Tiger Times Volume 49 Issue 8

Tiger Times VOLUME 49 |

APRIL 2018 | ISSUE 8 | TTONL.ORG

Editorial Making school friendlier for students

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

Although Seoul International School devotes significant attention to maintaining and improving the academic and emotional health of its students, its physical student spaces are largely cold, crowded, and uncomfortable. In terms of infrastructure (couches, benches, and lounges) SIS does not have a distinct student-oriented feel because it is highly sectionalized and populated with non-functional cultural antiques. In fact, student spaces do exist, but the “senior lounge” feels more like a conference space or airport seating area than an inviting place for high school students.

These spots may be student spaces, but they could be infinitely better at communicating a sense of inclusion, positive school culture, and belonging.

While colorless walls and pale, wan floors hung with artifacts communicate a sense of orderliness and gravitas, it also feels anemic and bare to the common teen. At the very least, it feels more like we are guests walking through a museum of antiquities, rather than students strolling through their beloved, soon to be alma mater.

For example, we have exhibits dedicated to African and Native American cultures on the basement floor. While we appreciate the attempt at displaying diversity, the display case lacks context and only highlights the absence of such ethnic variety in our student body. Perhaps we could dedicate the space to the manifold gifts and talents exhibited by our student body instead.

As members of Tiger Times and friends of the Yearbook staff, we know that there are so many caches of high-quality, dynamic photos of soccer games, music recitals, and even forensics tournaments waiting to be shown off to the rest of the community.

If we could create a student committee to perhaps design engaging, timely, and relevant posters of school activities so that we could display them with pride, we surely could create spaces that serve not just to display, but also connect our students.

This issue may seem trivial but its emotional impacts are far-reaching and evident. We think that the lack of student spaces and overt pride in student achievement makes it more difficult for a collaborative, supportive environment to exist at SIS. To unify the school community and foster a culture of cooperation and mutual support, we need a physical environment that persistently celebrates achievements, motivates students, and presents a friendly atmosphere--one way we can do this is by showcasing student successes, with photos of school events in the display cases that have held traditional Korean artifacts not exactly connected to the SIS curriculum.

Our campus, simply put, feels emotionally detached. One simple step forward can be to support the discussed HSSC idea of furnishing the space in front of Cartnivore with comfortable furniture, such as beanbags and couches, and decorating it with student work. In the long run, a wider array of student groups, coupled with perhaps the counseling office or the leadership team, can set forth a more strategic and well-supported set of design and redecoration initiatives that will make SIS more comfortable and student-friendly.

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

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VIEWPOINT

Korean hip hop serves as a problematic appropriation In recent years, South Korea has seen the solidification of hip-hop in mainstream pop culture. The movement has been aided and abetted by the increasing popularity in hip hop based reality television programs such as Show Me the Money, which is set for its seventh season this summer, and High School Rapper, the youth counterpart to Show Me The Money that is currently garnering widespread media attention. Anyone who hasn’t been living under a rock for the past few years has felt this craze. As for myself, I have followed the movement almost religiously. However, I have also noticed a glaring problematic nature within this budding culture.

Some call it appropriation. I see it more as a cultural detachment that keeps Koreans who actively engage in this movement oblivious to what their mannerisms actually entail. Whatever you decide to call it, the offense is clear: Korean hip hop attempts to emulate the aggressive, started-from-the-bottom mindset exuded from Western hip hop in a superficial way, ignorant of the cultural austerity that justifies it.

To truly understand this issue, one must look back to the origin of hip hop, and where many of its intricacies derive.

The musical genre originated in the 1970s within the heart of South Bronx, in communities razed by drugs, poverty, and crime. Such communities epitomize the original identity of the movement; rappers like 21 Savage don’t just rap

about death, they grew up watching people get shot to death. They spit out their frustration with the fierce realities of their locality through music: how much they suffered, how they survived, how dangerous they are.

There are no drugs, no guns, no “ghettos” like the Bronx in Korea. Most South Korean rappers, especially the high school students on High School Rapper, receive allowances from parents and a proper education. Most likely, they fell in love with hip hop not as a coping mechanism in a life surrounded by crime and poverty, but as a hobby through the internet. So when I see Korean rappers flashing gang signs or firing finger guns the same way a rapper from Compton would, I get the feeling that there is a context-practice mismatch. Such rappers as a collective try to recreate ghetto music from the US without having a space to call a ghetto. Therefore, when anger-fueled lyrics are ushered in without a purpose, the spirit of the text is mutilated. Only superficial signifiers remain alive as a musical style and cliche.

On the other side of things, it’s important to note that this issue is not just localized in Korea; there is a big issue of appropriation all over the world – even in the states itself. A classic example: Rick Ross attempted to solidify himself as a crime kingpin in Miami, only to be revealed as a former corrections officer with good behavior – a contradicting persona to who Ross was touting him-

self to be. However, when instances of problematic appropriation occur in the States, thanks to a general understanding of the harsh culture that birthed hip hop, such actions are generally quickly deterred and shut down. Such check and balance mechanisms aren’t really present in Korea. Koreans as a collective may not be aware of the implications of a culture on the other side of the planet, so they find it acceptable to copy-paste overarching themes and motifs of American hip hop without consideration to what it might represent.

That is not to say, in any capacity, that Koreans should not continue pursuing the culture of hip hop in their own individualized way. There are plenty of Korean rappers that have adapted hip-hop to fit their own unique context and issue. A prime example is Drunken Tiger, whose songs, such as Beautiful Life, often advocate mental health awareness and suicide prevention – problems endemic in South Korean society. However, in a general sense, it is becoming increasingly clear that more of those who get directly involved in this trend need to make a more conscious effort to understand the culture. Especially as Korean hip hop is beginning to be consumed on an international basis, the pioneers of the movement need to be mindful of understanding the culture they are adapting.

By Jeremy Nam Junior, Copy Editor

Enough is enough, America: no more guns

#NeverAgain. This is the motto of the anti-gun rallies that arose across the United States after the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida on Feb. 14. The movement is distinct from past efforts that also resulted from school shootings such as Sandy Hook Elementary School and Columbine High School. With survivors from the Parkland shooting initiating the call for change, the movement has spread across the country, led by teenagers demanding an end to such tragedies through firearm regulations. The past decades have been filled with repeated protests on gun control and a lack of action: finally, it is now time for politicians to answer the plea of the next generation.

Soon after the Parkland shooting, various companies have complied with certain requests of protestors. Dick’s Sporting Goods has announced that it will not allow people under the age of 21 to purchase guns despite local laws. Other large corporations such as Walmart and Kroger soon followed suit with similar restrictions. It is clear that companies are also increasingly feeling the societal

pressure to move in the direction of embracing the anti-gun stance.

Despite the importance of politicians in executing changes in regulations of gun control, the greater problem surrounds the nature of social movements as temporary reactionary events. Restrictions on gun laws and the second amendment are issues that have been brought up since the first school shooting of the modern era, at Columbine High School.

After every shooting following Columbine, the same debate on the topic of gun control has repeatedly been brought to the table. Every time, the people protest and a surge of enthusiasm supports the movement out of sympathy, and then the issue soon dies down. How much tangible change has been observed since Columbine? Nothing.

As time goes on, the shootings and their results will have to be more extreme and sensational to invoke a response from the public. The prevalence of school shootings has led to unintended desensitization in the American society.

People seem to forget that aside from the mass shootings that appear on the news

every now and then, a small-scale school shooting occurs every week somewhere in the country. It is now time for the seemingly never-ending cycle to stop.

Now is precisely the time to allow the next generation to become builders of their future. The school walkouts on Mar. 14 demonstrated the determination, strength, and leadership the country’s future holds, as nearly one million students engaged in peaceful protests. Many of the students who part took in the walkouts did so while taking the risk of receiving disciplinary action or punishments from their schools. Their collective voice and willingness to express their political opinions represent the prospects of America’s future. Lawmakers and politicians must recognize this often overlooked, but significant part of the population. Before another child gets shot at school, or the Parkland shooting is forgotten, the American society must see change. May the students be heard, may their future change: #NeverAgain.

By Hannah Kim Junior, Staff Writer

Tiger Times April 2018

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 Junie Ye Joon Kah

Communications Director Marie Park

Production Editors Joyce Lee Soo Min Lee

Copy Editors Youngseo Jhe Dawn Kim Andrea Kwon Jeremy Nam

Graphics Editor April Kim Photo Editor Ryan Jang

Youngjin Park

Kirsten Huh Andie Kim Hannah Kim Chris Lee Kate Lee Eju Ro Grace Yang Andy Yoon

Graphics Artist Jina Kim Photographers Angela Choe Lauren Kang Jocelyn Lee Reporters Michelle Ahn Fiona Cho Sia Cho

Layout Artists Amy Jungmin Kim Claire Lee Yejune Park

Adviser Mr. David Coleman

Viewpoint Feature: Time for clubs to regain their functions How can you take revitalize of your clubs, your sinking ships?

Are you spending your activity period with purpose?

Inactive clubs do students an injustice

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n entering high school, “recess” is no longer “recess.” Instead, it is “activity period.” We used to allot half an hour every day to take a break from studying; now we devote it to participating in clubs. Our busy lives, demanding schedules, and many academic pursuits demand that we use our time wisely and devote it to the most meaningful activities. Activity period should also be subject to this scrutiny, meaning that if clubs are not providing the socially meaningful opportunities they should, we are misusing our time.

What then is the experience that clubs must provide? In order to transcend being just mere lines on students’ resumes, clubs should connect students with people of the same interests, developing them so that they may be continued after graduation.

Given their elective nature, clubs tend to unite people of similar interest. In fact, there is no easier way to connect these people. Of course, we will not stay in our clubs forever; we will be in different colleges leading different lives. As social animals, however, we must step away from egocentric behavior reflected in the people who forget about high school soon after graduating and must find lasting communities for ourselves. Clubs can be these communities, and it is imperative that they fill this role.

Sadly, several clubs have stopped providing this much-needed experience. Some rarely hold events, member participation severely declines in the second semester, and weekly club meetings get shorter and shorter. At their current state, many clubs have virtually ceased to have meaning in students’ lives. If clubs that have lost their function continue to exist, they are only taking up space and not allowing other new

clubs to have their chance.

One of the solutions includes reengineering the current system for renewing clubs and accepting new clubs. This system has several flaws. First, there is a contrast in the leniency of the system for allowing clubs to be renewed as opposed to founded.

There exists a conspicuous entry barrier for clubs waiting to be officially recognized by the school. Students rarely see clubs failing to get renewed, while many new clubs were not approved last year. If new clubs cannot be accepted due to limited resources, the prudent response would be to consider whether current clubs are worthy of the resources they are given. It is arbitrary that new clubs are subject to more scrutiny than pre-existing ones.

Some students have taken other options to pursue their interests. They have created unofficial clubs within SIS, while still doing many activities around the campus. It is hard not to applaud those who create these unofficial clubs because the school’s system does not keep them from their evident interest and devotion. Nevertheless, the fact that unofficial clubs exist certainly places them in an ambiguous situation, suggesting a sort of power struggle between the students and the administration. Therefore, the responsibility does not lie fully in the administration, but with the clubs as well. Clubs should exist not just because of approval but also because they are actively functioning and serve a purpose.

It is important that the administration take more time to reflect on existing clubs rather than focusing solely on the question of approving new ones. Of course, this reflection should not take form in a free-for-all system where every club can be

reshuffled. If this policy is implemented, clubs that students spent years investing in can just disappear. However, other reflective policies that are less radical and chaotic can still help clubs remain active. The administration, for example, could ask for detailed accounts of the club’s plans for the next school year from the club’s executives, along with a decision by the administration at the end of the next year on whether those plans were satisfactorily executed. The administration, based on this information, could remind and ask some clubs to be more active during the school year. Such a policy would prevent clubs from being unsure of what to do and would motivate them to carry out their planned projects from the beginning of the year to the end.

With greater thought, however, it is also easy to see that it is naïve to believe that such a straightforward solution would solve the entire problem. Clubs are composed of many entities, all of which must play their unique part for the club to function properly. These roles include those of executives, advisors, and members. In many “failing” clubs, the reason for their inefficiency lies in both the executives and the members. The executives must effectively lead clubs, and members must actively participate in the club. The possible solutions that the administration can offer will have little to no effect without executives and members’ devotion.

Members must show interest and passion for the clubs they apply for. It is frequently the case that high initial interest declines over the course of the school year.

In the second semester, a drop in member attendance is a typical phenomenon in clubs, a clear sign that members do not give

clubs as much value as earlier in the year.

The loss of members negatively impacts communication, planning, and execution of events and activities. Members are essential to the club’s function. If the members are not willing to devote time and effort, clubs cannot be expected to provide the experience they ought to.

The other half of the solution lies with club executives. In the social structure within clubs, members cannot carry forward events and activities if the executives have their priorities elsewhere, as they do need the leadership, vision, and direction that club executives can offer them. Many club members actively engage themselves in activities that the club has planned for them, and it would be improper to see the termination of clubs based on the executives’ flagging devotedness and effort. If we begin to crack down on clubs that are losing their function, the silent victims would be the members of the club that devoted time and effort. It is the duty of the executives to take command of the sinking ships.

In the end, the full functionality of clubs requires the support of the school, executives, and members. As seen above, however, believing that the school’s implementation of policies will be the solution is without substance. If members and executives of clubs are not willing, no club can be reinitiated to carry out meaningful activities with effort. Thus, the fate of the club lies with the hands of the members and executives; clubs of the students, by the students, and for the students will thrive, succeed, and be meaningful.

By Chris Lee Sophomore, Staff Writer

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NEWS

News Briefs

By Eju Ro

Sophomore, Staff Writer

SIS hosts KAIAC Large Group Choir Festival

Singing on stage, choir students harmonized during the KAIAC Large-Ensemble Festival.

Photo by Justin Chang

On March 8, SIS hosted the 2018 KAIAC Large Group Choir Festival and welcomed six schools to perform on the SIS stage. Groups from each participating school, along with the SIS Ambassadors, performed in order to receive a ranking from three judges, and had the opportunity to recieve a clinic session from a judge. For the second consecutive year, the SIS Ambassadors received a platinum rating, the highest rating out of bronze, silver, gold, and platinum.

“The event generally ran very smoothly, thanks to our Tri-M Music Honor Society and choir student volunteers,” said Whitney Meininger, choir teacher. “The rain was an unexpected factor, but we were able to help the schools find their way around campus.”

International trips foster diverse opportunities for students

Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) makes midterm visit

On March 18-20, two officials from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) visited SIS to conduct a mid-term curriculum checkup.

WASC visits SIS and submits reports on the school every six years, evaluating the improvement of the school over the six year term, along with observations on what could be improved for the following term. The two visiting officials were Janet Claassen, the head of the visiting committee and the Associate Director for Educational Programs at Shanghai American School, and Stephen Bennett, a middle school counselor from the American School in Japan.

“WASC works with schools to ensure that they are always working to become a better school.”

Ms. Claassen said. “We’re visiting to identify the strengths of the school, as well as steps that the school can take to improvement the instruction and curriculum here. What we mainly hope is for the school to be really clear about what the next steps in development are, so that SIS can develop a plan for the next three years to improve.”

Forensics team attends final KAIAC tournament of the year at KIS On March 16-17, the SIS forensics team traveled to Korea International School (KIS) to participate in the KAIAC Forensics Championship. As the final and most consequential tournament of the year, the championship was the ultimate determining factor of the team’s ranking in the league this year. The team ended up ranking second place, an accomplishment that both fostered pride and a heightened sense of determination to rank higher next year.

“Overall, I feel that our debate team did a great job this year,” said Bryan Hur (10), member of the public forum debate team. “At tournaments, we were able to compete against other schools and win most of our rounds. As for the future, I’m hoping SIS can win first place, as KIS has been winning first place a few consecutive times; but otherwise, I am extremely proud of our team.”

(top) Enjoying their time, Jenny Oh (10), Kyuhee Han (10), and Emma Lee (10) are with their buddies: Blank, Amy, and Rebecca. (left) Concentrating, Rebecca carefully paints a flower pot at Mae Rim Garden. (right) Cheerfully riding on Eugene Jang's (10) shoulder, Cha Chai heads to the van on his way to the swimming pool.

Photos by Lauren Kang

Every year, SIS offers students a multitude of opportunities to gain new insights, collaborate with others, and acquire achievements in different fields.

International trips are media provided for gaining such dynamic experiences, and allow for participation in a wide spectrum of activities that range from community service to academic conferences. This year, SIS expanded on its international trip program, opening more doors for traveling outside of the classroom to enrich students’ high school educational opportunities.

“At SIS, international trips function to increase motivation and enthusiasm in a wide spectrum of areas,” said Dr. Gerhard, high school Principal. “By providing experiential opportunities, the trips allow students to learn in a context outside of school, whether it be through a musical or sports-related event. As SIS has added a number of new trips to its program this year, there is certainly prospect for more of these additions in the future, where trips for cultivating interest in the historical, language, or STEM related fields are just some among the many possibilities that could be considered.”

From March 13-18, MUN members participated in the 25th annual Bei-

jing Model United Nations (BEIMUN), where they debated on a myriad of ongoing global issues with delegates of diverse nationalities. By engaging in fruitful discussions and interacting with other delegates, the members were able to tackle worldwide challenges from multiple perspectives.

Similarly, members from Global Issues Network (GIN) traveled to Chiang Mai, Thailand from March 24-30 to engage in community service as volunteers.

Through close interactions with children from local orphanages and hands-on collaborative activities, club members were given the chance to discover and experience a new culture.

“As it was my first year in the MUN club, BEIMUN was a valuable opportunity for me,” said Simon Lee (10), MUN member. “Though the conference itself required a lot of effort and had fewer schools attending this year, it allowed a lot of inexperienced MUN attendees like myself to actively participate in the discussions and build more skills for the future. Additionally, it was great getting to debate with delegates from all over the world in Beijing.”

International trips were not only limited to clubs; the arts department had their fair share of trips too. SIS

choir and orchestra students traveled to Germany and Singapore to participate in the Association for Music in International Schools (AMIS) event from March 13-18. Throughout the festival, musicians from all over the world came together to perform in honor orchestras or band as a unified group. The fine arts students likewise visited Rome, Italy on the first international arts immersion trip from SIS in years. With the trips encouraging full engagement in both activities and cultural aspects, the students were able to gain a deeper understanding in the visual arts.

“The AMIS music festival was truly an amazing experience,” said Taehee Jeong (12), a second-year participant of the honor band. “Although the pieces we played this year were quite challenging, the rigorous hours of rehearsals each day definitely paid off in the end.

Overall, the music that we produced as a group, the bonds we made, and all the fun we had through it were what really made my last high school music festival such a rewarding and memorable trip.”

By Sia Cho Sophomore, Staff Writer

Tiger Times April 2018

Companies break off connections with NRA after mass shooting

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Disconnect

n the wake of the tragic Florida shooting on Feb. 16, citizens and businesses have been rising up against the National Rifle Association (NRA), boycotting the organization and using the hashtag #BoycottNRA. A major bank called the First National Bank of Omaha spearheaded the movement, being among the first businesses to sever ties with the NRA. The bank discarded discounts and special rates that used to be given to members of the NRA. Although the movement in essence is aimed specifically toward the NRA, #BoycottNRA has also brought the organization’s partner companies into the limelight. According to CNN, advocates are targeting businesses that provide services and promotions for members of the NRA. Companies involved in this campaign claimed that they were compelled to join the boycott in response to customer complaints.

This pro-gun safety campaign has rapidly been spreading to a multitude of corporations in various sectors. Delta Air Lines has also entered the movement, terminating its contract with the NRA to provide its members discounts and requesting that the association remove any information about the airline from the NRA’s official website. Car rental companies

including Avis, Hertz, and Enterprise have also announced that they would stop their discount programs for NRA members.

“The recent Parkland shooting in Florida killing many innocent people was truly a horrible incident, one so impactful that companies like United Airlines and Hertz would stop providing special benefits to NRA members,” said Jio Jeong (11), Government and Politics student. “The fact that companies that previously worked together with the NRA are starting to break their ties [with the association] can be seen as an optimistic note that can improve the serious problem of gun violence across the US.” #BoycottNRA, however, has received backlash from the NRA. The association reacted to the boycott with indignation, denouncing the movement as “a shameful display of political and civic cowardice.”

It claimed that companies were launching attacks on honest members who had no association with the Florida shooting.

The movement has also provoked the ire of gun rights advocates and gun owners.

According to the Business Insider, many expressed their disapproval with #BoycottNRA on social media sites, with some even swearing at businesses supportive of the movement. “[The campaign] signifies a continued

By Youngseo Jhe Junior, Staff Writer

The More You Know

me and I won’t die

data firm Cambridge Analytica has come under scrutiny on both sides of the Atlantic for its allegedly illegal activities during the 2016 US presidential election, gathering private data from Facebook “Maybe someone dies users often without their permission. in a terrorist attack Using this private data, the firm was coordinated on our able to locate “targets,” or undecided tools. And still we voters they felt they could convince by connect people. The altering their information consumption. ugly truth is that we Unsettlingly, the data sector has begun believe in connecting using militaristic, aggressive language people so deeply that when describing people, the quote at the anything that allows beginning of this article a clear example. us to connect more Moreover, Facebook’s treasure trove of people more often is consumer data made it a prime target for de facto good.” hacking and manipulation by the Russian government during the 2016 election, Andrew Bosworth, allowing regular hackers stationed in St. Facebook VP Petersburg to impact millions of voters across the ocean on a tiny budget.

All of this leads to a difficult question: how responsible are creators for how their technology is used? Facebook’s vice president seemed to believe that the only purpose of Facebook, and therefore its employees, was to connect people from different places on a common We all, at a certain point, reduce to platform. Whatever happened from those data—our unique, individual, supposedly connections, how those connections quirky interests easily grouped into were used, were all supposedly beyond categories for computer-generated the company’s control. However, this algorithms to exploit. This intersection of hands-off approach is not only impractical human psychology and computer science today, it is borderline immoral; was what led to the birth of Facebook, immoral especially in the context of and it forms the fundamental basis for all Cambridge Analytica, San Bernardino, types of advertising, from commercial to the proliferation of extremist ideologies political, today. through the very interconnectedness that In recent weeks the British political

By Andrew Ham

snail-paced progression toward having some regulations on guns and gun purchases,” said James Fischer, AP English Language and Composition teacher and previous Florida resident. “It’s a slow advancement toward positive change in terms of gun control in the United States.

But I see it as quite a way off before any significant change is going to happen in the culture surrounding guns and gun violence in the US.” The Parkland shooting and the subsequent NRA boycott have further ignited the debate surrounding gun control. Regardless of the divide in opinion, however, it seems that the mass shooting has nevertheless acted as a wake-up call.

President Trump exhibited support for a bill that would allot more funding for enhancing school safety. Walmart and Dick’s Sporting Goods, two of America’s leading gun suppliers, both announced that they would raise the minimum age for purchasing firearms to 21. Although tangible progress remains to be seen, it seems that the US is gradually taking steps toward ensuring a safer school environment by putting safety higher up on its list of priorities.

social media companies preach.

Traditionally, when citizen rights have been threatened to such a degree, governments have stepped in to regulate and protect. True to form, they have just begun to do so: last week, the US government proposed vetting the social media identities of potential immigrants to check for any criminal or terrorist activity. Such actions, however, have raised new questions. Isn’t it a huge violation of privacy, and also a potential restriction of freedom of speech, for a government to have access to what should be a free platform of exchange?

The advantage of Facebook, Twitter, and other online spaces is that they bring the freedoms of press, thought, information, and speech to a new, global scale that does bring benefits (the Arab Spring comes to mind). Thus, when governments decide to use social media activity to decide immigration processes, they must do so with concrete restrictions and guidelines in order to ensure a good balance between protection and privacy.

Facebook’s growing pains have to serve as a wake-up call for the rest of Silicon Valley and the tech industry. For years, they have focused on development: faster phones, faster connection, more people, more networking, the list goes on and on.

But now, it’s time for these companies to take a step back and consider the ethics of their actions, their development, and realize that when they create a new platform, they are impacting real people and a very real society.

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Xi Jinping re-elected as China’s lifetime president

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t the National People’s Congress meeting, Xi Jinping was reappointed as president through a unanimous vote from over 2000 lawmakers convened from across the country on Mar. 5. With the recently abolished two-term limit on the presidency, the leader now holds stronger power than ever. Although China only has one dominating political party, the Communist Party of China (CPC), the new legislation marks a large shift in China’s norms of leadership that marked the past several decades.

“With China’s growing influence in the global atmosphere, the significance of their leader is relevant to not only Chinese citizens but also the rest of the world,” Joanne Yang (9), Model United Nations member said. “With Donald Trump in the White House and other leaders like Xi Jinping taking more powerful control over their governments, the scheme of global politics seems to be changing completely. Yet most importantly this marks an important shift in the way of governance in China for the future.”

Term limits had initially been put in place by Deng Xiaoping in the 1982 in order to prevent dictatorial rule like that of Mao Zedong. The new policy, however, was met with little opposition due to the economic growth and social stability the leader brought during the five years he was in office, marking a dramatic shift in the political makeup of Chinese government. Along with such new legislation, Xi appointed numerous loyal confidants in key government roles, solidifying his influence in general. As a testament to his immense power, there were very few votes against any propositions made by Xi Jinping.

“The voting system in China seems far from a democracy compared to those in other nations,” Ian Lee (11) said. “Yet it appears that China has a much stronger and centralized government as a result of relatively centralized rule. I definitely have noticed less political tension between parties in China, and am aware that the effectiveness of Xi Jinping’s leadership was not brought into question during his rule.”

With Xi Jinping back in office again for an unfixed amount of time, there are questions regarding which direction he will take China in regards to foreign policy, particularly USChina relations, economic policies, and social change. In any case, with little opposition coming from the country’s people, the CPC seems to have taken a successful step in strengthening their iron grasp over the nation’s government.

By Hannah Kim Junior, Staff Writer

in 2008, the korea instituTe of criminology r e p o r t e d t h at 8 7 . 5 % o f s e x u a l h a r a s s m e n t cases are left unreported in Korea.

seeking support from society

8 8 . 6 % o f K o r e a n c i t i z e n s r e s p o n d e d t h at t h e y s t r o n g ly approve the emergence of the #MeToo Movement ( K o r e a P r e s s F o u n d at i o n ) .

ushering in an era of social change through activism

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hough the #MeToo movement has been rocking the world for more than four months, no one expected it to hit Korea with as much of an impact.

With more than a dozen different celebrities, several prominent politicians, and handful of academics being accused of sexual assault, the tide of allegations has shaken the entire nation. But the flurry of activity does not stop there. The floor is still open to anyone who has been the victim of unwanted sexual advances, meaning that victims are able to come out publicly and speak about their experiences with less fear of backlash than before.

Specifically, victims have taken to social media platforms to share their experiences. Rather than disclosing their story to a reporter first, many chose to post their personal accounts on social networking apps.

One of the first victims who posted online was Choi-Yul, a former actress who was sexually harassed by actor Cho Jae-hyun five years ago. She posted a long caption on Instagram in which warned not just Cho but all other sex offenders to take responsibility for their crimes, paired with the hashtag #MeToo. Reaction on social media was thunderous: a string of comments, some furious at Cho and others sympathetic to Choi’s experiences, followed almost immediately. Cho stayed on the trending page on Naver for days following news of his allegation, with comments related to him being displayed at real time.

Unsurprisingly, many of the comments were from women, who expressed support and sympathy for the victim. In fact, a poll from the political research institute Realtor found that over 76 percent of women supported

by fiona cho the movement. This strong sense of unity encouraged a more public discussion of sexual harassment, which had always been a subject of taboo in Korean society. But a minority of the comments was less supportive. “Why are all of these women coming out to tell their stories now?” was one comment that surfaced below an article about the sexual crimes of a professor at Hankuk University. “Can this even be defined as sexual assault?” questioned another commenter. Yet others even went as far as to accuse Kim Ji-eun, secretary to former Governor Ahn Hee-jung of Chungcheongnam-do, of being a gold digger instead of a victim.

These comments raise questions about a wide range of topics—consent, sexual misconduct, and publicly speaking about past sexual assault experiences, to name a few.

In the status quo, many Koreans struggle to identify these concepts because they have never learned about them.

Schools do not provide opportunities for people to learn about the difference between sexual assault and sexual harassment, while most workplaces have no strict consequences regarding sexual misconduct. As a result, some people accused victims within the Me Too movement of magnifying even the smallest incidents and painting them as being serious.

This type of mindset has been solidified through Korea’s history of Confucianism and patriarchy. In fact, it also serves as the reason why there was just one conviction out of 552 reported cases of sexual harassment in 2016. Women have constantly been oppressed and marginalized by Korean society, making it difficult for activism related to sexual

assault to spread throughout the nation. Public opinion was also much less sympathetic towards victims in the past, meaning they had to keep their experiences private or confide in just their closest companions. With their voices silenced and their memories buried, a movement like the Me Too movement that consolidated all victims together was never able to fully emerge in Korea.

But though this was the first time such an occurrence had happened, one thing was clear: the Me Too movement was efficient and effective as far as we can conclude in this premature moment. The movement exposed a multitude of prominent figures with a history of sexual misdeeds who had previously escaped punishment for their crimes. The news media and social media helped to secure the voice of the victims. And most importantly, the public continued to stay interested in the conversation as new incidents would be revealed or told. In general, the Korean Me Too movement was able to attain considerable success—unlike countries such as Italy where the movement died out pretty quickly, Korea was able to shed light on sexual harassment by maintaining a steady stream of attention on the movement.

As a country that has always changed at a fast pace, Korea is constantly shifting and evolving. The events of lately seem to be pushing the nation into a direction of social change and activism, with the majority of the Korean population being united in favor of the Me Too movement.

For now, the first step of this evolution has been taken, but it is up to more leaders to step up and continue this new era of advocacy.

On Jan. 29, Prosecutor Jihyun Seo a p p e a r s o n J T B C N e w s r o o m a n d ta l k s about rampant sexual harassment cases w i t h i n K o r e a’ s S u p r e m e P r o s e c u t o r s O f f i c e ( S P O ) ; s h e s p e c i f i c a l ly r e f e r s t o p r o s e c u t o r ta e g e u n A h n . T h i s e v e n t lights fire to the Korean Me Too M o v e m e n t.

Ta E G E U N A H N

HEEJUNG AHN

A f t e r m u lt i p l e a c c u s at i o n s a n d i n v e s t i g at i o n s , a c t o r M i n k i J o c o n f i r m s s u c h a c c u s at i o n s o n F e b . 2 7 . H e c o m m i t s suicide on March 9.

minki jo

O n M a r c h 5 , s e c r e ta r y J i - E u n K i m appears on JTBC Newsroom to testify t h at s h e h a d b e e n s e x u a l ly a s s a u lt e d four times by Governor Heejung Ahn. O n e d ay l at e r , A h n a d m i t s h i s c r i m e s and steps down from his position.

A 2016 poll by Korean Women’s Developm e n t I n s t i t u t e & G a l l u p K o r e a r e p o r t e d t h at 7 9 . 4 % o f K o r e a n w o m e n c l a i m t h at t h e y h av e r e c e i v e d u n w a n t e d s e x u a l a d va n c e s . sexual harrassment in workplaces and politics

L

iving in a nation that endorses the beliefs of Confucianism, South Koreans harbor automatic and inevitable respect for authority. Regarding superiors with reverence is certainly a praiseworthy aspect of South Korean society. Yet, some unjustly take advantage of this embedded culture. As such, sexual harassment in the workplace and politics has been rampant, especially from superiors to their subordinates. These cases of sexual misconduct, however, have remained veiled until only recently.

In late February, the once national #MeToo movement in America of women standing up to their sexual predators extended to South Korea. As illustrated by the accusations being made, the noticeable trend of authority figures exploiting those in lower positions is especially prevalent in the workplace, which has played a pivotal role in the struggles Korean women have faced obtaining promotions or advancing to higher positions in their occupations. In fact, the Ministry of Gender, Equality and Family reported that eight of 10 participants of its survey experienced unwanted sexual advances at work, a shockingly high percentage that belied the dangerous and inappropriate environments of Korean workplaces.

Among the most prominent lies the case of Jo Min-ki, a formerly venerated actor and university professor. On February 20, he was accused of harassing more than five of his drama students as well as actress Song Ha-neul. Surprise rocked the nation as Jo’s string of inappropriate text messages and pictures of his naked body to one of the victims was exposed. The public was doubly shocked because he

by kirsten huh had recently appeared in a television program with his daughter, taking on the persona of a loving and responsible father. Charges against actors Oh Dal-soo and Cho Jae-hyun quickly followed.

Situations are equally as grim in politics. Former governor and South Korean presidential candidate Ahn Hee-jung was charged with sexual misconduct from his former secretary Kim Ji-eun. The victim spoke out on national television that over the expanse of eight months, she was sexually assaulted four times. Kim maintained that even the advent of the #MeToo Movement in South Korea did not stop Ahn from raping her again, proving the importance of actual convictions and punishments for harassers on top of the broader social movement. From Ahn, Jung Bong-joo and to Min Byung-doo, the list of accused politicians is continually increasing.

How these accused men take responsibility for their actions is the wrong approach to solving sexual harassment. Previously mentioned Jo committed suicide after admitting all of his faults, ending the case with nothing happening. What is unbelievable is that people have been condemning actress Song for his death. Although she was the victim, daggers were thrown at her, questioning the innocent woman if she was satisfied with Jo ending his own life. But in what way is this blame on Song morally and logically justifiable? Politicians similarly attempted to close investigations by stepping down from their positions. As harsh as it may sound, quitting their lives or their jobs will not bring any improvements to the status quo. What the nation needs instead are courageous individuals who can

willingly admit their faults and accept necessary punishments.

As numerous sexual harassment cases are being revealed, South Koreans may once again turn to view Confucianism in a harsh light, just like they did after the Sewol Ferry incident. On this day, hundreds of lives were lost because of the captain’s orders to remain in the cabins while he and the other crewmembers escaped the sinking ship. Critics claimed that innocent people had died from adhering to the Confucian belief of obeying authority instead of scrambling for their lives, which would be the normal response in most Western nations where authority is important but can be disregarded especially in times of emergency. However, it is of the utmost importance to realize that instead of holding up the ingrained culture of South Korea to blame, people should assign fault to superiors for not living up to the respect they are receiving from their subordinates, thus corrupting the very channels of respect that Confucianism requires to work at all in a modern society.

The #MeToo Movement marks a new chapter in South Korean history as the culture of women staying silent has been broken. Women no longer have to suffer alone. Women no longer have to cower in fear of losing their jobs if they speak the truth. Women no longer have to desperately scramble behind the wall of silence that protects perpetrators. Now, perhaps, is the time to extend beyond making accusations and for wrongdoers to stop taking advantage of Confucian beliefs and to readily accept their punishments.

8 LIFESTYLE

99

“Bamdokkaebi” night markets return

ts complain

against the world

By Ye Joon Kah

The Nature of Rumors Students at SIS are prone to hearing rumors every single day of their lives without an inkling of doubt or hesitation. When students relay pieces of gossip, they do not consider the potential repercussions or the actual character of the subject.

To be brutally honest, rumors are indeed fun to spread, and there are multiple other things in life that we continue to do without a benefit of the doubt. So what is so special about gossiping, that makes it so much more detrimental than any other activity?

Most importantly, what else would SIS students do in their free time without the ability to disparage their peers?

Throughout time, spreading false information has become an intrinsic nature at our school, a part of the harmful culture that is impossible to strip away from the community.

Spreading false truths is only acceptable to a certain extent. As high school students, we should be mature enough to distinguish between accurate facts and grossly altered information. We should not be childishly continuing inaccurate stories “just for fun.” It used to be “fun” in elementary school, when rumors were not detrimental and simply pure. Now, it is hardly enjoyable, and is just a mere source of stress in this competitive environment.

Additionally, when a person is the subject of a distorted fact, it is extremely hard for that person to convince his or her peers out of believing that lie.

However, the worst thing about rumors, is how they start off with a certain fact, and is then grossly misinterpreted by each “middleman.” Sometimes, I wonder how one thing leads to the next without any logical flow throughout the course of its “travel.”

When I would stress out about false rumors, my friends would tell me to “stop thinking about it” and that I was being “too serious.” Indeed, it is partially my fault for constantly caring about meaningless lies that spread around school. However, whoever is the subject of a wrong rumor is essentially a victim of injustice. One has the full right to be upset at gossip that defames his or her character, and it is unfair to blame it on one’s sensitivity.

Rumors are definitely upsetting, and we should all spend a minute or even a second to think about what we are saying before we tell it to the next person.

Especially in a competitive academic environment like our school, we can at least save a few souls by making an effort to stop spreading false information about other people.

H

an River is indisputably a hot spot for friends, couples, and family members to visit during nice weather.

The opportunity to be one with nature in the middle of a highly developed city definitely has an enchanting quality to it.

On top of such, Hangang’s famous “Bamdokkaebi” night markets have reopened starting from March 30, adding to the spring hype.

The market derives its name from the Korean words bam, which means night, and dokkaebi, which means goblin.

According to Korean folklore, goblins would appear in the night not to do harm to people, but rather to socialize with townspeople, and leave in the morning.

In the same fashion, as the markets only open at night, they were named Bamdokkaebi.

“I visited the night markets last year in the fall with my friends,” Jeffrey Heo (12) said. “The weather was a bit chilly but it was really fun just being there enjoying the vibe. There were food trucks everywhere that sold freshly grilled food, not

JUKEBOX JEWELS Bronze Radio Return

BY DAW N K I M

to mention small booths that sold handmade items such as pouches and bouquets. I think it’s really worth visiting.”

There are five of these Bamdokkaebi night markets situated around Hangang (Yeouido, Banpo, Dongdaemun Design Plaza, Cheonggyecheon and Oil Tank Culture Park). Each has its own unique theme. For example, the market in Yeouido is named the “World Night Market”; it features food from all around the world and performances by various foreign artists. Dongdaemun Design Plaza’s night market also has its own name, “Youth Runway Market,” and offers opportunities for young entrepreneurs and artists to showcase their talents by setting up booths or performing.

“I went to Bamdokkaebi night market on the day it reopened, and there were endless lines of people waiting to get food,” Jangho Yun (11) said. “It was clear that everyone was really excited about the return of these markets. But, it literally took us an hour to get one serving of garlic steak, so I think the vast number of people who will be there is a factor you

Ever tried riding the Gyro Drop at Lotte World on a sunny day? As the ride slowly spins its way to the top, the world minimalizes and expands at the same time.

The windowpanes of the Lotte World Tower glisten against the lucid sunlight.

The waters of the Seokchon Lake shimmer in vivid blue against the morning sky. In the few seconds you spend at the top, the world becomes smaller, brighter, and sharper. Everything seems animated yet suspended. Drunk on the beauty, you admire the world in its brazen glory for a few precious seconds until hurtling

have to be cautious of when you visit.”

Due to their popularity, the night markets usually have crowds of people present; therefore, quality of the food sold is not always guaranteed to be at a high level as the sellers must quickly meet the demands of rows and rows of hungry people. Additionally, many food trucks set limits to how many servings one may buy at a time, as they would like to rather sell limited amounts to a variety of people.

“I also went with Jangho to the markets when it reopened this year, and I saw that there were quite a number of people there,” Minsung Kim (11) said. “I think it also has to do with the fact that it finally reopened after months. After a month or so, I expect the numbers to subside. Yes, it took us a long time to get our food, but I think it’s totally worth it because the location is prime, and you can enjoy the spring breeze with your friends.”

By Amy Jungmin Kim Junior, Staff Writer

back into reality. The same rush of ardor manifested once more when I listened to “Still in Motion” by Bronze Radio Return for the first time.

Bronze Radio Return was founded in 2007 by University of Hartford alumnus songwriter Chris Henderson, drummer Rob Griffith, and bassist Bob Tanen.

Joined by keyboardist Matt Warner, banjo player Craig Struble, and guitarist Patrick “Packy” Fetkowitz,” the Hartford-based sextet has produced four studio albums, two EPs, and seven singles in the past 11 years.

Tiger Times April 2018

9

High School Rapper 2 exceeds expectations

O

n Feb. 23, the first episode of High School Rapper’s long-awaited second season aired on Mnet, a music-based TV channel in South Korea. A competition centered around high school students aspiring to become full-fledged rappers, this TV show has become a common topic of discussion even among students at SIS. After an unaired, month-long selection process to concentrate the competition around the most capable rappers, the first episode featured 32 students among the hundreds who applied. Introducing both returning and new competitors, the episode reached a national audience and incited even more anticipation for the rest of the season among the viewers.

“I personally find High School Rapper to be more fun than Show Me the Money [Mnet’s adult-based rap competition], said Bryan Hur (10), a passionate fan of High

School Rapper. “While adults generally are more skilled, these teenagers have really fresh ideas and make verses about ideas even I think about on a daily basis as well, which make for very trendy songs among us teenagers.”

While the return of rappers from the first season, such as Kim Yoon-ho, Oh Dam-ryul, and Jo Won-woo, attracted the attention of High School Rapper’s audience, the spotlight was on the new competitors this season. Videos of such rappers, particularly Yoon Jin-young, Lee Byung-jae, and Kim Ha-on, immediately went viral among viewers, most of whom praised such individuals for their novel personalities, intriguing lyrics, and distinctive rapping styles.

“My favorite rapper in High School Rapper is Vinxen [Lee Byung-jae],” said Eric Hwang (10), a sophomore who watches High School Rapper every Friday night.

“Not only does he have an interesting and catchy flow, he is also very ‘cool,’ always wearing trendy, fashionable clothes in the episodes. Although rappers like Kim Haon are great as well, I would say Vinxen is more of an artist and places more meaning into his lyrics. As he is extremely popular among South Korean teenagers and even my friends, I think he has a great chance at getting first place.”

Aside from the unaired selection process and the new rappers, there are several differences that exist between the two seasons of High School Rapper. While rappers in the first season were divided into teams based on the location of their schools, such as the West and East Gyeongin areas, the contestants this year were divided by age.

Furthermore, this season introduced the novel idea of nominating team captains, who would select the rest of the members in the teams. Such departures from the first

season have had major implications on the level of competition present, increasing suspense and garnering further interest from viewers.

“I don’t listen to a lot of K-pop, and most of my playlist consists of songs made by American singers and rappers,” said Alex Kim (9), a freshman student who enjoys listening to rap music. “I wasn’t even planning on watching High School Rapper this year. After watching a few clips online of this second season, however, I realized that there is something drastically different about this season that makes it a lot more fun. Not only are the rappers just better overall, but the competition is set up in a more interesting way. Thanks to all of this, there is so much reason for me and others to be excited for the results of this season.”

By Andy Yoon Sophomore, Staff Writer

Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum curdles blood of Koreans

G

ONJIAM: Haunted Asylum puts a spin in an abandoned psychiatric hospital in Gyeonggi, South Korea that was designated by CNN in 2012 as one of the seven freakiest places on the planet. Filled with dirty, broken remnants of its past-life, the Gonjiam asylum has incited supernatural rumors after its closure in 1996. To this day, the hospital still stands untouched since its controversial abandonment.

While many versions of the rumor contradict one another, the movie adopts the most popular rumor as the context of the hospital. This rumor claims that in the 1970s, there was a mass suicide by hanging by the majority of the patients at the hospital. Soon after, the hospital chief mysteriously disappears. The cause of the mass suicide and the disappearance both remain unknown as the hospital shuts down.

In the film adaptation of the rumor, young members of a horror-experiencing Youtube channel decide to take on a challenge to explore the haunted Gonjiam psychiatric hospital while live streaming the adventure. Their ultimate goal lies in garnering more than 1 million views for fame and fortune. Leading up to the day of the challenge, the seven members laugh about each other’s fear of ghosts. Even as they enter the abandoned hospital with the live stream, they all laugh over the stupidity in believing in the supernatural —until

For many, Bronze Radio Return may represent the music you always hear, but never seem to recognize. The band’s songs has been featured in a number of notable playlists, television shows, and commercials, but have otherwise experienced nominal popularity. “Old Time Speaker,” the group’s 2009 debut album, was featured in the 2009 Hollister Co. Labor Day playlist, and reached number one for several weeks on various college radio stations. Their fourth single, “Further On,” was used for both the 2013 Fedex Cup commercial and an American comedy-drama film entitled

their laughter turn into screams of terror as members start to disappear one by one.

As Jung Bum-shik, the director-writer of this movie, described, the movie was shot almost entirely from a first person perspective with cameras held by each actor.

Fastened to their body until the end of the movie, these technologically advanced cameras constantly allow the audience to see what the Youtubers themselves are viewing. This unusual perspective fosters drastic panic within the audience, as the audience themselves are seemingly in the shoes of the victims.

“GONJIAM: Haunted Asylum” has already set the record as the fastest horror movie to exceed a million views in ten years. This groundbreaking achievement for a domestic horror film must be attributed to the rich discussion on Social Networking Sites (SNS). For example, pictures of the theater after the movie with popcorn laid out all across the floor has become trending on Instagram. This depicts how so many people knocked off their popcorn in surprise. On Facebook, many videos parodying the jump scare with their pets have become popular as well. As such with the help of SNS, “GONJIAM: Haunted Asylum” continues to gain its popularity despite blood-curdling. scenes and wasted popcorn.

By Michelle Ahn Junior, Staff Writer

“St. Vincent.”

Additionally, rock aficionados may have unwittingly stumbled upon their show at one point. Bronze Radio Return has performed for an impressive array of music festivals such as Tennessee’s Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, Chicago-based alternative rock festival Lollapalooza, and the “world’s largest music festival,” commonly known as the Milwaukee Summerfest. The band has also performed for many noteworthy stars, including but not limited to Dennis DeYoung, John Mayer, Grace Potter, and Blues Traveller.

With a perfect balance of music and silence, Bronze Radio Return features mellow sounds perfect for easy listening on the go. “Sell it to You” from the band’s second album “Shake!Shake!Shake!” is a perfect sample of the sextet’s discography, offering audiences a steady but unassuming buildup of bass, keyboard, and drums.

“Rather Never Know” from their second album “Up, On & Over” is a comparatively upbeat selection vaguely reminiscent of a Misterwives song. The band’s more recent songs, particularly “Good Company” from the album “Light Me Up,” show a defin-

itive shift towards an indie rock sound similar to that of Seafret. With the band promising fans a new album to come this year, there is no way but up for this roots rock sextet.

Like the few moments one spends at the top of Gyro Drop, the few moments of respite that each song offers provides a moment of relaxation before reality catches up to us. With the release of every new album and single, Bronze Radio Return’s music grows to be more diverse and immersive. Find Bronze Radio Return on Youtube, Spotify, and Melon.

10 SPORTS Play-by-play: Tigers mark third win against APIS Green Hawks

SIS VS. APIS 5:2

Continuing the game against APIS, Haanbi Kim (11) kicks the soccer ball across the field to his teammates.

Photos By Jocelyn Lee

Preview

On Mar. 14, the varsity boys soccer team marked a victorious win against Asia Pacific International School (APIS) Green Hawks in a home game. After experiencing an unfortunate loss against KIS Phoenixes on Mar. 9, playing against another strong team may have been a challenge; Nonetheless, Tigers were able to put on an intensifying play, ultimately marking their third win of the season.

First Half

From the beginning of the first half, Tigers were able to win full possession of the ball, earning a corner kick just one minute into the game. Smooth, connective passes as well as clear vocal communication between players allowed the Tigers to keep the ball on the other half of the field. A long throw-in made by Justin Cheun (12) allowed

David Yoo (12) to take a low shot straight from the center, however, failed to make it into the goal. With a great comeback made by the Green Hawks, Tigers turned back to a defense-oriented play. Nonetheless, jaw dropping saves made by Haanbi Kim (11) kept the ball outside of the box. Approximately six minutes into the game, a strong assist made by Isaac Lee (11) allowed Harry Shin (12) to swiftly pass defenders and shoot the first goal of the game. Not long after, a handball penalty was called to the Green Hawks, Tigers earning a free kick just above the half line to attempt a long shot into the goal. A quick dribble assist made

by Yoonjae Seo (10) to Ryan Jang (12) just in front of the goal allowed an easy second goal for the Tigers. Tigers maintained their pressure, keeping the ball on the other half of the field, successfully ending the first half of the game with a score of 2:0.

Second Half

The second half of the game began with a more intensifying play between the Tigers and the Green Hawks. Consecutive corner kicks from the Tigers and goal kicks from the Green Hawks further tightened the pressure on the Green Hawks, allowing the Tigers to maintain their pace throughout the game. A clear shot made by Jay Lee (12) from a soft assisting pass from Harry in a free kick, marked the third and final goal of the Tigers. By a quarter into the second half, a handball penalty was called to the Tigers; however, Haanbi successfully saved the nerve-wrecking moment once again. With approximately 10 minutes left in the game, a penalty kick was called for the Green Hawks. The distance and the angle made it seem obvious that the ball was going to make it into a goal. Notwithstanding, Haanbi was able to replace a goal

for a corner kick. By the end of the game conflicts and tensions seemed to deepen among players, developing into a short fight amongst the two teams. Although the second half ended with a goal from the Green Hawks through a corner kick, the Tigers were able to mark a victorious win with a score of 3:1.

Overview

The varsity boys soccer team showcased their third match of the season against APIS Green Hawks. Although the match ended with a triumphant victory for the Tigers, the game displayed secure synergy and improvement for both teams throughout the game.

By Claire Lee Sophomore, Staff Writer

Doping sullies international sports scene

A

t the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, 168 Russian athletes competed as “neutrals” under the delegation Olympic Athletes from Russia (OAR). The International Olympic Committee (IOC) banned Russia from the 2018 Winter Games after whistleblowing doctor Grigory Rodchenkov, who was the director of Russia’s anti-doping laboratory during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics, revealed their state-sponsored doping in December 2017. The country remains more or less excluded from international sporting events, but no signs of reform are to be seen.

“State-sponsored doping is an issue that is much more serious than just individual athletes looking to performance enhancing drugs,” Yoon Lim (11) said. “The fact that the Russian government engages in such malicious activities shows the need for

stricter controls and regulations to ensure the equal playing field all countries have entering the Olympics and any other sporting event.”

This is not the first time Russia has shown signs of cheating through the implementation of doping at international sporting events. At the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics, the nation was stripped of 13 out of the 33 medals it received after their athletes were caught doping. While the first cases of doping with modern medicine in the 20th century were observed in sports like cycling and weightlifting, the use of performance-enhancing drugs has spread much more widely throughout the decades in all sports, including curling and ice hockey.

“It is extremely concerning that doping has become a relatively widespread practice in the sporting field,” Bill Lee (11) said. “As

an avid sports fan, I expect for all players to be competing under equal circumstance.

For many, including myself, much of the fun and excitement in watching will be taken away if I knew this was not true.”

The most frustrated are none other than the other athletes. For athletes who undergo intense training for several years to achieve a high level of physical performance, losing the honor of a higher rank can only be infuriating. Particularly during the Sochi Olympics, clean athletes were united in their plea for stronger action against dopers. They made legitimate claims concerning the negative effect dopers have on clean athletes, and the sports they engage in.

“Doping sullies the nature of fair sports competition, particularly at the very competitive level of sports,” Emma Lee (10) said. “Undoubtedly the other athletes are

the ones who are most affected by such an environment. There is a need for stricter policies regarding drug usage.”

Debates continue on the consequences of doping in the world of sports. Although doping creates an unfair advantage if used only by certain athletes, some argue that if the same performance-enhancing drugs are used by all athletes, this will not only still be reflective of an individual’s ability, but will also provide a higher level of competition and therefore entertainment for sports fans. As the world moves forward with technological advancements, doping is a gray area that must be addressed bygovernments and international sporting organizations.

By Hannah Kim Junionr, Staff Writer

Tiger Times April 2018

Sports Photo of the Month

Passionately swimming the butterfly stoke, Jaywon Yi gets ready for a KAIAC swim meet on March 21, 2018.

Photos By Jocelyn Lee

PyeongChang Paralympics: the “Record-breaking Games”

O

n Mar. 9, the remaining fervor following the closing ceremony of the PyeongChang Olympics was soon directed to the opening ceremony of the Paralympics. For nine days, the Paralympics hosted six different winter sports: para alpine skiing, para biathlon, para cross-country skiing, para ice hockey, para snowboard, and wheelchair curling.

The 2018 Paralympic Heritage Flame was lit one week before the PyeongChang Olympics starting from Stoke Mandeville, the first venue and inspiration of the Paralympics in 1984.

From there, the torch was passed on virtually to Seoul Island and traveled throughout Anyang, Nonsan, Gochang, and Cheongdo. The total distance covered was 2,018 kilometers, representing the year 2018.

Although Russia ranked first with 30 gold medals in the Sochi Paralympics, this year, US performed the highest with 13 gold medals, 15 silver medals, and 8 bronze medals. Yet, labeled as the “Record-breaking Games,” the 2018 Paralympics highlighted not the prosperity of a single country, but the multiple records broken throughout the nine-day event.

The record-breaking started with the number of tickets sold, with 89 percent of the 310,000 tickets sold worldwide by the time the opening ceremony commenced, which was three times that of the 2006 Turin Olympics.

The 2018 Paralympics also set therecord for participation, with the most athletes from the most number of countries in history. Furthermore, Great Britain, the Neutral Paralympic Athletes, Canada, and many other nations broke individual records, making each and every game more worthwhile.

Nonetheless, even the 2018 Paralympics

could not entirely avoid challenges. Unlike the spirit of the games, the physical accommodations provided to the athletes were insufficient and even burdensome. Many Paralympics athletes, especially those dependent on wheelchairs, complained about the uncomfortable environment they had to face, including small bathrooms, doorways, pathways, and sidewalks, as well as steep stairs and restrooms without any handrails or back support. Such qualifications outlined the flaws of the event, despite its statically record-breaking status.

“The heart and the desire that the athletes have truly makes the Paralympics special,” said Tim Munro, Activity Coordinator. “With all the media outlets involved in the 2018 Paralympics, people are starting to recognize the effort and determination and start to invest more money in the games. With money comes exposure, and with exposure comes interest. Hearing counts from the athletes themselves, the Paralympics are clearly going in the right direction.”

During the closing ceremony held on Mar. 18 that successfully concluded the 12 th Paralympics, the symbolic Paralympic flag was passed on from PyeongChang to Beijing, the city hosting the 2022 Olympics and Paralympics. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) promised to, once again, cooperate with each other in building the following two international events until at least 2032, with stable funding provided for the prospects of the Olympics and Paralympics.

By Andie Kim Sophomore, Staff Writer

March Madness surprises, shocks, and satisfies once again

T

hroughout the month of March, the NCAA basketball tournament was lit up by surprising upsets, devastating losses, and brilliant individual performances by players. By April 3, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish was crowned champions for the NCAA Division I women’s basketball tournament and the Villanova Wildcats became the NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament champions.

Early in the tournament on March 16, the University of Maryland, Baltimore County Retrievers defeated the Virginia Cavaliers by 74-54, becoming the first 16th seed team to upset a first seed team in NCAA Division 1 men’s basketball tournament history.

While the Retrievers’ fairy tale victory was crushed in the next round by the Kansas

11

State Wildcats, the victory was nevertheless celebrated by the players, their fans, NBA players, and the basketball community as a whole.

“I was really surprised to see the Retrievers win since and upset like that never happens,” said John Ban, varsity basketball player. “Usually, a 16th seed team is a 16th seed team because they are not very good, but I think the Retrievers really broke that mold during this tournament. I think many people’s tournament brackets were also destroyed by this surprising victory,” The Loyola University Chicago Ramblers went on a similar run, reaching the final four. As the underdogs coming into the tournament, the Ramblers’ victory over the University of Miami Hurricanes in the first round and the University of Tennessee

Volunteers in the second round. Mone of the more heartwarming stories of the tournament came from Loyola University when the internet saw Sister Jean, the Loyola University Chicago’s chaplain, attend all of the Ramblers’ games and cheered her team on from the sidelines.

In the NCAA women’s division I basketball tournament, Arike Ogunbowale gave a thrilling performance by hitting two game winning shots to raise Notre Dame first to the finals and then to the championship.

Garnering praise from NBA legends Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade, among other players, Ogunbowale’s clutch mentality gave Notre Dame their first NCAA championship since the 2000-2001 season.

“When I saw Ogunbowale hit both of her game winning shots, I was amazed,”

said Andrew Lee, varsity basketball player.

“Hitting a game winning shots in the last seconds of the game is an impressive task as it involves both high skills and a clutch mentality, something that Ogunbowale possessed during her NCAA final four run.”

For the men’s basketball tournament, Villanova’s Donte DiVincenzo scored 31 points to go along with five made threepoint baskets, five rebounds, three assists, and two blocks to raise the Wildcats over the University of Michigan to the championship. His individual performance gave him the honor of scoring the most points in a NCAA Final Four tournament.

By Justin Chang Senior, Staff Writer

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SMALL TALK

:: social justice worrier Rape culture amid spotlight in #MeToo #MeToo is not a singular movement. It’s not a deviation from the norm, and it’s not something we can consider ephemeral, a short-term movement for an unusual trend that sprung out of nowhere. Rather, it is a response to a build-up of social expectations, systemic oppression, and ingrained tradition—it’s an exposé of a trend that our society had effectively been sweeping under the rug until now. It is a response to a culture that is so deep rooted we often consider it the norm: rape culture.

In short, rape culture is a concept that refers to a society in which rape and sexual harassment is considered the norm due to social nuances regarding gender and sex, and that women should be submissive. As sexist and blatant as that sounds, many do not recognize that such a notion is even more problematic when it manifests in the form of behavior.

“He’s teasing you because he likes you.” is a line we’ve all heard—whether we were the teasing boy, the teased girl, or the kid standing nearby witnessing this everyday interaction. Of course, it’s not always the boy that is teasing the girl, and not all boys act that way either. But most of the time, it is

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indeed the boy teasing the girl—whether it’s pulling her hair or flipping up her skirt—and not as often the other way around.

Since girls are often taught that such teasing is a sign of affection, and boys are taught to think that hurting a girl is something harmless and natural, the prevalence of sexual harassment is not surprising. Young girls are often accustomed to thinking they should stay silent because guys are supposed to act in such a disrespectful manner, and young boys are accustoming to thinking that their behavior is not problematic. When we’re trained to think from a young age that “boys will be boys,” and that boys exhibiting dominance over girls is natural, is it really shocking that sexual misconduct (with male perpetrators) is so common with adults?

The culture of sexual inequity and rape, therefore, is impressed upon our minds from a very young age and sticks with us as we grow up.

Whether we’re male or female, the “boys will be boys” mentality enforces strong gender expectations upon us.

Girls are often told that a guy teasing them is a sign that the guy “likes” the girl. No matter how up-

Korean peninsula potentially reunified through the power of K-Pop

Following the signing of the armistice in 1953, there have been limited interactions between the two Koreas, ranging from the occasional nuclear threat and spotty economic collaboration. With the recent Pyeongyang artistic performance by South Korean singers and performers, however, we finally can say the word again, with hope of actual reconcilation.

Reunification.

When they write of this historical moment in history textbooks, we will see that the propaganda mechanisms that the South Korean military invoked over the long division did eventually work.

While the citizens of South Korea pointed and laughed, asking “why are they blasting BTS songs at an army,” little did they know that the South Korean plot would actually turn North Korean soldiers into army (a nickname for BTS fans).

In fact, popular girl group Red Velvet appealed to the communist ideals of Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, with red imagery—and they fell for it, not realizing that every single performance they put on epitomized the fallacies of capitalism. At the

Pyeongyang performance, they performed their hit song “Red Flavor,” which discussed the curiosity that the girls had for the “flavor” of “red.”

While all of this was happening, however, threat of a Big Bang remained muted—perhaps because all of its members were all serving their mandatory military service.

Perhaps the functions that both government served each other in the upcoming summit meeting could have been accelerated with a performance by F(x). Perhaps the government should consider entering them into the next performance. In fact, Kim JeongEun himself premediated a future performance, during fall, in Seoul, signaling a good relationship between the two nations in the days to come.

For the first time in over seventy years, reunification seems to be the future of the next generation— Girls or otherwise. If the writers of Faux News could make some warning, however, is to always look Twice at the offer that North Korea makes—we’ve been misled by plastic facades before, and we should not again.

BY JOYCE LEE

by Eju Ro set the girl is that a guy is pulling her hair, or pinching her, or touching her without her permission, she is told that such behavior is just “boys being boys.” So the girl nods along, closes her mouth, and stays quiet about how she feels—adults around her convince her that the boy’s behavior is nothing serious, and thereby convince her that no one is around to take her feelings seriously.

This scenario draws an uncanny parallel to what the MeToo movement reflects. The victims speaking out have been waiting silently for weeks, months, and years to open their mouths about what they have experienced. Like the girls on the playground with their skirts being flipped by guys, they knew that people around them would not care enough to reprimand the boys.

Perhaps we should stop approaching #MeToo like a timely event—it’s consequential not because all of these sexual assault cases are suddenly springing up all over Korea, but because they’ve always happened. Perhaps we need to take a step back and witness the culture of sexual violence unfold not only on television and in the apologies of the perpetrators, but in kindergarten classrooms and on the playgrounds as well.

PHOTO OF THE MONTH

Dancing passionately, Colin Jang (9) and Andrew Shin (9) showcase their talents at the UNICEF Talent Show. Photo by Angela Choe