Tiger Times Volume 53 • Issue 9 • June 2022 • ttonl.org
layout by Yuzine Yi
Editorial
Happily ever after by
Aimee Choi & Skylar Peck editors-in-chief
On May 20, we bid farewell to the Class of 2022. This was the first in-person graduation ceremony for most of the student body, and it was another opportunity for us to appreciate the gradual return to normalcy that both the SIS community and the world around us have begun to see in recent months. In addition to the revival of events like the much-awaited Snowball and in-person concerts, you will see in this final issue of the year that this year’s seniors enjoyed the first prom since 2019, fittingly titled “Happily Ever After.” Most of the fairy tales we read as children ended with a “happily ever after”; it was intuitive for us to expect no less from both stories and real life. However, as we got older, we realized the ubiquity of less picture-perfect endings. Starcrossed lovers Romeo and Juliet die untimely deaths; Harry Potter wins the war but not without losing most of his loved ones; COVID-19 oversweeps the world. With numerous COVID-19 cases within the SIS community that marked our school lives with uncertainty, the unprecedented unfolding of the last few school years was less than happy, to say the least. Nonetheless, even the most tragic of stories involve something good coming out of the bad—after all, it was only after Romeo’s and Juliet’s passings that their families called an end to their long-lasting hostility. The pandemic has not been a positive memory for SIS or the world; still, it is worth recognizing that the last two years have built perseverance and problem-solving skills within the SIS community as we navigated the hurdles of virtual learning and intraschool COVID-19 contraction. Now, it seems our story of the 2021-’22 school year will end happily, and this can in part be attributed to our growth as a community. It is only natural to hope that the upcoming school year will be just as happy. As we continue to transition into a “normal” school life and greet exciting school events—which we gained a sneak peek at through the HSSC’s impressively planned May Madness— it feels appropriate for Tiger Times to reflect this trend and assume a more engaging presence at SIS. Our former Editors-in-Chief Jenny Seo and Emily Sung have already initiated the job; through the addition of Student Spotlight articles, which have consistently been one of the most anticipated (and most-liked on Instagram) articles, Tiger Times has taken one step closer to the SIS community; the new Multimedia section has also allowed our members to bring creativity to our content while inviting the SIS community to participate in various surveys. Our newspaper has been gradually yet evidently becoming more school-centered. By furthering this legacy, we dream of seeing hallways filled not with untouched newspapers scattered on couches but with students of curious eyes flipping through the pages. As we more closely adhere to our original vision of publishing content for the students and by the students, we hope for Tiger Times to persist happily ever after. Let yourself be heard. If you have any responses to articles published in the Tiger Times or original contributions, please send them to tigertimes@gmail.com
2 VIEWPOINT
SCHOOL NEWS
Please do not study for the SAT, freshmen
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lutching a handful of No. 2 pencils, students flurry to their Saturday morning showdown. Standardized testing is the inescapable scourge of student life, and Korean international school students know this better than anyone else. Students, parents, and hagwon teachers deploy all arms to bump up scores, and, consequently, early bubble-filling is more common than not. Theoretically, greater preparation time and an early start should yield better results. But reality presents a different story: freshmen should not take nor study for the SAT. Despite the dread of attending infamous SAT hagwons, many Korean international school students are socialized into test preparation and, consequently, tend to jump into the competition early on. The emphasis on high test scores reflects, to some extent, the influence of Korean culture, where college admissions are decided on a single high-stakes test that infuses intense test preparation into regular teenage life. Though this cultural emphasis on standardized testing may contribute to the ubiquity of early testing, competition is arguably a more significant factor at SIS. Noticing peers getting a “head start” is, from experience, remarkably discouraging and conjures a world where everyone feels behind—when most are likely not. The College Board recommends a first SAT sitting in the spring of junior year. In fact, according to Kelcey Edwards, college counselor, less than 8 percent of SAT takers in a typical
graduating class take the SAT prior to March of junior year. With research by Pablo A. Peña, an assistant instructional professor at the University of Chicago, showing that students older by even a few months perform better on standardized tests, it is difficult to assume a correlation between early testing and a greater output despite the common narrative that time will procure results. Outliers exist, but it is safer to rely on statistical evidence than rare success stories. Freshman year should be a time for adjustment—not for inundating oneself with daily SAT hagwon sessions. At an age where it is generally difficult to maximize testing potential, preparing in advance is almost a waste of time, with more drawbacks than benefits. If students struggle to complete schoolwork because of hagwon homework or hours of blankly listening to SAT lectures, the squandered time could take a toll on their grades: plausibly the most significant meter to predict students’ long-term college success. Moreover, high school is a time for students to explore their genuine passions and interests. But when SAT testing takes the front seat, students often find themselves with less time to develop strong extracurricular activities that would let their character shine through an application. But above all reasons, freshmen should refrain from studying for a test that will soon become obsolete. The SAT will go digital in 2023, foreshadowing marked changes to the testing
format. With more time per question, the new digital test will be shortened from three hours to two and is projected to include adaptive test questions that determine difficulty based on the student’s answers. Because there are few preparation materials available for the redesigned SAT test unlike the current well-defined test patterns, it is realistically impossible for anyone to prepare, let alone know what to practice. And with many colleges’ testing policy announcements geared toward rising seniors, nobody knows what to expect when the current rising freshmen apply to college. Evidently, it would not be wise to participate in such a game of chance. Instead, freshmen are essentially granted the rare opportunity to relax and leverage their first year of high school ideally without feeling pressured by others. Everyone is different, so there is no blanket answer to the question of when to begin the SAT journey. However, the culture of early standardized testing certainly provides no real benefit. So dear rising freshmen: if you are reading this, please do not start studying for the SAT this summer. You will have a chance to see what the new digital test is like when you take the PSAT in 10th grade. Give yourself a year off from standardized testing, and do something more interesting with that precious time.
BY: Katelyn Oh Sophomore, Social Media Manager
Tiger Times Staff
Tiger Times Tiger Times exercises the right to report on and editorialize all topics, events or issues, including those unpopular or controversial, insofar as they affect or interest the school, community, nation, and world. We refrain from publishing material that advertises illegal products or services, is obscene, libelous, or invades privacy. We refrain from publishing material that creates a clear and present danger or the immediate material and substantial physical disruption of the school.
Volume 53 Issue 9 June 2022 Seoul, South Korea TTONL.org a free publication of
Seoul International School
Paper Editors-in-Chief Aimee Choi Skylar Peck
Paper Managing Editors Rachel Yoon Rosa Suh
Website Editors-in-Chief Jordan Kim Woojune Kim
Website Managing Editor Daniel Shin
As the end of the school year draws near, seniors leave their high school careers behind and enter a new chapter of their lives. On May 13, the HSSC hosted the senior prom at RAUM, a formal venue, for the first time since 2019. “I feel lucky and grateful to have attended prom because it had been canceled for the past two years,” Brandon Cho (12), prom attendee, said. “I am also happy because prom symbolizes the end of high school, and I am really glad I made it this far. I feel excited to see what lies ahead of me.” Seniors were exhilarated to attend this iconic event after years of barely being able to do anything of the scale due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, though this event represents the end of an era filled with stress and hardships, it also represents the last time that many will be able to enjoy an event with their peers outside of graduation. Despite the bittersweet nature of prom, everyone looked forward to it.
O As flowers begin to bloom and the beautiful weather paints the sky blue, May is the perfect month in Korea to express your appreciation to those around you. On May 8, Koreans celebrate Parents’ Day, giving their parents carnations. Parents’ Day was established in 1973 in Korea to encourage filial piety in a rapidly industrializing society. Teachers’ Day, celebrated on May 15, was enacted in 1982 to increase respect for teachers and increase awareness of their educational roles in society. Korean students honor their teachers in diverse ways, ranging from giving them bouquets of flowers and carnations to singing songs together for them. Just before I attended SIS, my parents sent me to a Korean public school for a few years so that I could gain knowledge of Korean culture. Having grown up in the US, my life in a Korean school felt new and intriguing. Two of my most memorable activities were folding paper carnations for Parents’ Day and secretly practicing a song with my classmates for Teachers’ Day. When I came to SIS, I found it unfortunate that Parents’ Day and Teachers’ Day were not as actively celebrated past elementary school. We as students must recognize the importance of expressing gratitude and appreciation for those around us, and we should take a
moment to appreciate our closest adults—our parents and our teachers—because they are the ones who support us to flourish. Some may say it is we ourselves who lead our own lives and that the adults around us play a rather small role. It is true that we have grown a lot from childhood into young adults able to make our own decisions. However, our parents and our teachers remain the driving forces behind the decisions we make, the knowledge we acquire, and the experiences we encounter in our lives. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, parents have the greatest influence on their children during their adolescence, at a median age of 12 years. Our parents not only provide financial support but also set up the framework of our values early on and give guidance for our decisions. We can always rely on them for emotional support as they listen to our friendship dramas and cheer us up during our all-nighters. As our parents give love and care to us, it is important to express our love and gratitude to them, too. What is so important about gratitude? Gratitude—often associated with positive psychology and increased happiness—allows us to appreciate the often unnoticed aspects of our lives. In fact, expressing gratitude diffuses
happiness to not only the people we appreciate but also ourselves. As we manage through our busy, hectic lives as high school students, it may be especially difficult to notice the presence of the closest adults around us and what they do for us. Nonetheless, these special holidays in May allow us to devote time specifically to appreciate them, and our school and we can initiate more activities that emphasize gratitude toward those around us. For example, we can prepare flowers, film short appreciation videos individually and compile them into one video, and write a rolling paper filled with handwritten messages of appreciation for our teachers at SIS for Teachers’ Day. As we continuously strive to climb up higher levels of academic and material success, we could try taking a moment to pause and reflect on what we already have around us. With the end of the school year approaching, why not write a short letter of gratitude to your parents and teachers for supporting your journey so far?
BY: John Kim Sophomore, Reporter
Production Editors Yuzine Yi Bona Suh Alice Lee Website Design Editor Minjae Chun Social Media Manager Katelyn Oh
Layout Artists Junseo Lee Hannah Kim Jasmine Jeong Reporters John Kim Grace Lee Ian Park David Kim Jennifer Kwon
Erin Choi Isabelle Lee Jack Lee Hugo Lee Bin Ma Paul Moon Cherlin Kim Joseph Chun Gyusung Lee San Schwede Eric Kim Yunah Joe
Jason Shin Yoon Choi Jason Lee Danny Han Andrew Shin Eric Cho Hannah Yi Waan Choi Chelsea Kim Adviser Ms. Wendy Grant
Students enjoy last ride at prom The event began with attendees voting for superlatives. Katie Lee (12), John Jung (12), and Ashley Kim (12) were named prom queen, prom king, and best dressed, respectively. Katie and Ethan Choi (12) were also selected as best couple. “I have been preparing for prom by buying a nice prom dress and any accessories or shoes I was thinking of wearing,” Katie said. “I am expecting a lot of photos to be taken at prom by students, parents, and photographers alike, so I have also arranged to get my hair and makeup done with my friends on the day of prom.” HSSC, the organizers of the event, made prom possible by likewise going through much preparation. A major aspect of their work organizing prom revolved around deciding the theme of the event, and how the emotions the theme captured would reside with the attendees. “The theme of ‘Happily Ever After’ came to us pretty naturally, after we thought about how best to wrap up everything the seniors
have done in high school,” Eunie Choi (11), president of the junior council, said. “We wanted something a little sentimental—something that signified the end of a story, but also a new beginning. We hoped the seniors would be able to look back and see how far they came, have a wonderful close to this chapter of their lives, and look forward to what has yet to come.” Seniors particularly expressed excitement about the elaborate course meal and the decorated setting ideal for taking photos. However, the planning process of this successful event was not without difficulties, as the HSSC had not had the responsibility of planning an event of this caliber for years. “There have been substantial challenges for both the upperclass councils and the advisers when it came to planning for prom,” Nathan Warkentin, HSSC adviser, said. “There has been a lot of uncertainty throughout the entire process, mostly thanks to the pandemic. We did
SIS holds 45th graduation ceremony
Let’s show some appreciation
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n May 20, SIS held a graduation ceremony for the Class of 2022, marking the school’s 45th graduation. Unlike the past two graduations where COVID-19 restrictions prohibited many relatives and underclassmen from attending, this year’s graduation was free of restrictions and allowed both friends and family to congratulate seniors on one of their most significant milestones. For many seniors, graduation resembles light at the end of a dark tunnel filled with academic challenges and pressure characteristic of high school. On the flip side, it also marks a bittersweet moment of departure from the close-knit
SIS community. “Although it is a little bittersweet to leave SIS, I am overall excited to go to college,” Francisco Choi (12) said. “Graduation opens a new stage in life for me, and I look forward to pursuing my interests further in college.” Despite the melancholy aspect of leaving SIS, the excitement surrounding graduation is shared by most seniors. Graduation marks one of the largest transitions in students’ lives from the familiar community of SIS to a different, more liberated life in college. Moreover, moving to a foreign country like the US presents an array of new possibilities and lifestyles.
“Going abroad for college offers an entirely different lifestyle for me,” Justin Chung (12) said. “Most notably, there will be much more freedom as our parents will exert less control over our lives. There are also numerous cultural differences in cuisine and social attitudes. Overall, I am really excited about the new lifestyle that going abroad offers.” Apart from the lifestyle change, graduation marks a significant shift in focus and type of education. Whereas high school is focused on allowing students to experience a variety of subjects to find their area of interest, college allows students to delve deeper
Posing for the camera, seniors Sally Lee (left), Matthew Kim (back), Brandon Cho (front), and Yeji Kim enjoy their Senior Prom at Raum.
not even know whether prom would be possible until well into [the] second semester! This, combined with evolving COVID safety guidelines, forced us to really stay on our toes and constantly prepare contingency plans.” Despite some challenges, prom went very smoothly, and everyone was extremely satisfied. The sen-
into their area of interest. “Graduation is arguably one of the most important events in student life,” Kelcey Edwards, college counselor, said. “It marks the culmination of 14 years of primary and secondary school. students can look back on their experiences and thank those who helped them reach this milestone. At the same time, it marks the start of a much more specialized education that allows students to dive into their specific area of interest.” Expectations are high for the Class of 2022 as they are recognized by many for both skilled athletes and academics. Many believe the Class is poised for
SIS welcomes new principal, Head of School
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fter more than 5 years of being the Head of School, Michael Colaianni will retire from SIS at the end of this school year. With his farewell that is bittersweet for many students, staff, and faculty members, SIS will welcome James Gerhard as the Head of School and Gray Macklin as the HS principal next year. Excitement and curiosity are in the air about the changes that will occur and how they will affect the students’ daily lives. “I think that both Dr. Gerhard and Mr. Macklin are passionate people, especially regarding extracurricular activities or in-school studies,” John Kang-
won Lee (12), recent graduate, said. “Hence, I think that a revitalization of activities among the students could be a big possibility in the following years.” Many are looking forward to the new systems, facilities, and regulations that will take place. With COVID-19 precautions getting looser, students may feel overwhelmed and confused. Understanding this, Mr. Macklin gives insight on what to look forward to in the upcoming years. “I do not think about policies in terms of being strict, but rather in terms of the kinds of decisions they encourage,” Mr. Macklin, current vice principal, said. “A
revision of the policies surrounding absences during summatives, for example, might be seen as strict from one perspective, but I would look at it in terms of how effectively it encouraged students to be present for tests on the day they are given the first time.” In response to the frequent stress and sleep deprivation many students face, Mr. Macklin also shares his perspective that there are ways to enjoy a healthy life whilst maintaining good grades, further emphasizing the need for new policies. Dr. Gerhard additionally expresses his excitement about this period of change. “SIS is right at the beginning
of its second 50 years,” Dr. Gerhard said. “There will be a lot of changes coming to the school, and I am excited to be part of that. For example, now that I will be responsible for all of K-12, I will be able to advocate for all of the teachers and interact with all the parents.” According to Dr. Gerhard, students can look forward to renovations, new buildings, and repainted areas that will provide an improved and safer environment for the community. Furthermore, students can look forward to more incorporation of technology in the education system.
Photo by Alice Lee (11)
iors were more ready than ever to move on from this chapter of their lives and, with graduation around the corner, go on to live happily ever after.
BY: Jason Lee Freshman, Reporter
success in the future and confident that they will build off of their contributions to the SIS community. “The class of 2022 was full of talented and hardworking students,” Jim Gerhard, high school principal, said. “This year’s class often compared themselves to the very successful Class of 2021 but they were able to overcome the pressure of high expectations and enjoy just as much success. I am confident that the students will continue to excel going into college and beyond.” BY: Hugo Lee Junior, Reporter
Freshmen and rising high schoolers similarly share their excitement and expectations for the next year. “I think that the changes that will be brought will be very exciting and positive,” Tyla Green (9) said. “Although I will not be here, I know that students can look forward to the changes that will be brought next year.”
BY: Yunah Joe Freshman, Reporter
layout by Jasmine Jeong
Happy sailing on the sea of wide opporTunities, Seniors! “
Claire Kim My most memorable moments were playing sports such as tennis, watching games after school, and dressing up for Halloween and spirit week. Varsity tennis motivated me to work toward a goal and gave me a chance to interact with different grade levels and people I usually would not interact with. It also allowed me to meet people in other schools. I was involved in Giving Hands and Celadon, which allowed me to make projects for issues I was interested in and passionate about. Time flies, so I want to tell the underclassmen to enjoy the small fun moments they have and not get too stressed over everything because if you look back, it probably was not worth it.
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Rachel Lee I was involved in so many activities in SIS, such as the yearbook, National Art Honor Society, Global Issues Network, and Seoulite. Year by year, I learned not only how to work as a staff member, but also how to become an effective communicator and a leader. I will not forget how our grade was unique in that we have had an active group chat with the whole grade in it since sixth grade. When we needed clarification, announcements, new information, or just entertainment, everything was recorded in the group chat, and everyone got involved. It allowed us to talk with people whom we were uncomfortable with before as well.
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Lulu Schooley
I got to compete in varsity cross country and soccer tournaments this year. I especially enjoyed going to Jeju for a soccer tournament. The Pep Rally and the Halloween Carnival were also very memorable. These sports helped create a stronger sense of community and school spirit for me. Another impactful activity that I was part of was the Forensics team, which helped me to challenge and extend my thinking in terms of presentation and debate. There were a lot of ups and downs, but I enjoyed spending time with my friends the most. Good luck to everyone else and peace out.
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As the cheer captain, I learned to separate my personal life from my professional life, and as president of Habitat for Humanity, I learned that big decisions are better made in groups than individually. I will really miss the competitive atmosphere of SIS, as everyone pushed me to become a better person, and I definitely think the teachers here made a difference in my high school life, as they tried to connect with me on a deeper level. I have made some lifelong friends here at SIS, and I can not wait to see the successful people they will become in the future. The grade mingling with one another with no judgment in the senior lounge together will remain a memorable moment for me.
Jane Kim
Some of my most memorable moments in SIS were when I hung out with my friends and when I interacted with the school play crew and actors. Being involved in the school play allowed me to learn that acting is what I want to do for a living. It feels weird to leave a place that has been my second home for 13 years of my life. I will miss this place.
Wonju Lee My most memorable moments were during school activities, where I was able to bond with my peers and teachers. I was involved in various activities throughout my high school years at SIS. Through my participation in our High School Orchestra and Tri-M Music Honor Society, I pursued my interest and love for music. My active involvement in activities like Model United Nations provided opportunities for me to interact and socialize with different people from all around the world. As I embark on a new journey, I hope to lead my way with the help of the skills and lessons I learned at SIS. SIS is a close-knit community that supports the development of one another, and because of this, I thrived in this community.
Stan Lee My most memorable moment at SIS was probably the Family Fun Day right before COVID-19. It became a little crazy when everyone started dropping their friends in the pools, but it was really fun doing the same to my friends. I was primarily involved in Future Business Leaders of America, entering business competitions every semester. I joined mostly for fun but ended up developing some real businesses and leadership skills as I kept competing. If I had any last words, it would be something along the lines of “cherish every moment you have because time goes by really fast.
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Copy by Saewoong Ian Park Layout by Bona Suh
Ashley Seong
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Jaehyun Lim I enjoyed the people here the most: teachers, friends, and mentors, as I could always count on them to make me feel better and connected in the strange place that is SIS. They are from all over the world and offer some great perspectives. In fact, my most memorable moments in SIS were when I had conversations with teachers about life. Along with that, I was involved in many different clubs and school events such as Celadon and the school play. They kept me occupied and allowed me to make some great friends.
Louis Kim I was mostly involved in two main activities: varsity badminton and the Korean Culture Club. My 3 years in varsity badminton, especially my senior year as a captain, taught me the importance of team spirit and leading a team with charisma. My experience of creating a new club in SIS was challenging yet a worthwhile experience that allowed me to get to know new people and provided me with personal growth. Recalling back to my four years of high school at SIS, I never regret my decision to come to SIS. It was challenging, but the daily lives and experiences were definitely things to cherish. I wish the best of luck to all the juniors, sophomores, and freshmen, and I hope you all achieve your dreams.
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6
SPORTS & LIFESTYLE
GLOBAL NEWS
Elon Musk makes offer to buy Twitter
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hrough a $44 billion proposal, business magnate Elon Musk is close to acquiring Twitter, which will officially mark his entry into the social media industry. After buying 9 percent of Twitter for $3 billion on April 4, Musk stated his intention to acquire the entire app on April 14 in the name of free speech, claiming that if Twitter refused to take this deal, he would reconsider his position as a major shareholder, which might result in Twitter’s prices tanking. In light of pressure from other shareholders and board members, Twitter eventually accepted the deal on April 25 to maintain the app’s current prices. Musk was in an advantageous position, as even if Twitter refused to take this deal, he could sell his 9 percent shares and regain his $3 billion. “I am not sure that [Musk] acquiring Twitter is a positive message,” Steven Nave, World History teacher and avid current events follower, said. “I am not exactly sure what his plan is, but I am not sure that one person owning a single company is a good idea. Free speech is important, but I do not think that Musk’s approach of absolute free speech is a good idea.” These sorts of strategic business deals are not unprecedented. In the age of new technologies, Elon Musk has been able to gain a prominent foothold in the technology industry through his years in Tesla, SpaceX, and SolarCity, often being praised for his versatile capabilities. His recent acquisition of Twitter can be interpreted as a strong starting point for him to start expanding into the social media industry. “Looking at the previous endeavors by Elon Musk, I think that he is capable of dominating other industries, not only the social media industry,” Keanu Park (9), fan of Elon Musk, said. “I concede that we cannot predict everything that will happen, so to say with absolute certainty that Elon Musk will dominate is inaccurate. But I do believe that there is a high chance of him doing so.” Musk claims that he is buying Twitter because he believes that Twitter does not protect users’ free speech. Despite not having delineated specific plans for Twitter, Musk has promised to create new features in the app that will follow up on these promises. These features include the removal of censorship, reduced reliance on advertisement for profit, higher reliance on user experience and content subscription, and making Twitter a private company. “Reducing those policies might be beneficial because especially in the United States, freedom of speech is very valued and it has been a very important thing for many cultures,” Dana Chung (9), a follower of the Twitter deal, said. “However, I believe that this event can be viewed negatively as people can start saying insensitive things and end up offending other parties.” Both supporters and opponents of Musk’s decision have fervently voiced their opinions on this matter. While some acknowledge the problems with Twitter’s current content policies and believe that a new course of action should be taken, others point out that a private company is not bound to any national constitution, making his plans to privatize Twitter counterproductive to his goals. Many people also believe that without strict policies on speech, Twitter would be rife with misinformation, hate speech, and dangerous individuals. “Strict policies are necessary, as without any regulations, you cannot safely be in an online community with different people,” Allison Lee (10), Twitter user, said. “In platforms like Twitter, where extreme ideas get emphasized through retweets, it makes it more important to regulate speech to a certain degree.” Although there is not much that is public about this situation, there is no doubt that Musk’s ownership of Twitter would provide some noticeable changes. A change in management and a change in the operation of Twitter posts—which is the crux of Twitter’s function— would likely impact all users’ Twitter experience. by: Jason Jihoon Shin Freshman, Reporter
Amber Heard, Johnny Depp face defamation trial
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n April 11, the defamation trial between actor Johnny Depp and his ex-wife Amber Heard started in Fairfax County, Virginia. The trial was the result of a years-long feud that started in 2018 when Heard wrote an opinion piece for the Washington Post about her experiences with sexual violence. It escalated into a legal issue when Depp sued her for defamation the following year, to which Heard countersued. Here is a summarized timeline of the events that occurred in the courtroom until the final verdict. April 19: Depp begins testifying On April 19, Depp began testifying. He claimed that he had never abused Heard and that she had in fact abused him, showing photographs of injuries on his body that she allegedly made. He said her accusation denied him commercial opportunities; following the allegations, his roles in the movies “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore” and “Pirates of the Caribbean” were rescinded. Though Heard did not explicitly identify Depp as the aggressor in her Op-Ed, Depp claimed that the implications damaged his career and sought $50 million as compensation.
Around this date, people on social media began to take notice of the trial. The majority took Depp’s side, with Depp’s fans dominating platforms like TikTok to criticize Heard. May 4: Heard begins testifying Then, on May 4, Heard started testifying. She focused on the “pattern of physical and sexual abuse” throughout their relationship, referring to his history of alcoholism and drug use. She first recounted that their romance started out seemingly perfect, only to turn darker as Depp became violent. Heard said she often feared for her life from Depp’s abusive behavior. Her legal team showed evidence of Heard’s injuries as well as emails and text messages from Depp targeting Heard. Meanwhile, Depp’s fans were gaining massive traction on social media platforms with trial footage they had gathered to implicate Heard. Her legal team also addressed the negative coverage of the trial, stating it was threatening and costing Heard job opportunities like her partnership with L'Oréal and role in “Aquaman.” May 24: Heard’s team rests its case, begins cross-examina-
tion Starting May 24, cross-examination between Depp and Heard’s legal teams started. Each side brought on witnesses, some being high-profile celebrities, to testify and to be questioned by the opposing side’s lawyers. First, Depp returned to the stand as a rebuttal witness and heavily denied Heard’s testimony. He brought with him witnesses that backed his claims and suggested that Heard was the violent one in their relationship. One witness, psychologist Shannon Curry, diagnosed Heard with borderline and histrionic personality disorder to imply that she was prone to cruelty. Next, Heard returned to again emphasize she did not fake her allegations by using returning witnesses. Julian Ackert, a forensic expert that was present during Heard’s testimony, was called to the stand and confirmed that the photos Heard had taken for evidence of abuse were not altered. Psychologist Dawn Hughes who diagnosed Heard with PTSD confirmed that symptoms were not exaggerated. In their closing statements, Depp’s legal team reminded the court of the inconsistencies in
SPOM
Heard’s testimony and encouraged viewers to question the credibility of her claims. They asserted that these inconsistencies proved that her claims of abuse were “unfounded” and warned the jury that they could not disregard them without accepting potentially false evidence. Meanwhile, Heard’s legal team maintained the abuse allegations from the actress and reminded the jury that victims of abuse do not have to be “perfect” to prove themselves. Specifically, they stated the “nitpicking” from the other team could not override the overwhelming amount of evidence that Heard had accumulated. May 27: Jury deliberates Jury deliberations began on May 27, working to finally reach a verdict on a high-profile case that grasped the attention of the public. On June 1, the jury found both sides liable for defamation but awarded Depp more in compensatory damages.
by: Rachel & Rosa Juniors, Managing Editors
Supreme Court reconsiders Roe v. Wade
On May 2, Politico reporters Josh Gerstein and Alexander Ward published a leak of an initial majority draft opinion written by Supreme Court Justice Samuel Anthony Alito. The Supreme Court of 1973 ruled in a 7-2 majority for abortion rights in Roe v. Wade, but the draft states that abortion rights are not constitutionally guaranteed and that the initial ruling of was the result of an incorrect interpretation of the 14th Amendment. Roe v. Wade was a landmark decision that ensured that the federal government recognized abortion as a fundamental human right, allowing pregnant women across the nation to choose to have an abortion without excessive government restriction. It struck down many of the state and federal
laws restricting abortion. “If Roe v. Wade is overturned, I believe it will affect not only the United States, but the majority of the Western world,” Steven Nave, World History teacher, said. “It would likely have a domino effect, leading governments to wonder if legislation that guaranteed human rights in their respective countries can be overturned as well.” If Roe v. Wade is overturned, abortion laws would be left to be decided by individual states. 13 states such as Tennessee and Texas have trigger laws that would ban abortion immediately, while 14 states would likely impose heavy restrictions. Meanwhile, remaining states such as Michigan and Wisconsin would see little change in regard to abortion.
South Korea legalized abortion in 2021, after being illegal for 67 years. In South Korea, the debate between conservatives and religious organizations against women’s rights organizations on abortion restrictions and education continues. “The fact that abortion rights are being called into question in the US makes me wonder what this means for South Korean legislature regarding abortion,” Allison Lee (10), abortion rights advocate, said. “It makes me concerned that abortion rights might be taken away from us as well.” US citizens are also questioning the motives behind the overturning of Roe v. Wade. As the US public and the government have become increas-
ingly politically polarized, many view the overturning of Roe v. Wade as a politically motivated move, not a moral one. “Because Supreme Court justices are not democratically elected, the political party in control has more effect on the Supreme Court,” James Tyvand, US History teacher, said. “In recent US history, the Supreme Court has shifted from a liberal majority to a conservative one, and this definitely is a factor in the current issue.” In response to the leak, protests have broken out in Washington D.C. as protesters marched to the Washington monument and to the Supreme Court. Movements supporting abortion have sparked across the country with the slogan “my body, my choice.” Many Americans are also concerned that the overturning of Roe v. Wade may undo progress in other civil rights. “I believe the overturning of Roe v. Wade threatens not only women’s rights but also the civil liberties of all US citizens,” Elena Kim (10), women's rights advocate, said. “If the Supreme Court can overturn abortion rights, it begs the question of whether other civil liberties will also be threatened.” Although the draft was initially circulated amongst the justices on Feb. 10, a final decision is yet to be made.
by: Gyusung Lee Sophomore, Reporter
Participating in the SIS Chess Tournament, Francisco Choi (8) carefully considers his options before his next move.
sports photo of the month
Photo by David Kim (10)
Varsity badminton team wins 2nd place in KAIAC
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n April 30, the varsity badminton team traveled to Cheongna Dalton School in Incheon to participate in the annual KAIAC tournament. Seven international schools faced off against one another, competing for their schools’ honor. The tournament ended with SIS ranked no. 2 overall. “I had a lot of fun in KAIAC,” Anika Kurebayashi (10), varsity badminton player, said. “I worked extremely hard on my own skills and tried my best to collaborate with my partner during doubles. Most importantly I made sure to have fun during the tournament, because I knew that there was a possibility that it might not happen again and be stopped by another pandemic.” The tournament was split into five events: girls singles, boys singles, girls doubles, boys doubles, and mixed doubles. For each event, after three games, the two teams that had won the most games in their pools moved on to the second round: the quarter-finals. After pool play, the tournament followed a bracket-style format, where the winning team moved on to the next round in a single-elimination game. Notable personal accomplishments include Andrew Choi (11) winning second place in boys singles and Elena Kim (10) winning third place in girls singles. Both players won the Most Valuable Player award and received KAIAC All-Conference mentions during the spring sports awards ceremony held on May 13. “There were a few reasons for our success in the tournament,” Ricky Green, varsity boys badminton coach, said. “First, we had a long time to practice before our first competitive match. Most of the players had also been playing throughout the year, so we were already better than we were last year. Finally, the players had a great attitude in training and a persistent attitude in the matches.” Although the team had a very successful tournament, the trials
New LGBTQ+ media helps normalize community
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ecently, representation of the LGBTQ+ community is becoming more common in the media. This means that a piece of media portrays LGBTQ+ characters and non-heteronormative relationships as a way to normalize the community. “Heartstopper” and “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore” are two newly released narratives that have been recognized for their LGBTQ+ representation. “Heartstopper” is a British teen drama series released on Netflix on April 22, based on a graphic novel by Alice Oseman. The series is a coming-of-age story that follows Charlie Spring, a gay schoolboy who falls in love with his classmate, Nick Nelson. Many people have praised the show for its realistic representation of the LGBTQ+ community, including diverse characters that diverge from unhealthy
stereotypes. “‘Heartstopper’ strays away from harmful stereotypes that we see in a lot of media when it comes to the portrayal of the LGBTQ+ community,” Eunie Choi (11), fan of “Heartstopper,” said. “It also has a very honest portrayal of teens and coming of age in general, whether or not it has to do with LGBTQ+ people. I watched the interviews and the cast talked about how they liked that they hired actual teenagers to play the characters.” “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore,” released on April 13, is a movie based on screenplays by J.K. Rowling and acts as a prequel to the “Harry Potter” series. This movie addresses Albus Dumbledore’s sexuality, confirming he is gay and had previously been in a passionate relationship with Gellert Grindelwald. Many viewers have accused Rowling of merely
including LGBTQ+ representation to receive more popularity, as Dumbledore’s sexuality had not been mentioned in any other official media in the “Harry Potter” franchise. Despite that, some find it refreshing to have a narrative that does not put too much emphasis on exploring LGBTQ+ identities because it normalizes them. “‘Harry Potter’ never touched on LGBTQ+ issues in the movies or the books,” Nadia Kim, fan of the “Harry Potter” franchise, said. “‘Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore,’ however, touched on it at the very beginning. It is clear that Dumbledore and Grindelwald were lovers, which was surprising because I did not expect that. People may have stereotypical views about gay romance, but this movie was not trying to show it in an offensive way. The director made it seem like they were just a regular couple that
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broke up.” Viewers have expressed different reactions to these narratives: “Heartstopper” has been considered a generally more inclusive and accurate depiction of the LGBTQ+ community than “Fantastic Beasts.” “‘Fantastic Beasts’ has very little [LGBTQ+ representation], while the show ‘Heartstopper’ constantly reminds you that it is an LGBTQ+ series,” Eunbin Macklin (9), fan of both “Heartstopper” and “Fantastic Beasts,” said. “‘Heartstopper’ has more accurate LGBTQ+ representation, always showing how the characters worry about fitting in, what their sexuality is, and what they identify as—it seems so realistic.” With the recent rise in LGBTQ+ representation in the media, the line between accurate and inaccurate portrayals of the LGBTQ+ community is beginning to blur. Some
did not come without tribulations. Most notably, athletes had to adjust to pre-COVID-19 tournament crowds and multiple opponents. “Despite our success, there were two main challenges during the tournament,” Dana Chung (9), varsity badminton player, said. “First, it was difficult to recuperate our spirits when we were losing, especially as it was our first tournament. Especially against strong opponents like TCIS, we really had to focus on ourselves and maintain our morale. COVID-19 was another difficulty, as many of our players could not participate after contracting the virus.” During the season, the team went undefeated and participated in two preseason matches before the final KAIAC tournament. As the last event of the badminton season, the tournament was a very significant event for both players and coaches. The entire season led up to the tournament, and members of the badminton team were glad to have experienced it even with the pandemic. “In the tournament, I was able to grow as a player by learning how to trust my opponents,” Jinmin Lee (9), varsity badminton player, said. “In badminton, a sport without referees, the players on the court need to negotiate and come to an understanding each time there is confusion or disagreement. Understanding that the game could only function by establishing a mutual respect with the other players, I learned to put faith in the words of my opponents and thereby embrace my vulnerabilities.” Despite the ongoing struggles with COVID-19, the badminton season came to a close. Through all the trials and tribulations the players faced, uncertainties in schedules due to the pandemic, and bittersweet emotions about the departure of both badminton coaches, players feel that this season was one to remember. BY: Yoon Choi Freshman, Reporter
express concern that the audience may not pay attention to this distinction, harming the community by creating misleading stereotypes based on inaccurate portrayals or over-sexualizing LGBTQ+ relationships on screen. “I think there is a great exaggeration of the gay stereotypes in media that obviously do not apply to every gay person,” Katherine Richardson (11), LGBTQ+ rights advocate, said. “The media also has a tendency to over-sexualize gay relationships when it is actually about romance, just like any straight relationship. Media plays a huge part in diversity and acceptance as it normalizes these concepts, which is why accurate representation is important.”
BY: San Schwede Freshman, Reporter
layout by Junseo Lee
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Year in review The 2021-’22 school year starts with a hybrid schedule, with seniors and juniors kicking off online while sophomores and freshmen are on campus. A plethora of new clubs, such as Tigers on Air and Students Against Destructive Decisions, offer high school students even more opportunities to explore their passions outside of the classroom.
August
September - October After a hiatus of two years due to the pandemic, the HSSC resumes planning fun activities for students to enjoy; one of them is Assassin, where participating students are assigned a target whom they have to “assassinate” by taking a selfie with them. Following the trend set by the HSSC, the Global Issues Network hosts the first Halloween carnival in three years. Combined with a large number of people dressing up as zombified historical figures to get extra credit for various AP classes, Halloween this year has truly sent shivers down SIS’s spine like never before.
As December rolls in, SIS participates in the first-ever KAIAC robotics tournament. Despite rising COVID-19 cases across the nation and within SIS itself, the annual winter concert takes place in the auditorium. The National Honor Society holds a fundraiser for the Chungwoon Orphanage to buy the children Christmas gifts.
December After a rocky start online due to high cases nationwide, students eventually settle into the second semester, determined to not let the pandemic stop activities. The show goes on: SIS hosts National History Day in March with a virtual ceremony with a keynote speech by Dr. Leighanne Kimberly Yuh, and in April, the HSSC hosts the first Snowball in three years.
March - April As always, May is both a stressful time for high schoolers who have to take AP exams and yet a blissful period for seniors who see the end of their high school career. This festive atmosphere is felt even more when HSSC holds the first prom since the pandemic started at RAUM with a fairytale theme. Graduation takes place as always on the field, marking a difficult yet ultimately triumphant ending for the class of 2022.
May
The school year comes to an end with a hopeful feeling. With slackened COVID-19 restrictions and returning activities, the next year feels full of possibilities.
Map of SIS 2021-2022 layout by Hannah Kim