XinLangVOLUME XIII, ISSUE III THE SMIC PRIVATE SCHOOL, SHANGHAI NOVEMBER 2016

ScholarCSC and Giving Tree Bring Joy to Migrant Kids

The Giving Tree, hosted annually by the Community Center of Shanghai, is a charitable program that aims to provide children in need with bags of winter clothes and school supplies. SMIC’s Community Service Club, advised by Mrs. Sharon Ma, represents the school’s efforts

HANSUK KIMFeatures Editor

AFC Raises 400,000 RMB for Multiple CharitiesCALEB CANFIELDWorld/Campus News Editor

Jessie Wu (9B) performs a song Photo courtesy of Anlie Shin

and yearly donations toward the charity. In 2015-16, CSC collected the most bags they had ever collected in the history of the club. As part of their efforts, club members travel to the schools to participate in the actual distribution of the bags to the children. CSC usually collects donations

starting in late September, but the actual distribution happens in late November or early December. As one of the biggest charity programs SMIC students participate in, the Giving Tree has always garnered wide support from the school community... continued on page 7

The annual Art for Charity concert was held on November 19, at the Shanghai Children’s Theater. It was hosted by Ms. Cindy Li, the director of in charge of Art for Charity, and supported by other departments in the school like the IT department, Admissions Office, and PTA. The event has been a mainstay on the Elementary School calendar since 2004. The considerable sum is soon to be put to good use by Hope for Pearl Charity, Hostetler Family, and Cedar Charity. Parents in the audience adored their little ones’ charismatic shows, and other spectators were struck by the quality of the performances on stage. MHS Science teacher, Dr. Peter Griffin, who was attending the event to see one of his children, was very impressed with the “polish and professionalism” of the performers. Their practice certainly paid off, to the amount of 400,000 RMB. The largely successful event was comprised of multiple song and dance routines by the SMIC Elementary School students. continued on page 3

A little girl happily shows one of her gifts Photo courtesy of Katie Hoang

World & CAMPUSNOVEMBER 2016

XinLang Scholar2

President Park Geun-hye Entrenched in ScandalART ZHANGStaff Reporter

BRIAN GEStaff Reporter

SMIC Successfully Organizes Third Annual MUN

News of embezzlement and the exposure of classified documents revolving around South Korean president, Park Geun-hye, and her associate, Choi Soon-sil, have erupted since October of this year. In the early years of Park’s political career, Choi Soon-sil’s father, Choi Tae-min—an elder of a shamanistic cult—had been Park’s mentor. Using claims of being able to communicate with Park’s deceased mother, he quickly insinuated himself as a trusted advisor. His daughter, Choi Soon-sil, also became close to Park, with Park claiming she helped her through “difficult times.” Mr. Sean Costello, long time resident of South Korea, said, “Choi’s relationship with Park goes back a long way to her formative years…when he put in [substantial] psychological investment.” The scandal began when it was revealed that two non-profit foundations, owned by Choi Soon-sil, had more than 70 million dollars directed to them by Park. The money given to these foundations was then redirected to Choi’s own uses; the most notorious of which included Choi’s daughter’s suspicious admission into Ewha University, and her passing despite not attending classes. To make matters worse, digital copies of Park’s speeches were found in Choi Soon-Il’s possession, prompting allegations that Choi had

heavily edited many of Park’s speeches. Further investigation revealed that Choi had an influence in many of her policy making decisions—even as far as deciding how Park dresses. Not only this, but it enhanced Park’s preexisting image as a leader who is unresponsive to the needs of the people and who only relies only on a select, elite few. Those factors led to a five percent overall approval rating for Park—the lowest ever for any South Korean President. On October 25, Park issued a public apology in response to the allegations, in which she admitted to showing classified documents to Choi and asking for her “personal opinion” in revising her speeches. However, she didn’t address more serious aspects of the scandal, such as her embezzlement and Choi’s behind-the-scenes power and influence. Soon, public riots and protests pushed for Park Geun-hye’s immediate resignation, and on October 31, Choi soon-sil was detained for the aforementioned allegations. This entire affair – from the embezzling of millions of dollars to a president controlled by a shamanistic cult – has left many puzzled. Or, as Austin Liu (11C) commented, “[It] feels like the plot of a bad B-movie made real.”

Photo courtesy of Korean.net

On October 29, SMIC held its third annual MUN conference under the guidance of its MUN Secretary-General, Vivien Su (12A), and director, Mr. Scott Sanders. With a total of seven other international schools in attendance, SMICMUN III was twice as large as the previous year. Students from all over Shanghai gathered together to collaborate on real-world international issues—ranging from unrest in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to political turmoil in Guatemala. This year, SMICMUN’s secretariat chose to do something somewhat less than common. In accordance to its theme this year, “Unfulfilled Promises”, Vivien Su felt that an experiment in Historical Security Councils would fit perfectly.

“It seemed to us that there were countless examples throughout history in which myopic foreign policies of the United Nations enriched imperialist nations while sacrificing sustainable peace,” Vivien offered. “Thus, our theme this year, Unfulfilled Promises, represented for us the perfect paradox in which delegates were asked to confront historical decisions made by world leaders and to examine the implications that these decisions have on contemporary society, through a faithful simulation of the UN Security Council.” Beyond this, Mr. Sanders noted other positive changes: “We added a guest speaker in Political Science, Professor Dr. David Barnett, improved the quality of the snacks,

and—thanks to Chancellor Hu!—changed the venue to the new Elementary building.” In order for this to happen, club members spent approximately three hours heaving classroom furniture from the Middle High School over the bridge to the new venue, but it ultimately paid off. “By all measures, SMICMUN III was a huge success, and I’m so proud of what our MUN Program has achieved,” Vivien remarked proudly. Going forward, the SMICMUN team will continue to work toward its final goal of global recognition. “Like all true visions, our end goal will always be just over the horizon, but [SMICMUN III] sets a clear direction on the SMIC MUN Program’s compass,” said Mr. Sanders, in conclusion.

Kate Lee, Mr. Sanders, and Vivien Su discuss international matters Photo courtesy of Cleo Lim

*Important information taken from CBS News Park Geun-hye at a press conference

World & CAMPUSNOVEMBER 2016

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U.S. Elects Trump for PresidentBRIAN GEStaff Repoter

CALEB CANFIELDWorld/Campus News Editor

Art for Charity Raises 400K RMB continued from front page

Mrs. Bates Initiates Welcomed ‘Stress Relief Day’ART ZHANGStaff Reporter

In an effort to help students relax, the Academic and Student Affairs offices designated the day before the Quarter 1 midterms as “Stress-Relief Day”. Coloring stations, snacks in the teacher’s lounge, and trips to the gym instead of study hall were all used to help students relax. Students were offered the choice to go to the lounge outside the library, where coloring stations and music were set up; they could grab candy from Mrs. Bates as she walked through the hallways; or they could casually stroll into the Counseling office and the teacher’s lounge to hang out or grab a snack. Historically, something like a stress-relief day

is a relatively new idea at SMIC. But because the first quarter was shorter than usual; because it also contained two six-day school weeks; because many students had a Model United Nations event and/or project the weekend before finals; and because many teachers reported students’ physically and emotionally reacting to high levels of stress—all this led Mrs. Bates, Mr. Patrick Carroll, and Dr. Jennifer Farrlley to dedicate a day to relieving stress. “We talked about it the Friday before the Stress Relief Day and began getting the wheels in motion,” said Ms. Bates. “[The] administration and teachers worked over the weekend to finalize the

plans; [and] items like scheduling, setting up the art station, buying candy, making the passes…it was a team effort.” According to Ms. Bates, the day was a success, as many students “took advantage of the day and seemed to enjoy the change of pace.” Mrs. Bates further explained by saying, “The focus all year is persons of integrity, and I believe that stress can lead to making decisions that don’t demonstrate being a person of integrity.” In order to better pursue the goal of creating persons of character, Mrs. Bates expressed interest in planning similar kinds of events in the future. Specifics will be announced at a later time.

Republican nominee and long-time reality TV star, Donald J. Trump, defied expectations this year by winning the Oval Office with 306 electoral votes to Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton’s 232 votes. From the start of the race, Trump appeared to many to be the least likely candidate—spouting off borderline racist remarks and suggesting plans to build an extremely costly wall along the southern border to keep illegals out. Only when the polls began showing him gaining ground with each speech, did analysts begin paying attention. “[He] defied almost all predictions and polls…” wrote two Boston Globe reporters. Trump quickly gathered something of a cult following; the internet-infamous “Trumpers” were mocked almost universally as unintelligent and racist in the comment sections of YouTube, Reddit pages, and much of social media. When asked, many supporters referenced the then Republican nominee’s inclination toward simpler, blunter, common sense. “I don’t know the Iraq and all too much. He says what everyone thinks! Bomb…them. Know what I mean?

He says it like it is,” responded one Trump supporter when questioned by a reporter from Politico. The response to Trump’s victory has been widely negative, in both the United States itself and among the SMIC community. “If you take Trump at his word, I think America will create chaos globally, and intensify the pain of the middle and lower classes in America. He openly defines America as white. That spells disaster,” AP US History teacher Roy McMaster remarked.The student body too has expressed similar sentiments. “[I] expected it to happen, but still don’t like it,” said junior JoonHo Han (11C). Whether or not Trump will prove to be the worst president of the United States or whether he will truly “make America great again” remains to be seen; but many have speculated that he will probably fall somewhere in between. “There is reason to think that he doesn’t really mean [what he said on the campaign trail] or that he can’t actually do it,” Mr. McMaster noted, in conclusion, “[but] there is really no way to know.”

Pacific Plastics Become Shoes Two large pools of waste rest at the east and west ends of the massive North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, which hides beaches from the vast majority of the trash the world collectively dumps into its oceans. It has become worrisome to many that 70 percent of the debris and plastic waste has already sunk to the ocean’s bottom. AP Environmental Science teacher, Dr. Peter Griffin, assessed the situation to be “Hugely problematic because…large ocean gyres contain floating plastic patches the size of Texas that are several meters thick. It’s from many different countries so no one wants to take the responsibility to clean it up. As it [the plastic] breaks down into smaller and smaller chunks it gets harder and harder to clean up.” Now, however, proactive companies are taking notice and attempting to publicize the issue by making products from recycled ocean waste. Adidas has partnered with Parley and agreed to sell 7,000 shoes made entirely from the recycled trash. It’s called the “UltraBOOST Uncaged Parley.” Owen Chang (12A) said, “The environmentally friendly design is just an additional bonus. 10/10 would buy [them].” Slated to release mid-November, these shoes are being sold online at an understandable price of $220 given their costly production.

CALEB CANFIELDWorld/Campus News Editor

Ultraboost Parley Photo courtesy of Adidas

Donald Trump pleased with Presidential win Photo courtesy of AP

The admittance fee as well as money generated by an on-site art auction made up the vast majority of the funds that are raised. Apart from these child performances there was also the High School Dance Club’s staple performance in which they performed a mini-skit and danced to Bubblegum and Sing by Jason Derulo and Pentatonix respectively. Yaya Yu (11C) felt that, “The performance went really smooth[ly], but it would’ve been

better if all performers were offered a room to stay and prepare before getting onto the stage.” Among the other, less traditional performances, Luke Chong (10A), Max Zhang (9A), Art Zhang (11A), teacher Jolie Xu led a band performance of the song “Accompanying You Through the Long Years”. Offering his take on the day, Luke said, “I thought the event was very successful, as [it] has been all previous years – due to the large

attendance in the audience and the amount of money collected through the auction section of the event.” Art for Charity’s generous donation of 400,000 RMB go to Hope for Pearl Charity at ZheJiang, the many orphans that the Hostetler Family at XiNing adopted, “left-behind” children at HuNan, and Cedar Charity. These donations certainly represent the magnitude of effort invested into it by the organizers and performers.

featuresNovember 2016

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CSC, Giving Tree Bring Kids Joy continued from front pageHANSUK KIMFeatures Editor

School Makes Important Technological AdvancesHANSUK KIMFeatures Editor

In today’s world, technology has become an essential part of education—from taking attendance to assigning homework, most of what used to be done offline is now done online through various different programs. In recent years, SMIC also has taken major steps to incorporate new technology. First launched in 2015-2016, SMIC’s new website (online portal) revolutionized how students and teachers communicated with each other. By having interactive tools such as group calendars, discussion boards and online resource managers, students are able to make their education much more efficient. Joe Lee (12B) stated that the new school portal has “helped remind him about deadlines” and “made

turning in work more convenient.” Not only do students benefit from this new online technology but teachers do as well, since they are able to update and clarify to students about what is going on in class. Another new technology that SMIC has adopted is Powerschool—an online school database for grades and attendance. Although SMIC previously had an independent attendance and grading system called Center, it was outdated, which prompted SMIC to make the change. According to Mrs. Joanna Ashlock, Technology Specialist, Powerschool “has many advantages over the previous system that the school used.” Mrs. Ashlock continued by saying, “The primary advantage is that it is accessible by students and parents in real time, which makes

viewing grades easier than ever.” However, due to time needed to customize the system and time needed to allow teachers to become more accustomed to it, Powerschool is currently not released to students and parents; nevertheless, when it finally is released, it is predicted to have a drastic effect on how students and parents interact with the grading system. It is very impressive that SMIC went from a school that had no WiFi to a school with advanced technology like Powerschool and a website (now featuring Finalsite - the new online portal) in a time span of less than four years. Although there is still room for improvement, the implementation of these two programs can be considered an outstanding achievement.

Photo Courtesy of PowerSchool

Kids hurriedly open their gifts Photo courtesy of KaiXing Tan

According to the Community Center Shanghai website, “each bag is assigned to a specific child with their preferences and details in mind. In late November or early December, bag sponsors give the bags directly to the children they support in a distribution ceremony.” Vice President of the Community Service Club, Jinny Chung (12A), stated that she feels “glad and proud that SMIC is making big presence through charity in the Shanghai community.” Jinny also noted that “it is important to carry out the tradition of supporting the Giving Tree program, as SMIC is one of the biggest supporters of the program.” SMIC has been one of the chief contributors to the project. Both this year and last year, the

school has raised more than enough money to support over 700 migrant children. This year, not only did CSC meet their goal for the donations, but it also purchased extra gifts for each child—including socks, scarves, and various other items. On the day of the Giving Tree distribution, the officers of the Community Service Club gave a speech expressing their appreciation and passion for the event these past four years. They presented the primary school with a teddy bear as a token of love. Later on, when CSC members visited the students in the classrooms, all the children lit up with joy in anticipation of their gifts. As they opened their bags, they began to squeal and share their presents with each other, while also

thanking the members. Afterwards, many kids were eager to take pictures with CSC members. Charity programs like the Giving Tree emphasize the ESLR values that SMIC students aspire to. By committing to charitable causes, SMIC students become global citizens that not only engage in positive activity within the SMIC community but also within the entire Shanghai community. These bags that the Giving Tree program gives to the children are not just presents—they are a symbol of care and affection. It is the hope of Community Center Shanghai and CSC that these bags will nourish these kids to become future giving trees.

*CSC member Katelyn Liu contributed to this article

Of the 401 Sharks that SMIC has sent out to the sea, one shining example is Joycelyn Su. She recently graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and is currently working as a Program Director at the US-Asia Institute in Washington D.C.

1) What were your most major achievements? How did you achieve your goals? Senior year at UNC was an especially rewarding year for me. I was named one of “25 Under 25: Rising Stars in US-China Relations” by Yale-based China Hands Magazine; I defended an honors thesis in Economics titled “Where Do the Roads Go? Evaluating the Impact of Corruption on Infrastructure Allocation in China,” for which I was awarded Highest Honors and had the opportunity to present at the Carroll Round Conference in International Economics at Georgetown University; I led the Duke-UNC China Leadership Summit, a US-China relations conference that brought in student delegates from around the United States and China. Nothing that I “achieved” my senior year was part of my plan. I simply pursued what I was passionate about while I was at UNC, actively looked for opportunities to further my passion, and worked very hard to make my voice heard when the opportunities came through.

2) Can you briefly describe your job? Is it anything like what you imagined it to be? The role that I played in the congressional staff delegation was to be the point person from the US-Asia Institute, as it is a co-host of the delegation. I was helping to troubleshoot things on the ground and served as a bridge between the congressional staffers and our Chinese hosts. I returned to USAI in May after having interned with them during the second semester of my junior year in college. The US-Asia Institute is a United Nations-affiliated nongovernmental organization that seeks to strengthen US-Asia relations through education and people-to-people exchanges. In my current position, I help the Institute implement its existing programs, manage strategic partnerships with Asian embassies/other NGOs, develop new programs and educational briefings, and manage a team of interns every semester. It was not what I envisioned myself to do after college, but it has been an incredibly cool and valuable experience. To work so closely with ambassadors from different

countries and be in the same room as heads of state that I greatly admire are definitely not things that high school Joycelyn imagined herself to ever do!

3) Few weeks ago, you brought the delegates to Shanghai and SMIC. What was the reason behind it? The US- Asia Institute (USAI) partners with the Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs (CPIFA) to send congressional staff delegations to China. On each of these trips, the congressional staff delegation attends high-level meetings with Chinese government officials, local think tanks, and Chinese and American businesses. They also participate in cultural activities such as visiting the Great Wall and going to a museum. Through these meetings and activities, congressional staffers gain a ground-level perspective on how policymaking works in China and how the American businesses and nongovernmental organizations operate in

the country. The purpose of these delegations is topromote mutual understanding between policymakers in the two countries. Congressional staffers, who advise their bosses on policy issues, gain a more nuanced understanding of China and are more equipped to shape policies regarding US-China relations. I was a USAI representative during the congressional staff delegation in late October, and I helped manage some of the ground-level logistics and troubleshoot problems when they came up. During our trip, I served as the key liaison between our Chinese host CPIFA and the congressional staffers. Given my previous experience living in China, I was also able to share some of the knowledge I had of China’s history, politics, culture, recent developments, etc. I didn’t arrange the visit to SMIC on my end, but since my boss knew that I attended middle and high school at SMIC, she thought it might be a good idea to take the delegation there. On these delegations, staffers like to meet with not only government entities but also schools, universities, orphanages, NGOs, etc. Visiting them is a good way for the delegates to see how they compare to those in the U.S. and hear the perspectives of local teachers, administrators, students, etc. The visit to SMIC was indeed quite insightful for our delegation as the staffers got to interact with and hear from American teachers and students who have an affinity toward China and call it home.

4) What advice would you give to the current seniors and undergraduates about how to do well in college and after college? I believe that pursuing the things that you are passionate about will take you to exactly where you need to be. Think about your life so far. What is your story? I don’t think life starts in college or post-college, and everything before then doesn’t matter. You are always naturally drawn to the things that make life meaningful for you, and when you engage them you develop an understanding and a deeper passion. Soon enough you will see a trend or a narrative in the things that you choose to engage. The skills that you have built up to that point will help you continue to move forward in the direction in which your narrative points. Doing this requires constant introspection and reevaluation. Developing close relationships where other people can validate how you perceive yourself will help.

On November 11, local music band Valentine Road released their second EP album, Hug. Alexander Kim (12B) and Scott Kim (‘16), song writers and producers for the album, composed the lyrics based on the theme of “love” and “truthfulness”. “[The] story behind [Hug] is that about a year and a half ago, there was a girl I really liked. I remember [the] first memorable thing we did was a warm hug...those hugs meant a lot to me because it was the first time I felt care and comfort from something [as] simple as hugging. I truly thank her for making me able to learn [of] such a warm thing in this cold, cloudy world!” Alex says that the lyrics he composed was a message he wanted to deliver to his audiences, or perhaps, more importantly, to the girl that inspired him to write his cover song. Valentine Road started out with 2015 Rock for Charity. Before Rock for Charity, I wanted to form a band so that I could perform…but I didn’t really know anyone around me [who] was

really good at guitar,” Alex remarked. “But then I kind of realized that there was this one guy named Scott in Chinese Track. So I approached him and talked to him that I want to form a band. “The rest of the group members like HenryHan (’16), Joseph Tsai (’16), and Joe Lee(12B) performed more just for chill and fun…but Scott and I were slightly more passionate, so we began to do more projects alone. That’s why we began recording,” he recalled. “We recorded with some really bad tech stuff in the beginning. His style of music was more of a metal-rock; my style was pop, so when we combined it became more like a fusion. I think our genre is very unique in a sense: there are pop vocals and metal instrumentals.” According to Alex, music is a bond between their relationship and it represents the good memories they shared. As a young, independent artist, Alexander has two big, yet simple, goals. “First, I just wish friends and folks around [here]

are able to smile after listening to this cute album. I hope my songs are encouraging. Everybody needs comfort; everybody needs [a] hug,” he said. “Second, I wish Scotty (who produced the songs) achieves his dream in music industry. Cheers!”

featuresNovember 2016

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Alumni Joycelyn Su Named “Rising Star” at UNCDEBBIE CHENStaff Reporter

Valentine Road Releases Second EP Album - HugDEBBIE CHENStaff Reporter

Album cover by Theo Schweiger

Photo courtesy of Joycelyn Su

Joycelyn Su at UNC graduation

6 EntErtainmEntDr. Strange Casts Spell on Audiences Worldwide

NOVEMBER 2016

XinLang Scholar

SAM KWONEntertainment Editor

Doctor Strange poster catching fans’ attention Photo courtesy of comicbook.com

“Question reality. Change your destiny.” Doctor Strange, directed by Scott Derrickson and written by Jon Spaihts, hit the theaters on November 4 of this year. Featuring prominent actors Benedict Cumberbatch, Mads Mikkelsen, and Tilda Swinton, the movie recorded a box office hit of 325.4 million just in the first week. Heavy spotlight brought the film into fame even before the movie was filmed and it soon became one of the most anticipated movies of 2016. Critics found the movie to be both fresh and impressive, bringing both positive critiques and audience reception. One critic, Brian Lowry, commented that the film is “an extremely entertaining film that manages to conjure more than enough magic to easily pass its spell check.” Another critic, Mark Hughes, praised the movie for its “big-budget, high-quality fantasy/magic genre storytelling.” The movie begins in Kathmandu, Nepal with a sorcerer named Kaecilius (Mads Mikkelsen) raiding

a secret library. Kaecilius and his zealots murder the librarian and manage to steal a ritual from a book belonging to the Ancient One (Tilda Swinton), the immortal sorcerer who has taught all sorcerers—including Kaecilius—mystic arts. The Ancient One pursues the zealots, but fails to stop them. Dr. Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), a prominent yet arrogant neurosurgeon, hurts his hand badly in a car accident. He becomes overwhelmed when he realizes that his hands are forever destroyed and cannot be fixed through a surgery. After hearing about a man who recovered miraculously through an experience in Kathmandu, Dr. Strange spends the last of his money on a plane ticket to Nepal. There, he meets the Ancient One whom he believes will fix his unstable hands. His journey to recovery leads him into the hidden world of magic and the dark world of Dormammu, the conqueror of the Dark Realm, who will bring the “requisite death and destruction to Earth,” according to Lowry.

Doctor Strange is actually a remake of the comic; its main character first appeared in Strange Tales #110, created by Steve Dikto and Stan Lee in 1963. The film incorporates many scenes from the original comic, such as the journey for healing and his battle against Dormammu. Some critics, however, point out that despite all its wondrous world-building and CG effects, the story itself was bland. Movie critic Angelica Jade commented: “Doctor Strange isn’t the evolutionary step forward for Marvel that it needs to be storytelling-wise.” Kevin Kim (12A) added: “I feel that the film focuses too much on the supernatural effects instead of the storyline, for instance where Strange could so easily defeat Dormmanu.” And, as always, all Marvel films contain a surprise cameo of former president of Marvel Comics, Stan Lee. Anyone planning to watch the film should keep an eye out for Stan!

Andy Warhol’s New “Shadows” Exhibition Arrives in ShanghaiTONY LEEStaff Reporter

From October 29 to January 15, the very popular art exhibition “Shadows”—celebrating the famous twentieth century pop artist Andy Warhol—opened in Shanghai for the first time. “Shadows” is a compilation of 102 imprinted canvases placed side-to-side, and is one of the largest standalone works of Mr. Warhol. It emphasizes the theme of repetition and utilizes the structure of the room to its full conveyance. With a gallery that comprises more than 135 meters of continuous wall-space tailored specifically to the needs of the artworks, the Yuz Museum boasts “the most complete presentation of Shadows in Asia.” “When I look at things, I always see the space they occupy,” the artist said in 1978 regarding his works. “I always want the space to reappear, to make a comeback.” Andy Warhol is one of the most influential artists from the 1960’s, leading the “pop-art” movement that delves into the commercial culture

of the time and integrates elements such as celebrities and brands into various mediums of art. “...Two of them I see everywhere is the Marilyn Monroe pop art and the Campbell’s Soup cans—I really loved that one—and I know he changed the art industry with his works,” said Katie Hoang (12B). Chief among many of his works were Warhol’s painted depictions of Coca-Cola bottles. Each painting portrays curvilinear glass bottles either singly or numerously in neatly stacked rows. Coca-Cola, an icon of American consumerist society, was viewed by the artist to embody the concepts of democracy and equality. “A Coke is a Coke and no amount of money can get you a better Coke than the one the bum on the corner is drinking.” The piece Coca-Cola (3) is a single, black-and-white Coca-Cola, and is estimated to be worth around $60 million dollars. The exhibition is on display at Yuz Museum until January 15, 2017 and costs 80 RMB to enter.

EDITORIAL 7 XinLang ScholarNOVEMBER 2016

The XinLang Scholar

Printed monthly--except Feb, July, August. Printed

by QiuZhi Print, Shanghai.Created by the Journalism Class at

SMIC Private School, 169 QingTong Rd., Pudong New Area, Shanghai,

China, 201203

WILIAM SU, Editor-in-Chiefwilliam_su1998@hotmail.com

189-6485-5679

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ANDREW KANG, Sports Editorkangkangdrew@naver.com

HANSUK KIM, Features Editorreinsuk@naver.com

CALEB CANFIELD, W/Campus Editorcalcan2017@yahoo.com

SAM KWON, ENTMT Editorsmicsam@hotmail.com

KATELYN LIU, Layout & Design Editorkateyliu@yahoo.com

DEBBIE CHEN, Staff Reporterdebza1999@hotmail.com

ART ZHANG, Staff Reporterjen_art@hotmail.com

BRIAN GE, Staff Reporterbribo.ge@hotmail.com

CLEO LIM, Staff Reporterhey_its_cleo@live.com

TONY LEE, Staff Reportertony_milu@yahoo.com

Before the Flood Documentary Pushes for ChangeKATELYN LIULayout & Design Editor

The majority of scientists believe that human activity—mainly the excessive burning of fossil fuel—has driven up temperatures across the globe in the past decade, and the rate of global warming is increasing faster than ever. In a newly released documentary, Before the Flood, environmental activist and actor Leonardo DiCaprio discusses the issue of climate change. Over a span of three years, DiCaprio met with political leaders and scientists to analyze and document the challenges that climate change creates. While the documentary illustrates the depressing consequences and aspects of climate change, it also highlights the optimism, hope, and urgency for a better environment for the future generation. Ultimately, the fight against climate change is one that needs acknowledgement and education from each individual; but also government policies and measures to ensure long-term change. Climate change is a multifaceted problem. One side is the need for the government to set a carbon tax on businesses and corporations to promote sustainable energy. To put it simply, a carbon tax is a fee placed

on greenhouse gas emissions. It is necessary for the government to provide incentives to discourage pollution and encourage more investment in environmental-friendly and sustainable practices. The future depends on it. With this kind of tax, both industries and households can be part of the solution to climate change. It is effective and beneficial for the environment because the higher the cost of burning fossil fuel, the fewer companies would want to produce at that high cost. At the same time, it can motivate individuals to drive less and be more careful about air conditioning inside the home. The best alternative for them is to switch to renewable energy—solar, wind, water, etc. In one interview in Before the Flood, Tesla’s founder Elon Musk—who is also against the fossil fuel industry—estimates that 100 factories using renewable energy would be enough to power the entire world. If this is achievable, then it’s the government and people’s responsibility to do what’s in their power to prioritize environmental stability. Warmer temperatures are known to create more

Photo courtesy of Venuelust

For a long time, many students have voiced about how the locker area is a rather uncomfortable place to stay in as compared to other locations in the school — i.e. the library, the lounge, or even the gym. One of the main reasons for this is that our locker area does not respond well to temperature and humidity changes. During the winter, the locker area seems cold and arctic because of the lack of sunshine; there are simply no windows that are positioned at angles that allow sunshine to penetrate directly into the area. During the early autumn and late spring seasons, the locker area feels trapped with heat and humidity because the central position that the locker area sits in the school’s building prevents air from flowing freely through the area. What can the school do then for students to have better and more comfortable study environments that are unaffected by seasonal temperatures? Well, first of all, the school must locate a place big enough to house many students at the same time. A prime location would be the newly built “garden” outside the cafeteria. Here, the area is big enough for many students to stay at the same time, and the school does not need to renovate the whole area. Instead, it can be built into something new directly, like a green house, where glass windows are used more than regular walls. The glass would allow sunshine to infiltrate and encompass the whole area, making the study-environment much more connected to nature and relaxing for students to be in. If budget allows, the school can

directly install an air conditioning system there so that it does not have to renovate it in the future. The school can further model this “garden” off of the lounge outside the library, which has recently gained popularity among many high school students. Megan Huang (12C) commented, “the fact that the lounge is slightly segregated from the main hallways…makes it a better place to just relax…You can be free from the chaos and stress of school…in a peaceful, quiet environment.” Instead of using the benches instilled right now, the school can provide desks and chairs similar to the ones in the lounge. Students can study, host informal club meetings, or simply hang out with friends. Another way that the school can improve the area is by implementing more pieces of furniture and hardware in this green house. While the student lounge has had some positive reviews from students, it is really still quite different from many people’s idea of a lounge, which includes sofas, freezers, microwaves, television, and more. Overall, these things can help make the study environment more relaxing and provide a multi-functional room for students. Improving our school’s studying environment has been an issue that both students and teachers want to tackle for a long time. Because of temperature reasons and how the central building was originally built, it is difficult to completely renovate the locker area. What we can do however is turn to currently usable and adaptable space like the lounge and even possibly the garden outside the cafeteria.

Students Hope for Better Study Environments Around CampusWILIAM SUEditor in Chief

If you would like to submit an article (300-500 words) or a cartoon, please email it to William Su, Chief Editor.

extreme weather systems, worsen drought cycles, and melt the poles and glaciers, leading to rising sea levels that can submerge low-lying coasts like Shanghai. Society needs to take action before it is too late and major ports and cities begin to disappear. Before the Flood is a film that can spur people into changing their behaviors and attitudes toward climate change. For change to happen, though, it’s going to take everyone.

A model of a greenhouse

DiCaprio treks through Greenland

Photo courtesy of Dogwithblog.in

sportsNOVEMBER 2016

XinLang Scholar8

C2 Boys Finish Perfect Season with Perfect EndingANDREW KANG Sports Editor

With poise, power, and precision, the middle school C2 boys sealed a perfect season: nine wins, no losses, and no ties—including the tournament games which were performed two days later on November 19! Recalling his memories of the C2 boys, Coach Ieuan Tallamy said, “Whenever this team played, I always felt proud of the things that they could do, and especially the way they went about playing the game. This team did fantastically well…”

The young Sharks finished out the season on November 17, completing one of the finest seasons in SMIC CISSA boys’ history and defeating the NAIS 4-2 in the last league match of the season. Chan Oh Lim (7B) and David Kim (7B) each scored for the Sharks. Ten minutes into the match, David Kim swept through the NAIS defense, crashing the net and exploiting the nerves of opposing defenders,

Varsity Girls basketball team held a “friendly” game on November 9 against the Japanese International School. This year’s team welcomed many new players from the Junior Varsity team, including Kay Lu (CT10A) and CoCo Wu (CT10A), who were Varsity and JV swing players last year. The gym was filled with fans cheering for both their friends and the team. Megan Huang (12C), Vivien Su (12A), Sophie Chao (10C), Kylee Peng (12A) and Kay Lu started the game. Within the first minute of the game, Vivien Su scored the first point for the team, putting them at a 4:0 advantage after the other team’s foul. Sophie, scored the second point after stealing the ball from the opponent. Jane Gao (10B), one of the many enthusiastic fans, commented, “Sophie is dominating.” With only 1 minute 58 seconds left in the first quarter, the girls were already looking at a 20:7 lead. Coach Brian Bates called the first timeout of the game, pulling out the starters and substituting after a quick team talk. After the first quarter, the girls increased their lead by six. During the second quarter, new players Bianca Hsieh (10B), Vanessa Lin (10A), and Lydia Wang (11B) started with Sophie and Sydney Lin (11B). Sophie scored the first point of the quarter and carried the team to a 40:11 half time finish. “This game prepares the varsity girls for the upcoming games,” stated player Ray Chang

(10C). At the end of the game, the girls won 60:23, making it their first win of the season. “I wished that we learned more…sometimes it’s really hard to focus and learn in games like that. So

Varsity Girls Dominate Friendly Match against JISCLEO LIMStaff Reporter

I kind of let them have fun…but I do like some of the things we learned today...I was able to diagnose us, you know, like a doctor does,” concluded Coach Bates as he celebrated their first victory.

Kay Lu leaps for the rebound Photo courtesy of Cleo Lim

quickly recording an impressive hat-trick as well as a ceremonial “dab”. Likewise, the swarming pressure of C2 boys’ defense converged rapidly on NAIS, neutralizing the midfield. Jason Kim (11A), a varsity player, commented that one of our players had the playing style that resembled Kante of Chelsea. Although the young Sharks allowed their opponent to score two goals, their defense remained solid throughout the second half most of the time as NAIS seldom approached the net. “Everyone felt gleeful because a guy in NAIS said bad things about us [but] then we won,” exclaimed David, the captain of the team, after winning the game. When asked what he anticipates from next year’s team, he proudly asserted: “We will be way stronger than this year and everyone on the team will improve greatly. The team will come together [more] as a team and know we are a great team.” His promises were further acknowledged by Daniel Kim (12C), David’s brother and varsity captain. Daniel said, “C2 Boys are mostly comprised of promising seventh graders; I wish to see them carry on the legacy of previous varsity players who ruled Shanghai.”

ScheduleBasketball

December 5thJV Girls V.S. CISS (Away)JV Boys V.S. CISS (Away)

Varsity Girls V.S. CISS (Home)Varsity Boys V.S. CISS (Home)

December 9thJV Girls V.S. DCS (Home)JV Boys V.S. DCS (Home)

Varsity Boys V.S. DCS (Away)Varsity Girls V.S. DCS (Away)

December 14thVarsity Girls V.S. JCID (Home)Varsity Boys V.S. JCID (Home)

December 28thHomecoming/Senior Night/

Alumni Game (Home)

C2 Team poses for team photo Photo courtesy of Theodore Schweiger