Tiger Times Volume 49 issue 3

Tiger Times VO L U M E 4 9 | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 7 | I S S U E 3 | T T O N L . O RG

KAIAC Conference Keebum Kim Jiwon Chung Katherine Kim KAIAC Tournament Keebum Kim Jiwon Chung Katherine Kim Lucienne Huh

THE LAST RACE Photo by Andie Kim

Editorial

Korean apathy, as told by US media

By Andrew Ham and Diana Nakyoung Lee Co-Editors-in-Chief

Over the last 13 years, North Korea has declared war on the US no fewer than 12 times; yet once again, as if it were a yearly ritual, the American media and public did not fail to sound the alarms when tensions between President Trump and our neighbors to the North escalated this fall. Moreover, American news outlets wondered out loud why South Korean citizens were not sharing in their panic. In August, an article in Vox magazine opened with the headline, “A South Korean journalist explains why her country isn’t panicking.” It proceeded to summarize an entire nation’s attitudes toward North Korea through the words of one citizen: that South Koreans did not fear their neighbors to the north because of a familial attachment, which made North Korea more than a foreign nation, one with which they supposedly believed would one day reunite.

This generalization is common among Western media outlets that ask the trite question, “Isn’t it scary living next to crazy dictator?”. It is problematic to assume that just because Koreans are not actively rioting in the streets or fleeing the nation, they are apathetic to North Korean and American nuclear threats. That is simply not true; as international students here, we are terrified of the consequences of renewed war, one that could turn nuclear. When we hear jets roaring in the skies, we nervously joke that we are doomed and that North Korea has finally come for us—but we know too well the very real suffering and terror this dictatorship inspires—after all, our grandparents survived it, and our parents were born in its aftermath. Perhaps many of us have lives to lead and daily struggles to overcome, but it is unjust for the American media to characterize this yearning for normality as detached apathy, as it is misinforming the American public of the magnitude of the consequences of their leaders’ actions.

The Korean reaction is less apathetic and more a sickened, forced habituation. Perhaps the nuances of our circumstances are hard to communicate because we are not your conventional warzone.

When we were toddlers we drew pictures of our families as headlines about missile tests blazed in the background; in 2002, we watched six of our naval officers killed at the Northern Limit Line under North Korean fire. We were four or so years old but we remember, because every man over the age of 18 here is conscripted. The first time the north crossed our border in 1950, opening one of the deadliest proxy wars of the Cold War, they came in barreling with tanks at 4 a.m. on a Sunday morning. No one expected them.

There is no time for the careless, half-hearted, frenzied panic to which the American media seem to delight in; regardless of Trump or Kim’s emotional whims, we have exams to take, jobs to perform, families to feed. If any world leader or media outlet thinks that spinning reductionist narratives of our stakes will relieve moral blame from those who dare push our world closer to nuclear war, they are dreaming, deliriously: our only comfort is that when they wake, it will be in horrifying regret.

The peace of our land, neighborhoods, and skies seem out of our own hands. To then watch as our nation is caricatured as a curiously apathetic bunch of millennials and cold-hearted Asians—almost, as it seems, for the amusement of the American masses—feels as if we are living the punchline of an elaborate joke. It is, perhaps, the greatest irony of our time: we only hoped for compassion—basic, human empathy—they dismissed us as uncaring.

Articles in the Viewpoint section represent student opinions on relevant topics. Tiger Times welcomes any questions or responses; please send them to tigertimes@gmail.com.

2 VIEWPOINT Media exposure feeds bullying crisis Before the shock of the Busan bullying incident discussed in issue 2 could fully dissipate, a similar crisis erupted in Chunan, soon followed by several others in Guangju, Gang-reung, Ah-san, and Incheon. On Sept.

12, 2017, a fourteen-year-old girl was abused by her classmate because she had allegedly “talked behind [the perpetrator’s] back.”

Koreans can still vividly recall when four middle school girls bullied their classmate in an alleyway in Busan using metal and wooden sticks and pipes as their weapons. A few days later, abusers in Chunan victimized another middle school girl.

They removed the victim’s phone and pulled her into an alley. There, they struck her cheeks repeatedly 200 to 300 times, burned her with cigarettes stubs and threatened her with a knife.

This repetition brings into question what role the media played in publicizing the Busan incident. The media was appalled by the released images of the victim on her knees with signs of abuse evident in the multiple cuts and bruises that

covered her body. That very image spread all over multiple social media platforms, through which the entire country commented, discussed, and debated over the display of cruelty and how the abusers must be properly punished. Korea responded passionately and also voiced their firm disapproval at the perpetrators’ lack of discretion and ability to understand the weight of their actions.

Of course, it is important that Koreans are made aware of the stark reality of this bullying crisis and show their indictment of the abusers while demonstrating sympathy toward the victims. Yet, such publicity seems to be partially inspiring recurrence and feeding onto the emergence of further violence. By highlighting the extent of abuse in the Busan incident, other abusers can now compare their actions and simply justify themselves by stating that their crimes are less cruel than the set precedent.

What’s more, the conversation surrounding the Busan incident could have inspired the notion in other young abusers that they can get away

with their crime and avoid fully embracing their blame, thanks to their age and by alleging that they “didn’t know any better.” Though irresponsible, this excuse is accepted as a valid response for minors and thus allows juvenile delinquents to avoid taking full charge of their actions.

Media coverage can produce many unexpected consequences. Here, we see that the Busan incident set a model, a precedent, for other abusers to follow, instead of merely exposing the horrors of a bullying crisis. Though we may feel distant regarding the event itself, we must understand the effects of our actions and constantly remind ourselves that we should be responsible for ourselves. In order to avoid further crimes, we must be cautious of our words to a large and diverse audience. While we are the reason why the victims muster up the courage to share their experiences, we are also the main contributors to the motivation of abuse.

By Andie Kim Sophomore, Staff Writer

New midterm policies promote meaningful learning The new midterm policy that will be implemented this year will shift midterms from the traditional standardized test-style assessments to exams that test students on the mastery of core course skills. In doing so, midterms will be incorporated into the regular school day schedule on the last four days of school rather than the last week of the semesters consisting of half-days with one or two exams each day. Students will be given an opportunity to demonstrate their command of essential course material in a more comfortable atmosphere using various forms, such as through free dialogue in language classes or through lab experiments in science classes. There is not much debate that all students should be marveling over this new midterm policy.

Without a doubt, some of the most stressful times of the semester are down week and the week of exams.

Most students must rigorously prepare for five to seven consecutive exams that will determine ten or twenty percent of their cumulative grade in the respective classes. Not only does

the new midterm policy alleviate such stress to a certain extent, but it also promotes learning in a form more pertinent to the 21st century lifestyle.

We now live in a technologically advanced world in which there is a decreasing need to memorize trivial facts. Moreover, much of the specific content of a class that is memorized is often not retained. While there is, to some degree, an intrinsic value in learning through memorization, the skills often treated with less importance in these assessments are “transfer skills,” ones that students would actually be able to take away after the end of the course and apply in other fields of study.

In essence, the goal of the new midterm policy is to put more emphasis on testing these transfer skills and less on rote memorization, thereby alleviating students of the immense pressure of having to cram a semester’s worth of course material for six courses in two grueling weeks.

Moreover, teachers would also benefit from not having to forcefully end a unit before the semester is over, as we

would have full class days until the end of the semester. This would allow for more time to cover the substantial amount of material present in many courses, and would especially help content-heavy courses such as APs. For students, this allows room for human error. Minor mistakes in performance will not lead to students being greatly penalized; this means that students who truly understand the material at hand will be awarded accordingly.

Of course, as this is a new initiative, there will be errors and questions that arise along the way. Teachers may have different interpretations of the policy, and students may be unsure of what will be required of them. Yet what is important to recognize is that we are heading in a completely new direction. Once ever so rarely, students will be asked to learn and understand instead of memorize and regurgitate. Slowly but surely, we are making our way toward experiencing true learning.

By Hannah Kim Junior, Staff Writer

Tiger Times October 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 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: When was the last time you stopped?

Progress defines our generation, and pulls us back.

Sometimes, we have to stop.

Running a Marathon: Don’t Pace Yourself

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s I was entering the ninth grade, my grandpa took precious time out of his day to call me and give me some advice: high school is a marathon, so pace yourself, but do not stop running. It was inspirational at the moment; this became the foundation of my personality, habits, and perfor-mance at school. However, prioritizing relentless progress without ever thinking to stop is the reason that as a sophomore, I have yet to find out who I am and who I want to become in the fu-ture. What comforts and saddens me simultaneously is the fact that I am not alone; students at SIS who act upon their beliefs and interests to generate positive change make up, from my per-spective, only a small proportion of the student body.

Subconsciously, this approach to the four years of high school has become a way of life among all of us, even my 80-year-old grandpa. It is only a matter of time before we too encourage the next generation to adopt such a mindset.

Aside from preventing us from taking the time to lie down on our beds once in a while and ponder our aspirations for the future, this fast-paced lifestyle entails conformity and discourages us from walking “the road less taken.” Our desire for unending progress forces us to look for tangible indications of growth; we have no time to lose. Whether it is attending every available public speaking competition or creative writing contest for the sake of the results, we aggrandize the value of outcomes and consequently miss no opportunity to demonstrate our intelligence, regardless of

whether we have a genuine interest in the activity or certain cause. Of course, tangible results mean quite a lot, but a memoirist would never author a narrative of only statistics and expect it to sell; after all, numbers have no character and tell no stories on their own. Such a mindset makes us lose much of our identity or at the least makes it difficult to define. In this respect, the nature of South Korean students is paradoxical. We hastily become mere clones of one another in order to distinguish ourselves from other students. At the end of the day, we are all complicit in defining this culture of mob mentality in one way or another.

It goes without saying that students at SIS are not shallow, soulless individuals.

There is a fine line between deeming results as meaningful and fixating upon them. A number of my friends, in contrast, seem to have long-term goals with regards to college and potential occupations for le-gitimate reasons other than their prestige. My purpose is not to tarnish the reputation of the stu-dent body or the school. My point is rather that something must happen about this inability to actualize one’s identity and develop it during arguably the most definitive four years of one’s adolescence.

The first step in this call to action pertains to the school itself, although I agree SIS cannot be made responsible for the SIS community’s general uniformity. Still, our tendency to conform comes down to, in part, a lack of opportunities to self-actualize, especially at school. Yes, the counselors are fulfilling their roles to the best of their abilities by introducing us to

programs such as Naviance. Unfortunately, we reap few legitimate benefits by answering 180 questions like “Do you want to sing professionally?” when the very purpose of this repetitive questionnaire is to discover whether we want to in the first place. Finding out that one is both an “investigative” and “social” learner is, of course, valuable for the creation of effective study habits, but for the most part, this information does not mean a lot, nor does it inspire us to give our identity more thought after class and outside of school. In other words, the class-wide counseling ses-sions that occur a few times a year are constructive and have an immense amount of potential, but there is room for change and refinement. Aside from more counseling sessions throughout each semester, a systematic change to SIS’ counseling may also have its benefits. Specifically, shifting the focus of the counselors’ presentations to better cater to our needs is a potential solu-tion to SIS’ individuality deficit. More suitable priorities of our school’s counseling presenta-tions are the identification of our academic strengths and weaknesses; the reasons to choose a certain major, college, or occupation; and the multiple measures we can take to challenge our-selves in our respective fields of interest. Holding the career awareness presentations is a step in the right direction, but further organization, development, and publicization of this week’s im-portance for the students is the natural progression that SIS needs.

Such initiatives will offer us more time and resources to self-actualize.

Make no mistake, we have ourselves to blame for creating such an atmosphere that contradicts our school’s very title: Seoul International School. We must realize an important truth: accolades do not determine one’s uniqueness. As South Koreans, we sacrifice ourselves for these tangible indications of our intelligence, but the fact of the matter is that hundreds or even thousands of students all over the planet are performing twice as well as us in this respect. No matter how much we want to deny this we cannot. In this competitive atmosphere of ours, we fear the consequences of letting people “run” faster than us. Stopping to take a breath and explore our talents and potentialities, in our culture of merciless progress, is in fact a hindrance. We fail to realize that taking the alternative route to success—understanding and then enhancing one’s positive characteristics—is the smarter and more efficient alternative. The bottom line is that success is inevitable for students who do what they do best, but it takes time to become familiar with one’s strengths.

It surprises me that I was able to write paragraphs about such an issue, given the fact that I am living proof that such norms exist. At the same time, the fact that I am making an attempt to eliminate the monster for which I am responsible heartens me. Cross the finish line before de-feating this beast, and it will chase you for the rest of your life. Take a breath while you can.

By Andy Yoon Sophomore, Staff Writer

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NEWS

News Briefs

By Fiona Cho

Sophomore, Staff Writer

Students from grades 1 to 3 passionately raise their hands as the author Rob Lloyd Jones asks an engaging question.

Photo by Michelle Ahn

Author Rob Lloyd Jones visits SIS

The elementary school’s annual guest author visit took place on Oct. 20th, and featured a morning assembly in which British author Rob Lloyd Jones was introduced to students of grades 1 to 3 in the auditorium. A historian and Egyptologist, Jones is the author of more than thirty books for elementary and middle schoolers, from his own version of fairy tales to non-fiction books on Ancient Egypt.

Following the first assembly, Jones spoke to two other groups. While he read two of his fairy tales out loud and answered questions for the kindergarteners, he shared more personal aspects of his career with the older and more mature students. He spoke about how though he had struggled with writing as a young student, he was able to overcome this challenge by finding books he loved. Through Jones’ stories, students were able to gain excellent insight into writing as both a passion and a potential career path.

AMIS festival relocated among safety concerns

In mid-September, students hoping to participate in the 2018 AMIS International Honor Band and Orchestra Festival were struck with the sudden news that AMIS will be relocated from Seoul Foreign School (SFS) to Singapore American School (SAS) due to safety concerns.

Various schools had expressed worries about sending students to South Korea amid rising geopolitical tensions due to North Korean nuclear threats. The dates, however, will remain unchanged as March 14-18.

“Since students usually like going abroad for trips, I think the location change got more students interested in applying for auditions,” said Julia Kim, music teacher.

“After learning that the festival would be in Singapore, some students wanted to submit better recordings, and overall, I could see the change in their eagerness to go to the festival. As for changes regarding time, we will probably leave one or two days earlier than we would if the festival were in Korea.”

Forensics team opens season at TCIS

On Oct. 14, the SIS Forensics team travelled to TCIS to participate in their first tournament of the season.

Debates were held in three formats: Lincoln-Douglas, public forum, and parliamentary debate. Eight different schools participated, including Korea International School and Yongsan International School of Seoul. The SIS team, led by Coaches Michael Silber and Michelle Ganus, placed second overall, just behind KIS, with many SIS debaters receiving awards.

“We did pretty well in the tournament, landing in second place,” said Nuri Choi (12), captain of the public forum team. “I felt it was very different this year with the new freshmen coming in and the sophomores taking an even more advanced role in the team, but they managed to perform very well. Many of the newer members placed within the top three this year, which is really good to see.

I hope we can improve even more in the coming tournament this November.”

Anthem protests spread beyond the arena

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hen the American national anthem plays, the norm is that one stands facing the flag with their right hand over their heart. Last year in August, San Francisco 49ers quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, broke this unspoken rule: according to Time magazine, he sat on the benches during the national anthem for two preseason games to protest against rampant racism, police brutality, and the systemic oppression of minorities in the US. He went unnoticed by both the public and the media, until a social network user uploaded a video of him during his third sitting. Kaepernick has since been released by the 49ers and is no longer a part of the National Football League (NFL).

“A major significance of anthem protests [like those of Kaepernick] lies in bringing light to facts about police shootings and police brutality,” said Morgan Miller, US History teacher. “I feel that changing police departments, protocols, and interactions with the community and the civilians is very important in addressing such issues because personally,

an armed black gunner being shot and killed for no apparent reason is unacceptable.”

Thirteen months after the Kaepernick incident, anthem protests have been rekindled, particularly after President Donald Trump declared at a campaign rally that those who kneel ought to be fired by NFL owners. In defiance and protest, a number of NFL players and teams have knelt, linked arms, or stayed in their locker rooms during the anthem.

According to Sports Illustrated, the New York Jets players and coaches stood with their arms locked during the anthem, while Tennessee Titans wide receiver Rishard Matthews remained in the locker room before games for two consecutive weeks.

Responses to the protests vary.

Vice President Mike Pence left in the middle of a game between the 49ers and the Indianapolis Colts because the 49ers knelt before “The Star-Spangled Banner,” an action Pence regarded as disrespect toward America’s soldiers, flag, and national anthem. Trump reacted to the protests by reiterating through his Twitter account that the NFL should

prohibit players from kneeling.

However, congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee took a knee herself on the House floor on Sept. 25, remarking that nowhere in the First Amendment does it say that one cannot kneel before the national anthem or the flag. Moreover, advertisers like Nike, Bose, Hyundai, and Anheuser-Busch all stated that they respect the players’ freedom of choice and expression, regardless of whether the opinions were in line with their own.

“People may have conflicting views, but everyone has the right to voice his or her opinions, as that is what democracy is,” said Bryan Hur (10), AP US History student. “At the end of the day I think it is good that there is a lot of discourse going on due to this issue. People are engaging in political discussions. However, it should not go to the extent in which discussion leads to polarization within America. I hope that conflict between opposing sides will decrease, and America can finally come to a compromise.”

By Youngseo Jhe Junior, Staff Writer

The More You Know

Nation in need of introspection The political and social controversies that are currently dividing Americans are supremely complex, so any attempt at simplifying them into universal statements is most likely missing the point.

That said, let me now attempt to simplify many of America’s most controversial political issues today. Name any dispute—the ongoing NFL anthem saga, the political correctness movement (and the backlash against it), the Women’s March (and ensuing Convention)—these diverse debates have one idea in common, the integration of diversity. As traditional institutions and structures of privilege make way in the 21st century for an increased awareness of the previouslyinvisible disadvantages that traditionally marginalized groups face, American society is having difficulty coming to terms with this new reality.

More specifically, the traditional holders of power—the white, male demographic—is having trouble understanding that even today, with all the social advancement America has experienced over the past decades, people face injustices based on the color of their skin or the fact that they’re attracted to a

him, not a her. And on the other side of the debate, an increasing number of repressed minorities who have held lower statuses of social privilege are speaking out about perceived biases and injustices that they believe must be solved before the equal opportunity that characterizes the American Dream can be achieved.

This isn’t a new phenomenon; in fact, it is just the most modern interpretation of a struggle spanning centuries, beginning with the issue of slavery (with the Civil War) and moving into the Civil Rights movement, the women’s suffrage movement, and the LGBT rights movement.

But while the United States has achieved some notable, very prominent victories that it openly celebrates (like Martin Luther King), full equality among sexes, races, and gender orientations has most definitely not been achieved today. The issue is that these struggles for equality have perhaps been slightly distorted or misinterpreted in our current toxic political sphere. For example, those who dispute PC culture believe that it is an issue of people being over-sensitive and obsessed with frivolous acts of discrimination. There are those who claim that black NFL players who protest during the national

By Andrew Ham

anthem are simply ungrateful for their success in life as millionaires and ignorant of the privilege they experience daily by living in the US. These conflicts stem from a fundamental misunderstanding between two groups of people: one that believes that everyone in America begins life from an equal standing, and another that experiences the struggles of an unequal, unjust system on a daily basis.

Because so many of our current conflicts stem from this misunderstanding, any methods of combatting deepening political polarization must begin with a nationwide discussion of the place that diversity holds in American society. Are we a melting pot, or a knitted quilt?

Do we value immigrants who can conform to American values or do we want to preserve a diversity of experiences and ideas for its own sake? Decades after the day of reckoning the Civil Rights Movement brought to the United States, the nation needs to look into itself once again, take a moment of introspection, and appear with a better understanding of what it means to “lift [its lamp] beside the golden door” and welcome the tired, the poor, the huddled masses yearning to breathe free.

Tiger Times October 2017

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Lack of action hinders natural disaster relief efforts

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his year has seen an increasing number of natural disasters, including a 7.1 earthquake in Central Mexico, Hurricane Irma, and Hurricane Maria. Recently, Ricardo Rossello, the governor of Puerto Rico, stated that the death toll has increased from 16 people to 34, and that Hurricane Maria caused $90 billion dollars in damage. On October 3, 2017, CBS reported that 94 percent of Puerto Ricans were without power; in Utuado, people were bathing in streams because there was no water. President Trump visited Puerto Rico two weeks after the hurricane

hit. However, in the case of Hurricane Irma, Donald Trump visited Florida in only 4 days after the disaster. His late appearance in Puerto Rico caused uproar, which was exacerbated when he threw paper towels to the public.

“The size of the disaster is relative to the size of the hurricane. There were many problems with infrastructure. The disaster made Americans think about Puerto Ricans,” said Francisco Vega Torres, Spanish teacher from Puerto Rico. “Many Americans don’t know that Puerto Rico is part of the US and that Puerto Ricans are also US

citizens. Trump’s reaction is a reflection of the politician thoughts that Americans don’t care. This brought the caution to the injustices that Puerto Ricans have suffered.

Having brought the attention of the Americans, they are finally aware of the Jones Act.” A major cause for the lack of attention the US and its public gives to Puerto Rico because many do not realize the island nation is a US territory. The Jones-Shafroth Act states that everyone in Puerto Rico are granted US citizenship. Many Americans were not aware of Puerto Rico as part of

America, and also that Puerto Ricans were also US citizens.

The US government has sent around $46 million dollars to aid Puerto Rico. According to the Federal Procurement Data System, the money will help transport goods, inspect buildings, and provide temporary homes for survivors. In addition, President Trump waived the Jones Act, allowing the US to ship aid supplies to Puerto Rico without restriction.

“However, the shipment of items to Puerto Rico is not the most pressing issue.

The distribution of aid as limited by the number of available trucks and pathways is,” said Joanne Lee (12), founder of Passionfruit, a grassroot movement to help Puerto Rico relief efforts. “Trump promised that he would be there to help in a series of tweets. Yet there exists a gap between his words and his action. Two weeks after the damage is too late. The people have already suffered, and they will continue to suffer unless we take communal action.”

According to Quartz, as of November 4, 2017, 3.4 million people living in Puerto Rico are facing their 45th day without power because the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority are struggling to restore power.

Puerto Rico initially had the main contract with a Montana company named Whitefish, but it was cancelled on October 29, 2017 due to controversies during contract negotiation.

The growing problem of Puerto Ricans suffering from both Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria are not attracting enough public attention. More help is in need.

By Lauren Kang Sophomore, Staff Writer

SIS officially opens bid for new catering service

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n late September, an announcement regarding the SIS catering service bid appeared on the school webpage. J&J Catering has been the school’s catering service for 13 years, but this bid may result in a change. The final catering service will be selected at the end of a two-level screening.

“Parents’ suggestions initiated the whole catering issue,” said Hye Yong Min, Chief of Communications. “After talking to other parents, the parents in the Parent Advisory Council (PAC) requested that we review J&J. Last year, the School Catering Committee (SCC) was formed with the responsibility of overseeing catering services. There are 9 members in the SCC: 3 parents, 3 faculty members, and 3 administrative staff. The SCC decided to contract with J&J until we have a new contractor. The school plans to use that time for the bid.”

Many companies have shown interest in participating in the bid. Some companies even visited the school cafeteria. The SCC will officially announce more details on submissions after Nov. 6, the deadline for applications. An official catering services bid announcement was uploaded onto the SIS website on Sept. 27. The page contains three documents that catering services can reference for additional information about the bidding process. These companies will participate in a two-level screening based on five criteria: business performance and efficiency, food production operations management, safety and hygiene, cus-

tomer service, and management of human resources.

“The business performance and efficiency criterion has the greatest weight,” Ms. Min said. “We are looking for a well-established company which has the ability to function well in a school like ours. This means that we are looking at whether they can meet the physical requirements. The ability to produce the number of meals and the quality of those meals will be considered.”

The decision for the catering service will be made after two evaluations. In the first screening, the companies submit proposals and give presentations. From this level, three companies with the highest scores will proceed to the second round. In the second round, the committee members will visit places where the company is currently functioning and will score them by tasting the food. The company with the highest overall score from this second round will be given the first opportunity to contract with SIS. “Compared to J&J, Ourhome catering has better service, offers a diverse choice for food,” said Ashley Lee (9), student from Chadwick International. “I personally enjoyed their pasta which they cook on the spot.”

J&J had previously been the dominant catering service for many international schools. However, several have drifted away from J&J and have contracted with other catering services. Aside from Chadwick

Cleaning her near empty tray, Annette Choi (10) hands the cafeteria staff her cup.

International, for example, Korea International School changed its food service from J&J to Hyundai Green Food Catering.

However, some schools like Seoul Foreign School still remain with J&J. Many students have also been vocal about the food, with daily comments both for and against J&J echoing throughout the cafeteria. Many students say that they wait

Photo by Lauren Kang

for a day when J&J is replaced, while others feel content with J&J after new menus were added last year. The question remains whether students will be satisfied with a new catering service or a continuation of the status quo.

By Chris Lee Sophomore, Staff Writer

POpulism: the Double Edged blade to Democracy

With the rise of populism gaining momentum around the globe, the question of the fate of democracy emerges as a radical concern. While some welcome the political trend as the voice of the people, others have set about to condemn it as the bane of democracy. Yet, there seems to be no definitive resolution to this ongoing debate. Is populism the very essence of a representative government, the redemptive cure to the disease of corruption and social inequality? Or, is it simply a damaging force to democratic ideals, a cultish phenomenon that fuels demagoguery?

To answer such questions, the roots of populism must be traced back to an earlier time period. For example, in the late 1800s of the American reconstruction era, populism existed in the form of political movements led by those in search of socioeconomic improvement, leading to the formation of groups such as the Farmers’ Alliance, Granger’s Movement, and the Omaha Platform. Today, populism has come to include cultural aspects as well, reflected as a whole in leaders’ “care for the people.” Such forms of the trend include populist sentiments toward civic matters like refugee policies or even nationalism.

Though the definition of populism has undoubtedly changed over time, the concept is centered around three core values: the people, the elite, and the general will of the public.

In most cases, the division between the “upper,” often “corrupt-labeled” group and the common people is what drives the pursuit of populist policies. These can include demands for social equality, reforms in economic distribution, or changes in legal principles that pertain to civil affairs. In response to these needs, populist leaders emerge—seeking appeal from the people and calling for radical reforms that prioritize the hopes of their supporters. Some of these leaders, like Hugo Chavez and Donald Trump, may propose economic reforms to appeal to the

By sia cho

people, while others like Angela Merkel and Rodrigo Duterte may use populist rhetoric in addressing human rights and national identity to garner support. Nonetheless, despite the use of varying methods, these politicians all share one common goal—to gain political support through representation of the people.

From one perspective, this type of populist approach can, indeed, be destructive to the concept of democracy.

What must be noted here is that a fine line exists between autocracy and democratic populism. Though the clear distinction between the two lies in whether or not the people have a say in the government, the transition between those political systems, on the other hand, may not be so conspicuous.

In populist governments, representative power is given to one individual to serve the interests of the public. When the leader abuses this power, the situation has potential to result in a slippery slope toward the other end of the political spectrum—paving the way to totalitarianism.

Additionally, the possibility of the election of a demagogue is also present, which may lead to similar results in which false promises beget distorted governance. Thus, depending on the people’s willingness to trust leaders with their actions, the price of popular sovereignty may be paid through corruption.

A classic example of this case is the rise of authoritarianism in Turkey. With increasingly dictatorial rule, Erdogan, the Turkish president, demonstrates the perils of a leader wresting away rights in the name of the majority.

Following his promises on “purging” the nation, Erdogan’s victory in a constitutional referendum granted sweeping powers to him, including authority to make laws through decree, vast control over the judiciary, and most importantly, the potential for another decade of his rule. Seeking absolute power and enacting repressive measures, Erdogan

has exhibited harsh measures for those that challenge his plans—an illustration of just one out of the many detrimental turns in populist ideals that could hurt democracy in the end.

On the contrary, populism may be a driving factor behind democracy; after all, the very definition of a democracy is within its people. Not only does the system redirect attention to the group, but the pursuit of populist ideals can also make politics more accessible and inclusive to society. By giving a voice to those excluded from the government, populist politics allows for the entrance of diversity into the conduct of public affairs.

Furthermore, populism has the ability to expose dysfunctions of the society that may have been rejected by traditional parties, putting the basis of democracy into practice once again. Such a function is clearly emphasized in populist movements like Brexit. The UK referendum, which was based on the desire to regain control of immigration and reclaim national sovereignty, highlighted a few characteristics of populist principles: one, that they enable the identification of social issues, and two, that they are able to be actively acted upon. Thus, in contexts where the people have the power to push for social change, populism may be acting as a potent agent to preserve and reinforce democratic ideals rather than annihilate them.

Through deliberation of all these cases that bespeak the effects of populism, only one thing seems to become evident: the global trend in these political values are not one sided. Juxtaposed in context, populism can take both the forms of a threat to a democratic government as well as the bedrock of its existence. In this sense, the blade of populism cuts both ways; it does not go in one direction or the other, but simply both. And as the doubled edged blade to democracy, perhaps its effects largely depend on how we, as the people, wield it.

POPU

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keeping pace with populism

When a prevalent political phenomenon adjusts to the rapidly shifting global trends, the resulting political community can either be immensely productive or largely problematic. In order to understand the full consequences of stagnancy or drastic change of a malleable concept, one must first pitch into interpreting the roots of the idea. Such is the case for populism. Before automatically redefining populism as demagogy, fascism, or ominous signs of democratic backsliding, one must contemplate the two political divides of populism that have accumulated throughout history and evaluate its consistency based on the concept of the most recent version of populism captured in present politics.

It is common for one to speculate that conservative and liberal populism has little distinction. After all, both ideas are defined by “the appeal to the common people.” But it is not as simple as that. It is true that parties of populism mutually agree on core beliefs: anti-elitist ideals and social equality. Yet, conservative and liberal populism start to differ on multiple levels beginning with the main stakeholders that they are targeting.

On one hand, conservative populism focuses on the relationship between the government and its people through matters of immigration, national identity, and economic productivity among divided communities. On the other hand, liberal populism centers on the interaction of the entire society by reflecting on socially minded globalization, welfare, and progressive social liberalism.

The second level of differences is demonstrated by the principles embraced by each party. Conservative populism believes in social hierarchy where a specific group of people is considered to be exclusive and prioritized in dedication to productivity of the nation and solidifying its identity. Nativism, nationalism, and protectionism are the main ideals that branch off of social conservatism as a

By Andie kim

whole. In contrast, liberal populism champions a socially liberal economy on the grounds of progressivism.

These differences are clearly laid out throughout history, for the circumscribed and restricted ideologies of conservative populists and the socialist doctrines of liberal populists function as the stepping-stones to shaping modern politics.

Conservative populism has a strong binding precedent with authoritarianism, which is most accurately demonstrated by the Völkisch movement. In the pre-war Weimar period, Nazis believed that they represented the commonwealth and directed their fury toward the government and large corporations. Liberal populism was the most clearly demonstrated in the 1950s by the then-leader of Argentina, Juan Perón and his political movement, Peronism. Peron rejected communism and capitalism while advocating for social justice and economic and political independence.

Undeniably, Nazism and Peronism were foundations of demagoguery, yet labels differed based on viewpoints.

Defenders and admirers of the movements celebrated the ideas for universal social security while opponents accused the movement for hindering democracy. Hence, the interpretations of populism were already chosen based on the subjective views of the general crowd with markedly positive and negative angles.

In the 21st century, both populist ideals have been reappearing in modern political contexts, or, as the media calls it, “populist resurgence.” This alleged resurgence, however, seems to be headed in another direction.

The recent German national elections presented rivalry between Angela Merkel and Martin Schulz. Previously, German citizens wanted a leader like Schulz, the perfect Social Democrat, because its party leaders were losing their devotion to the working class. Yet, as Schulz himself later withdrew from his own party’s values of liberal populism, the

crowd’s votes gradually shifted toward Merkel’s centrist and conservative populist values. In order to gain support for Alternative for Germany, Merkel did not remove the values set by previous chancellors even though it divaricated from her beliefs. Instead, she took a non-ideological stance that balanced both sides of populism.

Clearly, populist parties of the 20th and 21st centuries were and still are different. Yet, people treat conservative and liberal populism as the same detrimental concept that represents classic ideas of authoritarianism due to their long and complicated history with demagoguery. But this is where the misunderstandings start to surface.

For one, it is important to note that the exclusivity of conservative populism was used merely as a tool of scapegoating and demonstrating demagogy appeals. Fascism is not a single product of populism; rather, populism is merely one of the many tools that political leaders utilize in order to leverage authority. Second, populism as a whole has already digressed throughout the years as the common people’s perceptions, exigencies, charges, obligations and ideas have evolved into a new global trend. Now, modern populism is independent from its precedents and their relevant ideologies. Nonetheless, populism remains under a conspicuous negative light due to its controversial history; it has developed into an idea of false promises to the common people as a means of executing excessive power, presenting diverging ideas, or gaining political support.

Populism does not have to be established by radical sides for or against fascism or socialism. They can be reconciled or built as a collective response to the general people, as Merkel has already demonstrated. A static perception of populism is understandable, but perhaps it is time to recognize that the world has moved ahead, and definitions of deeply entrenched political values are also keeping pace.

ULISM

y claire lee

8 LIFESTYLE Star Trek: Discovery treks new terrain

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xploring new bounds of the final frontier, the first episode of Star Trek: Discovery aired on Sept.

24. Set a decade before the events of Captain James T. Kirk and Commander Spock during the original rendition of the TV series, Star Trek: Discovery follows Captain Gabriel Lorca, portrayed by Jonathan Isaac, and the crew of the USS Discovery as they battle against the Klingons in a galaxy wide conflict. With an even darker undertone, Star Trek: Discovery combines the political intrigue and the grits of war with the traditional sense of discovery and exploration that continuously defines the Star Trek franchise.

But Star Trek: Discovery isn’t quite Star Trek. Yes, there are spaceships, there are Klingons, Spock’s father Sarek makes a cameo, and the universe feels very familiar to a long time fan. But the nature, the tone, and the concepts explored in the new Star Trek: Discovery is vastly different from those of previous installments of the franchise.

Past TV shows like Star Trek: The Original Series and Star Trek: The Next Generation always had an underlying sense of childish wonder, an excitement derived from exploration of the bounds of space not guns and violence. And when there was action, it was slow paced and felt more strategic, planned, and suspenseful than the trite fast-paced action common in ordinary sci-fi movies and TV shows. It wasn’t mindless but thoughtful, with every episode containing some sort of moral dilemma or profound revelation that stimulated viewers intellectually. And episodes always had a happy ending and made you feel good about the future of the human race. It was this more human take on a genre that thrived on war and violence that made Star Trek distinctly Star Trek.

But Star Trek: Discovery plops viewers down in the middle of the Federation-Klingon War not during a 5-year long mission like that of Star Trek: The Original Series.

All precedents of what Star Trek has been and should be are abandoned in favor of plot driven by thrilling action, intense violence, fleet-wide battles. Just looking at the number of on screen deaths, one an see just how much darker Discovery is. It took Star Trek: The Next Generation multiple episodes before the first crewman died and countless more before the first spaceship was destroyed; it took Discovery less than one episode to kill off a few thousand people, destroy the main character’s ship USS Shenzhou, and blow up six other spaceships. Even the grand plotline of space exploration, where every episode is a step in the long trek to explore space, the final frontier, is abandoned in favor of war.

People, the show is called Star Trek not Star Wars.

And yet, even though Discovery strays from the foundations set in 50 years of Star Trek, it nevertheless excels. Cinematography is well executed, the plotlines are fluid, characters are flawed but respectable, the acting talent of the cast is superior, the action and violence are not distasteful but are well executed, and the props are both modern and nostalgic.

Its not the Star Trek Gene Roddenberry imagined, but it certainly is worthy of continuing the legacy of Star Trek.

By Justin Chang Senior, Staff Writer

Our Coffee: Gangnam's Trending Cafe

Photos by Eju Ro

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he Our Coffee café in Gangnam is one of the latest additions to Seoul’s café boom.

The café’s appearance is not anything special, and its pastries are not necessarily the best in the city. Yet Our Coffee’s comfortable, welcoming ambiance and distinctive menu continues to draw customers through its doors.

Our Coffee sits in a small side alley that branches off from Gangnam Avenue. As it is located on the second floor of a building, I could only imagine what the café would feel like from the outside.

The generally dull building effectively hid the shop’s aura. So with high expectations and piqued curiosity, I walked up the narrow staircase and stepped into the café.

Though Our Coffee’s choices for pastries were not the most diverse, they were most definitely unique. The café is best known for its four types of brownies: marshmallow, raspberry, pretzel, and Oreo/M&Ms. Aside from brownies, the cafe has six flavors of scones, along with a few different types of Bundt cake.

As for drinks, they brew around ten different types of coffee, their bestsellers being “Vanilla Double” and “Green Tea Double.”

I ordered all four types of brownies, a Vanilla Double, and a Green Tea Double.

The brownies were not mouth-watering, but they were quite unique in taste considering that it is difficult to find brown-

JUKEBOX JEWELS SUMMER SET

BY DAW N K I M

ies with toppings like these in Korea.

In fact, in social media advertisements, the café claims that the brownies re “New York style.” A thick layer of melted marshmallow decorated the top of the marshmallow brownie. As I attempted to cut a chunk of the brownie off with my fork, the sticky marshmallow stretched out like it had been freshly roasted.

Bits of dried raspberry were embedded into the top of the raspberry brownie, adding a bright and popping color to the otherwise plain pastry. As I lobbed off the corner and took a bite, the handful of raspberry added a refreshing, fruity flavor to the rich chocolate brownie. The pretzel brownie was a completely unexpected taste; the pretzels planted onto the brownie created a balance between savory and sweet.

Taking a bite of this brownie, I noticed the crunchiness of the pretzels adding a contrast of texture and reducing the dullness of the brownie by itself. The M&M brownie was a bright mingle of colors, making the pastry look more appealing. Chunks of Oreos and M&Ms placed on the brownie created a rainbow-like color scheme and texture; crunchy, sweet, and vibrant.

Both cups of coffee we ordered were smaller than expected, but nonetheless tasty. The iced Green Tea Double was personally my favorite drink; it was a perfect balance between coffee and green tea flavor, with distinctive yet harmoni-

ous tastes. It was a layered drink, with the green tea at the bottom and a mix of beige and white—coffee and milk— above it. The Vanilla Double was more bitter, with a hint of sweet lingering.

To my surprise, the cafe was neither too small nor too crowded. The interior was nothing overwhelming; a gray theme overall, with hints of colors in the logo and plants. Inside a pentagonal structure in the center of the shop, two baristas stood and brewed coffee with n espresso machine.

The café radiated a warm sense of home. The relaxing scent of coffee freshly brewed wafted over to our table to the left of the pentagonal counter. Adding to the comfortable theme, some of the pastries were not displayed through glass at the counter; rather, they were on a table near the seats along with trays for customers to choose their own pastries and bring them to the counter. Immersing myself into the café’s mood, I relaxed and enjoyed the brownies.

Though Our Coffee’s pastries were not necessarily mouthwatering and its interior was not incredible unique, the café was definitely worth paying a visit; its relaxed atmosphere and unique choices for pastries and drinks were a pleasant break from the same old Starbucks and Twosome Places in Seoul.

Ever been to an empty international airport in early morning? I have. In the minimally-lit, carefully understaffed terminals, there lies a special kind of nebula that gives you the distinctive feeling of detachment. Airports are the bridges to important milestones in our lives; each yields vastly different lands, represented only minimally through location-specific characteristics. Wandering around feels like an encroachment on an intimate time of solitude, a nebula of consistency within the rapid growth of our world. The world

outside an airport persists because of its consistent changes, regardless of their immediacy. Airports are like a nebula= of consistency due to its noticeably varying scenes, day in and day out. That kind of eccentricity, coupled with the charm of time, is attracted me to “Super Algorithm Digital Me” by Singaporean local band M1LDL1FE. M1LDL1FE, pronounced “mild-life” as stated in the band’s official website, was founded in 2012. The group is comprised of bassist David Siow, drummer Jeryl

By Eju Ro Sophomore, Staff Writer

Tiger Times

October 2017

Kingsman: The Golden Circle

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ingsman is back with a vengeance, drunk on a martini shaken, not stirred.

If the Bond films were designed to be spy movies that were elusively classy and sophisticated, “Kingsman: The Secret Service” morphed the genre of gentlemen to one for the great unwashed, bloodthirsty audience. After the success of the first film in 2014, director Matthew Vaughn has returned to deliver another installment in the franchise: “Kingsman: The Golden Circle.” While not without its flaws, the Kingsman movie has proven to stick to its roots and has given the audience an experience of undeniable and unapologetic crude entertainment.

Encouraged by the recent successes of R-rated films such as “Deadpool” and “Logan,” Vaughn had decided to purposefully pursue an R-rating for “Kingsman: The Golden Circle” in order to free himself creatively from the limitations of PG-13 guidelines; unsurprisingly, the movie features the gratuitous sex and violence in a much more explicit manner than the first Kingsman film. We witness, for instance, men being shoved into a meat grinder on multiple counts, turned into seemingly innocuous burgers.

The film features reprisals of many familiar faces: Taron Egerton returns as Eggsy (a tongue-in-cheek reference to Humpty Dumpty and his own king’s men), the charming protagonist spy, and Mark Strong resumes his role as Merlin, the spy operative tech-guru behind the scenes. Surprisingly, Colin Firth returns as pronounced-deadand-missing Harry Hart, mentor to Eggsy and a charismatic secret agent. Audiences also get to see several new faces: Halle Berry, Channing Tatum, and Jeff Bridges portray spies that comprise the Statesmen organization, the American counterpart to the English Kingsmen.

The villain this time is Poppy, a sociopathic drug kingpin played by Julianne Moore, who has established a monopoly on recreational drugs worldwide. Poppy has based her compound in the middle of a Bornean jungle, but has designed it as a 1950s era-town complete with a diner and a bowling alley. She has even kidnapped real-life Elton John in her 1950s style theater, keeping him around to satiate her nostalgia for her hometown. Poppy has poisoned the world’s recreational drugs supply, and she’s offering an antidote that will save millions in exchange for the legalization of her products. It’s up to the Kingsmen and Statesmen to stop Poppy and the worldwide panic she has induced.

One aspect in which this Kingsman movie was distinctly different from both the James Bond film and the first Kingsman movie was the development of a real

Yeo, guitarists Jonathan Lim and Tan Peng Sing, and lead vocalist Paddy Ong. Formerly known as Take Two, the band underwent a rebranding on May 31, roughly a year after guitarist and founding member Lim left then-Take Two to focus on his personal life. Initially launched as a university hall cover band, the band cultivated a local presence through multiple live shows. In the span of five years, the band has grown in popularity to open for alternative rock giants such as Walk the Moon, Travis, and Death Cab for Cutie. However,

with a measly 18,421 monthly listeners on Spotify, M1LDL1FE still remains a hidden gem for indie-pop fanatics.

Despite having five years’ worth of experience under its belt, M1LDL1FE may seem to pack less bang for its buck than expected. Even as Take Two, the band has only released six unique songs, tallying to a total of 11 songs. However, one listen to their songs brings the meticulous attention that was given to each and every selection. In a genre that can be roughly described as electronic indie, each song

features gritty electronic guitar riffs overlaid on Ong’s vocals. Louder picks such as “Luna” feature lucid celestial ballads (“Luna are you here to stay? Pull your covers over the day,”) while their more recent works such as “Distraction” contains florid existential ruminations (“Take away my heart to see an ocean deep inside of me | terrified by any feeling, infinity consuming me”). Something about their songs embodies a drowsy, expectant transcendence seldom felt in everyday life.

Though the musical and spiritual devel-

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relationship between protagonist Eggsy and his girlfriend, whom he met at the end of the last movie and who is, incidentally, the princess of Sweden. It’s a coup in one sense since characters like bond Bond are idealized, seemingly perfect characters that serve as a kind of a fantasy for audiences–– embodiments of male virility that as such don’t often find themselves starring with the same female lead in multiple pictures.

Vaughn and writing partner Jane Goldman are making a serious statement with their treatment of Eggsy and Princess Tilde; the couple is shown to be in an honest-to-God relationship, full of emotional intimacy, honesty, laughter, love, respect, and trust.

The audience is left in turn rooting for the couple, captivated by its subplot alongside Eggsy’s audacious adventures.

The main plot points and characterizations presented also make several nuanced points about global issues in the modern world. They serve, for instance, to humanize many recreational drug users and show that moral issues are rarely black and white––an indictment of the justice systems that often treat recreational drug users on the same level as murderers and rapists. The film further provides biting criticisms of government officials who often lack the moral compass needed to run a country.

These pointed maxims and characterizations in the story are at times drowned out by the over-the-top nature of the movie, and, just like the first movie, the entire movie revolves around that nature.

Unfortunately, “Kingsman: The Golden Circle” does fall into a bit of the sequel trope where the movie attempts to increase tenfold what made the last movie tick, and in some respects the movie suffers from that strategy. Its somewhat convoluted plot and ridiculous action scenes may have had some audiences questioning their necessity.

“Enough,” some may moan as they watch Elton John clock a robot guard dog with a bowling ball, but enough just isn’t part of the movie’s philosophy.

Despite all this, the overall brazen, audacious mannerisms of the movie aren’t necessarily detrimental to the overall franchise.

If the first movie was more of an interesting take on the original James Bond films, then “Kingsman: The Golden Circle” cements the Kingsman saga as more of its own franchise instead of a parody. Who knows, after seeing the same kind of spy movie for so long, Kingsman may mark a fresh revitalization, the start of a new era of spy movies. After all, the franchise’s iconic catchphrase–– “manners maketh man”––is well on its way in surpassing any mantra of Bond’s.

By Jeremy Nam Junior, Staff Writer

opment of the band has had little opportunity to show for themselves, the discography of M1LDL1FE tracks the development of four university-students-turned-salarymen who still take the chance to routinely document their creative musings. As half of the band’s existing discography came with the group’s reinvention, perhaps fans could hope for a more active presence of the band for the years to come.

To keep track of the band’s development, catch M1LDL1FE on Spotify, YouTube, and Melon.

10 SPORTS JV girls and boys volleyball teams conclude season at KAIAC Tournament On Oct. 14, the JV volleyball season drew to a close with the boys and girls teams both placing fourth in the 17-18 KAIAC JV volleyball tournaments. The boys’ game was held at SIS and the girls’ game at Chadwick International School (CI).

KAIAC is a non-profit unincorporated organization that qualified schools voluntarily enter into membership. KAIAC holds seasonal tournaments that conclude each season for numerous sports teams. In the previous season, the JV boys volleyball team recorded 5th place and the girls recorded 8th place.

The JV boys volleyball tournament was held at SIS in TG1. Teams from 10 different international schools attended the event to participate in the competition. The boys yielded successful results, finishing their season as 4th place on the KAIAC standings.

The first game of the tournament was against Taejeon Christian International School (TCIS) Dragons. Youn Hwang’s (9) consecutive spikes, supported by Andy Yoon’s (10) flawless sets, allowed the team to win a successful match. The second game of the tournament was against the Korea International School (KIS) Phoenixes.

Though the Phoenixes triumphed over the Tigers in a close match, the Tigers still showed great enthusiasm and synergy for the next game. The last game against the CI Dolphins ended with only a two-point difference, with the Dolphins ultimately winning the set.

The JV girls’ volleyball KAIAC tournament was held at CI. The girls were

able to bring home successful results, finishing their season as 4th place on the KAIAC standings among the 10 KAIAC member schools. The first game of the tournament was against the CI Dolphins, and the Tigers won the match by earning multiple points through Gina Yang’s (10) powerful aces. The second game of the tournament was against the Seoul American High School (SAHS) Falcons. The Falcons took the lead from the beginning of the first set to the last. Nonetheless, the Tigers earned numerous points through Jenny Oh’s (9) powerful kills. The next game was against the KIS Phoenixes. The Tigers were able to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, finishing the match with SIS’ lead. The last game of the tournament was against the Yongsan International School of Seoul (YISS) Guardians. The game started with the Tigers’ lead but ended with the Guardians’ victory. Regardless of the results, the Tigers were able to put on a routine of firm receives by Clara Ryu (9), defending half of the court from defeat.

Both the 17-18 JV boys and girls teams were able to represeant SIS with dignity, bringing great results back to our home ground throughout the season. Although the teams faced different challenges regarding new team members and teamwork throughout the season---, they were able to overcome these hardships and take a step closer to victory.

By Claire Lee Sophomore, Staff Writer

Serving the ball, Youn Hwang (9) aims toward an opening on the court, earning a critical point for the SIS Tigers through his signature ace on Oct.14 at the JV boys KAIAC tournament.

Photos by Claire Lee

Varsity tennis teams compete in inaugural Dragon Cup tournament

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aking home second place, SIS’ varsity tennis players participated in the very first Dragon Cup tournament, held at the International School of Beijing (ISB) from Oct. 13-15. Two international schools each from Seoul and Beijing participated in this tournament, with Korea International School (KIS) and SIS representing Seoul and Western Academy of Beijing (WAB) and ISB representing Beijing. At the tournament, the WAB Tigers placed first in the standings. SIS was the runner-up, with a total score of 14.5 victories. Behind SIS were the KIS Phoenix and ISB Dragons.

“I am familiar with both WAB and ISB because I used to live in China,” said James Tyvand, varsity girls tennis coach. “I knew that they were very large international schools. Because they have a large population to draw from, I had figured that they would be pretty good. I was correct in

that assumption, and all the teams [that participated] had very skilled players.”

According to Coach Tyvand, the Association of International Schools in Asia (AISA) tournament was cancelled this year because the Japanese schools that SIS traditionally competes against opted out and chose not to have tennis teams this year. Because of the schools’ decision, the tennis players of SIS no longer had the opportunity to participate in an international competition. To address this issue, SIS’ athletic director contacted the athletic director of ISB to arrange the Dragon Cup tournament. The resulting event presented the players with an opportunity to fly to a neighboring country and compete and interact with different teams from China.

Like the AISA tournament that took place last year, the competition in Beijing had four schools participating in total.

One distinctive feature of the Dragon Cup, however, was that the tournament featured a mixed doubles division, in which male and female players partnered up to form teams of two. The Dragon Cup competition also had a selective assortment of players: only five players each from the SIS varsity boys and the varsity girls team were chosen to go to Beijing, as the Dragon Cup consisted of only seven divisions. This aspect also differentiated the competition from the KAIAC competitions held in Korea in that KAIAC has comparatively more players participating in the games.

“I thought that the Beijing Dragon Cup tournament was much more intense and difficult compared to the previous tournaments we attended,” said Amy Kim (10), varsity girls tennis player. “The tournament was carried out in a similar fashion to AISA and KAIAC, but it was definitely a new experience for the whole

team to travel to a new country other than Japan.”

The varsity tennis teams also had the chance to explore Beijing after the competition. On Oct. 15, the last day of the trip, the teams visited the Great Wall of China, taking a tour around the area. Most of the players had never seen the Great Wall in real life, making the event a memorable one for all.

“I think that the trip to Beijing as a whole was such a great experience,” Amy said. “Playing tennis for two days straight was very exhausting but I have already seen improvements in my play after the tournament. Most importantly, I think that this trip was a great opportunity to bond with our teammates and make great memories.”

By Youngseo Jhe Junior, Staff Writer

Tiger Times October 2017

North and South Korea unite through volleyball "They are also just another great team of athletes who love playing volleyball."

The women’s national volleyball teams of the two divided Koreas met for the first time in six years at the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball Women’s World Championship, which took place in Thailand on Sept. 20.

South Korea emerged victorious, defeating the North Korean team by 3-0, but the following matches played by the North Korean team opened up new perspectives on the North Korean team’s potential for improvement.

“As an avid volleyball player myself, I love to watch games in my free time and support my country’s team,” said Jane Han (12), captain of the girls varsity volleyball team. “I think that our women’s team is a great group of athletes who are not only skilled but also passionate and cooperative.

I personally think that our team’s greatest strength is perseverance, which is evidently demonstrated in the past games.”

South Korea’s women’s national volleyball team is currently recognized for its strength, especially with the renowned Yeon-koung Kim as its central player; the team placed tenth on the FIVB World Rankings as of Aug. 2016. Because the team had such status, the public had high hopes that the team would perform well in the preliminary rounds, which turned out to be true; they won all four matches and secured their spot in the final match, which will take place in next year in Tokyo. However, what came as a surprise to the audience was the rapid improvement displayed by the North Korean volleyball team.

Sports Photo of the Month

“As for the North Korean team and its unexpected success, I was surprised to see that despite the stereotypes and preconceived notions that we may have about their culture and background, they are also just another great team of athletes who love playing volleyball as much as the rest of the world’s volleyball players do,” Jane said. “I hope that we will hear good news from our northern neighbors in the future.”

Due to its lack of experience in international matches, the North Korean team was not expected to shine during the tournament. Yet, they managed to take the victory against both the Iranian and Vietnamese teams, winning by 3-0 in both match ups. Although the team could not advance onto the finals, as it lost during their final match against the Thai team, the team’s performance left several other international teams and audience members in shock.

“It’s great to see the North and South Korean teams meet in sports events, because we never really have peaceful interactions in other areas,” said Sean Oh (12), captain of the boys varsity volleyball team. “I remember a very similar event that happened regarding table tennis, when the North and South Korean players met at a match, which was made into a movie. These events are proof that sports can tie people together in a bond beyond politics.”

By Amy Jungmin Kim Junior, Staff Writer

Getting ready for their run on Oct. 21 at KIS, the varsity boys cross country team huddles together and performs their team cheer.

Photo by Andie Kim

SIS teams participate in AISA volleyball to complete season

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n Oct. 19, both the girls and boys varsity volleyball teams traveled to Japan for the Association of International Schools in Asia (AISA) tournament. The girls were invited to Yokohama International School (YIS) and the boys to Senri Osaka International School (SOIS). Other schools that participated, besides SIS, YIS and SOIS, were Korea International School (KIS), Busan International Foreign School (BIFS), Saint Maur International School (St. Maur), and Nagoya International School (NIS).

Through this four-day stay at Japan, the girls and boys varsity teams gained unforgettable memories and created stronger

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bonds between members.

Placing fourth in the tournament, the girls varsity team yielded successful results. On the first day of the tournament, the girls kicked off with a triumphant game against SOIS, beating the team with a score of 3:1. They struggled, however, against St. Maur, losing with a score of 2:3. The girls competed with St. Maur again the next day in the semi-finals and were defeated with a close score. With a total of one win and two losses, the girls played SOIS for the title of third place. SIS played a difficult match and lost with a score of 0:2. In the end, YIS placed first, with St. Maur as second, SOIS as third, SIS as fourth, KIS as fifth, and BIFS

as sixth.

“I can honestly say that AISA was one of the best weekends of my life,” said Shelley Jeon (11), varsity girls volleyball member. “I have to say the actual trip was much more fun than I imagined. The four days at Yokohama seemed too short for me. Despite the individual ups and downs of the tournament, we ultimately finished as a stronger and more talented team. During the tough times when success seemed impossible, every player wholeheartedly supported her teammates with endless words of encouragement. This incredible support within the team carried us throughout the tournament and allowed us to continue fighting

through the long, strenuous games.

The boys also played well, earning the title of third place. Their victory was against YIS, defeating the team with a score of 3:1.

Maintaining their success, they competed with NIS and ended with a crushing victory for all three sets played. After an outstanding performance on their first day, the boys started their second day with a challenging game against SOIS in the semi-finals.

Losing by one set, the boys played for the third place against YIS. They regained their success and defeated YIS with a score of 3:0. The tournament ended with SOIS as the victor, KIS as second, and SIS as third.

YIS came in fourth, NIS as fifth, and BIFS as sixth.

“I experienced a higher level of volleyball after watching and playing with amazing players from the different schools,” said Haanbi Kim (11), varsity boys volleyball member. “My favorite part of this tournament was that our team was able to develop a stronger bond. We were able to grow together as a team, especially through interactions off the court, such as taking short walks between matches, discussing the results of the game and areas for improvements. Also, I liked that I got to know players from other schools. I was able to learn a lot of advanced volleyball skills from the different players at the tournament. I hope that I will get to see them again next year.”

By Kristen Huh Junior, Staff Writer

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SMALL TALK

Utilitarianism

By Diana Na Kyoung Lee For a railroad engineer stuck in the famous “trolley problem,” adopting an utilitarian perspective may be his or her easiest way out. The well-known thought experiment opens to a runaway trolley, hurtling down a track where five people are bound with rope. Tied on a separate set of tracks is one, helpless man. In front of you is a lever; should you pull it, the trolley will switch lanes and crush the one unfortunate soul--otherwise, it will chug on and crush the five. Would you pull the lever?

Classical hedonistic utilitarianism seeks to maximize the surplus of pleasure over pain. Its founder, English philosopher Jeremy Bentham, would have pulled the lever without a moment’s hesitation: one person’s pain, assuming all else is equal, must be invariably less than that of five. Though its solution to the trolley problem may seem like elementary mathematics, utilitarianism is neither simple nor crude.

Bentham, for example, is one day asked to compare the pleasures derived from playing push-pin, a mindless child’s game also often played in pubs, and that of reading poetry. Were a drunkard to assert that a game of push-pin inspires the same amount of pleasure as a Shakespearean masterpiece, would Bentham consider the two of equal value? Firm at first, Bentham answered yes. Yet later, he added nuance to his stance by stating that poetry unlike push-pin can bring pleasure again and again throughout one’s lifetime.

Other questions soon followed. Say, for example, that there exists a woman who derives more pleasure

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from push-pin than from poetry, yet is nevertheless determined to study and become well-versed in the classics. Were she a utilitarian, which should she value more? In answer to these questions, utilitarians founded a second group of thought: preference utilitarianism.

In the words of philosopher Peter Singer, preference utilitarians believe that “the preferences of sentient beings should be satisfied to the greatest possible extent.” Economists are today’s most well-known and familiar group of preference utilitarians. Whereas pleasure is an abstract state of mind, often murky and hard to measure, preferences are demonstrated through choices and actions. Imagine a consumer faced with two options: a pink pencil and a green pencil, both of equal price. It would be a daunting task, to measure and compare the exact amount of pleasure derived from each colored pencil. But to deduce which one the customer prefers is as easy as observing which one she purchases.

Utilitarianism, in recent years, has also redefined how we approach aid and charity. Spearheaded by philosophers Peter Singer and William Macaskill, effective altruism seeks to objectively maximize the good we can do with aid. It argues, first, that if we can do good by making comparatively small and almost imperceptible sacrifices, that we should have no qualms about doing so. Singer illustrates this with an analogy. If, on the way to school, you saw a baby thrashing in a shallow pond--and if wading in would only cost you a pair of wet sneakers and a couple minutes’ time--would you

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save the baby’s life? Given the trivial pains demanded, no one with a heart would hesitate. Singer would argue that many of us face the same child today, just further away: with only a dollar or two, we can save lives from malaria or malnutrition.

Most intriguingly, in his book Doing Good Better, Macaskill quantifies the exact amount of benefits an aid package could produce. Enter the quality-adjusted life year (QALY). One QALY is equal to a year lived with impeccable health; death is equal to zero QALYs. In theory, a refined QALY system could convert the choice between treating malaria in 100 children and treating tapeworms in 60 from a moral decision to a simple mathematical calculation. First, researchers would ask patients of each condition how many disease-ridden years they would exchange for one QALY. Having established conversion scales for both diseases, multiplying the average QALY by the number of treatable patients could reduce the ethical question to a comparison of integers.

If this method seems uncomfortably detached you are not alone--but such is the utilitarian way. Qualms aside, effective altruism is a viable antidote to the fact that our global aid strategy in recent years have been riddled with sugarcoated, well-marketed projects that may sell well in developed worlds, but work poorly in the areas in need. Utilitarianism is astoundingly both simple and nuanced, straightforward and riddled with questions, all at once. Whether this fills you with pain or pleasure is not my verdict to render--it is yours.

I • D E A • L O G

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Glaring with determination, Peter Beckway gazes upon his plethora of pies, gifted as a prank by his colleague, David Coleman.