The Blue & Gold: Volume XXV, Issue 1

Taipei American School | 800 Chung Shan N. Rd., Section 6, Taipei, Taiwan | blueandgoldonline.org | VOLUME XXV, ISS. 01 | September 13, 2018

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The Blue & Gold Semester exams cancelled for seniors

By Barron Tsai (‘19)

Meet some of Taipei American School’s new teachers this year PAGE 3

Get to know your new Student Government officers PAGES 8-9

Read our review of summer reading text “Doing School” PAGE 11

On May 1, 2018, Taipei American School Upper School principal Dr. Richard Hartzell informed the Class of 2019 via email that he had decided to cancel first semester exams for seniors in the Class of 2019.

Mr. Andrew Lowman, Upper School Associate Principal, said that the decision was made after years of observing seniors during the December exam month. During the month, students were more stressed than normal. Dr. Hartzell points to the release of early decision results and the final push for regular college applications as to why stress levels are so high during December. He said, “Right in the middle of the most stressful time in the year, seniors were expected to do their very best on exams—and not have time for or access to the college counselors.”

In addition to the added stress, the administration believed that a final exam would not be useful for the seniors. Mr. Lowman said, “If the purpose of having semester exams is to assess student learning via a final exam, there are other forms of assessment available such as unit tests, papers, quizzes and so on.” Conversely, “If the point is to give students testing experience, students already have a lot of testing experience, and a lot of them are taking external IB/AP exams anyways.”

With this newfound time, the Upper School administration hopes to help college-bound seniors concentrate on college applications, deal with early application results, and visit college counselor. Furthermore, the College Counseling Department will be using the time for some programs intended to assist seniors with their transitions to college and their final year at TAS. According to Upper School Associate Principal Mr. Vandenboom the decision “represents a change in policy” and not a temporary fix. However, in a word of caution to the current seniors, Dr. Hartzell said, “This change will be subject to review based on the actions of the Class of 2019. The change is not meant as an excuse for some students to lengthen their vacation.” Despite this, Dr. Hartzell feels he can count on the seniors’ maturity and thoughtfulness in their response to the change.

New technology building to open to students in January 2019

By Kelly Phil (‘20) Since its groundbreaking ceremony on March 2,2018, the construction of the Tech Cube is well underway. Working closely with the building’s architects and developers, administration and board members have been overseeing the construction process.

The Tech Cube will be open to students

by January 2019, and superintendent Dr. Sharon Hennessy is confident that the building will be completed on time, saying that those involved in the project have “thus far found solutions to each and every unexpected problem.” She credits this smooth process to a good supporting staff,

including lead consultant and former chief operating officer Mr. Steve Panta and as lead consultant Tech Cube Task Force chair Ms. Elizabeth Wang.“We had a great architect, and the construction team was also highly professional and very supportive of our goals for this fabulous new building,” she said.

The Tech Cube will help facilitate science, technology, engineering, art, and math learning curriculums at TAS. Dr. Hennessy said, “​Each student at every grade level will have classes in the Tech Cube.

The Tech Cube has been designed to be an interactive technologically based learning environment.” The building’s interior was

also designed to fit the needs of students and faculty working on design projects.

Dr. Hennessy also pointed to the concrete floors, high ceilings, and all learning spaces as factors which will allow many students to perform independent projects at the same time. Other additions like a freight elevator will service students and faculty when moving large, heavy projects between floors.

The Tech Cube will be the largest STEAM-dedicated grade school building in Asia. In addition to the added spaces and facilities, the building will be able to accommodate a student’s needs and potential issues for years to come. Elizabeth

Wang, vice chairman of the board and chair of the Tech Cube Task Force, said, “What’s most fascinating for me is that the building is meant to be a living breathing structure. This means that as the needs of the students change, the building will be able to accommodate those changes.”

In the future, Dr. Hennessy hopes that TAS will taking the school’s STEAM programs to higher levels, even after the Tech Cube’s construction. She said, “There is no end to the great ideas our faculty bring forward, and thanks to the generosity of the community our commitment to being the best for each student can be met.”

BY CATHERINE LIN (‘19) AND KELLY PHIL (‘20)

TAIWANESE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

ELECTION SEASON: WHAT TO WATCH

The Taiwanese municipal elections will be held on November 24. Voters will be electing local officials ranging from mayors and governors to councilors and community chiefs.

TEST FOR THE DPP The upcoming municipal elections will be a test for the Democratic Progressive Party, either granting it the mandate to stay on its current course, or revealing broad discontent.

Since President Tsai Ing-wen won the 2016 presidential elections in a landslide year for the DPP, the party’s support has declined somewhat.

According to a survey conducted this January by the Taiwan Public Opinion Foundation, the DPP remains the most popular party, but its lead against the Kuomintang has dropped to just 4 percent.

Supporters are impatient with the pace of reforms in areas such as pensions, nuclear power, and same-sex marriage; while the opposition has been galvanized by the fact that they exist at all.

“No matter how reasonable pension cuts are in light of fiscal realities, people tend to lose their temper when they find out at the bank that their savings are less than they thought, even by just a few dozen New Taiwan dollars,” DPP Tainan mayoral candidate Huang Wei-cher has told the Taipei Times, speaking about planned pension cuts for veterans, civil servants, and public school teachers.

KMT IN DISARRAY, THIRD FORCE OPPORTUNITY? Supporters of residential candidate Ma Ying-jeou attend a rally in 2012.

[PHOTO COURTESY OF HAO CHEN-TAI]

The mixed view of Tsai and the DPP’s performance may not necessarily translate into gains for the KMT. “If we compare the KMT’s reaction to defeat in 2016 with losing parties in 2000 or 2008, it looks like the current KMT has not yet actively tried to learn the lessons of defeat,” researcher Dafydd Fell has argued in the Taiwan Sentinel.

This July, the Taipei District Prosecutors Office Corruption has filed fresh charges against former president Ma Ying-jeou and other KMT officials, which Ma has

denounced as politically motivated. While the KMT party leadership initially stood by him, it has since distanced itself from Ma’s comments. The corruption charges may influence swing voters, if not party loyalists.

While it is highly unlikely that they will be strong enough to substantially challenge the KMT-DPP two-party system, three smaller social movement-oriented parties may be in a good position to capitalize on the DPP’s popularity decline—as long as they can work together.

The New Power Party, the Social Democratic Party, and the Green Party formed the Social Welfare State Front coalition this summer to collaborate on shared goals, and aims to field at least one candidate in every constituency.

But the Third Force alliance has hit roadblocks: The Green Party and the SDP have criticized the NPP, currently the largest third party in the Legislative Yuan, for its unwillingness to collaborate: “The NPP has refused to communicate, discuss or negotiate with us,” Green Party secretary-general Chen Chih-Chieh has said to the Taipei Times.

“Considering how tough the environment is for minor parties, the NPP, as the most influential minor party, should be more responsible, but if they are unwilling, the Green Party will take up that role.”

REFERENDUM LAW SHAKES THINGS UP Protestors participate in a 2015 marriage equality demonstration. [PHOTO COURTESY OF THE TAIWAN ALLIANCE TO PROMOTE CIVIL PARTNERSHIP RIGHTS]

The revised Referendum Act, which lowers the minimum number of signatures required for referenda to move forward, took effect early this year, opening the door for many more referenda to be voted upon along with the candidate elections. How this will affect the municipal elections remains to be seen, but by bringing a wider range of issues to attention, it may reduce the degree to which Taiwanese politics revolves around China.

Chen hopes that the Referendum Act revision will increase the quality of political discourse. “Martial law has only been over for 30 years, so people who are older than 30 years old still have a mentality that if you criticize the government, you will be jailed,” he said. “So we want to let everyone become used to discussing these things.”

UNITED STATES MIDTERMS

A POTENTIAL BLUE WAVE, HELPED ALONG BY RED POCKET DISTRICTS Currently, both the House and Senate have Republican majorities. The Democrats need 24 victories to take the majority in the House of Representatives, and 28 victories to take the Senate.

Historically, the midterms have been an opportunity for the party out of power—this time, the Democrats—to gain majorities in both the House and Senate.

In fact, for almost every midterm election cycle since 1910, the party that did not control the presidency usually won the House and Senate majorities.

Red pocket districts are arguably the most vulnerable areas for Republicans.

These are the districts that voted Republican in states with an overwhelming Democratic majority. These “red pockets” include the four seats Republicans control in Orange County, Califronia.

Districts such as these have large populations of white and college-educated voters who have the potential to go either Democratic or Republican.

For instance, these particular districts voted heavily for Romney in the 2012 presidential election and Clinton in 2016. But even when these districts leaned towards Hillary, they have also shown the potential for favoring Trump at times, with Trump winning two of the districts by small margins in 2016. Because of these historical trends, these “red pockets” will be a highly contentious and close races in this year’s midterms.

Protestors participate in a 2017 San Francisco rally in support of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. [PHOTO COURTESY OF PAX AHIMSA GETHEN]

The midterm elections happen near the midpoint of every presidential terms.

Voters will elect members of Congress in both the House of Representatives and Senate. With primaries underway and less than four months to go, the American midterm elections are close to its final stages.

Although the extent of Russian intervention in the 2016 presidential elections is still not clear, there is a large conversation surrounding whether similar interference will occur in this year’s midterms.

IMMIGRATION IS A HOT-BUTTON ISSUE Polarizing issues like illegal immigration have the potential to swing the midterms.

In July, Republicans failed to pass two consecutive bills that offered a solution to children being held at the border and deported.

If the Democrats are able to leverage the message of the Republican’s failures effectively, their chances of winning a majority become greater. While the Democrats now have a clear opportunity to go on the offensive, if the Republicans manage to pass a bill in Congress, it may provide them an advantage in some red pocket districts.

A DISTURBING WILD CARD: MORE RUSSIAN MEDDLING Although the extent of Russian intervention in the 2016 presidential elections is still not clear, there is a large conversation surrounding whether similar interference will occur in this year’s midterms.

According to a July article published in the Daily Beast and in Vox, there is a possibility that Claire Mccaskill, a Missouri senator up for re-election, has fallen prey to such an attack. Mccaskill is widely considered one of the most vulnerable Democratic candidates up for office due to Trump’s landslide victory in the 2016 elections in Missouri.

Reporters Andrew Desiderio and Kevin Poulsen used a combination of court records and internet sleuthing to identify that malicious emails to a McCaskill aide were sent from a server that likely belongs to Fancy Bear, the same Russian intelligence group that did the 2016 hacks. If correct, this will be the first recorded instance of Russian hacking in the midterms and will likely become a trend.

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the blue & gold september 13, 2018

Tigernet Login

Password

NEW I.T. REFORMS BRING GREATER SAFETY AND CONVENIENCE

800 CHUNG SHAN N. RD. TAIPEI 11152 TAIWAN

BY VANESSA TSAO (‘19)

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF SHEREEN LEE (‘19)

By fall this year, several IT changes will be in place for students to have an easier time with their online learning experience. The basis of all these changes, according to IT Director Mr. Dan Hudkins, is first and foremost safety and security. After these priorities are achieved, productivity and efficiency enhance students’ learning.

MANAGING EDITORS

Log In

TAS DOMAIN

The most significant change is the overhaul of Tigernet Student Portal. Mr. Hudkins hopes that Tigernet can consolidate information they need, becoming a one-stop destination for students. He is working on it with the student tech advisory committee, an informal group of students whom he consults on possible Tigernet improvements.

“We noticed that a lot of the information was irrelevant to us and a lot of the links didn’t work,” said tech advisory committee participant Olivia Hsin (‘20). “Thus, we used our perspectives as high school students to tell Mr. Hudkins what we want to see on the website.”

Mr. Hudkins aims for Tigernet to become a platform for many resources by October. There would be an online calendar for students to stay organized, and announcements such as daily club sales can be posted on there. “Students do not use Tigernet very often because it wasn’t useful, as the information never changed,” said Mr. Hudkins.

Current platforms displaying student work would also be integrated into Tigernet, providing a more cohesive sense of community among student groups. “To use TAS Art and Innovation as an example, it’s a website showcasing student artwork and it’s been around for at least three to four years. But no one has heard of it,” said Mr Hudkins.

He believes that the numerous platforms for student work, including the Blue & Gold, can be all on Tigernet.

The hardest challenge Mr. Hudkins has just tackled over the summer, however, is moving the entire student body out of the TAS file domain. The students had been residing in one domain, and the staff in another. “Think of the domains like houses. When you have two houses, it makes it harder to move furniture,” he said.

GSUITE

Mr. Dan Hudkins in his office. [VANESSA TSAO FOR THE BLUE & GOLD]

The Tigernet overhaul will also move TAS closer to a single sign-on. Mr. Hudkins envisions that by the end of August, students can log on to Tigernet and be able to enter any other website without being asked for a password again. The SSO process had already begun during the 201718 school year, with the first step being students changing their usernames and receiving a uniform login for all school-related websites.

Students also do not have to worry about forgetting passwords, as students from sixth grade onward can change their passwords.

SOCIAL MEDIA & MARKETING VANESSA TSAO (‘19)

TIGERNET

SINGLE SIGN-ON, QUICK AND EASY

CATHERINE LIN (‘19) CHRISTINE LIN (‘19)

Looking further ahead, Mr. Hudkins hopes to get GSuite ready by Christmas.

Essentially, when Tigernet updates, GSuite would be updated as well. “When you reset your Tigernet password, it will reset your Gmail password too,” he said. This again increases students’ convenience and also helps them be more independent with managing their digital presence.

NEW EQUIPMENT Finally, some equipment will be getting a facelift. The internet bandwidth would be upgraded, and replaced with a newer firewall for security. The wireless connection will be improving, especially in the C Block classrooms.

Mr Hudkins believes that student feedback is important too, and if any student has any questions or feedback regarding the IT changes, his office is always a welcoming place for them.

NEWS AND SPORTS EDITOR ANYA LAI (‘19)

OPINIONS AND VERDICT EDITOR KELLY PHIL (‘20)

FEATURES EDITOR CHARLOTTE LEE (‘20)

VIDEO EDITOR

ALEXANDER LIN (‘19)

STAFF WRITERS

MAXWELL CHEN (‘19) JOON KIM (‘19) AMANDA CHIU (‘20) VANESSA KANG (‘20) NAKIAH PANNELL (‘20) NICOLE CHANG (‘21) PHOEBE CHEN (‘21) IAN HO (‘21) ALLISON KWAN (‘21) NATALIE SCHEIDEL (‘21) LAURA HSU (‘22) SHARON LEE (‘22)

ADVISER

MS. LINDSEY KUNDEL

MISSION STATEMENT

The Blue & Gold is a student-run publication dedicated to sharing stories from the Taipei American School community. Produced and distributed free of charge monthly during the academic year by staff writers at TAS, the Blue & Gold strives to showcase and interrogate the community it serves.

CORRECTIONS

GET TO KNOW TAS’ NEW TEACHERS This year, Taipei American School welcomes eight new teachers to the Upper School. Here are the stories of three new or returning faculty members.

By Shereen Lee (‘19)

We take all measures possible to report accurately, and seek to bring professional, thorough reporting to our readers. Please report any inaccuracies in Blue & Gold content to out email, blueandgold@tas.tw.

OP-EDS AND EDITORIALS

DR. GRACE CHENG DODGE

DR. EMILY NELSON

MR. CHASE WILLIAMS

This year, Dr. Grace Cheng Dodge is returning to the ranks of Taipei American School faculty as a college counselor. After serving as an admissions officer at Wellesley College Harvard University, Dr. Cheng Dodge is back to helping Upper School students through the transition to college.

A first generation Taiwanese-American fluent in Taiwanese, her background continues to help her relate to students at TAS. “You have to know yourself well to introduce yourself to a complete stranger,” she said.

But she also continually emphasized the importance of perspective. “No one is ever going to ask you about your grades when you’re an adult,” she said. “People will want to know you because of what kind of person you are.”

After taking a two-year break from teaching at TAS, Dr. Emily Nelson has returned to teach philosophy classes in the Upper School and debate in the Middle School. Previously, Dr. Nelson taught solely in the Upper School social studies department.

During her time away, Dr. Nelson spent her time becoming fluent in Chinese, taking lessons in Taipei. In addition, she spent time in the software engineering world, learning more about her areas of interest and the intersections between computer science and philosophy.

“I enjoy being able to talk to people on the street in Chinese now, and interacting more with people around the community,” she said. “I’ve wanted to learn the language better for a while, so it was a good opportunity for me.”

Mr. Chase Williams joined the TAS community as a teacher and debate coach this summer. He worked as a speech and debate specialist at the Hawken School for the four years before his arrival. However, most of Mr. Williams’ has been spent working in politics himself, as a part of various political campaigns. As the research and political director of former Arizona senator David Schapira’s campaign, as well as a staffer for politicians like Barack Obama and Greg Stanton, Mr. Williams has spent years in the environments he teaches about in classes like United States government.

“After I decided to step away from politics, I still wanted to do something that impacted the the world,” he said. “The job I have right now does that, and I wouldn’t change anything about what I’m doing.”

Editorials collectively represent the opinions of the Blue & Gold’s editorial board, while op-eds represent the opinions of each writer. Opinions in the Blue & Gold do not necessarily reflect the views of TAS student body, staff, faculty, or administration.

THE BLUE & GOLD ONLINE

The Blue & Gold runs an online edition that publishes articles every weekday when school is in operation. Find the website at blueandgoldonline.org.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

We welcome letter submissions from all readers. Email your signed letter of under 500 words at blueandgold@ tas.tw.

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the blue & gold september 13, 2018

AP OR IB? The AP and IB differ in their curricula, testing styles, teaching philosophies, requirements, and courses offered at Taipei American School. Students may choose to take classes within only one program, or mix classes from both.

Blue & Gold staff writers Kelly Phil (‘20) and Vanessa Tsao (‘19) debate: Which program offers more to students?

AP and IB preparation textbooks fill shelves at the Upper School Information Commons. [SHEREEN LEE/THE BLUE & GOLD]

If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it

By Kelly Phil (‘20) With recent discussion criticizing testtaking in general and the AP curriculum’s seemingly arbitrary standards for evaluation, AP classes have begun getting a bad rep. But, AP classes still have numerous benefits that are worth acknowledging.

One major benefit is that AP courses can offer a more targeted approach to certain subjects than IB classes. For instance, when it comes to a subject area like politics, a student with an interest in that field would only have the option of taking a broader IB Global Politics or Economics class, the AP offers a wide range of classes that touch on the issue from multiple angles.

Keeping with the politics example, the AP offers courses like AP US Government, AP Governments and Politics that approach the issue from different angles and supplementary classes like AP Seminar or AP Research to help hone in research techniques and learn specific oral and written defenses that are valuable for students pursuing an interest in the field.

The same is true for history classes.

In the IB, students are only exposed to a single IB History class while with the AP, students have the option of taking either AP World History, AP European History, and AP US History.

This is not to say that IB classes don’t offer course material that is also valuable for students, but rather that the AP curriculum is much more extensive than people often give it credit for.

The AP isn’t just a good fit for the

Give the new IB Diploma a chance

humanities, but for the sciences as well.

Dr. Kemper, a Chemistry teacher at TAS, has been teaching AP Chemistry for five years, and he believes that AP classes are often best to prepare students for college.

He said AP Chemistry in particular “provides a solid foundation for an introductory chemistry class in college,” he continues, compared to other Chemistry courses, AP courses might be a better option because “for students that are interested in the field of chemistry, the AP course covers more topics in depth.”

In addition, the AP’s distinctive format that relies heavily on multiple choice may be a better option for science enthusiasts.

Mckenzie Engen (‘20) said after taking AP Seminar and AP European History, he came to realize that the AP can “largely fact-based with patterned trends, which helps for subjects like chemistry or math.”

Jasmine Liou (‘20) also said that while taking AP European History, she found the test-preparation process to be insightful as well. In reference to her experience, she said, “the AP classes I took were interesting in that rather than just learning content, it was also test taking skills. The class was like a game where you need to figure out strategies and think critically to think of a response.”

The AP offers a wide variety of courses that students can choose from that rewards those with an interest in any subject they wish to pursue.

Even if the courses might not be perfect, it can offer a wide range of options that can’t be replicated with other types of curricula.

“No pain, no pain” is Mr. Jaami Franklin’s motto for his International Baccalaureate Theory of Knowledge class—though both the class and the diploma program have been notorious for challenging students to the extreme. A recent graduate of the IB diploma program, Zhengyuan Mor (‘18), even describes the program in his yearbook as “compulsory torture.” However, the IB program as implemented changes starting from 201718: most significantly, TOK is now a regular class held for 80 minutes every other day.

Having enough time for the class helps students worry less about the IB workload.

“Students no longer have the burden of doing work on their own time outside class, so it is less stressful,” said Mr. Franklin.

While IB courses are holistic and rigorous, they remain interesting and engaging. There is less test-prep mentality of routine memorization and dry homework assignments, and more creative projects that promote critical thinking packed into the class.

One such example is the Interactive Oral Presentation in IB English. Students have to analyze a literary work through a creative presentation, and my classmates ended up creating artwork, writing response poems, or even dancing to show their understanding of the work.

While different IB requirements seem intimidating or complicated because they are not a straightforward test we can bubble in the answer to, they always allow you to engage with the material by thinking outside the box.

By Vanessa Tsao (‘19) This creativity applies to science classes as well. The Internal Assessment allows you to do independent research on any topic.

You get to pick topics from enzymes to antibodies, conduct a long term experiment and write up a lab report on it, which can be as thrilling as you want it to be.

Though the additional IB essays (Extended Essay and TOK essay) may seem like a lot of work, it is only a small taste of what our workload will be like in college.

It is better to learn how to approach larger assignments now at a slow but steady pace.

The best part of these IB assignments is that almost all of them give you the freedom to choose whatever you are interested in. So once you choose a topic you are passionate about, it feels far from a burden.

The fun activities in IB classes make the experience a breeze, but community plays a significant role too. When you spend most of your classes with a group of people, you are guaranteed to become pretty close, bonding over TOK games, college stress, and even IB memes. And when you have the same teachers for two years, chances are you get to build a good relationship with them.

“One of my former students said: ‘Many of us are thankful that you were there supporting us, and I know you really care about us even though you do nag us to complete our work,’” said Mr. Franklin.

This warm and supportive community will help you get through all the tough times, so you are not alone. Trust in the community and in yourself, and you will have a “no pain, no pain” journey.

Taipei American School should offer online courses

By Natalie Scheidel (‘21)

While Taipei American School already offers a multitude of courses students can take, online classes allow students to extend their learning experience and education. TAS should work with other programs, such as the Global Online Academy, to implement online classes into its curriculum. GOA is an accredited nonprofit organization where schools can partner with it on a certain learning project. GOA works with different schools around the world such as the Harker School in California, Hong Kong International School, and West Point Grey Academy in Canada.

At TAS, students often cannot take a class because they have to take another class, or their schedules simply

do not work out. However, online classes can reduce course conflicts, since they both offer more course options. The flexibility that online classes offers allows students to plan their study around the rest of the day instead of the other way around. Following this, a lot of students are limited to what they can take even if it is offered at TAS, for example, Mary Park (‘21) wanted to take IBSL Dance in her sophomore year, but was forced to give the course up.

Demands you cannot meet directly can be met through online classes. “If there was a course that was not offered at TAS, I would love to join an online program that offers marine biology.” Claire Hong (‘21) said.

Through online classes, students are able to meet different pedagogical objectives.

You will obtain a lot of experience with working with other peers who were with similar skill across large time zone gaps.

Since we are in an international school we are already exposed to many different cultures, but participating in something like GOA where the cohort of students is made up of people from different schools around the world gives you a lot of experience on that learning style and gives you a degree of experience you wouldn’t have otherwise.

Some say online classes would add on to the academic pressure students of TAS are already facing. Nevertheless, there are still students that are capable of taking online classes in addition to the eight courses they take normally. The specific students that will be able to take online classes can

talk to the administrators to figure out whether or not they are competent.

Following this, others say face to face teaching is more effective than online education. However, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have carried out a detailed study indicating that online classes can teach at least as effectively as traditional classes, regardless of how much knowledge students start out with.

There is certainly no one course catalog that fits all students, which is why TAS should work with an online program to allow students to take courses they are capable of taking as well as having scheduling alternatives, increase of courses, and meeting different pedagogical objectives.

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the blue & gold September 13, 2018

LET’S TALK ABOUT THE DRESS CODE How are dress codes reflective of greater societal and gender norms? Are the clothes people choose to wear a purely personal decision? How flexible should a dress code be? The Blue & Gold’s Catherine Lin (‘19) and Charlotte Lee (‘20) discuss the implications of the dress code.

By Catherine Lin (‘19) and Charlotte Lee (‘20)

[CHARLOTTE LEE/THE BLUE & GOLD]

TAS 2018-2019 DRESS CODE • Students are expected to be modest and neat in their appearance • Short shorts, halter tops, tank tops, tube tops without shirts, spaghetti straps, cut-offs, and gym or beach attire are not deemed appropriate for school • The shirt and pants must overlap (no bare mid-riffs) • Footwear must be worn at all times • Dress code violations will result in disciplinary consequences • For the end of the year Athletics Banquet and Awards Ceremony, a more formal dress code will apply: - For boys, collared shirt-dress or polo, for everyone no T-shirts - Dress slacks or skirts, no shorts or jeans - Dress shoes Charlotte: The first thing that came to mind when I started reading the dress code is how it is much more specific as to what girls cannot wear.

Catherine: I think that dress codes and the way they police female more than male behavior is reactive to social and cultural norms that sexualize the female body more.

It makes available clothes that expose more of the body for girls and also puts in place a complex set of rules of propriety to regulate that exposure. That is why schools cannot simultaneously regulate everyone equally and conform perfectly to society. I think the word “modest” is very telling. Modesty has traditionally been a feminine value, which explains why the dress code is ends up being aimed more at girls.

Charlotte: A lot of the clothes that are popular right now do violate the dress code, so I can understand why people want to wear them at school. If we were in a different culture or century, it would be scandalous for girls to show their ankles. How should dress codes evolve with time? I have never really wanted to violate the dress code, but I have always wondered if that made me a sheep

for following rules that I do not completely understand or agree with.

Catherine: There really is no way to avoid being a “sheep.” In other words, there’s no way to avoid being shaped by sexist cultural norms and trends. For example, when halter tops and spaghetti straps and short-shorts are “popular,” you must also interrogate why these kinds of clothing are popular for girls and not for guys. It is important to note that in many cases, social norms are more sexist than the actual text of the current dress code.

The dress code does not forbid a guy from wearing a skirt; social norms do.

Charlotte: I agree that there is no way to avoid being shaped by fashion trends, but in the end, it really does come down to choice.

There will always be some counterargument: If you choose to go with the trends, you’re opening doors to letting people objectify you. If you are deliberately dressing conservatively, it is a reaction out of fear of slut-shaming. There will always be some reason why what you are choosing is wrong.

With that logic, doesn’t it just make more sense to just choose whatever feels right?

One of the most common reasons that I have heard throughout middle school for why dress codes exist is “because students are here to learn.” But that’s always bothered me. Why do people assume that dressing a certain way sends the message that a student is not here to learn? I do not believe that a tank top should invalidate a student’s academic reputation or character.

Yes, of course it is important for girls to understand that they are more than just their bodies. But why does the school assume the right to make personal decisions about what people can and cannot wear? In many workplace environments, dress codes aren’t enforced by punishment, but instead by the people around you.

Catherine: I think we differ in that I do not at all challenge the right of schools to regulate what students wear when they are on campus. This is because I do not think of what people wear as a purely “personal” decision. Since clothes go on public display on your body, they exist in the public realm, with “public” ramifications.

I understand your point about increasing students’ personal decision-making freedom, and it sounds like what you are suggesting is a version of General Motors CEO Mary Barra’s two-word company dress code: “Dress appropriately.” But I would advocate for the opposite.

I think that the dress code regulations should be very specific about what is allowed and what is not. I do not trust individual enforcers to make judgement calls interpreting the code because everyone’s eyes are sexist, including my own. If we have enforcement that is largely up to individual discretion, we will have sexist enforcement. I also do not trust students to make judgement calls about what is “appropriate,” even though I agree that the dress code should be relatively unrestrictive.

Everyone’s eyes are sexist, including my own. If we have enforcement that is largely up to individual discretion, we will have sexist enforcement.

Charlotte: But one of the purposes of dress codes is to learn how to dress according to context. Students do not arrive to class fully decked out in floor-length prom dresses or three-piece suits, whatever the dress code might allow. The current school system of dress code enforcement does not exactly fulfill this goal.

This summer in Bangkok, I walked into the hotel restaurant for breakfast after a workout and I was asked to change. Since I was in a rush to catch a flight, I didn’t. But the waitress stuck us with a table that was the furthest away from the buffet table and all the other more formally dressed hotel guests.

Most people at the hotel did abide by the suggested dress code, so who is to stay that students won’t do the same? Although this hotel dress code was enforced lightly, it still works. A suggested dress code will let students know what is expected of them.

Students should have the freedom break from these suggestions when they believe it is necessary—and sometimes it is. In my case, I wasn’t going to go back up and change just for one breakfast, and potentially miss my flight. Maybe for a TAS student, they will decide to make an exception for political protest. With this extended freedom, perhaps we will be more inclined to abide by what the administration believes is appropriate because we no longer feel that they are being policed for no reason.

I do believe that the number of students

who would like to see changes in the dress code is substantial—and it is likely that the administration knows that too, based on the number of people that they see breaking it. The best way to address this is to begin a productive discussion between the student and administration so that it can be reformed.

Regardless of whether any changes are made at the end of the conversation, both parties will have learned something about what it means to “dress appropriately.”

Catherine: Yes, both parties have things to learn about what it means to “dress appropriately.” I would, however, stop short at advocating for a reformoriented discussion between students and the administration. Who will represent the students? Students’ views are not monolithic. Even though we broadly agree about many things, the dress codes we are suggesting diverge substantially—and that is just between the two of us.

READERS RESPOND: WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE DRESS CODE? “I understand it’s important to dress appropriately in a school setting, but it seems that it’s aimed mostly towards girls. “ - Angelina Lin (‘19) “Personally, it has never restricted what I’m wearing.”

- Justin Wu (‘19) “I don’t see how showing skin makes other people feel uncomfortable.“ - Cherry Boontaksinaphan (‘21) “What’s wrong with the dress code? Just wear a shirt.”

- Shawn Kao (‘20)

6

the blue & gold September 13, 2018

IMAGE CREATED BY A.L. HU, FROM NOUNPROJECT

EDITORIAL

DRESSING OUTSIDE THE BOX: against gender-segregated clothing Walk into almost any clothing store, and you will see products divided into two sections—one for men, one for women, not-so-subtly signalling to customers what a particular corporation believes they would not want to wear.

Restrictive norms surrounding clothing continue to pervade our society, even in a supposedly permissive, liberated era.

Ultimately, these norms stifle individual self-expression, locking people into narrow, largely arbitrary gender-defined boxes. Dismantling the rigidly gendered regulations that govern the way we dress is a step forward toward greater acceptance for non-binary people and those who do not conform to gender stereotypes. And the best way to get rid of the stigma against wearing clothes intended for the opposite gender is getting rid of categorizations altogether.

“If you want to buy a shirt in a different section, why not just go there?” you might ask, for good reason. Of course, store managers do not patrol the racks to make sure that people are shopping according to their gender.

Gender-specific marketing broadcasts social and cultural expectations to potential customers, which then influence how people react when they see someone dressed “abnormally.” Stereotyping is particularly pernicious in children’s sections. Much like gender-targeted toys, young girls’ clothes tend to be decorated with princesses; while boys’ clothes depict dinosaurs and robots, guiding girls away from STEM-related fields

even as children.

Separating products according to gender also has more material consequences: Women’s clothing cost more. An investigation by the magazine GQ found that at least five luxury brands sold identical articles of clothing at a higher price in the women’s section than in the men’s section.

A 2015 study by the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs showed that women’s jeans cost on average 10 percent more than men’s jeans.

CLOTHING, LIKE ANY OTHER FORM OF SELFEXPRESSION, CAN BE A KIND OF ACTIVISM THAT PUSHES FOR SOCIAL CHANGE. Men lose out too, especially since feminine men often face even harsher opprobrium than masculine women. A woman in men’s shoes probably would not turn heads on the street, while a guy in a skirt probably would. Categorizing skirts as as a “women’s” garment, then penalizing men for wearing them, amounts to penalizing femininity in men. The same powerful force that stops men from wearing women’s clothing steers men away from

traditionally female occupations, paternity leave, emotional expression, and other stereotypically female behaviors.

In January 2016, teenage actor Jaden Smith starred in a Louis Vuitton advertising campaign wearing women’s clothes.

The company’s artistic director, Nicolas Ghesquiere, said in a press release, “Wearing a skirt comes as naturally to him as it would to a woman who, long ago, granted herself permission to wear a man’s trench or tuxedo.”

Ghesquiere was articulating an essential truth: Clothing, like any other form of selfexpression, can be a kind of activism that pushes for social change, and not just in the form of a catchy slogan emblazoned on a T-shirt. Two years on from Ghesquiere’s progressive ad campaign, though, genderbending dress has yet to shake off the exotic connotations of high fashion and enter the mainstream.

Criticizing the way clothing is sorted may seem like a complaint too frivolous for a world where an estimated 4.5 million people are trapped in sexual slavery, or where the #MeToo movement has begun a reckoning for powerful rapists around the world.

But gender-segregated clothing shows that sexism does not have to come in such extreme, overt forms, revealing the degree to which harmful gender norms persist in every nook and cranny of our daily lives.

These norms should be expunged wherever they can be found, whether in a country an ocean away or at the shopping mall across the street.

SHEREEN LEE (‘19)

CATHERINE LIN (‘19)

CHRISTINE LIN (‘19)

VANESSA TSAO (‘19)

COLLEGE BOARD, PLEASE KEEP ALL 10,000 YEARS OF AP WORLD HISTORY INTACT

By Catherine Lin (‘19) Merchants move salt, gold, and religion across the Sahara using newly invented camel saddles; while in the Indian Ocean basin, Malay sailors ply their trade.

Students in the AP world history class travel around the world at dizzying speed, and over the course of the year, traverse 10,000 years of world history. Within a single lesson, empires rise, consolidate their power, and collapse. Pick any time period, and a student will eventually be able to give a snapshot of global trends and an overview of how things got there.

This year, College Board announced a plan to start the test material at 1450 CE, prompting teacher backlash and accusations of Eurocentrism. Bending to the pressure, the organization decided to start the course at 1200 CE instead. If the proposal, set to be implemented in 2019, moves ahead, future students will miss out on the sense of exhileration a course that operates with the breadth of AP world

history can inspire.

At many high schools, including at Taipei American School, students may not have any other opportunity for students to study Mauryans and Mesopotamians, lateen sails and latifundia. They may not have any other opportunity to study the rise of Islam and trace its diffusion through Africa and Southeast Asia. Those aspects of history would be effectively erased from curricula, and by extension, from students’ minds.

Though not as egregious as 1450, 1200 would still be a nonsensical and Eurocentric starting point. The new date restores a mere 250 years of historical developments prior to European colonialism, meaning that as proportion of the course, European domination remains the norm. It would still exclude the golden ages of the Abbasid caliphate in the Middle East and the Tang dynasty in China. Meanwhile, it catches western Europe in the midst of

the flourishing of the High Middle Ages, heading into the early Renaissance.

Students would begin the course on the eve of Mongol invasions that reshaped Eurasia, but without the context of the numerous empire-toppling nomadic invasions that preceded it, or knowledge of the development of the civilizations the Mongols are poised to change.

While College Board has promised to explore a separate course called AP World History: Ancient to cover the cut content, it is possible that it may never materialize, as College Board has noted that it must first gauge colleges’ willingness to offer course credit for it.

Wiping out these years of history destroys what is most valuable about the study of world history. A course of the scope of AP world history exposes students to social systems and ideologies that are not at all similar to those common to their current world, let alone to their

own personal experiences. This exposure empowers them to imagine largescale social transformation. Pervasive and seemingly inevitable constructs— Europe, race, science, childhood, nationstates—did not always exist, and can be overturned.

Taking the class in ninth grade dramatically altered my view of history.

I realized that my internal chronology of historical events contained serious misconceptions, mismatching which events were contemporaneous across different regions. I realized how much I did not know and had not encountered.

By the end of the year, we had crammed our brains full of scores of civilizations, yet we had only scratched the surface.

College Board’s curriculum framework exercises a substantial degree of influence over what hundreds of schools teach, and I sincerely hope that it will use its power to keep the course I knew and loved intact.

7

the blue & gold september 13, 2018

TEXT AND PHOTOS BY CHARLOTTE LEE (‘20)

BAISHAWAN BEACH

SUN MOON LAKE

LONG DONG

FENG JIA

VVG PLAY

About an hour’s drive away from Tianmu, Kenting’s Baishawan (白沙 灣) Beach is the perfect quiet getaway if you are looking for a mellow weekend afternoon for relaxation.

It’s full of boardwalks and bike paths where you can enjoy the scenic view, and has great restuarants. I visited the beachside’s Right Way Cafe, where I got light meals served by a couple and their adorable child. Be warned that the prices are going to be around $100 NT more than what you would expect in Tianmu. If you walk along the concrete pathway, you will eventually get to a wooden walkway that leads you to the beach looking for crabs, walking on the sand, or taking a nap.

These days, Sun Moon Lake is crawling with tourists, especially on the weekends. However, some parts of the lake hold hidden gems. While most tourists visit the side of the lake that contains small hotels and local restaurants, a 10-minute ferry ride across the lake will take you to an abundance of unique Taiwanese shops with snacks not dissimilar to those of a night market. Must-try classics at the market include black tea ice cream, mochi, and almond candy. Sun Moon Lake’s best quality is undoubtedly the scenic biking trail that takes you along the glistening blue waters, and is a part of Taiwan that cannot be found anywhere else.

Long Dong (龍洞) is a pretty popular coastal destination for snorkeling and cliff jumping. About an hour drive away from school, this rocky beach spot is where you’d want to bring your friends for an adventurous day trip.

Also, those who enjoyed eighth grade Camp Taiwan will recognize that this is where Mr. Jack Tobey taught rock climbing back in the good old days!

About twenty meters off the shore you can swim and climb onto a little rock island that’s 1.5 stories high, and jump off into the crystal blue waters below. If you’re not feeling that adventurous, there are plenty of colored fish that you can look at while you swim around.

Compared to Shi Lin Night Market, Feng Jia Night Market has a larger variety of food, more unique shops, and fewer people. At Feng Jia you’ll be able to find new creative dishes in addition to those classic snacks. For instance, some food stands have over ten flavors of (雞蛋仔), including seaweed and chocolate: you’ll never be bored by the options. Feng Jia is also home to fascinating, creative little shops that are a nice change from the huge name-brand chains of Shi Lin Night Market. Here, you can find tarot card readings or find your signature scent at a Turkish perfume store. And of course, the lack of tourists is always a plus!

Anyone who’s explored downtown Taipei knows that the VVG company is known for its quaint, ornamental style. There are several VVG restaurants in Taipei, but nothing can trump the VVG Play building in Taichung, an entire building dedicated to its signature artsy aesthetic. Inside this white, modern, museumesque establishment you’ll find a couple of Italian/Taiwanese fusion restaurants and endless array of photo worthy spots. While the food is on the pricier side, you’re really paying for the whole experience: a lunch overlooking the city in a huge atrium with high velvet chairs is bound to make you feel like royalty.

MEET SOME OF THE UPPER SCHOOL’S NEW STUDENTS TEXT AND PHOTOS BY SHEREEN LEE (‘19)

“I’m really close to my [twin sister, Charlotte Yu (’22), pictured]. We attend the same classes, and share a bedroom. We both enjoy singing and dance. But we’re different too: we don’t look alike, we’re fraternal twins. And our personalities aren’t alike at all. I think about doing a lot of things, but most of the time I never do them. She’s usually the one who acts on her ideas.”

—RACHEL YU (’22)

“I’m here for my last two years of high school, living with my grandparents before I go off to college in the US. I travelled here alone, since my parents are staying at home Hong Kong to work. I lived there my whole life before now: coming here, I was leaving everything I knew. TAS looks so much like an American high school, with the lockers and everything— my old school was British. But I’ve always been a risk-taker, and this is a great opportunity for me to get ready for college. And it’s been nice so far. My grandparents really spoil me.” —ALICIA LIU (‘20)

“My final project in art class while I was in Ann Arbor is this symbolic piece with all this stuff I was feeling before I came here. I felt conflicted, because I loved my friends but I’m also dying to get out. I think one day I was getting a car ride from someone, and they were talking about how they were excited to spend the rest of their life in that small town. I was kind of shocked when it happened. That’s when I realized that I needed to get out of there. It was a big surprise when a couple of months later, my dad said we would be moving. But I was ready for the change.” —ABBEY FOREMAN (’20)

“I’m really looking forward to being a part of the TAS production this year. I’ve been doing drama since I was 10, and I’ve always enjoyed how creative it can be. I remember that once, our cast was three weeks from the performance and we hadn’t even started writing the play. We were basically making it up as we went, and I remember thinking ‘don’t laugh, don’t laugh, don’t laugh,’ the whole time.”

—RAJI RAMANATHAN (‘22)

Natalie Chang

By Vanessa Tsao (‘19) Storytelling shapes Natalie Chang (‘20): Not only does it help her “learn through infinite possibilities in infinite universes, all in the space of one’s mind,” it was also a pathway for her election to the Student Government.

In her freshman year, Natalie was a Class Government officer, deciding to start small by helping her grade first. Through the drama fall production, “The Addams Family,” she met former StuGov president Brendan Wong (‘17) who played a large part in the show, which emboldened her to pursue StuGov. Natalie had hesitated on going for StuGov initially because she was afraid

she would fall behind on her work and commitments, but Brendan was a role model who showed her that it was possible.

She said, “It amazed me to see someone with such large responsibilities still manage to take on more time consuming activities.”

Her experience as a ClassGov officer had been fun, but she wanted to continue expanding her horizons by helping to organize school events to bring together students of all grades.

She said, “School isn’t about the individual, but the community which helps students thrive. To truly help the community, I needed to get out of my comfort zone of just talking to my grade.”

Beyond leading her to StuGov, drama

plays a huge part of her life today. Her passion for drama began when she was in Lower School and developed out of her love for singing. “Before I realized songs had words that made sense, I would sing tunes and string random words, making a song out of gibberish,” she said. Watching her fifth grade drama classmates perform a production of “The Sound of Music” was a turning point for her, inspiring her to give musicals a try.

Drama helped her on a personal level, teaching her many values like empathy and understanding other perspectives. It also helped her connect with a diverse range of individuals with whom she spent long hours rehearsing and bonding. “It allowed

me to connect with people from other grades with other interests, who I would’ve never met, improving my social skills and public speaking new friends and having fun,” said Natalie.

Friends are family to Natalie, and the drama family holds a special place in her heart. “Theatre brings people together into a family. Every production has always made me felt so at home, and it is truly heartbreaking when a production has to end,” she said.

Overall, her friends keep her grounded every day. Natalie said, “[These are] friends who make me laugh, friends who challenge me, and friends who make me wonder why they aren’t the StuGov president.”

much energy and support during that week, and this year there will be new ideas brought to the table as well,” she said.

Other than being involved with StuGov, Tingjen is the president of the Thespian Honor Society . She plans to roll out more activities for the school community to participate in theatre more, by having more shows and interactions with the community.

“As a theater club, we will definitely do things such as watch musicals, and hold theater-related workshops such as improv and other fun games,” she said. Additionally, these activities are open to anyone— regardless of whether one has experience or not—interested students can simply contact

Tingjen or other Thespian Honor Society officers to be involved.

Besides being a leader in many fields, Tingjen is also a lover of music—and she currently plays not one, but two instruments.

A member of the jazz band who performs regularly, she has been playing the trombone since fifth grade and recently picked up the bass guitar.

“I started playing the trombone because I grew up playing the piano and violin, and I was getting bored with them. They were instruments my parents wanted me to play, not ones I really loved,” Tingjen said. She chose the trombone because she can play it as an accompaniment and as a solo instrument,

and found the slide intriguing to learn.

As for bass guitar, she picked it up casually over the summer because she also knew how to play the guitar and decided to take a few lessons from Kevin Lee (‘18). “I ended up falling in love with the instrument, and since Kevin graduated, Mr. Heberer asked me to play in the band,” she said.

She believes that playing jazz is more than just knowing how to play the instrument— you also have to feel it. Tingjen said: “You have to sing it in your head while you play, and groove to it. And every musician has a different style, which is why you could never get sick of listening to the same jazz piece.”

band to support its lift.” However, those early stumbles taught him that simplicity is best.

Ian said, “I often try to put too much into serving, so I learned to really cut down and think of what is practical.”

He is excited to expand his VEX career in the new school year, since he believes his VEX journey has not really begun.

Ian also learned that team communication is key in VEX, despite the fact that he considers himself an introvert. But his introversion is not an obstacle to the other responsibilities Ian holds, from being a Student Ambassador in middle school to his current role in StuGov. In middle school, Ian’s responsibility as a Student

Ambassador was to guide new students and make them feel welcome in a new environment. He enjoyed helping them a lot, saying, “I really like new students; it’s always fun to have new people to interact with and to explore.” He added that he believes new students contribute to the school environment by making it more interesting and entertaining.

In carrying out his duties as a StuGov officer, Ian finds himself leading with a quiet authority.

As StuGov is consisted of seven

people, he does experience some difficulty with contributing his opinion, though he said he would provide comments when he finds it useful to the team.

Ultimately, Ian loves being part of all these different communities. But as to where he believes he belongs, he is unsure of his answer.

He said, “I would like to say [I belong] at school, but not entirely, I think that a place one belongs to is somewhere one has made.”

Tingjen Hsieh

By Vanessa Tsao (‘19) Although Student Government officer Tinjen Hsieh’s (‘20) favorite Spirit Week day is pajama day because she can “fall asleep anywhere,” she is not someone who sleeps on the job. Rather, she is someone who juggles many responsibilities with a positive attitude.

Her favorite part of school had been Class Government for the past two years, until she realized it was not all she wanted to contribute to the community and decided to join StuGov. She said, “I quickly realized that as a StuGov officer, I get to be on the admin side of things and make more creative decisions.”

She is excited to inject that creativity into this year’s Spirit Week. “There’s always so

Ian Ho

By Vanessa Tsao (‘19) Student Government, VEX Robotics, Student Ambassador—these three activities may seem to have little in common, but StuGov officer Ian Ho (‘21) is passionate about all three because they all involve information organization.“Planning events, construction and engineering, and interviewing people all happen to fall under data collection and organization, involving a process I enjoy,” he said.

Having attended a VEX competition in Manila and Formosa VEX In The Zone Competition within the past two years, Ian has learned valuable lessons from his experiences competing.

He explains that he has not had much success with the robots his team built, saying, “Our arm turned out too heavy and could not move, as I did not realize you needed a rubber

Andrew Xu

By Kelly Phil (‘20) When it came to running for a StuGov position, the decision came naturally to Andrew. “I just enjoy working with people who share my interests,” he said. “Watching something of yours come to fruition is a feeling like no other, and I think that’s an emotion captured in the essence of many teams from the sports pitch all the way to the robotics lab.” As the Co-President for Stugov next year, Andrew wants to make a lasting mark on the TAS community.

Already Andrew plans on improving both the TAS and StuGov experience. He said, “I wish for our StuGov members to fully receive the rewarding experience they deserve for their hard work. Once a member

myself, I know the value of just being part of something special and feeling like my opinion mattered. Hence, I want to see each committee given more freedom and ultimately, the leadership opportunities that result.”

Andrew also said he wants to continue and improve upon fun after-school activities that allow students to escape academic pressures, saying, “You can expect more of our fantastic StuGov events. I’m happy with the nature of the activities, especially slip n’ slide. Our only goal now is to have a consistent schedule.” In addition to these ambitious goals, Andrew thinks something as common as the lack of sleep or an issue as difficult as plastic waste reduction are all

problems he is ready to tackle this year.

When he is not busy working with StuGov, Andrew also enjoys participating in other clubs like NHS, Girl Up, Amnesty International, Make It Shine, and Tri-M. In particular, Andrew has played a big role in past events some of the clubs have held.

For instance, during the Girl Up Leadership Summit in his sophomore year, Andrew organized an activity with the goal of creating a space where students could freely discuss issues that pertained to cultural problems.

The activity was a privilege exercise where Andrew and another Girl Up member proposed several questions that illuminated privilege. For example, they encouraged participants to think about topics like ‘my

intelligence is not judged on the basis of my skin.’ He said the experience helped him learn about how to empathize with other people’s experiences better and manage a large discussion.

Outside of Girl Up, you can also see him making a passionate speech in MUN or the forensics society, training around Taipei with the cross country team, or playing the saxophone in jazz band. Outside of schoolrelated activities, you can catch Andrew “playing a quick round of Connect 4 against Ryan Long,” while on the weekends, he is “an avid gamer, especially with 2K18.” He said, “I enjoy playing basketball and like applying what I learn in 2K on the court. I’m also big on biking and playing the piano.”

Rem Yang

By Anya Lai (‘19) “What happens when Mr. John Vandenboom holds a magnet? He becomes attractive!” If this is your sense of humor, you’re in luck because the co-secretary of Student Government, Rem Yang (‘19) will be bringing his terrible puns to StuGov and Senate meetings, in addition to a ‘quote of the day’ whenever he sends emails.

When asked about his motivation behind these puns, Rem said, “ I like starting a meeting or speech with something funny to soften the mood and get people interested. However, I often pull bad jokes just so I can laugh at them.”

Quirky jokes aside, Rem will carry

over his three years experience as a Class Government officer to resolve student issues, propose suggestions to improve the school community, take notes during StuGov meetings, and most importantly, calculating points for Field Day and Spirit Week.

Rem chose to run for StuGov for one simple reason: change. The aforementioned voting on activities, scoring system for Field Day and Spirit Week, and efficiency in resolving of student issues were just some of the areas Rem seeks to improve.

He wants everyone, not just ClassGov officers, to have a chance to vote on activities. He said, “I will bring greater

inclusiveness by increasing the say of the student body in the events they participate in. The things I have in mind now are direct voting for monthly activities and Field Day games, and depending on how that goes, we may extend this to even more events.”

Although many may only know Rem for his leadership in ClassGov and as a StuGov officer, He partakes in chess, physics, and poker club, and is also a member of the math team.

Rem’s interest in poker sparked by how the game combines mathematical and logical reasoning, and psychological thinking. “I think this makes it a great

game both strategically and socially,” says Rem. He adds that he’ll be looking forward to playing more poker in senior year and college, although not for real money.

Unlike the other Taipei American School service clubs, interest clubs such as poker club may not be as popular.

Because of this, Rem encourages the student body to really think about what they would like for themselves instead of joining clubs or classes for the wrong reasons.

He reminds that everyone should “take some time on a daily basis to reflect their own values and beliefs and how they shape their own actions and decisions.”

Kenrick Brown

By Catherine Lin (‘19) On March 12, 2018, he stood behind a podium in front of roughly 800 students and solemnly declared: “We come, we see, we conquer. This is the passion I have for politics; this is the passion I feel for serving [Taipei American School]. My name is Kenrick Brown, and this is my struggle.”

Now, Kenrick Brown (‘20), Student Government officer, would like to assure you that he is not a Nazi. “The last part of the speech was unintentionally fascisticsounding. I had no idea until I came off stage and a friend explained to me,” he said. “For those of you confused by the ending of my election speech, I would like to apologize.”

In fact, he is just another teenager who enjoys hiking with family, watching television, and playing video games—but

his love for politics pervades his life. One of his favorite TV shows? Game of Thrones.

His favorite video game? Civilization VI, where players compete to grow their civilizations from small settlements to world powers.

As the son of a U.S. diplomat, his political convictions are grounded in a strong belief in the United States and its democratic values as forces for good on the international stage. “America has had what I think was a track record of decency, and was viewed positively around the world,” he said, referring to the Cold War, which he contrasts with the “bad place” he believes the country is currently in. “A lot of people don’t take that into consideration when discussing geopolitics, and they very childishly view America as some sort of imperialist power.”

His views were shaped by a childhood bouncing between continents: kindergarten in Burkina Faso, first grade at TAS, second grade in China, and third grade in Germany; followed by three years in a Virgina suburb near Washington D.C. “I was always in the presence of some show of American presence in the world,” he said.

In Germany, he befriended the sons of American soldiers stationed at the military base near his home. In China, he attended several state-sponsored events with his father, including a Chinese New Year’s parade. Taiwan’s existence as an independent government, he noted, is secured by the guarantee of American protection should the PRC invade. This is why he smarts at accusations of U.S. imperialism. He said, “I think it ignores many points of history. It’s a simple answer

to the very complex question of America’s place in the world.”

Though he currently indulges in his interest in politics by participating Model United Nations and the TAS Blue & Green newspaper, he is far from sure about whether he hopes to pursue a career in it.

“At this age, I’m not certain what I want to do. If I had to name three potential goals I’d say business, technology, or politics,” he said. “Any of the three would be wonderful.”

But he will enjoy struggling to figure it out, and try his best at overcoming any obstacles he encounters at StuGov. After all, as he wrote in his message to the student body, “Life is nothing without struggle. What good are the times we spend victorious if we do not first give ourselves wholly to the task?”

David Wang

By Catherine Lin (‘19) David Wang (‘19) almost decided not to run for junior Class Government officer at the end of sophomore year after the Class of 2019 placed last during Spirit Week. “I didn’t really care about the rankings, but the rankings are the best indication of how well ClassGov is doing what our job is supposed to be, so for that reason, they meant a lot,” he said. “I felt too much pressure as an officer to deliver, and I wasn’t able to deliver what I was hoping to give.”

So a year later, he knew that he wanted to reduce the intra-grade rivalry of schoolwide events. He wanted to mitigate the discomfort some students—“Introverts for the most part. Me, for example,” he said—may experience during the week. He wanted to return Spirit Week to its original

purpose of “building community,” the theme that was adopted at the first StuGov meeting. “I get the part about relaxing and having something to do together, but I don’t see the necessity of having that intense competition,” he said.

He recognizes, however, that events such as Spirit Week have a limited capacity to truly achieve community, especially between, not just within, grade levels. “The most effective method I know of is having some kind of common goal or challenge to overcome,” he said, pointing to student bonding over studying and complaining about a difficult class. “I think Spirit Week is an example of StuGov trying to create an artificial challenge for everyone to care about, but that doesn’t work because some people just don’t care.”

Instead, he hopes that as the StuGov vice president, he can help foster a different approach: “We’re trying to get everyone to see the shared challenges everyone faces,” he said. These challenges include the the everyday stresses students encounter, whether balancing work and fun, or navigating relationships with family members.

But for David, doing community is more than facing challenges together. “I see the idea of community as being related to responsibility, he said. “You’re not just responsible for yourself, but also for the welfare of other people.”

The concept of shared responsibility connects this year’s theme to the 2016-2017 initiative food waste and garbage—feeling responsible for the community’s shared environment. And it is also an extension

of last year’s initiative, wellness. “Wellness could be more easily solved if we felt more responsible for the wellbeing of our peers and took some time to talk, ask if they’re okay,” he said.

Just as he aspires to decrease individual competitiveness in Spirit Week, he wants to help decrease competitiveness in all areas of life, especially in academics.

As a StuGov officer, he will again encounter the main challenge he struggled with as the sophomore Classgov president: how to motivate others to care. This time, rather than pushing his classmates to care about winning Spirit Week, he aims to motivate others to care about each other.

“Ultimately, I want the students at TAS to be more united and more accepting of their peers in the school,” he said.

10 Netflix summer TV how reviews

By Kelly Phil (‘20) “The Legacy of a Whitetail Deer Hunter”

The main character, Buck Ferguson (Josh Brolin) is the star of a series of viral hunting videos.

In each episode, Ferguson hunts deer in the wilderness while being filmed by his cameraman.

The movie revolves around Ferguson taking his son, Jordan (Montana Jordan), to one of his hunts. The biggest issue with “The Legacy of a Whitetail Deer Hunter” is that it runs out of steam. The final act, in which Hill and company try to get more serious, does not work. It is as if they came up with an interesting concept out of a whim and went to the woods before they devised a way to end the film.

“Tau”

“Tau” is a sci-fi horror movie that centers around an artificial intelligent device called Tau, voiced by Gary Oldman. Tau’s creator, Alex (Ed Skrein) kidnaps Julia (Maika Monroe) in order to utilize her behavior to further develop Tau’s programming.

The trailer for Tau promised a “Saw”-esque horror movie with an omniscient AI device as the villain. Unfortunately, Tau did not live up to my expectations at all. With numerous plot holes and a predictable storyline, Tau was nothing short of a knockoff version of past AI movies like Ex Machina. The horror aspect of the movie was a let-down as well.

the blue & gold september 13, 2018

HERBIVORE

By Charlotte Lee (‘20)

Upon taking the escalator up to the second floor of Mitsukoshi A4, you will immediately see the immaculate, modern vegan restaurant decorated with clean white marble and minimalistic gold frames.

As you are seated, you will be greeted with huge menus filled with surprising vegetarian choices. The variety of dishes is quite impressive: From salads to pastas, burgers to pancakes, almost anyone will be able to find something to their liking.

The first dish I tried was the “Lemongrass Green Curry with Sweet Peas and Tofu,” which tastes as yummy as it looks. Each

spoonful is bursting with all sorts of different flavors. It is sour, tangy, and creamy. If you are used to authentic Thai food, you will find this curry much milder than usual, but on par with the average spiciness of Thai cuisine in Taipei. The papaya salad and tomato soup are nothing special, but not disappointingly so. Perhaps one of the best perks of eating organic and vegan is that by the end of the meal you feel satisfied but not stuffed.

The “Western BBQ Vurger,” a more adventurous choice, tastes suspiciously like meat and has a lot of flavor. However, veggie burgers tend to be more filling—

[VANESSA TSAO/THE BLUE & GOLD]

at the end of this meal you might not feel as great as if you had opted for something lighter, like one of the nutrient packed salads or even the green curry.

Great for friends and family, Herbivore’s food is nutritious, creative, and tasty. Its only problem is that it is a bit pricey.

Herbivore No. 19, Songgao Rd., Xinyi District, 110

SUMMER MOVIES TO SEE

By Christine Lin (‘19)

“Set It Up”

“Set it Up” is proof that the decades-old romantic comedy formula works. As Netflix’s most recent romantic comedy original movie, the story follows two miserable corporate assistants, Harper (Zoey Deutch) and Charlie (Glen Powell) who set up their bosses in an attempt to make their lives less hectic. In the process, they find that they have more in common with each other than their bosses ever did. The movie is a novel twist on a classic formula. Cliches like the New York City setting, spontaneous meet-cutes, and over-the-top declarations of love are combined with vibrant dialogues and clever acting to make “Set It Up” the romantic comedy of the summer.

“Isle of Dogs”

“Incredibles 2”

“Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again”

Four years after the release of his Oscarwinning “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” director Wes Anderson returns with his second stop-motion animated film, “Isle of Dogs.” The story takes place in a fictional Japan where dogs have become the most hated animals in the country and are ostracized to a trash island to die. Atari, a 12-year-old boy, goes on a mission to search for his kidnapped dog, Spots. Far from a mere cartoon about a rescue mission, the film tackles questions on humanity, loyalty, love, and free speech, all the while maintaining the director’s quirky sense of humor. Anderson, known for his meticulously crafted frames and color schemes, presents a new masterpiece full of visually stunning images, all made of clay.

With voices dubbed by Hollywood powerhouses, Bryan Cranston, Scarlett Johansson, Liev Schreiber, and more, “Isle of Dogs,” is a fun yet thought-provoking hidden gem. Believe me when I, a cat person, say that you do not have to like dogs to love this movie.

The long-awaited sequel to the 2004 Pixar hit has finally arrived, and it does not disappoint. Picking up where “The Incredibles” left off, the titular superhero family has become caught up in the revived struggles between vigilante superheroes and the law. This time, Elastigirl (Holly Hunter) has to fight crime, while Mr. Incredible (Brad Bird) stays home to take care of the children.

Not unlike the narrative of “Captain America: Civil War,” the film reveals a society that is divided in its opinions on the agency of superheroes in matters of crime.

Moreover, a new villain who scorns the public’s dependence on superheroes and technology elevates the political debate and tests the tenacity of the Incredibles.

The nuanced topics on politics and gender equality, coupled with numerous laughout-loud scenes, helped “Incredibles 2” exceed my already high expectations for this family-friendly cartoon.

On the first movie’s tenth-year anniversary, the cast of the musical returns with “Mama Mia: Here We Go Again.” The story presents a parallel narrative of a mother’s story in the past and daughter’s in the present. In 1979, a young and free-spirited Donna (Lily James), freshly graduated from Oxford University, decides to embark on a journey around Europe, sparking romances with three men, Harry, Bill, and Sam, along the way. In the present-day, Donna’s daughter, Sophie (Amanda Seyfriend), prepares to re-open Donna’s hotel in honor of her death. Though the relationships and plotline are generally corny and silly, I chose to simply have fun with the film, as one should with a classic musical. The contagious energy of each musical number left me laughing, singing, and dancing along, as subtle as one can in a movie theater. The abundance of bright colors and catchy songs, against the backdrop of the Greek island of Kalokairi, pays a truly dazzling homage to the original musical.

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the blue & gold september 13, 2018

“DOING SCHOOL”: a Rorschach test for a generation of stressed out, materialistic, and miseducated students

By Catherine Lin (‘19)

For the 2018-2019 school year, the Upper School faculty and students at Taipei American School were required to read Denise Clark Pope’s “Doing School: How We Are Creating a Generation of Stressed Out, Materialistic, and Miseducated Students” over the summer vacation. Blue & Gold staff writer Catherine Lin (‘19) discusses her reaction.

Get good grades, go to a good college, get a good job: This is the narrative many students in Denise Clark Pope’s “Doing School”—and, no doubt, at Taipei American School—subscribe to. Published in 2003, “Doing School” is remarkably current, anticipating the anxious hand-wringing about American youth that has become prominent within the past five years. Like William Deresiewicz’s book “Excellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way to a Meaningful Life” and Hanna Rosin’s Atlantic article “The Overprotected Kid,” Pope’s book explores the failings of modern child-rearing.

But rather than focus on the directionlessness of Ivy League students (Deresiewicz) or the sheltered upbringing of young children (Rosin), Pope shines a spotlight on high school—on us.

“Doing School” does an admirably frank job explaining high schoolers’ experiences and opinions.

Pope fairly and non-judgmentally presents the difficult compromises students make on a day-to-

day basis. She consistently notes how socioeconomic class and race influence students’ academic performances. She is forthright about schools’ shortcomings and limitations. “High school teachers at Faircrest and schools like it are blind to many aspects of their students’ lives,” Pope writes. “Most see only one side of the student, often a camouflage designed to conceal an identity in order to blend in with the teacher’s expectations.” I saw pieces of myself in statements like these, and in every student she profiled.

The book would have benefited from more indepth discussion of other research regarding high school education. Clearly, Pope believes that many of her findings can be generalized to schools across America: The subtitle mentions “a generation” of miseducated students. Yet, she provides little evidence to support this belief. Throughout the book, Pope employs the objective, emotionless perspective of the nature photographer or textbook writer, doing her best to analyze the students’ personalities and motivations from a neutral place. While this

“The Handmaid’s Tale”

By Margaret Atwood McClelland and Stewart, 1985

By Anya Lai (‘19)

“The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood depicts the totalitarian, theocratic society of near-future New England.

Now made into a popular American web television series, this dystopian novel follows the life of a handmaid, Offred, who attempts to gain independence from the patriarchy. Handmaids, who are female servants on the bottom of the patriarchal society, are deprived of civil rights, and attempt to gain independence, as seen in Offred’s journey. In an era of declining fertility rates, Handmaids are forced into reproductive servitude.

Perceptive, intelligent, and highly observant, Offred leaves the home of the Commander once a day to shop for groceries. On her walks to the grocery store with another handmaid, Ofglen, Offred learns about an underground organization, “Mayday,” which strives to overthrow the

approach is well-intentioned, any view from nowhere must be illusory, as no one can possibly completely remove their worldviews from their interpretations of others’ behavior. As such, a greater degree of authorial self-insertion and first-person narrative voice would have made for both a more accessible and a more honest account.

“Doing School” is a quick, thought-provoking read, but with its dry, distant style, not one designed to be enjoyed. Its intimately familiar subject matter means that it is not particularly valuable as a source of new insights, though its bleak portrayal of student dissatisfaction with the high school machine may appeal to the adolescent cynic. Ultimately, it is compelling primarily not in its own right, but as a Rorschach test for the reader’s relationship with their education.

Republic of Gilead. The Republic of Gilead enforces the subjugation of women such as advocating for women’s illiteracy a and forbidding women to own property or have jobs.

Furthermore, Handmaids must also endure the “Ceremony,” a ritualized sexual intercourse between high-ranking men, their Wives and Handmaids to conceive children. The normalcy of the “Ceremony” and how Offred subjugates herself to this oppressive regime struck me as an interesting contrast to the world we live in today, where women’s rights have become one of the biggest global issues.

Offred later develops a relationship with Commander behind Serena Joy, the Commander’s wife who advocates traditional values, and commits illegal acts such as playing Scrabble or reading Vogue.

Offred also slips into flashbacks of her old life, which effectively contrasts with the her society full of sexist religious extremists.

If you are a fan of distorted dystopian worlds such as “Nineteen Eighty-Four,” or books that question a women’s role in society, “The Handmaid’s Tale” is the perfect read.

[PHOTO COURTESY OF BOOKS.GR]

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the blue & gold september 13, 2018

GUIDE TO TAS ATHLETICS

Former Blue & Gold news and sports editor Daniel Wang (‘18) reflects on his journey as a TAS athlete, and shares his best advice for young athletes to make the most of their career.

By Daniel Wang (‘18)

[VANESSA TSAO/THE BLUE & GOLD]

Making the team Competition within different sports varies throughout the seasons, but be proactive if you want to ensure a spot on the team. Train before tryouts, and ask the coaches what they are looking for and how you would fit on the team. Develop a specific skill in your sport or positive quality that forces the coaches to notice you.

Former varsity boys volleyball and girls badminton coach Mr. Brian Tobey said, “The selection process depends on the coach and the level. When I handled junior varsity in the past, potential is hugely important Once it’s varsity, you expect that they’re developed.” Still, skill is not everything.

Coaches will look for the intangibles like coachability, a willingness to listen, and a good work ethic.

Be humble

Once you make a team, the real work starts. If you are not improving, you are doing something very wrong. Varsity basketball coach Mr. David Montgomery said that the most successful athletes “hold themselves accountable in the offseason... that’s the time to grow and change skill set.”

Once you think you are the best player on your team, or are part of the best team at IASAS, development is over. I have seen returning varsity players get cut the following year and teams that deserve to win IASAS lose instead. Regardless of who you are, you can always grow as an athlete.

“If you set goals, have a good

framework, and have tangible mileposts, that’s something you can do to keep yourself focused,” said Mr. Montgomery.

Whether it is getting into an IASAS team or winning a medal, have a reason to play.

Be healthy Injuries are horrible. As somebody who played through this past year with virtually nonexistent knees, I know how bad it can get. It does not hurt to start injury prevention early, and you definitely will not regret it.

Twelve-season IASAS athlete Kayleigh Chen (‘18) has suffered many injuries throughout her career. “I’ve had injuries severe enough to put me out of practice and games for more than half the season... some injuries were built up throughout the years,” said Kayleigh.

In order to get the best out of yourself in your respective sport, build strength, develop good eating habits, and increase your flexibility. Athletics Trainer Ms. Amber Hardy said, “To reduce injury, athletes need to maintain strength and increase flexibility.” TAS has all the resources and opportunities to help you stay fit and healthy, so do not be afraid to get advice from the school’s personal trainers. I know it can be annoying, but trust me, warm up before and cool down after exercise.

Balance your life School is already hard enough, but adding four to five practices and a game or two a week is a whole different level.

Mr. Montgomery believes that the ability to balance one’s schedule and interests is essential for a TAS athlete. “Be honest to oneself and one’s teammates about priorities,” said Mr. Montgomery. “If something is a priority, treat it like one. If it’s not, acknowledge it and be prepared for the challenges with prioritizing some things over others.”

Education comes first, so finish your homework and study for your tests before your athletic obligations to focus all of your attention towards your sport. Plan out your time so you can go to the Fitness Center to maintain or improve your strength during the season and offseason. Doing everything in this guide is difficult, and it all begins with balance.

Culture wins There is a reason why the girls badminton team has created a dynasty, winning 15 consecutive gold medals: culture. “Most of the team trains off season quite extensively; coaches and players don’t focus on polishing technique as much,” said girls badminton hall of famer Caroline Tung (‘16). “I was extremely lucky to play with a team of girls that were encouraging towards one another through competition.”

Sure, there are “individual” and “team” sports, but in the end, every athlete at TAS is part of a team.

Teams that have a better sense of camaraderie or commitment are bound to have more success. “A lot of teams that have been together longer are groups that trust

each other,” said Mr. Montgomery. “They recognize the sacrifices that they have to make together and tend to fare better.”

In terms of the individual, attitude is as—if not more—important than athletic ability. Mr. Tobey recalls that the most athletic player he has ever had was cut because his negative attitude affected the team. “For me, team culture is everything,” said Mr. Tobey.

“Ball is life“ I love winning, and I am sure you do too, but know that what you will take away from your experience as a TAS athlete will be so much more than any number of medals.

For coaches, sports is an opportunity for them to pass on tools that will help you succeed in life as well. “Athletics is for teaching...it’s not about winning medals,” said Mr. Tobey. “It’s an opportunity to teach hard work, teamwork, and camaraderie. If you do these right, you win medals.”

Regardless of the sport, you will learn how to hold yourself accountable, how to persevere, and how to be dedicated. Enjoy your time on a team, because as soon as you know it, four years will pass just like that.

IASAS tournaments are unique experiences that only six schools—in the entire world—can have. Cherish all the hard workouts, crazy bondings, and competitions that you have remaining with the new friends that you have basically been forced to make. Just have fun.

Boys’ Soccer: Bronze (2017-18)

Boys’ Swimming: Gold (2017-18)

Boys’ Tennis: 5th (2017-18)

Boys’ Track & Field: 5th (2017-18)

Girls’ Soccer: Silver (2017-18)

Girls’ Swimming: 4th (2017-18)

Girls’ Tennis: 5th (2017-18)

Girls’ Track & Field: 5th (2017-18)

Boys’ Volleyball: Silver (2017-18)

Boys’ Basketball: Bronze (2017-18)

Girls’ Volleyball: Bronze (2017-18)

Girls’ Basketball: Gold (2017-18)

Boys’ Cross Country: Bronze (2017-18)

Boys’ Rugby: 4th (2017-18)

Girls’ Cross Country: 5th (2017-18)

Girls’ Touch: Bronze (2017-18)

Girls’ Softball: 5th (2017-18)

Boys’ Baseball: 5th (2017-18)

Boys’ Golf: Gold (2017-18) Girls’ Golf: Gold (2017-18) Boys’ Badminton: Silver (2017-18) Girls’ Badminton: 16 consecutive gold medals