. As a response to this clause in the proposal, activists in Moscow attempted to organize demonstrations against the amendment, which had been due to be held in late March. However, as a result of the rapid global spread of the coronavirus, all protest plans were cancelled.

“Although the coronavirus was cited as the reason for the mass cancellation of protests that were due to be held in Moscow last month, these demonstrations likely would not have been carried out even if there had not been the imminent issue of the pandemic,” said Eric Yoon (11), Forensics club member. “And even if such demonstrations had happened, they would not have brought about much change to the political outcome of the current situation.”

The proposed constitutional change, which is due to be put on a nationwide vote in April, is not the first time that Putin has used an underhanded method to cling onto his hold of power. Public outrage ensued in 2011 against Putin’s return to office for his third term as president in place of Dmitry Medvedev, with the Russian media also reacting somewhat aggressively. Massive street protests erupted throughout Russia in opposition to this transparent manoeuvre, yet were largely ineffective in bringing about any significant change.

“No one should be surprised that Putin is on a path toward being president for life, given what

we’ve seen over the past 20 years in Russian politics,” said James Kowalski, AP US History teacher. “He has successfully removed any and all barriers to lifelong autocracy at every step of his career, and enjoys a broad enough endorsement among government nomenklatura and the public that no one cares enough to openly oppose him, at least not for idealistic reasons. After all, we saw two years of protests in Russia during 2011-2013, during which Russian citizens, which yielded only stricter laws and oppression against

free speech, so many Russians would say, “What’s the point?” For those who support liberal democracy, Mr. Putin’s success in securing this near-indefinite autocracy would likely appear baffling.”

Speaking before parliament about this possible amendment to the constitution, Putin stressed that his goal was to leave behind a democratic legacy, and that he planned to leave office well before his death.

He additionally stated that him running for president for the fifth and sixth time in 2024 and 2030,

respectively, was a mere possibility, and one that needed the formal approval of the Constitutional Court — which was granted fairly soon after the proposal was initially set forth — to be implemented. While Putin has seen success in convincing the legislative organization in supporting his scheme for lifelong authoritative power, convincing the people is another hurdle Putin must overcome to satisfy both his political followers and the general public about the final outcome of this issue.

The bright side of COVID-19 truth in numbers

by Brian

Ham

For citizens of all nationalities, religions, and economic classes around the world, daily life has gone up in flames, and throughout the monotony of social distancing, the future may seem bleak and hopeless.

However, it is important to note the positive impacts that the pandemic has had on our world and the few glimmers of hope that shine through the clouds of endless Netflix shows and ruined sleep schedules.

Perhaps the most tangible impact the virus has had is on the environment. The effects on air quality were seen almost immediately, as early as January in initially stricken areas like China. In fact, a Stanford University researcher even estimated that the air quality improvements occurring solely in China will have saved the lives of roughly 70,000 citizens above the age of 70 as well

as 4,000 children. In comparison, as of the first week of April, the virus has claimed 80,000 lives worldwide.

Of course, it is insensitive to only focus on the objective numbers and conclude that the pros and cons have canceled each other out, given the widespread and uncapturable trauma caused by the pandemic, as well as the million citizens who have contracted the disease.

In New York City, peak-hour traffic has dropped by around 20 percent as of March, and will likely drop even further as the quarantine and social distancing is strengthened.

Similar trends are occurring in major cities all over the world. Such a phenomenon will not solve the carbon crisis by itself, and if human activity simply returns to normal in a couple of months, COVID-19 will only have delayed the inevitable.

Regardless, such statistics serve as gentle reminders that all human

activity continues at the mercy of nature, even something as consistent as NYC traffic.

Not only are carbon emissions going down, but we are also feeling the impact on the energy market.

As transportation on land, air, and sea grinds to a halt, consumption of non-renewable resources have also been reduced. While the coal industry had been in decline since the turn of the millennium, the coronavirus is poised to land a final blow to remaining coal companies. According to the Scientific American, coal production in the United States was 36 percent lower this March compared to last year. Along with the coal industry’s downfall follows its counterparts, oil and natural gas.

Oil prices around the world have tumbled so far down that in some cases, shipping oil from wells now costs more than the profits earned from selling it, according to Gold-

man Sachs. While expert opinion is divided on the long-term impacts, the virus has potentially played a role in striving toward various goals to achieve deep decarbonization over the next few decades.

Finally, with such a catastrophic event comes the stark reminder that no matter the divisions we place, humans are at their core going through the same experiences and emotions. A silver lining of this quarantine is a sense of unity around the world, and with such a tragedy has also come a plethora of goodwill and humanity, whether it be in the form of large-scale donations or small but frequent acts of kindness. When the world crawls out of quarantine and re-enters society, perhaps we will do so with fresh perspectives on privileges we took for granted and humanity we may have neglected.

The role of culture and government within COVID-19

by Sarah Ju

in March, South Korea was widely testing many citizens with

respect of authority. Thus, when the Korean government mandated

humaneness, and ritual. The stark contrast between the United

Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Filial piety,

drive-thru and walk-through facilities, contact tracing, and

the public to follow their orders in order to stop the spread

States and South Korea when dealing with anything has been a

actively alerting the public with accurate information on the

of the virus, most of the population heeded to this advice with

product of the fundamentally differing core values of either

outbreak. Now, the United States has become more aware of the

no question, believing that it was for their benefit and it

nation. This trend is now clearly visible with the growing

importance of containing the virus to the best of their ability

was their civic duty to obey the authority of the nation. For

COVID-19 pandemic. South Korea’s first confirmed case of the

and has ordered the public to practice social distancing. In

instance, on Apr. 15, the day of the South Korean legislative

virus was announced on Jan. 20, and the US’s first confirmed

cities where the virus is extremely severe, police patrol the

election, the confirmed patients of the virus were ordered to

case was announced the following day. However, currently, Korea

streets to help with the coronavirus.

vote separately in order to contain the virus, and the majority

has around 10,000 total cases of the disease while the US as

However, many people still do not fully grasp the

of the population with the exception of four patients followed

of now has surpassed one million total cases. Korea’s estimated

severity of the issue. For example, some refuse to wear masks

case fatality rate (CFR) is at 2.21 percent, while America’s is

when going outside, claiming that they do not serve to protect

around 5.31 percent. Many people internationally have marveled

them from the virus anyways. Many people have come forward

in the idea of freedom and self-expression. Even in the found-

at South Korea’s capability to contain the virus to this extent.

stating that these claims are ignorant and a result of a lack

ing document of the US, the Declaration of Independence, the

Even despite the fact that many Koreans live in very close prox-

of education. It is difficult for masks to prevent the wearer

idea of liberty is greatly emphasized. Therefore, even when the

imity to each other as most Koreans live in apartment complexes,

from receiving the disease; however, it is true that masks are

government in the United States ordered the public to self-quar-

the nation has been able to drastically slow the spread of the

proven to be effective at stopping the transmission of the dis-

antine, many people were reluctant to oblige, saying that it was

disease as the government made quick strides to keep the issue

ease from one person to another on the giver’s end. Some people

in their right to go out and have fun, unknowingly putting many

under control, and Korea is now seeing the curve flattening.

have claimed that since they are less prone to contracting the

lives at risk. Some people even took to the streets in protest

On the contrary, in some other nations, COVID-19 seems to be

disease, they do not feel the need to take such precautionary

against social distancing and quarantine. This mindset of free-

spiraling out of control. When coming down to the root of the

measures. Others argued back, saying that not wearing a mask

dom played a major role in what caused the virus to spread this

issue, the governments in various nations have played major

because it would not benefit oneself is selfish, and what is

far in the US. Of course, mindlessly following an authoritative

roles in determining the future of their country.

necessary is a collaborative mindset for the collective good

figure like a herd of sheep is not always the “correct” answer.

of the entire population. This discord among the population

In the sinking of the Sewol Ferry in 2014, students were ordered

multiple times, seemingly downplaying the severity of the issue.

goes further to show the importance of the government during a

to sit still while the ferry was sinking, and most of the stu-

When talking about the death rate of COVID-19 in March, Trump

crisis like this. It is their role to effectively disseminate

dents who mindlessly obliged passed away through the incident.

said, “I think the 3.4% is really a false number... Person-

information and educate the public about ways to go about the

However, in a worldwide pandemic like this one, it is beneficial

ally, I think the number is way under 1%.” On the other hand,

issue and stay safe.

to take the advice of the government to heart.

President Donald Trump has spoken up about the issue

The Korean and Amer-

the government’s instructions for the public good.

On the other hand, American culture is very much rooted

It is evident that cultural elements are a key factor that

ican public have displayed

determines the path a nation, a government, and an individual

extremely differing means

can take. We can see how the government has a considerable say

by which they first took

in not only dictating the pace of the outcome in a circumstance

initiative regarding the

like this but also dictating how the public views such issues.

COVID-19 outbreak. South

With this situation, we once again reaffirm the role of the

Korea’s culture places

government and rethink the gravity that the words of people in

emphasis on obedience and

positions of power hold in determining the fate of the world.

Digging into the COVID-19 vaccine development

by Sunny Lee Producing over three million confirmed patients so

vaccine. More testing is being done to prove its effective-

and Melinda Gates Foundation says it will start building

far, the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infec-

ness. If the vaccination passes the Phase I, II, and III

factories for seven different vaccines and fund all seven,

tious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome

trials, Oxford scientists say that the first few million

even if only some of them work out.

coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Since November, when the first

doses of their vaccine could be available by September.

case of the coronavirus was reported in Wuhan, China,

However, the path to vaccine development is rarely

The typical timeline of the creation of a cure from

smooth. Because of the nature of this RNA-based virus,

scientists have put in a great amount of resources and

research to distribution can take 16 years. The devel-

the process becomes even more difficult. RNA viruses have

effort into developing a vaccine. Without the vaccine, the

opment of the Rotavirus vaccine, which was considered

high mutations rates, which are correlated with enhanced

economy will remain stagnant, causing international eco-

relatively quick, took 15 years to make. The goal of the

evolvability. Robert van Exan, a cell biologist who has

nomic depression. Wealthy businessmen such as Li Ka-shing,

COVID-19 vaccine is 18 months. As unrealistic as this

worked in the vaccine industry for decades, said “no one

Giorgio Armani, and Mark Zuckerburg have started donating

seems, every step needs to be expedited drastically for

has ever made an RNA vaccine for humans.” Furthermore,

millions of dollars to the Red Cross Society of China

this to become a reality.

even if vaccine development is successful, the FDA approval

and medical centers in Italy; the Bill and Melinda Gates

The trial process could be fast-tracked by serving

itself takes a full year. While other steps in the vaccine

Foundation contributed to a program researching treatments

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East

timeline could potentially be skipped or fasted, approvals

for COVID-19 so that

respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) as a baseline.

are not one of them.

vaccine research could continue

without economic obstacles. Out of the many organizations

Fortunately, those two diseases are 80 percent similar to

attempting to create vaccines, notable progress was made at

the coronavirus. Past findings on those viruses shorten

is not going to disappear,” said James Kowalski, a Social

“I understand that until we get a vaccine, the virus

the laboratory at Oxford University. While other teams are

preparations before clinical trials. Then, large-scale

Studies teacher. “Although scientists anticipate 18 months

trying to demonstrate the vaccine’s safety to a few hundred

tests could be pushed sooner by starting the subsequent

is going to take, that is being optimistic on their side

participants, scientists at the university’s Jenner Insti-

steps before previous phases are completed. What follows

since vaccines take years to make. We should not get ahead

tute have proven through multiple trials that similar vac-

is the manufacturing process. Companies start producing

of ourselves and continue to take measures to slow the

cinations were harmless to humans. Trials were conducted on

millions, or perhaps billions, of doses after the approval

spread of the virus. We can do so by practicing social

monkeys who were exposed to heavy quantities of the virus

of the working vaccine. New facilities are built after the

distancing, wearing masks, and to keep us safe.”

and got healthy after more than 28 days of treatment by the

testing and approval process, but, to save time, the Bill

layout by claire lee

8 LIFESTYLE Samsung releases new Galaxy S20

S

by Sarah

Ju

amsung Electronics, the leading electronics company in Korea, released the new Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20 Plus, and Galaxy S20 mobile phones on Feb. 11. The Galaxy S20 phone has a 6.2-inch, 120Hz display, runs on 5G, and is equipped with multiple advanced cameras. The main difference between the three phones is their size: S20 Plus has a 6.7-inch display while S20 Ultra has a 6.9-inch display. Many people were pleased with the S20’s qualities, while others disliked some aspects of the phone.

“I had many thoughts when I saw the Galaxy S20 for the first time,” said Oliver Han (10), owner of many electronic devices. “Firstly, I thought the design was a bit flashy, and the camera design for both the front and back was awkward. I also felt that it was too expensive.

Additionally, I thought that the amount of RAM was just too much for a phone.

There is an option between 8GB and 12GB, which is greater than the amount that many laptops even have, which is overly unnecessary. A good point I will make about the phone, however, is its camera quality. I think with every new release, electronics companies put a lot of emphasis on the camera and its functions, which I believe the S20 did a good job with this time.”

The Galaxy S20 offers many things not previously offered by many other phones. It has three rear cameras: a wide-angle camera, an ultra-wide camera, and a telephoto camera capable of 3x lossless zoom and 30x digital zoom. The outstanding zoom abilities on the S20 is said to be what makes the phone so special. The camera is arguably better than that of the iPhone 11’s, seeing as though it expresses texture better on screen and has a higher zoom capacity.

However, the phone is less affordable than the Apple phone, and many argue that Apple’s minimalistic design is what makes their phones so much more appealing. Both phones are rated the same at IP68 for water resistance.

There are countless other technicalities to mention, but in the end, it all comes down to user preference.

“Personally, I think Apple iOS UI feels much better in general than Android UI,” said Eric Hwang (10), technology fanatic. “It’s just more user friendly and intuitive. Of course, a phone choice comes down to what the buyer is looking for in the phone.”

With every new electronic development and technological advancement, people continue to find more comfortable and higher-quality ways of living for the public. While some achievements may feel far off, ways to implement scientific achievements in everyday lives are often found. Within this ever-growing world, the importance of constant growth and improvement is ever so prevalent.

“Technology is created to automate our lives and also to connect us, something humans crave,” said Michael Ganus, avid technology user. “Life must always move forward and evolve. My parents complain that schools do not teach cursive anymore. Their ancestors complain that woodshop is not a class in school anymore. Life presses on, and with it, we develop new ways to make our lives easier.”

Prioritizing self-care amidst Coronavirus outbreak

S

by Jenny

Seo

elf-quarantine, social distancing, and isolation.

These are the three most common terms that have become familiarized around the globe in recent weeks because of the recent Coronavirus outbreak.

Naturally, the pandemic has heightened anxiety and worry, with expressions like “Coronavirus Depression” beginning to emerge. Because of such heightened tensions, self-care and one’s well being are becoming a crucial element in peoples’ lives, with billions of people searching for normalcy in the midst of a global health crisis. This is why it is important to carry on with old habits, whether they be physical or mental.

“It was so hard, and still is, for me to stay indoors all the time and not be able to resume my once active lifestyle,” said Matthew Kim (10), tennis lover.

“I used to have lessons at least a few times a week, which was the best time for me to relieve stress that had caught up with

me during school days. Now that I have to practice social distancing, my body does not feel as healthy and it is hard for me to clear my mind. However, I am now trying to take on simple workouts that can be done at home without causing much disturbance to other people, which I think could turn out to be a step toward resuming my normally energetic life.”

Numerous experts have recommended taking leisure walks as the best choice for keeping your body moving. The main reason for this is because of the fact that walking has a low chance of destroying the immune system, as it is not a sweat trigger, but it still keeps the heart rate elevated and pumping. At-home workouts and yoga routines are also a good idea for individuals under the two-week mandatory self-quarantine period. As the number of people required to stay at their homes is increasing drastically all over the world, the content of videos made on YouTube is also starting to focus on workouts

and healthy meal recipes that encourage a healthy body and mindset. In the end, it all leads up to motivation from the heart and wanting to get back on track.

“I actually think this long break from school and the outside world helped me shape a better life for what I could do at home,” said Suzy Choi (10), a fan of sports. “I encountered numerous Youtubers who have hundreds of videos on exercising indoors. Whether it be yoga, workouts, stretches, or more, I learned a lot of different forms of activities that would help me keep my body in shape.

Interestingly, the thought of staying home and focusing on myself actually motivated me more to try and lead a healthier lifestyle for both my body and mind. Despite the Coronavirus outbreak, I try to keep a positive spirit by reminding myself of the useful time I could use for other pursuits I want to achieve.

It is now nearing the end of the second semester, and especially because many schools are utilizing virtual classes where

students must stare into a computer screen for hours on a daily basis, it is easy to feel tired and sluggish as days go by. Being exposed to large amounts of negative information every day via social media is a reason why people are becoming even more worried about new updates on cases and deaths. Instead, try taking a break from the media and take care of the mind, the body, and most of all, the health.

“The Coronavirus outbreak is impacting everyone in their own individual ways,” said Tyge Shelby, physical education teacher. “However, I do think it is crucial for students to try and keep up with their regular daily routines instead of becoming slow and inactive. Teachers are also in search of finding the best of home workouts we can provide for the students during PE classes. Because it is known that we are not going to be back at school until the start of the next school year, I hope everyone pushes for their best, keeps a strong mindset until the end, and stays healthy.”

Virtual entertainment rises in popularity

by Alice

Lee

With the implementation of social distancing in a collective effort to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID19), people are beginning to turn to virtual forms of entertainment to pass time. Among SIS students, Netflix remains a popular streaming service for watching dramas and movies. “Itaewon Class,” “Crash Landing on You,” and “Kingdom” are some shows that students enjoy on Netflix in their free time nowadays.

“I have become more active on Netflix recently due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 disease,” said Rachel Yoon (9), Netflix subscriber. “I think Netflix helps me relieve my stress since

it is a good way to keep myself distracted. I also chat with my friends while watching shows so that we can regularly interact with one another. At the same time, I am trying to take a break from electronics when I can to limit the amount of time I spend staring at screens.”

Other than Netflix, a number of students play video games to cope with their boredom. In particular, the Nintendo Switch has been gaining a lot of users lately, especially following the release of the game “Animal Crossing: New Horizons” on March 20. For many, the game not only evokes a sense of nostalgia but also offers a sense of escapism, which helps them. Additionally, players can convene online to play the game

on multiplayer mode.

“The new ‘Animal Crossing’ is surreal in my opinion,” said Joshua Hahn (12), Nintendo Switch user. “My friends and I often visit each other’s islands to discuss turnip prices and give each other gifts. I think what makes the game unique is that, unlike other games that are designed to challenge users with difficult tasks, ‘Animal Crossing’ allows users to go at their own pace without pressuring them.

I find the game very relaxing in these times.”

People are also relying on social media as a means to continue interacting with their friends even while at home. For instance, many Instagram and Snapchat users are entertain-

ing themselves by tagging each other to participate in various challenges on their stories. On TikTok, people are uploading videos of themselves executing choreographed dances and fictional scenarios, keeping up with the latest trends.

“I definitely think that the situation with COVID-19 has increased my activity on social media,” said Janice Park (11). “I downloaded the TikTok app not too long ago because I felt like I had nothing else to do at home.

These days, I often find myself branching out and looking into new trends on these platforms.

In my opinion, social media is currently the biggest force in uniting everyone together during this time of social distancing.”

Tiger Times

May 2020

9

Appropriate approach for protection from the Coronavirus

by Jennier You

With nearly 200 countries at risk due to the coronavirus pandemic, the South Korean government is clearly making all-out efforts to try and mitigate the situation. Amid these concerns, face masks have been identified as one of the most ideal, effective methods to decrease the probability of getting infected.

Unfortunately, there have not been explicit recommendations regarding how to use these masks, which is an essential step that should be taken into serious consideration before leaving the house unprotected and potentially vulnerable.

“On the onset of the coronavirus, the importance of cleaning your hands and wearing masks were some of the most essential factors that were highlighted from the very beginning,” said Christine Yu (10), a highly concerned citizen.

“However, it was noticeable that the authorities mostly instructed that these actions should be performed without a clear description or demonstration of how to take these measures into action. I felt like this as indeed a flaw that needed to be addressed in order for the safety of the citizens as a whole. Therefore, more awareness should be built on the procedures as to the execution of these tasks so that citizens would be able to fit with these accurate, precision movements from experts.”

It becomes essential to wash your hands with running water and soap before proceeding to cover your mouth, chin, and nose with the mask. When doing so, it is important that the mask is clearly secured onto the face region by placing the metal edge on the top of the mask onto the nose bridge, and then tightened by placing the elastic straps of the mask behind the ears for safety. While using the mask, many touch the front of the mask or bring the mask down to the chin only. This is a commonly seen occurrence among many university students who move into cafes instead of staying inside. The ongoing problem of not wearing masks in a proper manner detrimentally affects the lives of these students and puts their lives at risk.

To address the disposal of these masks, there should be minimal contact of the face of the mask.

Only the straps located on top of the ears should be made into contact and should be disposed of in a closed bin afterward.

“It is important to note the many issues that occurred within South Korea, as well, in terms of fraud and deception amid the coronavirus,” said Michelle Heo (10), a MUN member. “These illicit actions shouldn’t be undermined since the impact of hoarding or illegal distributing, for example, are tremendous. Although the South Korean government dealt with these issues with all seriousness and implemented harsh consequences subsequently, it doesn’t do justice for all the previous immoral activities. I believe that especially during urgent, difficult times like these, everyone should unite and corporate with one another.”

With the outbreak of the coronavirus came illegal distributors and hoarders of face masks for economic profit. Although strict regulations have been implemented to restrict these hoarders, in the beginning, they were largely undeterred. Many South Koreans have received delivery boxes of ordered masks with smaller quantities than they ordered by fraud distributors, who intentionally exploited these consumers for economic gains and deliberately faulted the production.

Other distributors collected disposable masks to be discarded after use and resold the masks after washing them. Many were illegal hoarders, who ordered more than they needed in huge quantities, thus hurting the production of the mask industries.

After much controversy regarding this fraudulent, the government took more control over the situation by forcing all to notify the authorities and provide information about their services. Illegal distributors in violation of this federal mandate were arrested for the protection of citizens. For this reason, many citizens have begun to use apps like Public Mask Inquiry Service, Ttogdak, and Gooddak, which all became popularized for the reliability and credibility of their mask shipping services.

Homemade Dalgona lattes go viral

E

by Clara

Lim

ver since the outbreak of COVID-19, many countries, including South Korea, have promoted social distancing campaigns. These campaigns intend to minimize the spread of the virus by deliberately increasing physical space between people. For instance, they encourage people to avoid public crowds to protect themselves from the virus. With more time spent at home, many people have tried cooking new recipes for themselves. Among the many dishes that have gone viral on social media as a result of this trend, Dalgona latte has been particularly popular. Dalgona lattes started trending on Instagram and YouTube as people started posting

pictures and videos of themselves making it. Popular celebrities such as TWICE and BTS mentioned the recipe as well.

“After watching a YouTuber making Dalgona latte, I wanted to try it myself,” said Ariel Ahn (10), who personally tried making Dalgona latte. “Despite the fact that it takes a lot of effort and time to make it, I think Dalgona latte went viral because people are tired of having nothing to do during quarantine. As all public schools and many workplaces are shut down due to the virus, they cannot go outside to spend time with other people. I think all these viral recipes show people’s efforts to stay productive while they are stuck inside. I also heard that Dalgona latte is not only trending in South

Korea, but also spreading in many other countries.”

Dalgona is a Korean candy made with brown sugar and baking soda, which was a popular street food in the 1980s. Dalgona coffee is named after this sugar candy due to the taste of its cream topped on the latte. The ingredients for this recipe are 2 tablespoons of instant coffee, 2 tablespoons of sugar, 2 tablespoons of hot water, and 1 cup of milk. Combine the instant coffee, sugar, and hot water in a mixing bowl in equal parts. Mix it for 5 minutes until the color changes to golden brown and the mixture becomes sticky. In order for the mixture to become thick enough, you will need to stir it with a spoon at least 400 times. When the mixture becomes creamy, pour

the milk into a glass with a few ice cubes in it, then top it with the mixture that you just made.

“Making Dalgona latte took me much time and effort,” said Jennifer Shin (10), who made Dalgona latte a couple of times. “The recipe that I found online told me that you have to stir it 400 times, but I actually had to stir it many more times. By the time it was done, I was very tired and my arms hurt a lot, but it was definitely rewarding. It was creamy, soft, and bittersweet.

If you are the type of person who needs coffee every morning to stay awake, Dalgona coffee is going to be worth your effort. Moreover, it does not require you to master a barista-level of skills. Anyone can easily follow the steps and make tasty coffee themselves.”

Trending homemade Dalgona latte is seen as a method to stave off some quarantine-induced panic.

While being isolated, developing a hobby is a healthy phenomenon, since not being able to communicate with others may cause stress and anxiety. This brings a similar effect to meditating since it eases frustration and depression. In a normal life setting, hobbies are seen as things that distract you from productivity and work. However, if you take quarantine as an opportunity, mastering something that you do not usually experience at work, such as trying out new recipes, will allow you a little break from workloads.

10 SPORTS NBA gets suspended due to COVID-19 In time of a global pandemic and a resulting quarantine period, there is not much to keep individuals entertained apart from platforms such as Netflix or YouTube. Especially for sports fans, this would have been the perfect time to watch their favorite sports online and cheer on as teams compete, had not various sports including soccer, baseball, football, and basketball cancel their seasons or indefinitely postpone them until the pandemic has settled. Moreover, recent news has seen more and more sports stars testing positive for COVID-19. In particular, the NBA has seen a rapid rise in the number of infected athletes.

“I was very disappointed after hearing that the NBA, NFL, and more were being either cancelled or delayed, as I would not be able to enjoy watching these games at home while being quarantined,” said Nathan Kim (10), basketball enthusiast. “However, this is a necessary measure for the prevention of the further spreading of the virus, as many players themselves have contracted the virus and it should be prevented from reaching the audience as well.”

The NBA declared that the season was officially suspended on Mar. 12 following an announcement of an infected NBA player of the team Utah Jazz: center Rudy Gobert. Officials of the NBA had previously stated that should even just one player contract the coronavirus, the season will have to be

put on hold as it creates a risk of the virus spreading to other teammates and players. Thus, it was inevitable that the season had to be indefinitely postponed for the safety of the audience and athletes. The postponement of the season was announced right before a game, and the audience was asked to leave as the PA constantly repeated “you are all safe.” As predicted, following this, more basketball players were tested positive, including Donovan Mitchell of the same team, Christian Wood of the Detroit Pistons, two unidentified Lakers, and more.

“I usually love to watch the final games of the NBA season,” said Suzy Choi (10), junior varsity basketball player. “Before hearing about the games cancelling due to the virus, I was pretty excited but not so much anymore as the season’s indefinite postponement has definitely brought down the fans’ enthusiasm. I guess fans will just have to look forward to next years’ games. In the meantime, I hope all athletes tested positive would have a safe recovery.”

As of now, the NBA season has been indefinitely postponed; however, some have voiced the concern that it might ultimately be cancelled. This cancellation would lead to extensive harms for the league and association itself, including the massive economic loss it would face. The dwindling ticket sales, television ratings, and jersey sales would lead to a significant loss of revenue for the NBA. Not only is the association affected, but the play-

ers are also affected as well. Players lose significant amounts of money by one game not played, and should this season be either cancelled or postponed for a long time, players will lose a steady source of income.

“I was really looking forward to watching the NBA season unfold,” said Tim Munro, varsity boys basketball team coach. “There were a number of competitive races for the lower playoff seedings in both Western and Eastern Conferences, so it was going to be exciting to see who would get those final spots.

While I don’t think those teams would have fared well in the first round of the playoffs, I think the tops 4 teams in both conferences would have had exciting battles to see who gets to compete in the NBA finals. I was really disheartened as an NBA fan that the season ended so quickly. I don’t think they will be able to start it up to complete the year at this point, although I sincerely hope I am wrong. The NBA finals were going to be exciting no matter which 2 teams were able to make it that far. Again, while the season hasn’t officially been cancelled, it’s unlikely that restarting in May is going to be possible. Just as some people enjoy going to movies and theatre, this is entertainment for me, watching the best in the world at basketball compete, so it has really been a bummer for me not being able to enjoy this action.”

make a crazy amount. Maybe star players should feel some pressure to chip in, but ultimately it should be the team owners who take the bulk of responsibility for taking care of arena staff.”

The immediate financial futures of many sports leagues remain in limbo. It remains unclear how long leagues will remain closed or if seasons will be revived at all.

As a result, the financial future of arena staff also remains uncertain.

It is unclear how long teams will be willing to pay their staff members

and how long player philanthropy will last. Aside from stadium employees, many other workers in the sports industry have been economically displaced. Countless part time workers and contractors will face financial uncertainty due to events such as the NFL draft, which will be held without fans in 2020.

Other sports related jobs, such as workers at sports broadcasting companies, will also be negatively impacted by the hiatus in play. In this sense, the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the

sports industry will go much further than stadium workers.

“There’s a huge industry related to game days,” said Timothy Munro, boys varsity basketball coach. “If you’ve ever been outside a stadium on a game day, it’s abuzz with vendors and customers. Silver Cloud Hotel across from Safeco Field, the home of the Seattle Mariners, will not have the occupancy it once had. Restaurants, bars, street performers, all of these businesses and workers will feel incredible financial drawbacks from this hiatus.”

by Emily

Sung

Sports teams pledge support for arena workers amidst pandemic

by Eric

Hwang

After the NBA suspended play on Mar. 12, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban turned media attention to the struggles of stadium arena workers, who will be without work during the league’s shutdown. With countless other leagues and major sporting events also canceled, teams across the world have pledged to financially support stadium workers during sporting hiatuses. In the NBA and NHL, a majority of teams have promised to compensate stadium or part time workers. The MLB has gone further, with all 30 teams agreeing to a joint plan to donate at least $1 million per team for ballpark employees.

“It really is a case by case basis,” said Andrew Cho (11), avid sports fan. “In some areas, the clubs themselves have been extremely helpful, but then again [the degree of responsibility] depends on the size of the clubs. Clubs with big markets that are extremely profitable should pay the full incomes for their staff members. For smaller clubs, the players should chip in to cover the full income.”

Many individual athletes have also personally donated for the financial relief of stadium workers. Stars such as Steph Curry, Michael Phelps, Simone Biles, and David Ortiz have contributed memorabilia to the raffle fundraiser Athletes for Covid-19 Relief.

In the NBA, stars such as Kevin Love, Blake Griffin, and Giannis Antetokounmpo each donated $100,000. Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert, the first major athlete to test positive for Covid-19, also donated $500,000. In addition, rookie standout Zion Williamson has promised to pay the salaries of Pelicans arena workers for 30 days.

MLB stars have also promised support, with outfielder George Springfield donating $100,000 and pitcher Trevaor Bauer contributing $10,000. From the NHL, goalie Sergei Bobrovsky has pledged $100,000.

“I don’t think that players necessarily have any responsibility to pay stadium workers,” said Jacob Lim (11), varsity basketball player and sports fan. “Yes, most team owners are billionaires, but there are plenty of professional athletes playing in top leagues that don’t

Tiger Times

May 2020

11

Lee

When it comes to pandemic outbreaks, no one is an exception to the dangers of the virus. Due to the crowded working environment, famous actors, singers, social media influencers, and athletes are susceptible to the coronavirus.

Unfortunately, the spread of the coronavirus among the NBA players led to suspension of the season. The administration along with coaches and fans acknowledged the risk of having a big number of people in an indoor place. In addition to basketball, golf, tennis, and other sports had shut down. Many students are in quarantine and are in need of some sort of entertainment.

“Although it is unfortunate that I have to spend my senior second semester without NBA games, the cancellation of the season is very necessary based on the current situation in the United States,” said Calvin Lee (12), an NBA fan.

A lot of basketball fans including myself are waiting on the slightest hope that the season might continue. However, we understand that caring for the health of these athletes, praying for Rudy Gobert who was the first NBA player to get tested positive, and preventing the spread of this virus among the athletes should be prioritized.”

The cancellation of games brought a troublesome situation for sports-only channels. After multiple news regarding the cancellation of sports seasons were released, no sports channels made it into the Top 50 most watched channels list. To remedy this situation, ESPN has been sending out the news schedules for 24 hours a day ahead of time. With the little time given to programme a new schedule, sports channel advisors are reusing their old algorithms

and using the strategy obtained from ESPN’s. Many viewers were saddened to hear that channels are not able to broadcast any games live since the significance of ‘live’ channels is that the energy from the stadium is conveyed to the audience behind a TV screen. After that moment passes, whether they watch the clip a day after or a year after, it is just a rebroadcast.

“Watching highlights of a certain player or a season is fun to a certain extent. Although it is fun to watch historic games of your favorite players, it is also somewhat boring because you already know the result of the game,” said Eddie Choe (11), a basketball fan.

Live games are fun in the sense that I get to seize the moment of cheering for my favorite team to make the next shot and win. Also this season was left with unanswered questions such as “who is the champion,” “who is the MVP,” “who is the rookie of the year,” and more. Although nothing can fill up that gap, I would like to see something more than just rebroadcasts.”

These professional sports channels are not going to let their audience get too disappointed just yet.

ESPN opened an online Q&A session, which will help them achieve two main goals. First, they want to be as relevant as possible and keep the audience updated with how this unpredictable situation is affecting the sports world. Secondly, they want to keep the audience entertained throughout this quarantine period. One special event is planning to air in June. It is “The Last Dance,” which is about the network’s 10-part miniseries about the Chicago Bulls NBA dynasty. ESPN plans to host virtual meetings to discuss upcoming events on the channel.

photo of the month

by Sunny

sports

Alternatives to sports channels during quarantine

Riding bicycles, people were swarming hangang to get some fresh air during this quarantine break. photo by Lauren Kang

Tokyo Olympics postponed to 2021

O

by Sarah

Baek

n Mar. 23, International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Dick Pound announced a monumental decision to postpone the Tokyo 2020 Olympics until next summer due to the coronavirus pandemic. This announcement came after several teams and nations threatened to withdraw and pushed for a suspension of the Games, which was likely an inevitable decision. The Olympics will arguably be the biggest and most significant sporting event that will fall victim to the coronavirus.

The Olympic torch had already been lit on Mar. 12 in Olympia, Greece with the theme of “Hope Lights Our Way”, but the traditional torch relay has been rescheduled to start again July 23, 2021.

“I can’t imagine how the athletes must be processing this postpone-

ment,” said Yulee Chung (11), varsity tennis player. “I’ve read stories about how these athletes would have to maintain their form and body one more year, and I’m very sorry for them. However, I believe that the postponement was the right measure for the IOC and the Japanese officials to take, as nothing outweighs human beings’ lives.

Whether it was too late or just right on time, the 12-month postponement was the best thing we could have asked for.”

The sporting world has been at a full stop since the World Health Organization (WHO) announced the outbreak of a pandemic on March 11; the NBA, NHL, MLB, and European football leagues have been delayed indefinitely. Up until the decision to postpone the Olympic Games was made, IOC members argued that a delay was necessary for three main reasons: competi-

tion fairness, risk of injury, and emotional well being of athletes.

While many international federations, including swimming, table tennis, triathlon, and equestrian have expressed their preference to move the date to the spring, given that the spring clashes with major soccer leagues’ and many of the financially lucrative US sports league events, it seems quite likely that the IOC will abide by its decision to host the Games in July of the following year.

“I guess the biggest concern would be whether Tokyo can still become the Olympics that overcame the pandemic,” said Laina Kim (10), passionate fan of the Olympics. “I wonder whether the Games will stand as a liability or a political opportunity for Prime Minister Abe, since he is attempting to serve the Games as a grand farewell a few months before he’s

set to leave office. However, as the IOC’s president said they were nevertheless confident to put a ‘beautiful jigsaw puzzle together,’ I hope it’ll be a wonderful Olympics for the athletes and the world.”

The delayed games have raised many questions, including whether they will be called the Tokyo 2020 or 2021 Olympics, creating much uncertainty for the host country Japan. As President Shinzo Abe attempts to transform the Tokyo Olympics into a multimillion dollar economic boost for Japan to fight its $10,221.5 billion debt and a political opportunity for himself, the increasing unpredictability of the delayed event will only pose new challenges for the President.

For example, hotels will need to rebook thousands of visitors. The Olympic Village has to push its renovation schedule out another year, and potentially redo thousands of

contracts with buyers in the hope of the country recouping its $10 billion investment.

“It’s always been a huge dream of mine since I was young to watch the Olympics,” said Jennifer Kurbel, varsity cross country coach. “As I was involved in competitive sports with martial arts for nine years and became a two-time national champion, I know the amount of dedication and sacrifice it takes to get to that level, and they are pretty intense. For me, the experience of going and participating in the atmosphere to see people who are passionate about athletics and representing their countries has been a bucket list. Recently, I got an email that the tickets and hotels will still be refunded by the IOC, and although things are very uncertain at this moment, I’m just hoping that it will all work out.”

12

SMALL TALK

Joanne Yang word of the month Technology. Defined as machinery or a practical application of scientific knowledge, technological advancements are assuming increasingly crucial roles in helping us navigate through changing times. Especially with the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), digital platforms like social networking sites seem to be the thin thread that holds us together. Technology plays a significant role in facilitating our livelihoods in spite of the new challenge.

As people are encouraged to distance themselves from their friends and workplaces, many are turning toward digital platforms for entertainment. Virtual social gatherings like birthday parties, DJ concerts, and Twitter movie nights are fostering “virtual companionship”, according to the New York Times. While some play poker on Facetime, others join meditation sessions on Instagram and dance raves on Tiktok. The adaptation to a new form of social interaction is also followed by a novel forum of education: virtual classes.

Technology As high schools and universities have closed in response to the coronavirus, they are resorting to online lessons held on video conferencing services like Zoom and Google Hangouts. Though online classes may not be as effective in engaging students, they are still maximizing educational opportunities despite the crisis.

Scientists and health officials in the United Kingdom are also experimenting with innovative uses of technology in public health maintenance. According to the New York Times, Oxford researchers are testing a smartphone app that would alert its users when they have come into contact with a coronavirus patient. The app would be voluntary and collect information from consenting consumers who agree to disclose their location data through GPS, adjacent cell towers, and Wi-Fi networks. If successfully implemented, the application could benefit the majority of users by providing them information necessary to take precautionary measures when they are within a specific radius of

a confirmed infectee. Such technology was first explored in China’s centralized surveillance system that dictates whether its citizens are allowed into public spaces or have to be quarantined. More than 50 million citizens were mandated to download Alipay where they are assigned a color based on their health status in order to gain access to public transportation. However, this system raises concerns of automatically encoding users’ identifying numbers and locations and possibly transmitting them to the police after the epidemic.

The outbreak of the coronavirus sheds light upon how closely intertwined our lives are with technological innovations.

Though some critics believe that online classes are ineffective and disruptive classroom environments, while others criticize how novel apps used to identify patients could undermine privacy, the digital age has nonetheless enabled us to connect, communicate, and endure the global crisis in unison.

IT F... The S

t rke

k M c a o t

Crashed?

BY CHRISTOPHER SHIN

Whether it be global trade wars, unexpected moves by the Federal Reserve, or an extremely infectious pandemic, dips in the stock market are practically inevitable.

However, in recent months, international stock market values have begun to spiral downwards. Triggered largely by the coronavirus, businesses have suffered huge losses, and as a result, panicking investors have begun to dump their shares. In fact, according to Standard and Poor, the 10 largest one-day point losses in Dow Jones history have occurred between February and March this year. In the midst of such an economic nosedive, what would happen if the stock market crashed?

As to be expected, a stock market crash would bring devastating effects to the economy. Shareholders would experience the immediate impacts, especially in regards to their financial stability. As seen in previous recessions, consumer spending would most likely become more cautious and 401k investments would see huge drops in value. As a result, many elderly citizens may even choose to delay retirement in such a crisis. In a similar light, businesses would also struggle and lack sufficient funding to support rapid growth. The sale of stocks is one of the primary sources of funding for many innovative projects in companies, and cutting off such a stream of money would stagnate their progress.

For both consumers and companies alike, a stock market crash is far from optimal.

However, such a tragedy could possibly emerge as a triumph for a select group of

young investors. According to sources such as Forbes and the Motley Fool, severe market declines have historically been the best times to invest given a long-term horizon. A pattern that has held especially true for blue-chip companies such as Coca-Cola or Home Depot, two companies that have proven their ability to make it through depressions, buying low and waiting for the eventual recovery over the span of many years could possibly bring great returns. In fact, some of the richest men in the world have carved their financial careers out of economic recessions, with examples including Warren Buffet, John Paulson, and J. Paul Getty.

While we can imagine an extreme stock market crash as a result of the coronavirus, it is more likely that there will be a bear market (a market characterized by falling stock prices) that will only heavily impact certain industries. On one hand, as a result of reduced travel due to the pandemic, airline companies and cruise companies have seen plummeting stock prices. On the other hand, companies with products and services designed to help mitigate the effects of the coronavirus, such as 3M, Purell, or Zoom Video have actually experienced rising stock prices. Ultimately, living in such fearful and uncertain times will inevitably result in instability in the stock market, and there will be both gains and losses for different groups and individuals in society. However, this is not the first economic recession the world has witnessed, and governments around the world are doing all they can to ensure it is not the last.

Staff members prepare a lost-and-found station for students who are visiting school to return books.

photo of the

month

Photo by Wendy Grant

WHA