Tiger Times Volume 54 Issue 1

Tiger Times Volume 54 • Issue 1 • September 2022 • ttonl.org

Layout by David Kim

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SCHOOL NEWS

SIS renovates facilities throughout campus This summer, SIS renovated the cafeteria and constructed new facilities such as the science lounge, recording studio, and choir room.

The science lounge was constructed on the second floor of the high school building, providing a place for students to rest in between classes, and the choir room and recording studio were built in the B1 of the annex building. The cafeteria was enlarged to include the school cafe within and reorganized to provide a space for three menu options: Korean, noodles, and grill.

“I think that the renewed cafeteria is a worthwhile investment,” Steven Kim (11) said. “Students spend a significant amount of time in places like the cafeteria, and having a nice place to relax and have lunch with friends is important.”

Though students may take these renovations and new facilities for granted, each change must go through a thorough process of construction. Because SIS cannot directly construct facilities, it hires construction contractors in order to ensure that the results are professional.

“The construction process starts when the area is chosen and the budget is set,” Kim Jong-cheol, head of facilities, said. “Then we choose a construction company to come in and draw out a blueprint, which takes around 2 months. Finally, we start building the steel frame, and the rest of the planned construction.”

Because the construction process requires large amounts of resources and meticulous planning, it is essential that the areas that are chosen for construction are important enough to improve the quality of the campus and help students pursue their ambitions. For example, without a proper recording studio, students interested in filmmaking would not have the means to create high quality films.

“I think the new recording studio is especially beneficial to our club,” Silvia Lee (11), President of Tigers on Air, said. “Thanks to the new studio, we now have a place to create our monthly videos that are shown throughout the school, with better quality thanks to the new professional equipment.”

Although the cafeteria, the science lounge, the recording studio, and the new choir room were the most noticeable changes for high school students, there were a total of 29 different projects that were completed, which included changes to the Elementary Library, robotics room, science classrooms, counselors’ offices, and the studio art classroom. Even though numerous renovations have already taken place, SIS plans to continue improving the campus.

“There is potential for the construction of a new building somewhere on the campus, that can be a standalone place,” James Gerhard, head of school, said. “I certainly think a three-story building out on

Photo by Yunah Joe (10)

the field with gym equipment and an indoor facility overlooking the field could be a possibility.”

Due to COVID-19 in recent years, construction had been restricted throughout campus, but recent

improvements to the pandemic have allowed for such renovations.

“These renovations really allow the school to move forward, especially after COVID-19,” Dr. Gerhard said. “I think the renovations made

Mr. Rock hosts third further interest course From Sept. 2 to Oct. 28, Jared Rock, high school English teacher, started his third further interest course on American foreign policy during activity period every Friday.

This follows two successful further

interest courses on international human rights law and biblical studies last year. No prerequisite or background is required to join the class, which covers the basics of the formation, development, and prac-

Attentively listening to peers, Carson Park (9) participates in Mr. Rock’s “Let’s Talk” course about disquisitive explorations of the undiscovered country.

layout by Jason Shin

tice of American foreign policy.

“I really enjoyed Mr. Rock’s further interest courses on international human rights law and biblical studies,” David Mun (12), participant of Mr. Rock’s previous further inter

Photo by Alice Lee (12)

est courses, said. “In contrast to other classes that emphasize active discussions, he focused on giving lectures that helped students grasp a better understanding of the larger picture by going over the big thinkers and major theories of the topics.”

While standard classes, such as AP US History and Government and Politics, have a broader scope of content and are more rigorous about detailed elements, Mr. Rock’s further interest course takes upon the complete opposite approach. His course narrows down on a niche topic, but conveys a more general survey of the field so that students can learn the basic, introductory aspects of the topic, alleviating any excessive pressure that may add to students’ current academic workload.

“Initially, I had not known much about international human rights law, but after participating in the further interest course, I think I have a better understanding of the fundamentals of the discipline and large perspectives inside that discipline,” Claire Lee (12), participant of further interest course on international human rights law, said. “I would recommend the further interest course to anyone who wants an introductory overview of topics offered that they find interesting.”

By incorporating the fundamental introductory aspects of specific topics in the fields of social sciences and humanities, Mr. Rock’s further interest courses complement standard classes. Thus, students with interests in debate, MUN, mock trial, or history in general, may find the course insightful in broadening

this summer are really impressive and overall, they really turned out better than expected.”

Gyusung Lee Junior, Reporter

their knowledge.

“While I have not attended previous further interest courses, I am excited to attend for the first time because I think I will be able to discuss my interests with those who share similar interests as I do,” Jian Hong (9), new participant in the American foreign policy further interest course, said. “I have always loved debating, so I think this will be an excellent avenue for me to learn even more about American foreign policy.”

The further interest course on American foreign policy will introduce how American foreign policy has developed and is understood today by examining a history of ideas and events that have shaped practice, offer a basic understanding of this particular aspect of US history, and help students grow as effective communicators.

“I think the further interest course on American foreign policy would be particularly interesting for students to see the connection between the foreign policies of major powers and how they translated into the type of international system we see today,” Mr. Rock said. “By examining how the powers shifted over time, I think it would also be relevant for students in gaining a better understanding of the current world as this course is designed to help them compare and contrast the countries in power in the status quo and history.”

Jasmine Jeong Senior, Reporter

SCHOOL NEWS

New teacher feature part I.

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By Alice Lee, Jason Shin

August is always an exciting month with new chapters and beginnings. One new occurrence at SIS is the arrival of numerous new teachers from around the world. However, students hardly have any chances to meet these new teachers unless they are in their classes. A brief exchange of smiles and nods when walking down the hallways is often the only opportunity for students to socialize with the newcomers.

In hopes of making up for those minimal chances for interaction, the Tiger Times has decided to include a New Teachers Feature for the new school year. The SIS community welcomes 15 new high school teachers for the 2022-’23 academic year: Chris Del Vecchio, Brian Burleigh, Iain Cowieson, Danica Derksen, Cory Desmond, Matthew Halter, Phoebe Borst, Stephen Shifflett, Megan Mannell, William Hastings, Ross Atkins, Lesley Scott, Glen Monaghan, Amy Kuhn, and Nydia Hernandez. Here, we cover seven new teachers, and TTONL will be covering more on their website. Stay tuned!

Brian Burleigh

“One of my interests is space. I love space. I like looking at pictures of and learning about astronomy. Another interest I have is watching different sports like Olympic wrestling, volleyball, American football, and Olympic curling. I think curling is fascinating; I watch it just for the physics. And if I were to describe myself as an animal, it would be a polar bear. They’re white as snow and love the cold—just like me.”

Stephen Shifflet

“I’ve written two, almost three books. The first one is called ‘Josie Unlimited,’ and then the next one is an adult literary novel called ‘Storms Afield.’ And I’m almost finished with a long study guide of ‘The Handmaid’s Tale.’ I went to university to be a computer programmer and business major, but when I took my first philosophy and English classes, I was mesmerized by those subjects.”

Iain Cowieson

“Because I’m a drama teacher, I’m usually asking people to do something strange or unexpected, so I’ll get up and do something silly first to get them to open up. My hobbies include building Lego kits, watching and playing rugby, and listening to rock music. Some of my favorite artists are AC/DC, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Aerosmith, and Guns N’ Roses. In my free time, I create weekly podcasts of short plays and stories with my wife and various friends we have made on our travels. It’s called Shouting In The Evening. Check it out on Spotify!”

William Hastings

“I speak five languages: French, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, and English, and hopefully Korean, too. If I were an animal, I would be the Arctic tern, a bird that is a symbol of migration. It lives for about 30 years and flies the distance equivalent to going to the Moon and back. I feel like this represents me because I am determined to explore and fly through different weathers, no matter the difficulty; you just keep pushing forward.”

Cory Desmond

“My interests have always been in sports, but more recently my hobby has been dancing. For the past 2 years I’ve been trying to somewhat consistently practice bachata and salsa. My motto is, ‘Life is what passes most by as they make grand plans for it.’ I like aeronautics and I’ve co-piloted a few different planes, including a T-6 Texan (WW2 fighter plane), a smaller Cessna, and a Robinson R22 helicopter.”

Danica Derkson

“My favorite hobby right now is rock climbing, and river surfing. I’m looking forward to coaching the swim team because I was a competitive swimmer for 15 years and swam competitively in university for three seasons. My personal motto is ‘Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life,’ because I find meaning in something that I love to do. If I were an animal, I would describe myself as a hippo because I love chilling in the water and soaking in the sun.”

Nydia Hernandez

“I enjoy working out and lifting weights. I also love to cook and to eat new food. I know it’s going to take time to get to know the students, but I’m excited about the interaction that I’ll get. I enjoy traveling and my traveling experiences on Safari in Tanzania and around Seoul reminds me to be appreciative of the small things in life. And if I were part of a salad, I would be the avocado—can’t miss out on the healthy fats!”

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GLOBAL NEWS

Conspiracy Corner: Sandy Hook and the long-winded road to justice Throughout his lengthy career as a far-right conspiracy theorist, Alex Jones has come to symbolize what many consider to be the greatest problem with the modern Internet. Not only has he continued to spread mass misinformation through his large following on various social media platforms, but he has also played a major role in the polarization of American politics by spreading radically conservative ideals.

Jones first became known in the early 2000s for his outlandish, shocking theories, claiming that the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, and the 1969 moon landing had all been faked.

Perhaps his most offensive claim was regarding the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary school mass shooting, which claimed

the lives of six staff members and 20 children. Jones utilized his platform on his news website Infowars as well as “The Alex Jones Show,” a TV show promoting his conspiracy theories, to spread false information regarding the mass shooting, claiming that it was a stunt performed by trained actors intended to shock America into passing gun control legislation.

Furthermore, he claimed that the victims’ families had all faked their loved ones’ deaths, encouraging his audience to harass the grieving families.

No evidence to support Jones’ theories was ever found, and several articles from more credible sources such as The Atlantic or the Huffington Post debunked the claims.

Jones maintained his inaccurate stance on the Sandy Hook

Korean inflation hits new high

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nflation in Korea is at its highest level in 24 years with roughly an 8.7 percent increase since 1959. Because of the subsequently plummeting sales, many entrepreneurs have had to lower wages, fire workers, or even close their businesses.

This gradual inflation started in 2020 and has continued since the COVID-19 pandemic due to the increase in US interest rate, the effects of the pandemic on the trade war between the US and China, and the blocked imports from Russia and Ukraine due to the Russo-Ukrainian war. All of these factors disrupted an essential principle of global trade: countries that produce a product for the lowest price should be the main supplier of it.

“With supply shrinking because of supply chain issues, prices in the global economy will rise, causing inflation,” Morgan Miller, AP Economics teacher, said. “Korea has been especially susceptible to inflation from these causes because it doesn’t have a lot of natural resources and thus relies on imports, especially gas.”

All these causes gradually encumbered the global economy. This inflation means that many Koreans’ quality of life has declined as the accessibility of goods decreases.

“Last week I was trying to buy tteokbokki and chicken as per my usual routine,” Rachel Cho (10), avid snack consumer, said. “But I noticed that the price for both of them had increased by 1,500 won.

Because of the inflation, I was burdened and hesitant to buy them. That’s over 10,000 won just for snacks.”

In light of the rising prices of goods and services, earning money has become more difficult. Among those most affected by inflation are stock

layout by Hannah Kim

investors. Stocks, one of the most common methods of earning money, have been hit hardest, with a 24.52 percent decrease in the NASDAQ composite index.

“Inflation is a nightmare for stock investors,” Isaac Lee (10), current stock investor, said. “For most people, stocks are something they have to take a risk on. In extreme cases, people sell everything they have just to buy stocks.

But when inflation occurs and stock prices plummet, many lose a majority of their money.”

Fearing the possibility of an economic recession amidst the worsening inflation, the Korean government has taken measures to combat such. On July 19, the first Emergency Economic Ministers’ Meeting was held, and since then, the Ministry of Economy and Finance has lowered the price of all government services including energy prices, transit prices, and taxes. Though this does help, it mainly focuses on customers; the prospect for retailers and small shop owners stays low as inflation rates only rise by the day with the last major meeting on the issue occurring more than a month ago.

“Inflation damaged my business,” Kim Ki-ho, the school store owner said, “Though I try to keep prices low for students, with the prices rising so much, I’m forced to increase the prices as well. In fact, the price of jelly went up by 500 won. With prospects of continuing inflation rates on the commodities I retail, I’ll have to raise the prices even more.”

BY: Eric Kim Sophomore, Reporter

shootings and continued to profit from his fake news platform until 2018, when the families of 10 shooting victims launched a defamation lawsuit against Jones.

After Jones was found liable to pay for these damages in 2021, the trial to determine how much he would pay the victims of his misinformation was held in August 2022.

During the trial, Jones ultimately conceded that the Sandy Hook massacre was “100 percent real,” and was then ordered to pay $49.3 million as compensation and punitive damages to the parents of Jesse Lewis, a 6-year-old victim of the shooting.

Though it may seem as if justice was served and that yet another evil of the Internet age has been defeated, great harm had already been inflicted on the families of the victims of the Sandy Hook

massacre.

Veronique De La Rosa, the mother of the youngest victim of the shooting, stated in 2018 that she had been forced to live in hiding after constantly being harassed by Jones’s followers. She claimed that she was unable to even visit her son’s grave, as her location and home address were constantly disclosed by the conspiracy theorists.

Though this story is tragic, there is a valuable lesson to learn from this situation. In a world so susceptible to lies and falsehoods, disinformation can have a massive impact on the lives of innocent individuals, and it often takes years before justice can be served. To prevent such harms in the future, people must become more aware of what information they share online, as well as what

information they obtain from the Internet. Only with a mutually cautious attitude will the Internet be able to effectively fight disinformation and ensure that such incidents will never occur again.

Of course, there is a silver lining to this situation as well.

All who are against individuals that exploit disinformation for their own benefit will find hope in knowing that Jones was eventually brought to justice, and he will likely continue to pay the price for his crimes in the coming future. For now, netizens can only hope that the legal system will continue to catch up to the rate of technological development and put an end to the disinformation business.

Military drills create conflict on Korean peninsula

From Aug. 22 to Sept. 1, 30 km south of the DMZ, the ROK-US Combined Division of US and South Korean troops started their largest joint military drill in five years. Because the recent increase in missile tests by North Korea poses a potential threat to South Korea, the Korean government is cooperating with the US to respond. With a strengthened military, President Yoon and the conservative party aim to have the upper hand in negotiations with North Korea.

“I think it is good to be prepared for any situation, but I am also worried that it may escalate tensions between the two countries,” Steven Nave, Contemporary Asian Studies teacher, said. “There will be retaliatory efforts by North Korea to test missiles, which is what has traditionally happened in response to events like this. I would prefer a better relationship between South and North Korea, but using diplomacy does not seem to be an option for the near future.”

During the 11 field training programs, 28,500 troops from both countries came together and used various war machines such as A-10 aircrafts, Apache helicopters, tanks, howitzers, and warships for the live-firing drills. The Korean Army has learned the importance of surveillance technology and long-distance weaponry and further strengthened them.

“Though North and South Korea are not in a state of hot war, it is still hard for them to trust each other,” Jared Rock, foreign policy further interest course teacher, said. “There has to be a balance between diplomacy and military drills. The best practice is to show that the military drills are for defensive purposes, but that can not always be made clear. For example, the port defenses during the drills could be viewed as serving both offensive and defensive purposes.”

In response to the news of the military drills, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un utilized the event to justify the use of nuclear weapons in defense. Kim Yo-jong, the North Korean Deputy Department Director of the Publicity and Information Department, also declared that they would not cooperate with President Yoon’s proposal of economic aid in exchange for North Korea’s denuclearization.

“I have an ambivalent stance regarding US and Korea’s military drills because, on one hand, it is a way for strengthening Korea’s military and preparing for any future conflicts,” Lin Chiang (10), NHD student council member, said. “On the other hand, it is further aggravating tensions between North and South Korea.”

After launching its recent missiles on June 5, North Korea resumed its intercontinental missile tests,

launching two missiles during the week that the military drills started.

With the increase in nuclear power testing, North Korea demanded that the US accept them as a country with nuclear capabilities and negotiate with them on the issues of economy and security.

Some South Korean citizens have also had negative reactions to the drills. The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, the national trade union center in Korea, and the Federation of Korean Trade Unions criticized President Yoon’s decision. On Aug. 13, trade unions held protests in Seoul to advocate peaceful unification, and on Aug. 23, they held a protest at the war memorial of Korea.

While concerns arise around the ethics of the drills, President Yoon saw an increase in public support after announcing the military drills.

“South Korea is surrounded by three hostile countries to the North—China, North Korea, and Russia—that are all nuclear powers,” Joon Sung Kim (11), vice president of History Honor Society, said.

“Because of the increasing threat of China and North Korea as aggressors in East Asia, I think it was a necessary move taken by the US and South Korea to reaffirm their alliance while holding the frontline of the free world in the East.”

BY: Saewoong Ian Park Junior, Reporter

SPORTS & LIFESTYLE

MORE THAN JUST A GAME War (games) and peace Anyone familiar with the game “Counter-Strike: Global Offensive” (“CS:GO”) will tell you that it is anything but a relaxed experience. The first-person shooter game involves two teams of five, one being a group of terrorists with the objective to plant a bomb and the other being counter-terrorists tasked with defusing said bomb. It is a bloody, team-intensive game that has fostered one of the strongest communities in contemporary video game history.

When Russia invaded Ukraine in February, the entire “CS:GO” community was shocked. A community where some of the brightest stars are Ukrainian and Russian, a community whose game is based on war and fighting, risked being split in two. It is these sorts of polarizing times that test the true strength of a community.

“CS:GO,” released in 2011 by Valve Corporation, has long been regarded as a shining example of a video game that will never truly die due to its global, tight-knit fan base. As a result of this, the “CS:GO” community almost unanimously showed support for Ukrainian players after news of the war broke out, offering a unique source of morale and funding for the Ukrainian cause.

Natus Vincere, a Kyiv-based e-sports company, has used its social media presence to spread information about Russian war crimes in Ukraine.

Additionally, it has redirected much of its earnings to funding Ukrainian refugees or the war cause itself with the rest of the community. Valve Corporation has banned teams linked to Russian corporations from international tournaments to the company’s economic detriment. Russia is one of the most active “CS:GO”-playing countries, with over seven million active players as of

Jason Lee

2022 and some of the biggest names. Removing Russian teams from competitive play not only hurt the marketing and subsequent profit from competitions, but also polarized millions of Russian players.

Despite the “CS:GO” community’s unprecedented ability to unite behind Ukraine, many professionals have struggled to cope with the war.

Aleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev, the star player for Natus Vincere who is largely regarded as the best player of all time, has been a particularly outspoken critic of Russia’s invasion. Notably, during a tournament earlier this year, Kostyliev stepped on stage to deliver an emotional speech about how the war has affected his life and how he and his Russian teammates have continued to stand together above the atrocities in his home country.

The speech has since garnered several million views on Twitter and has transcended the world of e-sports, touching millions who have never played the game. Kostyliev shared that the war has made him less motivated to play the game, as the graphic game-play reminded him of the hardships that his loved ones were experiencing in Ukraine. However, with the help of a loving community, Kostyliev and many other Ukrainian players have remained in the competitive scene, ever motivated to win for the Ukrainian cause.

Across a fan base that goes out of its way to support its players, organizations that are willing to deprive themselves of economic opportunities to contribute to the higher cause in Ukraine, and players whose influence has gone beyond the game’s sphere, “CS:GO” proves to be more than just a game.

Packed game schedule excites fall sports athletes

Photo by Alice Lee (12)

After losing three years of romanti- I did not have opponents to motivate me cizing their high school experience with to catch up with them,” Jiyu Hong (10), chaotic gym sessions and late-night bus cross country team member, said. “It rides home, fall season sports athletes felt like I was competing more against have begun to enjoy their first full season myself to break my own record. While packed with games and tournaments this I am excited to attend in-person races, I year. After tryouts for volleyball, cross am a bit scared about trying to balance country, and tennis from Aug. 15-18, all my academics without getting exhausted teams have commented on their excite- after races and practices.” ment for the upcoming season with their With tournaments scheduled abroad, ambitious new players and captains the persisting challenge to balance acadetermined to lead them to victory. demics and sports may be exacerbated On Aug. 27, the varsity volleyball teams for student-athletes this season. Despite competed against SFS, TCIS, and YISS at losing time for academics, student-aththe Korea Classic tournament hosted by letes optimistically perceive these opporSFS. While the boys lost their first game tunities as time for stress relief. against SFS 3-0, they persevered and beat “I was looking forward to going TCIS and YISS by winning all sets. The abroad to play in AISA tournaments like girls lost to SFS and TCIS with a close I did in my freshman year when we went margin of 2-1 and lost to YISS 2-0, but to Beijing, but I do not think we have demonstrated significant improvement overseas games this season,” Eric Kim from the two friendly matches in the last (12), captain of the varsity tennis team, season. said. “But I am glad that Mr. Ames organ“I remember losing some of the joy ized games at HHS and OHMS because I initially felt from playing volleyball games are more entertaining when they last season when we only had practices are farther away.” and two friendly games to prepare for,” The tennis teams do not have trips Elizabeth Kim (11), varsity girls volleyball abroad planned as of now. However, the player, said. “But looking back, I’m glad I varsity volleyball teams will get to compushed through because those practices pete against KIS Jeju and NLCS at the Jeju definitely made our team stronger.” invitational tournament, and the varsity Though many fall sports athletes cross country team will attend the AISA are looking forward to displaying their tournament at Jeju. talent during games, they are also wor“With more games to look forward to, ried about the intense game schedule. practices are more worthwhile,” Andrew Despite such concerns, cross country Choi (12), captain of the varsity volleyball members are training everyday by going team, said. “I hope we can keep up the on daily 5 km runs and doing interval hard work so we can win the AISA tourtraining to mentally and physically pre- nament at Jeju.” pare themselves for their upcoming races on Sept. 17 at Humphreys High School.

“During virtual races, I could not BY: Jasmine Jeong push myself to the fullest extent because Senior, Reporter

‘Extraordinary Attorney Woo’ takes Korea by storm

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long with the recent record-breaking rainstorm, the new K-drama series “Extraordinary Attorney Woo” has taken Korea by storm. “Extraordinary Attorney Woo” centers around the story of brilliant autistic lawyer Woo Young-woo whose photographic memory helps her defend clients.

Since it first aired on June 29, the 16-episode series has enjoyed increasingly greater popularity, with a historical 17.5 percent audience rating for its final episode. The ratings made the K-drama series the seventh highest-rated drama in Korean cable television history and the highest-rated television drama by number of viewers.

“I am so excited about the success of the drama and happy for the actors, especially actor Lee Won-jeong whom I know very well,” Doyun Jeong (12), close

acquaintance of supporting actor Lee Won-jeong, said. “Observing Lee on an almost weekly basis, I have noticed remarkable work ethic, and this has definitely translated into a great final product in the form of ‘Extraordinary Attorney Woo.’” “Extraordinary Attorney Woo” begins with a depiction of Woo’s struggle to find a permanent job at a law firm. Most of the firms reject her for her autism spectrum disorder, which compromises her social skills despite her academic achievements.

She is finally offered a job at Hanbada Law Firm, and although she is initially distrusted by the firm workers, Woo eventually earns the trust of her clients and colleagues by using unprecedented defense tactics.

“At first, I did not understand the popularity surrounding the drama as the idea of a series following an autis-

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tic lawyer through her legal ventures seemed tedious and unorthodox,” Eric Chang (12), avid fan of “Extraordinary Attorney Woo,” said. “However, from the first episode, I saw that this was a touching drama that went beyond mere entertainment, and one that really changed my perspective on those with neurological disorders.”

While the drama series has been noted for its quality acting and intriguing plot, the series has also received commendation for the fresh, unique angle it offers by focusing on characters with neurodevelopmental disorders.

By presenting the autistic Woo as a committed and brilliant law genius, “Extraordinary Attorney Woo” dismantles stereotypes of autistic people as dull, cerebrally impaired individuals.

“Overall, I believe that anything that raises awareness of autism in a respectful way is good for the general society,

especially in Korea since a lot of people here do not seem to have much knowledge about autism spectrum disorder; in fact, this is mentioned repeatedly in ‘Extraordinary Attorney Woo,’” Chris Bracciano, AP Psychology teacher, said.

“As someone who does not have autism spectrum disorder, it is difficult to say whether the show’s portrayal of autism is accurate but as a psychology teacher I can say that the episode on Pengsoo does a good job of addressing the large range of different behaviors displayed by people on the spectrum.”

Woo has been commended by viewers for diverging from the Korean drama norm of the near-perfect, charming, and courageous characters aimed at stealing the hearts of viewers.

Instead, with her disorder and consequent struggles to fit into the social hierarchy of the workplace that she eventually overcomes to become the

most successful lawyer in the firm, Woo cements both sympathy and respect in much of the audience.

“Woo’s autism and her consequent social awkwardness during the initial stages of her career at the law firm effectively stirs sympathy in the audience because we recognize aspects of ourselves in her,” Iain Cowieson, drama teacher, said. “We have all been in social situations where we were unsure about the correct response or becoming completely fixated on one task just like Woo in her new law firm. This evoking of sympathy and the portrayal of Woo as an underdog by depicting her autism collectively prompt the audience to root for Woo and increases their engagement with the drama.”

BY: Hugo Lee Senior, Copy Editor

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FOCUS

, Korea ’s road to climate progress

By Grace Lee Pouring rain. Dreary skies. A man huddles on top of his submerged car, the scene almost reminiscent of a typical moody album cover.

But this is not a carefully staged, directed photoshoot—this is Korea in its monsoon season, a phenomenon that has drastically intensified over the last two decades.

This year’s rainfall was the culmination of such escalation. Averaging 920 mm of rain each day from June 1 to Aug. 15, the amount of precipitation Korea received is just a few mm short of the highest recorded amount of rainfall since the Korea Meteorological Association first began recording data in 1973.

Furthermore, due to the season’s historical rainfall, 11 have drowned in their own homes, with many others missing in the unrelenting deluge of rain. Even beyond these tragic deaths, such downpours have had cascading effects, leading to further natural disasters like landslides and slippery roads that have seized lives of their own.

These downpours, in a matter of a few weeks, have eroded citizen morale, infrastructure, and lifestyles by causing delays and cancellations in schedules alongside the deaths that occurred. Thankfully, although South Korea has lagged behind other countries in the past in pioneering effective policies, slow, steady change is being made to combat future climate phenomena both socially and technologically.

Social attitudes, for instance, are gradually beginning to shift in favor of searching for alternative fuel sources. According to

Layout by Hannah Kim

the Asian Institute for Policy Studies, 92.4 percent of Koreans demonstrate awareness regarding the severity of the threat that climate change poses, even if the effects are not yet tangible in their communities.

Within SIS, the popularity of courses like AP Environmental Science have increased over the years, and outside of school, more students are participating in environmental extracurriculars such as the environmental nonprofit ENVI-sion (which currently boasts 85 members on its main online platform).

These extracurriculars attempt to educate, encourage, and engage students in helping to save the Earth, depicting growing awareness in the world today.

With such warming attitudes towards environmentally friendly policies, the Korean government has too responded to reflect these changes. In 2021, South Korea agreed to cut emissions by 40 percent from 2018 to 2030 at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference. Even prior to these rains, the government had already been implementing new revolutionary policies, promising to boost nuclear power plant usage to supply up to 30 percent of the nation’s energy and promote it as the main alternate fuel source. Ever since Korea’s first nuclear reactor was built in 1962, nuclear energy has been a focus that directs their push toward an eco-friendly world, although admittedly the environmental effort has briefly slowed after the Fukushima disaster in Japan.

Even outside the mainland, islands like Jeju Island have promulgated climate-friendly energy alternatives since 2012, with its various windmills becoming a recognizable fixture on the horizon along with its solar panels that adorn rooftops.

Despite its already relatively well-known status as an eco-friendly tourist destination, there has been further technological change in policies to go climate-neutral by 2030. Jeju Island—though only 1 percent of Korea’s population—merely contributes to 0.5 percent of Korea’s climate emissions, meaning that an average Korean citizen in Jeju Island has half the climate emissions of a mainland citizen.

Shadowed by the current looming environmental crisis, Koreans are slowly fighting for more environmental-based policies.

Though it may seem as though climate change is an ever-shifting amalgamation of problems, tangible progress has been and is continuing to be made both by and outside the government. With this positive attitude, are people only continuing to advocate for change outside of their local communities— such as even within the small bubble of SIS. As researchers strive for breakthroughs in environmental technology, South Korea as a whole is beginning to take action to combat the threats of an imminent environmental catastrophe.

7 , Korea ’s climate indifference crisis

By Katelyn Oh This summer, the world witnessed the prelude to a cataclysmic climate crisis. “Boiling” was the perfect descriptor for the murderous heat wave that unfurled all across the planet, all while droughts, hurricanes, and greenhouse gases have yet again toppled worrying records.

In South Korea, torrential rains flooded homes, roads, and subway stations, leaving at least 11 people dead around and in Seoul’s Gangnam District. The record downpour is believed to be a consequence of climate change, with the amount of rainfall per hour overtaking previously recorded highs in the history of the nation.

As climate disasters beyond human jurisdiction sweep across the world, people seem to have learned a valuable lesson. Climate change is no longer a tale of the distant future but a matter of human lives—here and now. And on a reasonably large consensus, people have broached “climate politics” as a necessity for organized action.

In fact, action against climate change was already a critical matter in the 2020 US presidential election, and Norway, a major oil producer, also held general elections in 2021 that targeted issues of excessive oil production and drilling. In the German federal elections held in September 2021, five out of six parties put climate politics at the forefront, citing climate response as a major challenge and making promising pledges.

However, unlike the awareness and responsiveness abroad, Korea’s political “climate insensitivity” persists. Climate issues were on the brink of extinction in recent presidential debates, and the word “climate” itself has almost become taboo

in Korean politics.

Though all major candidates in the 2022 presidential election included climate responses in their top 10 pledges, analysts evaluated that industrial aspects such as expanding renewable energy through market expansion and building nuclear powerhouses were considered a priority over comprehending the entirety of the climate situation and, most importantly, the actual environment itself.

Korea’s loose grasp on climate change likely stems from plain indifference. Korean political experts pointed out that the climate crisis is still considered a peripheral problem in the nation; as opposed to regions like Europe with a direct link to the current energy security crisis caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and climate change, Korea’s energy resources are fairly stable, leading to a seemingly diminished sense of emergency.

Some analysts claim that climate problems are simply baffling to the general public, which explains why the effort put into combating them does not directly translate to votes. According to Kim Seungwan, a professor of electrical engineering at Chungnam National University, the incorporation of only industrial climate action plans into the Korean political landscape reflects an extremely unfortunate situation, where discussion on the environment is insufficient and voters do not acknowledge climate issues. More “pressing” matters like diminished economic growth and polarization flood the news, and politicians are busy following such trends to procure public support.

A great majority of Korean citizens, left to form opinions on climate change based on personal experiences, had—and likely still have—little reason to demand a policy response. Korea has yet to realize the critical link between climate change and the present, which manifests itself as substantially less media attention toward the environment compared to other nations.

In the US, the amount of undeniable evidence for climate change effectively served as the motive for greater political support.

Increasingly, the sheer volume of real-time data showing the frightening consequences of climate change afflicting every corner of the country has touched the public and pressured larger bodies of power to take action, giving rise to change and incentive for climate politics.

The awareness of the climate crisis leads to the participation of citizens and the revitalization of social movements, and it is evident that the voice and power of organized citizen efforts are more important than ever. As an effective amplifier, politics can produce effects that an individual cannot do alone. The future of the environment depends not on the decisions of nature, but on how the world leverages this power to shape the future.

8 Chris Del Vecchio: dribbling across the globe toward educational success STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

Photo by Alice Lee (12)

The new school year has seen an especially large number of changes including a flood of new teacher arrivals and sweeping school facility renovations. However, arguably the largest change was the promotion of James Gerhard from principal to head of school and the promotion of Gray Macklin from vice principal to principal. As a result, a new face has arrived at SIS: vice principal Chris Del Vecchio.

As a student, Mr. Del Vecchio did not have a clear career path.

Studying for his master’s degree at the Teachers College, Columbia University, his future seemed to lie in education. But at the same time, Mr. Del Vecchio had a deep passion for sports.

“I still remember my first Red Sox jacket,” Mr. Del Vecchio said.

“It was one of my most treasured possessions and I insisted on wearing it until it was three sizes too small. When my dad took me to my first Red Sox game at Fenway Park in my prized Red Sox jacket, I immediately fell in love with sports. By the time I was nine, I was already pretending to be a sports journalist, writing my own articles

layout by Junseo Lee

about Washington Commanders football games as if I worked for a newspaper.”

Consequently, after he graduated college, he took the opportunity to work part-time for the American Hockey League (AHL)’s Worcester Sharks as a public relations assistant as well as a broadcaster for the pregame and postgame shows. His brief stint in the sports industry, however, was cut short in favor of education after his realization of the dire challenges of the competitive sports industry.

“When I was in the fledgling stages of my sports career, I had several minor-league affiliated friends working full-time in the sports industry in hopes of reaching a permanent major league job,” Mr. Del Vecchio said. “In an attempt to secure these jobs, they took extensive measures such as relocating to different cities like Bakersfield and Pensacola, or working overnight shifts as a rookie talk show host to prove themselves in the bigger market.

Seeing their struggles, I realized the costly sacrifices required to

advance in the professional sports industry and my initial desires to pursue a career in the sports industry were quickly diminished.”

The bigger contributor to his shift to education, however, was an increasing involvement in academics. As he was working part-time in the sports industry, Mr. Del Vecchio was engaged in a greater range of academic activities at Barlett High School in Webster, Massachusetts, including teaching math, coaching varsity basketball and JV soccer, and substituting as assistant principal. With these tasks came new academic responsibilities such as building schedules for classes and running the Massachusetts state standardized graduation exam that increasingly shifted his career toward education. Eventually, he fully committed to a career in education that later expanded overseas starting with Vermont International School, a small American high school in Shanghai where he tasted the power of education.

“When I first saw the international students who have been exposed to new ideas of thinking

and multiple languages, I saw that they had an inquisitive spark that provided real-world evidence of the power of education,” Mr. Del Vecchio said. “In Shanghai, I became truly dedicated to education and realized how fortunate I was to be in a position where I can grow to be a leader in the education industry.”

As much as Shanghai sparked his passion for pursuing education, it was also where sports, a career interest he had thought he had left behind, came back to him in an unexpected manner. In 2015, while working in Shanghai, Mr. Del Vecchio met his wife. Over time, the two bonded through their shared love for sports, playing on the same volleyball and flag football teams as well as enjoying badminton, ping pong, swimming, and hiking together. A few years later in July 2019, the two sports-lovers married.

Throughout his global journey, Mr. Del Vecchio has visited over 65 countries including some obscure locations such as Suriname, Lesotho, Moldova, and Bahrain. At one of his many stops, Hong Kong,

his daughter, Amelia, was born in October 2021. To ensure that Amelia took full advantage of the multicultural environment she was exposed to, Mr. Del Vecchio spoke Cantonese and English along with some Mandarin and Italian to her from a young age. Today, under the influence of the multiple countries and cultures her father’s overseas education career had brought her to, Amelia is developing into a bright, multilingual girl. Mr. Del Vecchio hopes that she will add Korean to her plate throughout her time in Korea.

Now in his ninth year teaching in Asia, Mr. Del Vecchio’s career has brought him to SIS, whose students’ commitment to academic excellence and teachers’ talent have left a strong first impression on him. Going forward, he hopes to contribute to building a student-centered, interactive learning community where every student actively engages in eye-opening learning experiences.

BY: Hugo Lee Senior, Copy Editor

MULTIMEDIA

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What was the best thing that happened to you this month?

With their return to SIS, many students have entered a new chapter of their high school careers. From freshmen exploring foreign ground in their new high school environment to seniors preparing themselves for college applications to new faces in the faculty, this school year has been marked by numerous changes in the school body. In this special month of August, involving both the last ebbing days of summer vacation as well as the first few exciting weeks of school, SIS students and faculty have much to unpack. Here are some of the best things that have happened to students in August.

“A very small but still enjoyable thing that happened to me was that I got a new perfume. It has a fluorescent scent called ‘Spring Time in a Park.’ I like it so much that it has become a go-to for me this month, and I wear it almost every day.” - Lin Chiang (10)

“The best thing that happened to me this month was probably getting into the JV volleyball team and being able to play volleyball almost every day because I really enjoy playing volleyball, and getting into the team was one of my goals coming into high school. Playing with my peers and in games is extremely enjoyable, and since the volleyball season started as soon as school started, it has helped me relieve some stress.” - Sylvia Lee (9)

“It was probably getting a very good grade on my first AP Chemistry test. Since it was the first test of the year, I was quite stressed about it and studied a lot. Fortunately, when I finished the test, I had a feeling that I did pretty well. I also did pretty decently on my AP Biology test, so I think it was my academic achievements this month that I was very satisfied with and proud of.” - Ryan Jung (11)

“Coming back to school and seeing my friends again was a pretty big thing for me, especially since it helped to lay off some of the summer work I had been doing as a rising senior. But to specifically hone in on a certain moment, the varsity volleyball game against SFS was great, as we had previously lost to them in the Korea Classic Tournament but we were able to redeem ourselves in our first friendly game of the season.” - Philip Ham (12)

“It would just be getting back into school. I missed my students when we were away for the summer. It’s great to get back into the groove of things and to see all the changes in the school and the new teachers. It’s been a really great experience.” - Michael Ganus, band teacher

“The best thing that happened to me this month is getting to know all my students here at SIS. Everyone’s super friendly, welcoming, and very happy to be in my class and learn about the Tempest in English 10 or about all of my AP Language and Composition acronyms.” - Megan Mannell, English teacher BY: Jason Lee & Yoon Choi Sophomores, Reporters

Editorial Perks of print publications by

Aimee Choi and Skylar Peck editors-in-chief

The instinct to maximize efficiency guides many SIS students’ everyday decisions: searching for new backpack-storing spaces hidden from Mr. Macklin before heading to lunch, analyzing the shortest path from the school store to our third-floor class, and of course, getting our news from TTONL’s newsletters rather than Tiger Times Paper’s printed issues.

This trend is nothing new. The historical pursuit of efficiency has continuously replaced traditional ways of life, and print newspapers have certainly been hard-hit. The Pew Research Center reported in 2021 that over 80 percent of Americans get their news digitally “often” or “sometimes,” and a mere 5 percent prefer to get news via print. Yet, over 70 percent of Americans still have greater confidence in their local newspapers, disproving those who say that “print is dead.”

One may ask, then: is all that is keeping print afloat its reputation for credibility? After all, the only time print newspapers work directly in favor of efficiency is when they are converted into last-minute glassware packaging or rolled up to swat flies.

Fortunately, efficiency is not the only factor that keeps an industry relevant. Print may be slower, but its tangible nature gives it an immersive power. It has the ability to shed light on the deeper culture, values, and nuances of a community, all the while situating the perspective of the community in the world at large. Stories are delivered in sets—that is, distinct issues—allowing print to capture the SIS experience at a certain moment more precisely than any other medium.

Student newspapers hold a distinct value within the print industry. They were born with the aim of providing a platform for school community discussion, of empowering students’ ability to think independently and make meaningful change. Whether it was a Minneapolis middle school newspaper publishing a guide on “protest tips and etiquettes” during the heights of the Black Lives Matter movement, or Arizona State University’s student publication covering students who violated quarantine regulations by leaving their dorms during the COVID-19 pandemic, student newspapers have been upholding conscience and accountability in key moments of public discourse.

With this in mind, forsaking a hint of efficiency to add a little more depth and insight into community discussions should be celebrated, not lamented.

As SIS greets a school year with a significant array of changes, Tiger Times would also like to introduce updates that will bring us closer to this inherent value of student newspapers. The most striking is perhaps the reordering of our pages that brings all hard news to the front: a break in the sixyear long tradition of displaying viewpoint articles first. The reshaping of our Multimedia section will also invite more direct insight from the community and further our goal of authentically recording the SIS experience beyond hard news events.

Finally, we would like to reiterate our commitment to serving as a forum for community discussion by strongly encouraging all students, faculty, and staff members to reach out to us with any questions or comments that they believe deserve a larger audience.

A preference for online material, which accounts for the often mounting stack of unopened print copies in the Tiger Times room, will likely continue.

Efficiency is irresistible in a world of ever-increasing demands, and another year of great TTONL innovations awaits the students. Regardless, Tiger Times Paper will strive to become a more immersive and reflective space where our reporters and readers alike can contribute to sincere conversations— where the perks of a slower publication cycle are more apparent.

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

layout by Bona Suh

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VIEWPOINT

Not a High School Musical

A

fter watching High School Musical as a child, I was filled with fantasies about high school life.

I imagined high school as a place where teenagers went to live their youth to the fullest. So when I became a freshman, I was excited to live my High School Musical life . . . just a carefree, happy teenager.

But reality is like High School Musical—if it was a Shakespearean tragedy.

The amount of homework, studying, and exams took a toll just the first few months into high school. Competing against other students for the highest grades, it seems that an invisible wall has formed between us.

After repeating the cycle of waking up, studying, and sleeping, I realized that I lacked something. Seeing the freshmen excited for the recent Freshmen Late Night event reminded me of how important fun school events are. It became clear that in spite of the competition and hostility, we should give friendship a chance. When we approach people and are open to being vulnerable, we can form true friendships even in the face of extreme academic stress.

Academics can often take over our lives, but only if we let them. But this mindset is far too prevalent at SIS. Instead of spending time with friends, making new friends, and strengthening relationships, we focus on the next sum-

mative assignment. Some students may also believe that high school relationships are shallow as they simply “will not last.”

But look at the very adults that tell us “high school is only for studying.” Are their closest friends today not from high school? Many adults say that their best friend from high school is still their best friend.

Just by opening our hearts and spending more time developing friendships, we can find those who share the same interests, values, and way of life. High school is not just a place for studying, but also a place where we interact and create lasting memories with peers. By finding a balance between friendship and academics, we will be much more content and successful.

In fact, the organization Mental Health First Aid states that genuine friendships improve our mental health and well-being. Social interaction is such a crucial aspect of life that it is known as one of the best remedies for stress and depression. Furthermore, friendships help increase self-confidence and sense of belonging. The healthy mindset one gets from friendship will help students focus on studying better.

In Korea, there is a word called sa-huesaeng-hwal, which translates to social life in workplaces. Learning about human relationships in high school

No place for Andrew Tate online Andrew Tate is a former professional boxer who became a social media influencer, well-known for his controversial takes on social topics.

Sometimes he makes reasonable arguments about societal issues, while other claims leave viewers completely baffled by his absurd conclusions.

Recently, Tate was banned on popular platforms, including Twitch, YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. It was not an individual video or comment that got him restricted, but rather years of misogynistic remarks that violated the hate speech policies of these platforms.

Back in 2017 before his massive popularity, he was banned on Twitter for commenting that women should “bear some responsibility” for sexual assault. In a July interview with the Barstool Sports podcast “BFFs,” he suggested that women are men’s property, stating “they are given to the man and belong to the man. His supporters protested against the ban, claiming that it violated his freedom of speech, while others pointed out

that he has been spreading dangerous beliefs for years. Because of his destructive remarks and promotion of his marketing scheme, Andrew Tate’s ban on popular platforms was justified.

The most dangerous aspect about Tate is that he is able to appeal to his audience, which is made up of young men. If his claims were always factually incorrect, people would stop praising him or would realize that he is just putting up a persona. But because he talked about real, current issues that men face, such as overlooked male suicide rates and emotional struggles, he gained millions of followers who agree with him. This became dangerous because when he made biased claims such as how “in all cheating scenarios, 100 percent of the time, the blame should be placed on the woman,” some men cheered him on and believed him even when he was not being serious.

Even when Tate does point out societal problems with strong reasoning, he only does it for personal

will certainly be beneficial in adulthood.

Without developing positive human relationships, it will be hard to adjust to later environments where social interaction is required.

Life will not always be easy. But when we make room for friends, we will have people to share our successes, our failures, and our dreams. Let that start in high school.

Friendship has its pros and cons, just like any other type of relationship.

People, myself included, have been hurt and betrayed over the years by fake friends. Yet, these experiences have shaped who we are and taught us to cherish memories with our real ones.

The idea of friendship may be fearful to some. Indeed, friendships require us to be vulnerable, which is understandably daunting. But when you are vulnerable, some of the best things in life can happen. Vulnerability allows you to be genuine with others. As much as it may be scary, do not fear getting hurt, as it is a part of the process.

When you open your heart, you open yourself to new possibilities. Have some fun in high school. Create your own High School Musical. After all, we are all in this together! by:

Yujin Joe

Sophomore, Reporter

profit. He offers paid courses and memberships through his website called Hustler’s University, which is essentially designed to be a pyramid scheme. He specifically targets young teenage boys, who believe they can become rich and successful like him if they support him and pay for those membership courses. They are very susceptible to outside influences and seek validation or success at their age.

Tate uses this to his advantage, getting hundreds of thousands of them to pay for this “education program” that offers dubious advice.

Andrew Tate’s supporters would most likely claim that his ability to discuss controversial societal issues is crucial, and how just attracting attention to it will solve the problem.

This reasoning is flawed for multiple reasons. Firstly, it is unlikely that just mentioning the issues would be able to solve the problem, especially when he says the only solution is his membership course that just focuses on creating profit. Secondly, his messages are predominantly spread to young men, as they comprise most of his audience. Instead of solving the problems, it creates an echo chamber of misogyny.

I will admit that I myself enjoyed watching him discuss societal issues from a rather unique perspective.

Tate points out the double standards when it comes to dating, shaming of masculinity in modern society, problems with vaping, and sometimes genuine advice for self-improvement.

However, if straight-up misogynistic claims are mixed in, and his solution is his pyramid scheme, Andrew Tate has done nothing but manipulate others for his benefit only. Thus, this is why his ban on popular platforms was justified and necessary to protect young audience members.

by:

David Kim

Junior, Reporter

Tiger Times September 2022

11

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 54 Issue 1 September Seoul, South Korea TTONL.org a free publication of

Seoul International School

Paper Editors-in-Chief Aimee Choi Skylar Peck Website Editors-in-Chief Woojune Kim Jordan Kim

Paper Managing Editors Rosa Suh Rachel Yoon

Assistant Layout Editor Hannah Kim

Website Managing Editor Daniel Shin

Social Media Manager Katelyn Oh

Production Editors Bona Suh Yuzine Yi Alice Lee

Website Design Editor Minjae Chun

Paper Copy Editors Junseo Lee Hugo Lee Website Copy Editors Jennifer Kwon Cherlin Kim Paul Moon Layout Artists David Kim Jason Shin

Reporters Yoon Choi Jasmine Jeong Yujin Joe Eric Kim John Kim Grace Lee Gyusung Lee Jason Lee Saewoong Ian Park San Schwede

Danny Kim Brandon Choi Hannah Yi Jack Lee Joseph Chun Erin Choi Eric Cho Sophie Choi Andrew Shin Waan Choi Adviser Ms. Wendy Grant

Viewpoint Feature: The SIS high school curriculum requires students to take six English credits, which is more than what US colleges require for admission. Reducing the required English credits in SIS to four credits would create more space and autonomy for students to explore their own interests.

Why might the requirement of two extra English credits be unnecessary at SIS? What are the benefits of allowing more student choice?

New year, new choices As the new school year launches, we navigate through brand new classes, meet new teachers, and prepare ourselves for the influx of learning. During this period of exploration, we reconsider our schedules and evaluate which classes we would like to replace.

Yet fully accessing the diversity of classes that SIS provides sometimes proves difficult.

One reason could be an unseen obstacle: the imbalance of required English credits in SIS as opposed to the credits US colleges require.

Our 4-year education plan requires students to take six English courses: two in freshman year, one in sophomore year, two in junior year, and one in senior year. US colleges only require four English credits for admission. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, no state requires more than 4.5 high school English credits, and 44 states in the US simply require four English credits as of 2018.

At SIS, freshmen take both English 9 and Communications, and juniors take AP English Language & Composition or Writing 11 in addition to English 11. The two extra English credits may limit students’ access to the other courses that SIS provides. The number of required English credits in SIS could be reduced to four credits to parallel US colleges’ required credits, where students would be required to take one English course each year, allowing more student autonomy in selecting classes from an increased diversity of options. Some possible solutions could be

requiring one English course, instead of two, in junior year and merging the Communications curriculum into English 9.

If English 11 becomes an optional class for junior students who already take AP Language & Composition, some worry that this solution would put pressure on junior students to feel that they should use that new slot to take another AP course, as some students tend to have the notion that taking more AP courses would place them in a better position for college applications. SIS could avoid this problem by requiring a regular class of any subject in place of English 11, preventing junior students from putting too much pressure on themselves while still having the opportunity to choose from a wide array of classes.

Under this solution, junior students could still choose to take English 11 if they wish, but they may also be allowed to select a class among regular courses such as Anatomy & Physiology, Statistics, Government & Politics, or even a fine arts class. This would be especially helpful for junior students who often give up choosing a fine arts class due to scheduling conflicts.

Skills taught in Communications could be merged into the English 9 curriculum, helping students directly apply their communication and public speaking skills to their studies of literature. This combination would open up space for a brand new class for freshmen, allowing them to take more

fine arts classes or regular classes. SIS could also create regular counterparts of AP subjects that do not have prerequisites–such as regular psychology, economics, and seminar–that would help freshmen to explore their interests, preparing them for making well-informed decisions when they select their AP courses in their future years.

Opponents of fewer English credits argue that students would not be able to fully undergo a rich English curriculum, which is one of the strengths of SIS. In fact, US colleges recognize the robust SIS English curriculum that requires six English courses in total, as stated in the High School Course Guide on the official SIS website. The current SIS curriculum purposefully isolates classes such as Communications, AP English Language & Composition, and Writing 11 from regular English classes in order to foster student learning of other aspects of English, such as rhetoric and nonfiction, separately and with depth.

While these separate requirements could be an advantage for students to digest all areas of English thoroughly, the regular English classes already supply students with opportunities to learn rhetoric and analyze nonfiction texts. For example, the English 10 curriculum includes a separate unit for nonfiction that teaches students how to analyze rhetorical techniques in nonfiction books, which prepares them for AP English Language & Composition. Junior students

who take AP English Language & Composition study college-level English, and the additional requirement of English 11 could be modified into an option, just like how senior students who take AP English Literature & Composition are not required to take English 12.

Although an emphasis in English over other core subjects may be important especially for international students who aspire to attend US colleges, the two extra English requirements are not necessary for most SIS students whose first language is usually English. Many students have been developing their English skills from a very young age and throughout SIS’s elementary or middle school curriculum. As these students enter high school, they should be granted more opportunities to experience other core subjects.

The choices of classes in high school play a significant role in shaping the pathways of our different interests. Though reducing the requirements of English credits in SIS by two credits may be viewed as a call for a small change, this solution can provide students with the independence to navigate their own rafts to explore the different rivers laid in front of them during their four years of self-discovery. by:

John Kim

Junior, Reporter

12

SMALL TALK

Point

Counterpoint

By Katelyn Oh and Grace Lee

Cryptocurrency... …is any form of currency that exists digitally and is secured using cryptography. For years, digital assets seemed like a fleeting tech trend most people could brush aside. But now, the digital phenomenon …is volatile and risky.

photo of the

month

Fluttering his fingers across the keyboard, Sean Choi (12) plays “Howl’s Moving Castle” on the piano in the atrium.

Photo by Gyusung Lee (11)

FILMS TO LIVE BY

By Ian Park

‘Cinema Paradiso’ opens gateway to dreaming Amidst the seemingly endless pandemic, international conflicts, the start of a new school year, and other miscellaneous struggles of our teenage lives, dreaming may seem rather naive. But the Oscar-winning Italian film, “Cinema Paradiso,” declares otherwise. In the film, Giuseppe Tornatore, the director, sends out his paradisiacal message that dreaming should be prioritized and projected as a cherished childhood memory by filming his personal story of falling in love with films.

In “Cinema Paradiso,” Totò, a curious and energetic 8-year-old boy, becomes the apprentice to Alfredo, the movie projectionist in Cinema Paradiso, a church that functions as a movie theater in his village at night. Totò finds that film projection gives him freedom, exhilaration, and joy, allowing him to discover his passion and inspiring him to chase his dreams. His happiness from watching and projecting films is his personal happy bubble.

But there comes a moment when Totò realizes that “life isn’t like in the movies. Life . . . is much harder.” Totò learns this the hard way when Alfredo forces him to leave the small village to go to the city to pursue his dreams.

After leaving behind his widowed mother, his father-like mentor, and his past, Totò never returns to the village until the day when he hears the news of Alfredo’s death. Now a famous director, he reflects on how his childhood at the Cinema Paradiso motivated him to pursue his dreams.

Although Totò’s journey to becoming a famous film director might seem like a completely different road than ours,

Layout by Yuzine Yi

one thing we can learn from him lies in how he truly enjoys what he does and always had a spark in his eyes. As a young boy, he enjoyed staying in the projector room with Alfredo and watching film roll endlessly. He enjoyed the laughter of the audience, the humor, the romance, and the imaginative world he could be a part of—even if it were just for a moment. He found value in what he loved to do, and with that, he managed to pave his own path toward his dream job.

Like Totò, we can try to cherish our hobbies and interests to expand our perspectives of the world instead of restraining ourselves with high expectations going into adulthood. For instance, photography can be a simple pastime for some people, but it can also demonstrate the value in observing their environment and being attentive to the things happening around them.

Dancing is not just about moving to a beat, but about the self-expression and confidence that comes with performing the movements.

As teenagers, we often find ourselves overwhelmed by the waves of assignments, tests, stress, and struggles of life that sometimes we get lost in the tides. We forget to dream—even fear to dream.

Many of us might worry how close college is and how we have nearly reached the end credits of childhood.

But, like Totò, let us not forget to remember the hobbies that made our lives meaningful and use our teenage memories as bricks to build our road to adulthood.

The biggest fans of cryptocurrencies think digital assets are saving the world, while skeptics are convinced that it is an evanescent trend, orchestrated by grifters and sold to fanatic, gullible visionaries. While prices can spike to astounding heights, they can also crash to devastating lows, and the relatively smaller market size makes digital assets more vulnerable to price fluctuations. The decline of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum since the beginning of 2022 has instilled fear among investors. This could be terrible news for all digital asset shareholders, as these two main currencies often cause domino effects in the market. Because the value of many altcoins—any type of cryptocurrency other than Bitcoin—is measured against the price of Bitcoin, the price of altcoins often fluctuates in synchronization with that of Bitcoin.

Though experts predict that the global cryptocurrency market will more than triple by 2030 to $5 billion, the near future remains a mystery. …offers a platform for illicit activity.

Cryptocurrency itself is fairly new and investors may be confused about how to report their earnings to be taxed, or even whether they need to in the first place. Citizens may then accidentally commit tax fraud regarding their cryptocurrency earnings.

On a darker note, cryptocurrency opens up ways for deliberate illegal activities by allowing criminals to freely launder and transfer their money. Unlike highly regulated banks that can freeze suspicious transactions, cryptocurrency has no such regulatory body—making it perfect for anonymous transfers. Even worse, the convenience and freedom that cryptocurrency’s speed provides users by processing transactions in mere minutes can facilitate the movement of substantial amounts of money to large crime organizations as part of ransoms or illicit business transactions. In early 2022 alone, the equivalent of $10 billion remained in unlawful digital wallets, with likely more concealed in anonymous accounts.

is everywhere: the public’s interest in cryptocurrency and NFTs has skyrocketed, and the economic power of the “viable” investment has become difficult to overlook.

…is inherently secure.

Cryptocurrency and NFTs were born out of blockchain. This collaborative technology is a public, decentralized ledger that radically lowers the “cost of trust.”

No individual that records the information in the ledger has to trust anyone else in an exchange because everyone has access to all transaction information. Bitcoin’s distributed network has over ten thousand nodes that keep track of all transactions, and this large number ensures that if something happens to one of the servers or nodes, others can recognize the issue. Therefore, it is difficult, if not impossible, to cheat the system. The public nature of cryptocurrency also ensures transparency. Since transactions are readily available to the public and do not require the input of any personal data, there is no information to hack and acquire. By promising cost reduction, increased transparency, and accurate tracking, blockchain technology certainly has its appeal to investors. …helps remedy a lack of economic freedom.

While investing in cryptocurrency may seem like an unnecessary monetary risk for those living in stable, first-world economies, cryptocurrency serves as another form of tender for the rest of the world. With approximately 1.2 billion people living in economies with severe inflation, cryptocurrency is an alternate way to store money for those who live in countries plagued by unreliable government financial systems and bureaucracies. Thus, to thirdworld economies, cryptocurrency may be equally, if not more, stable in comparison to constantly devaluating national currencies. Instead of being constrained to one less-than-optimally functioning system, citizens are empowered to choose their own means and therefore have greater control over their finances. With a current total of 300 million cryptocurrency users in the world and a billion projected by the end of this year, it is close-minded to view a new financial system empowering citizens elsewhere in the world from only an economically developed perspective. Not everyone in the world enjoys the economic systems first-world citizens may take for granted.