Eyevol28no6

MICA (P) 211/10/2008

theApril 24, 2009 / Vol. 28 No. 6Singapore American High School

eyePolitical unrest forces relocation of IASAS softball

With protest and riots in Bangkok, SAS takes on third IASAS of the yearWhen protests in the Thai capital of Bangkok between anti-government demonstrators and area residents turned violent, Thailand’s Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva declared a state of emergency in a country that not only markets itself as a tourist-friendly destination, but as an emerging democracy after overthrowing military rule in the early 1990s. (cont. page 2)

Pattaya, Thailand: APRIL 10: Protesters who are supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra shout slogans outside the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit on April 10, 2009 in Pattaya, Thailand. (Photo Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

Eagle girls win IASAS softball championships,Boys clinchbronzeStory on page 12

Story by Alex Lim

2 April 24, 2009 a The Eye news

by Caroline HuiJunior Ishan Gupta signed up for

a whopping five APs next year.Right now, he is scheduled to

take AP Spanish, AP Biology, AP Calculus, AP U.S. Government and AP Literature. For his last slot, though, he decided to change things up. Gupta signed up for Personal Defense and Combatives.

This is one of the seven new courses being introduced next year. At the moment, it is the most popular class among the P.E. classes next year with seven time slots. It is tentatively scheduled to be taught by P.E. teachers Ursula Pong, Tim

Thompson and Frans Grimbergen.“I took it so I can learn self-

defense techniques,” junior Shawn Teng, said.

Contrary to public belief, personal defense is not about fighting with other students. Pong says it is a skill-oriented class that teaches the concepts of martial arts.

Pong said the course was added because “Mr. Thompson and Mr. Grimbergen realized [SAS] didn’t have a combatives course.”

Other new courses for next year include Exercise Physiology, Alternative Energies, Earth Science and Freshman Wellness. Assistant

Superintendent for Learning Mark Boyer says that he usually sees no more than two to four proposals for new courses each year.

Beginning a new course is a complex process. First, teachers review which courses are already in place and then decide what they think needs to be added to their department’s offerings.

Once a teacher comes up with an idea, he or she presents it to the rest of the department for approval. If approved, the teacher submits a formal proposal to the division principal who reviews it and submits it to Boyer. After he approves, the proposal moves to the Board of Governors’ curriculum committee for their approval. The committee then passes it onto the full Board of Governors, who gives the course the final okay for the course to be added to the curriculum. Boyer says that courses could be up and running by next school year if quick action is taken.

The number of new courses added this year has not gone unnoticed by students. Many have embraced the expanded options.

Sophomore Paige Carmichael signed up for Alternative Energies next year, a semester-long environmental science course.

“I wanted to take it because it seems interesting,” Carmichael said, “and I want to learn about it because I think I’ll have to deal with it when I’m older.”

Though many courses have been added to the selection list for next year, sophomore Kenzie Finchum would like to see even more options for the year after that.

“There are no medium or higher level graphics classes,” she said. “And I think there should be more options for Asian history. Cambodian history would be cool.”

[email protected]

by Steffi LeeSkidding on his knees, senior Zach

Hagy aims his gun at the cone and shoots it with precision. Sophomore Ryan Stoll out-maneuvers his opposition and dives for the flag that will determine the fate of the game.

Paintball produces an adrenaline rush that players say is only repeated by playing again. Describing it as a perfect mix of pain and pleasure, Hagy and Zach explain that it is a team sport that requires players to capture a flag as swiftly as possible without getting hit by a paintball shot at you from the other team. Hagy and Stoll are mini-celebrities and paintball champions.

“I’ve been playing for nine years, mainly in the States, for fun,” Hagy said. He and Stoll are part of a team of five called the Red Sevens, who practice once or twice a month at Red Dynasty Paintball Park.

“Before I moved, I contacted a guy who had a team in Malaysia,” Stoll said. “I had to try out for my spot on the team.”

The team, consisting of Hagy, Stoll, and three other local players, participate in competitions in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. Last November, the Red Sevens competed in the World Cup Asia for the lower division

held in Kuala Lumpur, placing sixth overall.

“We had seven wins and three losses as well as one tie, which is better than last year. Last year, we didn’t qualify,” Stoll said.

Both Hagy and Stoll have been in the Red Sevens since 2007. It was Hagy’s first time going to the World Cup Asia. Although a lower division, the Red Sevens still get a lot of playing time in tournaments around

Asia. “We have the ISSC tournament

coming up in Johor Bahru the beginning of May,” Hagy said. Stoll said it was important to win.

“We get a profit if we win, because we have to pay to play first, and paintball is one of the more expensive sports to play,” Stoll said.

Paintball prices at Red Dynasty range from as low as $10 to $50 per person. With as many as 10 or 12

people playing at one session, it is not easy to gather a sufficient team to play.

“There is recreational paintball and competitive paintball, and paintball leagues like the Red Sevens get pretty competitive,” Hagy said.

While some people may not take paintball seriously, there is a high chance of injury.

“The worst injury I’ve had is a cut open chin. I was diving, and I hit it on

a metal frame,” Hagy said. “Paintball guns are pretty fast.

They can shoot as many as 9 bullets per second, at 90 miles per second,” Stoll said. In competitive play, the bullet speeds are adjusted so that they only cause momentary stinging and a bruise that heals in two to three weeks.

“People don’t really understand what we’re playing. They think it’s just a bunch of fat guys dressed up as trees shooting at each other,” Stoll said.

He played for five years in the U.S prior to moving to Singapore and also plays on a summer team.

“The popularity of paintball seems to be fading,” Hagy said. “Because of the economic downturn, paintball seems to be losing more players because of the price it costs to play,”

“It used to be more popular in the States but now I’m not too sure about what lies ahead for paintball,” Stoll said.

Hagy and Stoll both plan to play paintball in college.

“I definitely want to play in some clubs because I’m not ready to let it go yet,” Stoll laughed.

[email protected]

SAS students hold MVP positions in Singapore’s first professional paintball team “The Red Sevens”Competitive paintball considered more than a game

I’ve got your back: Sophomore Ryan Stoll and senior Zach Hagy, part of the Singapore team “The Red Sevens” take cover behind sandbags before firing pellets into their opponents. Photos by Desmond Foo

COURSES ADDEDSeven newly-approvedcourses include combatives

Photo by Kenny Evans

“I got two text messages at 6 a.m. on Monday telling me to call [principal] Dave Norcott,” said SAS Athletics director Mimi Molchan. “There was a tremendous amount of media coverage that there was unrest in Thailand, and people from the other IASAS schools said that their respective administrations would not permit them to travel to Bangkok.”

Instead of holding the Bangkok tournament without some of the expected participants or even cancelling it altogether, Molchan offered SAS as an alternative venue despite the understanding that IASAS was only a week away and that it would be difficult to organize an event of its magnitude in such a short period of time.

“IASAS is such a great thing for the school and for the whole community,” Molchan said. “We didn’t want to have an IASAS without all of the schools there.”

Interestingly, for all the violence that has occurred as of late, according to Panthers Athletics Director Bob Conner, life has remained relatively normal for students at ISB, most of who were on vacation when the

protests first started.“It [the political unrest] hasn’t

really affected us at all,” Connor said. “Life is pretty normal around here and we even have kids still going down - town.” Conner said the ISB community was disappointed that they would not be hosting the tournament. “I think our players are very disappointed that they won’t be able to compete in front of their friends, but at the same time we do understand why the other schools would not want to send their kids here.”

With IASAS rugby having been held in Singapore just over two months ago, SAS now finds itself in the rare position to host a second IASAS tournament in consecutive seasons. According to boys softball captain, senior Russell Kreutter, the Eagles should benefit tremendously from the advantage afforded to them by playing at home.

“It’s great to play our last IASAS tournament at home in front of the people who support us,” Kruetter said. “Ultimately I think this [playing at home] can only help us.”

Story cont. from page one

[email protected]

Photo by Terry Lu, Flickr.com

3The Eye a April 24, 2009news

SAS students hold MVP positions in Singapore’s first professional paintball team “The Red Sevens”Competitive paintball considered more than a game

As students looked on from the cafeteria windows, junior Nico Daily shifted nervously from foot to foot alone on the stadium field. Daily stood in the middle of a heart made out of 18 balloons and looked for any signs of junior Lauren Lee.

Prom season has taken the student body by storm, a constant topic among students: Where to go before prom? Who is wearing what? And most crucial, who is going with whom? Boys have taken to asking girls to prom in ways both romantic and very public proposals that are unprecedented at SAS.

“It’s like all we talk about is prom,” said Krisna Bharvani. “When a rumor gets around that someone’s asking someone else, everyone’s trying to catch it.”

Student Council has everything under control on the advertising front with colorful Carnaval, this year’s prom theme, posters and daily ads on the morning show. However, the boys’ elaborate invitations arouse so much interest among the student body that StuCo could afford to cut back its promotions.

Each new prom proposal sets a new bar for boys who have yet to pop the question. From Daily’s romantic balloon display to senior Alex Hoffer’s creative ride on the Singapore Flyer, prom proposals progressively get more elaborate. Hoffer and fellow senior Priscilla Chan, who will both be attending Stanford next year, had a list of things they would do together before leaving Singapore: one was a

trip on the Singapore Flyer. Hoffer then saw his chance to ask Chan to prom. When they reached the top of the ferris wheel, Hoffer’s best friend senior Akhilesh Pant, who was waiting below, unrolled a large poster with glow-sticks tapped down that spelled out “Prom”.

“There were about 200 glow-sticks in total, and it took us three hours to set it up,” Pant said. “I waited in the clearing below the ferris wheel until Alex called me

and told me to unfold the poster so Pricilla could see it from the top.”

Thankfully, for Daily’s and Hoffer’s sake, both Lee and Chan agreed to go with them.

Although some boys build up the courage to ask their dates publicly, like senior Nihal Varkey, who serenaded junior Lauren Betts during the Dunk Tank Wellness Week activity, others admit that asking a girl to prom is not as easy as it sounds.

Additionally, some critics will say that the only reason why boys ask in such elaborate ways is because they are afraid to get turned down; the theory being, “the bigger you go, the more they can’t say no.” But Kendall disagrees and believes that

whichever way a boy asks is just as meaningful.

“I think that if a boy wants to ask someone in a quieter way, than thats just as cute and nice,” Kendall said. “It takes guts to even ask a girl in the first place. Thats already scary, you have to admire their courage for just that.”

Whether or not this is true, many boys came through and executed elaborate prom proposals in ways never seen before.

Junior Ishan Gupta enlisted his whole free period’s help to chalk out the words “Melissa, Prom” on the atrium floor just before second break. He, and over 200 students who were watching, waited for junior Melissa Huston to see the sign at the beginning of lunch. Similarly, to a cheering audience, Sophomore Hannah Guggisberg looked up to junior Ashan Fernando’s poster that spelt out “Prom” suspended front the cafeteria’s second floor. Junior Alvi Haasan, during a dinner at Hard Rock Café, took the stage at the restaurant to read a self-written poem asking fellow junior Anjuli Finch to prom. Senior Alex Finch enlisted his 7-year-old brother to help ask fellow senior Allie Lesiuk. During second break Finch sent his little brother, who was in a miniature suit, to present a rose to Lesiuk in the cafeteria.

The boys aren’t the only ones asking. Senior Emma Sheldon asked boyfriend and alumnus Phillip Norman to prom during this year’s A.P. art showcase.

“I wanted to go to prom, but he said that it was my prom not his,” Sheldon said. “So he said that I had to ask him.”

Sheldon hung a banner that read “Phil, Prom?” across the bottom of her artwork.

Some boys have taken the classical approach and in more subtle ways have asked their dates to prom. Senior Brian Robertson asked fellow senior Erica Ng by giving her a bouquet of flowers.

Teachers and students alike agree that this year the prom proposals have been more public and ambitious than ever before.

“It’s like at this school most of the boys ask people to prom in big ways,” junior Stephanie Kendall said. “It seems like it’s pretty typical here to go big.”

Nihal Varkey & Lauren Betts

Dylan Howell & Stephanie Kendall

New year inspires prom invitationsIshan Gupta & Melissa Huston

Nico Daily & Lauren Lee

This year sees an increase in creativity as guys scramble to prepare for the big event. Story by Melissa Huston

[email protected]

A brazen chalk propsal: Students watch as juniors Ishan Gupta and Melissa Huston hug after a tense wait peiord where Gupta stood alone for 5 minutes until Huston arrived.. Enlisting his whole free to help construct the large chalk sign, Gupta managed to successfully (and very publicly) ask Huston to prom. Photo by Kenny Evans

Happy endings: Just after school junior Lauren Lee finishes her drawn out prom-style scavenger hunt on the stadium field. Junior Nico Daily set up a complex scavenger hunt for Lee that began at 8:05 a.m. and finally ended with Lee being reunited with Daily at 3:05 p.m. Photo provided by Nico Daily

A sandy gesture: Junior Stephanie Kendall gives her awaited answer to junior Dylan Howell’s gigantic prom sign. Howell had best friend Blake Peters take Kendall out on a jet ski while he and friends drew out “PROM” in the sand. Photo provided by Stephanie Kendall

Baby lets go to prom: Senior Nihal Varkey belts out his rendition of “Baby lets get it on” for junior Lauren Betts. Varkey, in the middle of the Wellness Week spirit activity, serenaded Betts infront of the students watching. Photo by Adrian Bautista

- Stephanie Kendall

It seems like it’s pretty typical here “to go big.”

Clad in cardinal-red, coincidentally the color of her dream school, senior Priscilla Chan rocks side to side as she eagerly describes her first encounter with Stanford.

“Ever since third grade I had the idea drilled into my head that I wanted to go to Stanford. And my mom told me Stanford had stables and that she would buy me a horse if I went.”

In third grade, Chan might have wanted to go for that promised horse,

A Cardinal DecisionProm dates, Stanford-bound couple reveal their choices and aspirations

but now, her motives are different. “I visited the campus sophomore

year, and the campus was gorgeous. I could just tell that the students had a really different mentality than the East Coast,” Chan said.

The picturesque campus of Stanford also played a role in Alex Hoffer’s decision.

Like Chan, Hoffer similarly described his reason for choosing Stanford over the mecca of all Ivies, Harvard.

“When I went to visit Stanford a week ago, the weather was so nice and people were outside playing games, but at Harvard, it was cold and people were moving quickly from building to building. They seemed more distant and cold,” Hoffer said.

Hoffer’s decision to attend Stanford in the fall along with Priscilla marks a rare event-- the acceptance of two SAS students to a prestigious Ivy League school.

The fact that not one, but two students were accepted from SAS is baffling. Stanford only accepted one student per year over the past two years.

“I knew him since freshman year but we kind of hated each other until junior year,” Chan said. “Then we became kind of competitive since both of wanted to go to Stanford. I remember thinking, ‘how funny would that be if we both got in?’”

“We were both really, really surprised. For two people to get in, let alone both of us,” Hoffer agreed.

over-the-top

4 April 24, 2009 a The Eye news

by Nicholas LesiukAs you walked up the high school

stairs this morning the first thing that you saw was probably the large glass windows that stretch from the base of the school to the top of the second floor – and behind these tinted windows, the multi million dollar library abuzz with students.

By far one of the most lavish features of the campus, more than 2000 people pass through the library doors each day. The library is a central hub of activity whether students are studying and doing homework, or relaxing and hanging out with friends. Both are allowed at the library, but has the main function of the library begun to be a hangout spot rather than a place of study?

Librarian John Johnson says there is an acceptable level of noise that is allowed in the library, and it is expected that students will use it as a place to meet with friends or socialize while studying. For students who desire total silence there is even a silent room. Librarian John Johnson says that the accepted level of noise differs through the day.

“It depends on the time of day,” Johnson said. “If the noise level is excessive during the block times we try to make sure that it’s not. Those times we try to maintain a reasonable level of noise.”

Johnson also said that he realizes that during breaks noise level often becomes excessive.

“During breaks, lunch and after school the library has an excessive

level of noise for a library, but not for a hang out spot which is what it becomes during or after block periods.”

An online survey showed that some students feel differently. Of the students polled, 44 percent felt that the level of noise in the library is “just right,” while another 43 percent felt that the level of noise was “just a bit too loud.”

Survey results said that most students head for the computers and printing lab, or to check out books.

“I’ve checked out two [books]; both were recommended and required reading for class,” junior Heather Morris said. “But mainly I use it for homework or printing stuff.”

Other students also take advantage of the other uses the library offers.

“I have not checked out anything this year,” junior Mina Zorilla said, “I use it for studying, and doing my homework. I also use the silent reading room for homework.”

Unsurprisingly, when polled students said they used the library for homework, reading and the computer lab the most.

Of the students who do use the library for its collection of books, some said that large as it is, the library still might not be supplying books that students find engaging.

“I’ve probably checked out one or two books - a graphic novel, a book for a research paper,” senior Alex Casella said. “I guess it’s well

stocked, but they don’t really have the books I like to read. They’re too traditional.”

Casella elaborated and said that the library’s literary scope still doesn’t extend quite far enough.

“We have all these random books like “History of Fonts,” but I haven’t really noticed any modern books that appeal to my tastes. Could do with more graphic novels and comic books.”

Johnson said the library regularly updates its catalog, throwing out old books and replacing them.

Johnson also said they are digitalizing reference books and encyclopedias to make them more up to date, and easier to use. Because of this revitalization process they are actually creating more space for books in the general circulation area on the bottom floor.

“Important thing to remember is we get rid of old ones regularly like most libraries,” Johnson said. “I’m not worried about having too much because we have only filled 46,000 of 50,000 book places.”

Despite the fact that there is an obvious disagreement between how much noise students feel is allowed in the library and how much faculty feel is allowed, this incongruity doesn’t seem to bother those that use it as the 2000 visits a day attest. For now those that do feel that the library is too loud will have to live with the dual roles that the library has taken on, as both a hangout spot and a place of study.

Users split on library noise As the student body increases, the library is less and less a quiet place to read and study

Former student Jennifer Cox last checked out a book by American novelist Harriet Beecher Stowe nearly 20 years ago in November 1990. Since then, the book has rested in its shelves untouched, unscathed, and unread. Photo by Kenneth Evans

In the previous issue reporter Philip Anderson’s op-ed was left out of the paper. The editors would like to apologize for overlooking this well

written article.

CORECTIONS

Recession signals need for alternate college options, financial aidBy Hee Soo Chung

Location, tuition fees, strengths of academic programs and school ambience are some of the factors that students consider in the college decision-making process. For senior Alyssa Reinoso, tuition was one of the biggest factors.

“If money wasn’t an issue, I would’ve applied to different schools,” Reinoso said. “I do regret it and wish I could afford more expensive schools.”

Reinoso said that her older sister’s plan to go to a medical school has tightened her budget for college tuition. She applied to mostly Canadian universities because tuitions are cheaper than those of U.S. colleges.

“A lot of people asked me why I was applying to Canada,” Reinoso said. “They said I could do better. I know that but it can’t be helped.”

High school counselor Frieda Dietrich said that she has had at least three to five conversations with parents and students regarding college tuition.

“I think there will be more impact for the kids applying this coming fall,” Dietrich said. “At the initial phase of this year, there weren’t many financial problems.”

Dietrich said that there were more parents at the junior planning meetings this year who were worried about finance and were willing to look

at schools with different options.“I’ve had more than usual contacts

from parents, which indicates that they’re having more conversations with their children regarding college tuition,” Dietrich said. “Before, a lot of parents were willing to pay if there was a name-brand to the college. Now there’s a great analysis on what the return on the investment is going to be.”

According to an article on the New York Times, college tuition and fees increased 439 percent from 1982 to 2007 while median family income rose 147 percent. With this change, student borrowing has doubled in the last decade. The article also reported that public university tuition has

increased.With increases

in college tuition, demand for financial aid has increased. A New York Times article said that Chapman University has seen financial aid

application increase 88 percent.Senior Dominique Wilson Smith

said that the price of college tuition was nearly as big a factor as the strength of her intended field of studies

“My mom has a disease that makes her more susceptible to cancer, and if she gets sick again, I would have to be pulled out of college,” Wilson-Smith said. “I probably would’ve applied to more private schools that I know are better if money wasn’t an

issue.”Wilson Smith said she has

received numerous merit-based scholarships but decided to go to University of California, Irvine, where she qualifies or in-state tuition.

“I probably wouldn’t have considered going there if I didn’t get in-state,” Wilson-Smith said. “I’m definitely getting a part-time job in college, and I’m also getting a student loan.”

For some students, college tuition has become an increasingly more important issue to consider.

“Money wasn’t really an issue when I applied,” senior Mithila

Mahesh said. “But right now, the economy is down and I feel guiltier for going to an expensive college because my dad’s business is quite dependent on the economy.”

Dietrich said that students and parents should think carefully together on the college tuition issues as it is also a “form of investment.

“I encourage students to have conversations [about college finances] with their parents,” Dietrich said. “Many students here are too naïve and believe that their parents will manage to pay for everything at the end. You have to really question if the college is worth the money.”

The economic recession takes it toll on many students, like junior Stanton Yuwono, who is now considering other colleges which can match his financial budget. Photo by Jon Cheng

You have to really question if the college is worth the money.”

“- Frieda Dietrich

[email protected]

In the “EYE on IASAS Cultural Convention” issue, junior Danielle Courtenay was described as having tied for 2nd (silver) in the Oral

Interpretation finals. She won bronze.

In a previous issue feature, “Skin Deep,” Jamie Lim’s name was

misspelled.

5The Eye a April 24, 2009news

by Philip AndersonMcNicol played his first game of

rugby at the age of five and played his last game at 53. He said he has always been a “sports nut.” He played rugby, cricket, basketball, was captain of the volleyball team, and captain of the ski club in the New Zealand Navy.

“I’ve always been healthy. I ran every lunch time, but it was the navy that really got me fit. We worked out almost every day,” McNicol said.

McNicol coached the IASAS rugby team for eight years - four in Manila and four in SAS.

McNicol’s love was not just sports but education. He graduated from Canterbury University, got a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, did post-grad work in educational leadership, earned an undergrad certificate in school management and a master’s degree in education. He is currently doing an e-learning program about Wiki’s.

“I’m just trying to walk my talk, because all educators should be learners at some time,” he said.

Co-workers Erin Bright and Tim Zitur agree that they will both miss him when he leaves for New Zealand.

“He was a big part of SAS and had very unique insight into things, part of it being that he is a Kiwi and part of it is that he is Cam McNicol. We’re going to miss him,” Zitur said.

Bright said that McNicol had innovative ways to teach math and make the subject more interesting to students.

“He has always been interested in brining new teaching strategies to promote student learning in the classroom,” Bright said.

McNicol and his wife, Zeeb, are leaving SAS at the end of the year to go back to New Zealand where they will be living in the subtropical Bay of Islands in the far north of New Zealand.

“We are getting our life back as I call it. We are not really city people but country people,” McNicol said.

Cam hopes to get a boat in New Zealand, go kayaking, do a lot of walking, surfing and swimming. He will be working part time in a small private school that offered him some substitute work. [email protected]

Ex-sailor, teacher heads home to sea

by Jennie ParkSophomore Sam Park sits

waiting for our interview in the library, unbothered by the chaos that is taking place around him. These are calculators on the table, no Rubik’s Cubes or AP Calculus textbooks.

Park sets the records straight about the misconceptions people have about him and his superior math skills.

“I never actually trained when I was little. I’m just good with numbers,” Park said.

As a child, Park was not even aware of his extraordinary gift. But with many math accolades under his belt, including a perfect AMC, math PSAT, and the top score in IASAS math, Park is anything but ordinary.

“Sam was one of four people in Singapore to get a perfect score on the AMC. The other three were from Raffles, the leading school in mathematics. He’s quite

accomplished,” math club sponsor, Dr. Kett said. “He’s been the top scorer in the AMC for three years in a row now.”

Park’s favorite subject is math, for obvious reasons, but his other favorite are chemistry and computer science.

“It’s so much better than reading” Park said.

It is evident that Park is a boy of numbers. And while some get frustrated by math instead of embracing it, Park is quick to explain why he loves the subject so much.

“I just like solving problems,” said Park, one of the few sophomores in AP Calculus AB.

“He is a bit more reserved, but not only is he talented, he strives to learn more,” Dr. Kett said of Sam. “He is much more accomplished than any student I have seen here in thirteen years.”

by Nora HanaganWe’ve come along way since

the days of middle school when the only clothing stores available were either too expensive, too cheesy or too limited. I can remember whining about my lack of options and yearning for the United States. The States, where the possibilities, and shops, were endless.

Now I find myself comfortably of a different mind. I head down to Orchard Road or Vivo City every weekend and am still overwhelmed by my options. But there is no place that has transformed the face of Singapore shopping more than Far East Plaza. Still unknown to many, this seemingly sketchy dump is teeming with boutiques and salons. Once home to obnoxious plastic jewelry, shiny, over-the-top shoes, and cropped, multi-colored cotton, now, Far East Plaza is restocking, revamping and renewing its old image. With almost 300 fashion stores, 70 hair care stores, 60 beauty stores and a total of 800 stores throughout six stories, Far East is the budding entrepreneur’s paradise.

What I find most intriguing are the tiny (literally closet-sized) boutiques that have sprung up in the mazing corners of the old building. These stores carry everything from hand-sewn clothing to designer brands, but three stores I found to be especially interesting were Ministry of Press, Bag Age, and Attic.

Ministry of Press collaborates

with designers form all over the world to create their own limited edition (only 50 of each) t-shirts. What makes this store different from the rest? The quality. Each design is overlooked and the quality controlled by the designer’s themselves. All works are designed on American Apparel t-shirts, well known for the quality of their material.

Bag Age, designs its products as well - everything from wallets to laptop cases, most made of good quality leather or ornate fabric. The clutches come in dozens of colors and for each one you can choose from an array of pins and other details to attach to the front – making every piece your own. The store also carries an interesting line of earrings and necklaces with retro pictures of celebrities and other pop icons printed on a shiny bronze material. If you like one of a kind accessories, then this miniature boutique is for you.

Finally, for those of you who prefer old to new, Attic has every vintage nicknack you could ever want. From book covers to leather boots, the rustic, worn-down looking shop is filled to the brim with hidden deals and one-of-a-kind treasures.

So next time you brave the faulty escalators into Far East Plaza, try to look past its dingy appearance, and you may just find one of the best deals in Singapore.

Be a smart shopper in Singapore

[email protected] bag, earrings, clutch and laptop case are all original Bag Age [email protected]

Math whiz “just good with numbers”

PROFILE: Sam Park


His students have also noticed his anticipation.

“He seems like he is going to miss teaching here, but he looks really excited to go back to New Zealand,” junior Carson DeBerry said.

Zeeb, who runs the middle school’s Green Fingers Club and loves gardening, does not plan to get a job initially. Cam said she is interested in working at a tree nursery or getting a part time job teaching environmental science and English as a second language program.

“The nice thing is that we could be choosy after being spoiled by 10 years of international schools,” McNicol said.

He was a big part of SAS and had very unique insight into things, part of it being that he is a Kiwi and part of it is that he is Cam McNicol. We’re going to miss him

“

”- Tim Zitur


by DJ HartmanOut of 34,684 applicants, middle

school P.E. teacher Greg Reynan made it to the short list of 16 candidates for “The Best Job In The World.”

Part of a marketing campaign devised by Tourism Queensland, the position of caretaker of Hamilton Island pays a hefty $150,000 Australian dollars ($160,000) for sixth months. The Island, which is the second largest inhabited island of the Whitsunday Islands, is off the east coast of Queensland, Australia.

Duties of the job as listed on the website (http://www.islandreefjob.com/) include running a weekly blog about the various activities on the island as well as maintaining a video diary and photo gallery, all while living in a luxurious three-bedroom house complete with a golf buggy and laundry services.

“My collegue Peter Clark showed me the website, and before I even read all the information I thought I’d go for it,” Reynan said. Over Chinese New Year he worked with a friend who is a professional film-maker to produce his audition video. The short audition tape features Reynan educating commuters on the MRT about the Great Barrier Reef while dressed in a wet suit, snorkel mask and flippers.

Reynan will be flown out to Brisbane on May 1 before flying to Hamilton Island on two days later for interviews with the Australian media and the final interview for the job. The winner will be announced

on May 6. Geographically, the finalists are a diverse bunch; the final 16 include two Australians, a photographer from the Netherlands, a Radio DJ from India and a German actress.

Reynan feels that his skills as a teacher make him the best man for the job.

“Every year when I go on vacation one of my favorite things is coming back and telling everyone about it,” Reynan said. “One of my greatest joys as a teacher is sharing an experience with my students, I’m looking forward to sharing Hamilton Island with the world.”

Not everyone shares his optimism. According to an Australian news website (news.com.au) a group of bookies have given him odds of $43.50 Aus (S$46.80) to the dollar, compared to interpreter Claire Wang from Taiwan who tops the bookies’ list at $3.5 Aus to the [email protected]

Middle-school teacher makes final round for “Best Job”

6 April 24, 2009 a The Eye features

by Mila RusafovaIn a small storage room in the

heart of S-block, out of the way of the average student, lies what technical theater students call the Jam Room. Dark, windowless and filled with couches, recording equipment, instruments and cords crisscrossing the length of the room, the Jam room is home to Studio Recording and Stagecraft students and those involved in the Independent Performing Artist Union, or IPAU.

“I spend all my time here,” teacher Paul Koebnick said.

An ex-fourth grade math and science teacher, Koebnick has been working at SAS since the opening of the Woodlands campus in 1996. He founded IPAU in 2000 and has since devoted his time to the program in addition to his Music Performance and Performance Technology class (aka Studio Recording), which he started jointly with Paula Silverman and the collaboration of music teachers Steve Bonnette and Brian Hill.Hobby, passion becomes a career

Koebnick did not always know he wanted to be a technical engineer. Originally from Ann Arbor, Michigan, he taught sixth grade math and science in Chicago for five years before moving to Norway where

he taught for three years. It was in Norway that Koebnick discovered his passion for theater engineering.

Working at the International School of Stavanger in Norway, Koebnick was asked by a fellow teacher to help out at a theater event. Intrigued, Koebnick joined Community Theater.

“It was my hobby,” Koebnick said. “It was so much fun to work in the theater.”

By the time Koebnick came to Singapore along with 60 new teachers starting at the new Woodlands campus in 1996, he knew he wanted to pursue technical theater. And that is exactly what he did.

IPAU dies, reborn with new bloodIPAU will probably remain one

of Koebnick’s greatest legacies at SAS.

“It is meant to be a place where performing artists pursue their own interests and support live music,” he said.

But after many successful years, IPAU started experiencing some major problems. The very Jam Room that had been the home and haven of all these students was abandoned and Koebnick became its caretaker.

“Since County Fair students stopped supporting each other and abandoned me to do all the setting

up and cleaning,” Koebnick said.Koebnick disbanded IPAU

and reset the membership to zero, recruiting new and old members who agreed to meet his expectations. IPAU started the year with 62 members and now has only 10. But the new members are more dedicated and hardworking and willing to help.

“The JAM room is so cool, but it also requires a lot of work,” Koebnick said.

Koebnick not all work and playSince disbanding IPAU, Koebnick

transferred his energies from the program to his classes, with positive results. The new Music Performance and Performance Technology class, which is in principle similar to IPAU, is a great success.

Students with many different interests, from musicians to people who just want to explore technical theater, are able to make professional music and create their own CDs with professional recording equipment.

“I love that I work at a school where we can create our own courses,” Koebnick said.

But Koebnick is not all work and no play. He owns a Harley Davidson motorcycle and is a member of Singapore’s Harley Club, which rides to Malaysia and back every

Sunday.Influence on students lasting

Dividing his time between work and his hobbies, Koebnick has changed SAS and the lives of many students forever. 2003 alumnus Benjamin Nichols followed in Koebnick’s footsteps and is currently a theater technician in London. After taking Stagecraft and an independent study in technical theater, Nichols pursued his passion beyond high school. When Koebnick visited him in London, Nichols was a technician for the “We Will Rock You” musical

by Queen.“He was jamming in his element.

I was like a proud father,” Koebnick said.

Many others can testify to the lasting impact Koebnick has made on SAS’s theater program but the road will not stop here for him.

“I still see IPAU going,” he said. “An atmosphere of artists who want to pursue their own interests – that’s what I want here for music.”

[email protected]

PROFILE: Paul Koebnick“ It is meant to be a place where performing artists pursue their own interest and support live music”- on IPAU, or the “Independent Performing Artists Union”

Did you know?Koebnick worked as security personnel and bodyguard for music artists like Slayer, Muse, KT Tunstall and Stereophonics. He was also part of the Harley Gang

Photo by Kenneth Evans

Master of many trades settles on tech-theater hobby for a living

22-year veteran teacher, coach bids goodbye to SASby Maria Lloyd

Of his 22 years at SAS, social studies teacher Bill Rives remembers an experience from Walking Safari Interim in Kenya as a defining moment.

“We had to walk in 40°C-plus in full sun. We’d say, ’That was a long walk.’ and our guides would say, ‘Well…not really,’ because they walk up to 120 kilometers without a break,” Rives said.

Rives was astounded by the physical fitness of the Kenyans he met during the interim. He especially remembers a 10-year old boy who was a natural for baseball.

“We were playing ‘stick ball,’ a version of baseball using a bent stick and an old tennis ball. A 10-year-old local boy asked to play. When he picked up the bat, he was fantastic and hit several homeruns. We asked him what his name was. He told us Abebe, and for the rest of interim we called him Babe, for Babe Ruth.”

It’s no coincidence that Rives chose a moment from interim to define his time at SAS. Rives loves to travel. Nepal, New Zealand, China, Japan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Egypt, Greece, and Fiji are just a few other places Rives has visited in his travels. This year his travels will take him back to the U.S. He has applied for several jobs close to his son, who will be attending Portsmouth Abbey School, in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. He hopes to teach history, especially art history, psychology and U.S. history.

“I continue to like it here very much, but I have a son who’s at school in the U.S. and I’d like to be closer to him, to be able to see him in action. He’s a lacrosse player,” Rives said.

Rives started his teaching career in Connecticut, where he spent six years at Taft School in Watertown. Wanting to teach abroad, he moved to Greece for two years, then to England for a summer. After a brief stint in the U.S., he came to teach at SAS, and has been here ever since - 22 years. Rives said he will miss Singapore’s culture and “livability.”

Rives enjoys Singapore’s location, easy travel distance from most of Southeast Asia. He’s traveled to all the countries in Southeast Asia except for Laos, which he plans to visit before he moves. But what Rives said he would most miss in leaving Singapore is the SAS community, especially IASAS events.

“IASAS is a very exciting organization, with its affiliations with other schools in Southeast Asia. I enjoyed being involved with MUN and Cultural Convention for extemporaneous speaking,” Rives

said.He has enjoyed teaching in an

international environment with what he described as “very capable and devoted people who view teaching as a labor of love,” and was impressed by the attitude of students towards service and learning.

“I like the autonomy here. If you have an idea, you can try and implement it. We also have a school culture that gets people to step forward and lend a hand,” he said.

But it is interim semester, a combination of his three favorite things, travel, learning and teaching, that dominates his memories.

“I would never have thought of trekking to Everest, but I ended up at Tengboche Monastery, which is located in the Himalayas en route to Everest Base Camp,” Rives said. “I got to cycle along the Western Australian coast, and hike Mount Kinabalu and the Milford Trek,

sometimes called ‘the finest walk in the world.’ On my trip to Spain we got to see buildings from the art history textbooks, some of Gaudi’s ingenious designs.”

Rives thinks interim is especially important to learning and not just a cakewalk. He’s been supportive of the program throughout his time at SAS, even when many teachers opposed and wanted to get rid of the program.

“Students learn and develop confidence in themselves on interim semester. They return with stronger self-confidence and refined values,” Rives said.

Thirty-year veteran teacher, Jim Baker, came up with three essential characteristics to define Rives.

“He cares a lot about his kids, the school and history,” Baker said.

“He’s a real advocate of balance in kid’s lives, especially in the form of interim semester. He was involved with MUN for 15 years and his passion from MUN was instrumental in making it an integral part of IASAS,” he said.

“His interest in studying history didn’t end when he left college. He continued to learn new material to teach his students. Learning is his life-long pursuit.”

Baker chuckled at the memory of Rives watching rugby in the stands with a broad brimmed hat to protect his “balding head.”

“He’s never been a coach of the SAS Rugby team, but several times he accompanied them to IASAS. He’s probably one of the biggest supporters of SAS Rugby,” Baker said.

Senior Meiko Masuno, who has taken both A.P. Art History and U.S. History, remembers Rives

as an understanding teacher with interesting stories to tell and a quirky sense of humor.

“He’s quiet, but at the same time has a lot of in-depth knowledge,” she said. “Once you start talking to him, he’s very interesting. Some older teachers try to keep their distance from the students, but he’s willing to answer questions about himself and get to know students personally.”

Tatianna Nasr, a junior in Rives art history class, was also struck by his knowledge and his interest in other cultures.

“At the beginning of the year, when the teachers ask where everyone is from, he knew stories about all of the different countries. When I told him I was from Greece, he spoke to me in Greek and asked me if I knew about Greek history,” Nasr said.

“I love how he brightens up when he tells you a joke and he never looks bored because he knows what he’s taking about and enjoys talking about it.”

Rives knows that he will be teaching in a smaller less international school community, wherever he ends up, but remains unfazed.

“I like schools, teaching, and learning. I’m counting on that. I’d like a spirited and lively atmosphere similar to the one we have here,” Rives said.

Rives doesn’t plan to return to Singapore to live, but hopes his travels will bring him back to visit eventually.

“I do hope to return to Southeast Asia. I have many friends here, and I don’t want to say goodbye for good.”


He’s quiet, but at the same time has a lot of in-depth knowledge. Once you start talking to him, he’s very interesting...he’s willing to answers questions about himself and get to know students personally

“

”- Meiko Masuno

[email protected]

features 7The Eye a April 24, 2009features

WHERE TO GO: PROM DINNER

Prom is around the corner, and although the masquerade event at the Shangri-La hotel is the focus, one must not forget the importance of dinner at that extra-special restaurant with your date or friends. “The Eye” takes a look at places that are worth checking out as well as others to think twice about. All restaurants are within 30 minutes of the Shangri-La hotel by car.

Reviews byJon Cheng

FORLINOItalian Restaurant

(ABOVE) The braised lamb shanks with carrots, zucchini and rosemary is featured as one of Forlino’s specialties (above), but the standout dish is undoubtably the “Mama Forlino Lamb Chops” (left) which has a succulent melt-in-your-mouth texture. Photos from Flickr.com with a creative commons liscense.

They say true romance can only be found in France, and Au Petit Salut - perhaps one of the most authentic French restaurants in town - is worth anyone’s time and money for a memorable night.

This restaurant is tucked away in a location near Dempsey Hill, adding to that romantic and intimate factor. Half of the restaurant is alfresco, so book early to get a table indoors, although the noise-levels there can be quite high.

Chef Michael Heuberger’s cuisine is very French and traditional, so the dishes here are wholesome and satisfying without any surprises. Recommended starters include the lobster bisque which has a rich flavor but might be too cloying for some, the cocotte of morel mushrooms, the escargots with garlic butter, and

AU PETIT SALUTFrench Restaurant

finally, the foie gras selection. There is a much larger selection of mains, and the specialities of braised beef cheek and the “fillet de boeuf Angus poele sauce Perigoudrine” are both excellent choices, but the French Quail stuffed with foie gras and mushroom, and the Duck confit are surprisingly lackluster in flavor.

If you still have room for desert, the light-as-air souffles and the decadent warm chocolate cake are fail-safe options and will satisfy anyone’s craving for more traditional fare.

Food: Ambiance: Price: $60-70 per person, depending on no. of coursesOpening Hours (Dinner): 6:30 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.40C Harding Road (Minden Cluster - near Dempsey Hill)Telelphone: 6475 1976

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This popular establishment underwent a recent makeover to improve its already stylish and chic ambiance, but the food here has stayed relatively consistent since its opening in 2003.

The warm loaves of olive focaccias that waiters serve are a sign for better things to come. Start with the signature Spanna crabcake, a generous layer of crabmeat with a thin delicate layer of avocado mousse surrounded by a sauce composed of orange and saffron. next, opt for a pasta dish; the Angel hair pasta with lobster and tomato marmalade, or the spaghetti with seafood and tomato sauce. Both are executed with perfection, the pasta having al dente firmness and the sauce having a flavorsome but not overpowering taste.

The meat and fish main courses are not as strong as the pastas. For

example, the Angus beef tenderloin with potato gratin is tender albeit slightly bland in flavor, while the codfish is overcooked and oily. Similarly, deserts are not Chef Roberto Galetti’s forte, but if one must round up their meal with a sweet-note, order either the molten lava chocolate cake or the more unique cannoli with ricotta cream and pistachios.

Food: Ambiance: Price: $60-80 per person (3-course meal - $88 for five-course gourmet menu)Opening Hours (Dinner): 6:30 p.m. - 11 p.m.36 Purvis St. #01-02Telephone: 6837 1468

GARIBALDIItalian Restaurant

[email protected]

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Les Amis - The former chef has moved to Hong Kong to open the popular chain’s first overseas establishment. For the most part though, the new menu is well thought-out, but entirely un-memorable. If you choose to dine here, bring a suitcase full of cash.Saint Pierre - Expats flock here to try celebrity chef Emmanuel Stroobant’s innovative France-meets-Japan-and-Singapore cuisine, and they have done so for nine years. Finishing your meal would be an achievement, so is paying the hefty bill. Senso - The shop-by-the-street charm of this popular establishment attracts diners for its unique ambiance, though the food and the tabs do not quite match up accordingly.Il Lido - The only memorable feature of this restaurant is the view of the sunset over Sentosa Island. Prices have gone up at least 25 percent since its opening, but the pasta dishes continue to be as dismal now as last year.

Restaurants to think about twice

The interior of Forlino exudes an ambiance of sophisticated elegance.Photo from Yum.sg

The meandering, opulent entrance and passageway painted with a shade of celadon green takes about a minute to walk through. After all, the piece de resistance is the dining room with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the Singapore harbor. So far, only French restaurants “Saint Julien” and “Jaan” can top the jaw-dropping view. Remember to book a table by the window.

The food is nearly as impressive as the ambiance of a hot new Italian restaurant run by the Forlino family. Chef Osvaldo’s cuisine is tempered to suit the tastes of the adventurous gourmand and the traditionalists with varying results, so a recommendation would be to opt for the $88 four-course “Menu Traditional” (UOB card-members enjoy 50 percent one-for-one discount). Highlights of the set-dinner includes the foccacia bread, served warm with a pinch of sea salt and a light drizzle of cold-pressed, extra-virgin olive oil, an exquisite meat-platter of cold-cuts and sausages from Italy,the melt-in-your-mouth succulent “Mama Forlino’s lamb chops,” and the delicate, crunchy chocolate and hazelnut mousse with mascarpone cream. Surprisingly, the signature veal ravioli, although served with a silky-smooth reduction, misses the mark with a too-thick pasta texture, while the cod with tomato and onion suffers from the inconsistent quality of the fish and the vegetables.

Service is so efficient and professional that dinner will be finished before you think of that taxi-ride to the Shangri-La.

Food: Ambiance: Price: $80-100 per personOpening Hours (Dinner): 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.1 Fullerton Road, #02-06 One Fullerton (opposite The Esplanade)Telelphone: 6536 9965

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8 April 24, 2009 a The Eye opinion & editorial

When I check out a book at the school library, I flip to the back page first. I do this not only to see when the book is due, but to see how many people have borrowed this book before me.

Seeing the rows of stamps on the due date sheet gives me a thrill about reading a new book. I even feel connected to the people who have read the book before me, wondering what they thought about when they were reading it.

Finding a long list of borrowers is rare. Most of the time, the due date sheet is blank.

When the librarian stamps the date with a loud “click,” I feel as if I am crossing a forbidden line. Although I feel proud and privileged to explore the pages of the book for the first time, I then go on to worry how many people will borrow it after me. Often I find I am the first one to borrow a book in years. When I opened John Updike’s “The Witches of Eastwick,” I found that it was last

checked out in 1998. I’m betting I was probably the first person to have read the book during that time. One librarian complained to me that there is not enough room on the shelves because nobody checks out the books.

Of course, I’m well aware of the burden of high school students. With all those APs and SATs, how on earth are you supposed to find time to read? Making sure you clinch an A+ on that math test is much more important. We have much more crucial concerns such as making sure our GPA’s don’t fall.

While they do that, students party over the weekend and stalk people on Facebook. Some students don’t even find time for reading in the 10 week summer break.

With the Internet and Sparknotes, do you really need to read? You find reading John Steinbeck’s 600-page novel difficult? Don’t worry! Sparknotes has a sweet and condensed version that is the thickness of an

US weekly magazine. Reading a book seems a waste of precious time better used to study for multiple- choice tests. But there is a reason people buy books. Can a Sparknotes summary really convey to you the complexity of the author’s ideas and the rhetorical devices he uses? Of course, I am not an innocent. I have, from time to time, used Sparknotes. I find their mini-quizzes helpful. But after that short affair, I always come back to the conclusion that reading the whole book is better.

The library spends about $50,000 a year just on buying books. They buy new books every quarter. When the books come in, students can browse the new arrivals via the online site or simply go to the library and look over the tables. If you want to read a particular book, ask one of the librarians to include it in their next order.

The library has something for everyone’s taste. Paying $20,000 a year for tuition and not making full use of a huge library is a waste. Fredrick Douglass said, “Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.” The emancipation of our minds is more important than watching Blair obsess about Yale on Gossip Girl

Uncovering the true value of books, novels in our net generationHigh-school students nowadays look past wide offering of books in library to socialize, study or sleep

[email protected]

Editors-in-chief: Jon Cheng (senior editor), Melissa Huston, Hee Soo Chung News editor: Nick Lesiuk Op/Ed editor: Akhilesh Pant Features editor: Ann Lee Eye In Focus editor: Maria LloydA&E editor: DJ Hartman, Jennie Park Sports editor: Nora Hanagan, Caroline Hui Photographers: Kenny Evans, Maria Lloyd, Melissa Huston Reporters: Philip Anderson, Lil Cadieux-Shaw, Jon Cheng, Aashna Chopra, Hee Soo Chung, Kenny Evans, Nora Hanagan, DJ Hartman, Caroline Hui, Melissa Huston, Ann Lee, Steffi Lee, See Young Lee, Nick Lesiuk, Alex Lim, Maria Lloyd, Haani Mazari, Akhilesh Pant, Jennie Park, Mila RusafovaAdviser: Mark Clemens Assistant adviser: Judy Agusti

Singapore American High School40 Woodlands Street 41Republic of Singapore 738547Phone: (65) 6363-3404Fax: (65) [email protected]

The Eye is the student newspaper of the Singapore American School. All opinions stated within these pages are those of their respective writers and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Singapore American School, its board of governors, PTA, faculty or administra-tion.Comments and suggestions can be sent to the Eye via the Internet at [email protected]. At the author’s request, names can be withheld from publication. Letters will be printed as completely as possible. The Eye reserves the right to edit letters for reasons of taste and space.

Ann Lee

Sophomores and especially juniors, beware.

As one of the many seniors who have endured the stress-inducing first semester, braved the harrowing application process, and impatiently waited during that tortuous three months before life-changing or life-threatening decisions, I have survived to tell the tale: applying to college is not quite like writing Christmas cards to relatives you have not even heard of (although some aspects of it do bear some similarities).

Now a few of you – especially our Asian friends – have already begun this process, depending on the intensity level that your parents put on you (Looking up the top 15 national colleges on the US News website does not count). It is not so much the idea of which colleges to pick, but how you can ingratiate yourself so you can get in at all costs.

So to set yourself apart from rest of your applicant pool, you really have to be one-of-a-kind. Or at least pretend to be. Nowadays, college admission officers will overlook once-interesting activities like being a male hip-hop dancer, playing violin for fifteen years of your life (admit it: if you’re Asian, your mom probably shoved a violin into your hands as soon as you started walking), habitually reading famous literary works and being an activist for organizations like “Greenpeace” or “I HEART Children.” Instead, try your hand at more creative pursuits, like taking up competitive hop-scotch, being the only one adept at playing R&B songs on church organ-pipes, inventing your own musical instrument that you can blow with your nostrils, or starting an

organization that protects dragonflies of Bangalore.

But now is not the time for such wishful thinking. There are only seven more months before you start your applications, and time is of utmost essence. To begin, here are some suggestions to follow if you are serious about attending a place that your jealous “aunties” will swoon over:

1) If you have not done so already, start to show others that you are one of the most active members in a club, so they will recognize and vote for you during officer elections. If you are doing your job well but losing out to the more popular ones who join the club a month before the elections, consider creating your own. There is a growing number of clubs suited to any service or recreational activity imaginable, so act quickly. Start a charades club where you can emulate different strategic positions, just like how you come up with 19 ways to move your knights in chess. And have that published in a Charades manual.

For those wanting less of an intellectual challenge, why not start a “H.A.R.T. Miley Cyrus” Fan-club? Freshmen girls will definitely show up during the meetings, so you should not worry about a dwindling member-turnout towards the end of the year. Finally, for those who want to pile-up service hours, an interesting idea would be to create a club catering to the needs of poverty-stricken children for every third-world country. There are many these countries, so there will be plenty positions to share.

2) When you visit colleges during the summer, be sure to make it worth your while. During the

college-information sessions, ask the most random and specific questions imaginable, and hope the Princeton admissions officer remembers you amongst the flock of Asian tweens, moms, dads, grandparents, and their disruptive 8-year olds. Perhaps it would be appropriate to hint at that instrument you’re trying to invent with bamboo sticks, or the fact that you’re representing the 100 individuals in the Narau-speaking tribe of Irian Jaya, whose language is soon to be extinct (Of course, that’s why you say that your dad will generously fly these tribesmen all the way to meet the linguistics professor there, should you be accepted). And do not forget to take down his or her personal contact information, favorite foods, authors, celebrities and colors (oh yes, it does makes a difference if you color the title of your essay to his or her favorites).

3) As soon as your mom tells you the essay topics come online, look over them and start making some mental notes. Don’t have a significant experience? Don’t worry, now is the perfect time to stage something. Since most of you might plan trips to Africa, where you can subsequently get that gorgeous bronze tan like Jessica Alba or Mathew McConaughey, why not go to another place, “where no man has gone before?” Spend a day in each of the mental hospitals in Slovakia, or live with orange-furred, doe-eyed monkeys in a Somalian jungle for a month without any resources.

4) Do not get into trouble between now and January – or at least try not to get caught.

5) Set a Guinness World Record for the most obscure talent possible, or undergo pigmentation surgery to change your skin-color to increase your competitive edge.

These are just a few of the many tips and suggestions that you should take heed off. Desperate times call for desperate measures, so it would be advisable to make the most of these months. Tick-tock.

[email protected]

Jon Cheng

Newer urban methods now a requirement for college-savvy studentsIncrease in competitive applicants signals the need for high-schoolers to stand out in any imaginable wayJon Cheng

Comic Reliefs by Iris Kwon

College rejection not a cause for mourning

If you think about it, there is so much more to high school than just creating a stepping-stone to college. Many of us break into our true personalities, discover new interests and develop each of those interests in the four years. We find lifelong friends and learn our place in a small simulation of the world we will soon enter. And aside from that, we attain a GPA, an SAT score and an academic persona – our grades and an image of our “intelligence.”

Again, think about it. Do those last few criteria characterize you? Do you want to believe that your future is dependent on this academic persona or something more holistic? Ultimately, is your ability to read books, absorb information and spew it onto a couple pieces of paper, more important than your own talent and drive? We kids are confident that school doesn’t accurately measure those latter two.

High school is a place where you find your passions and how you want to pursue those later in life, not just hone your studying skills. Admittedly, many of us don’t decide where exactly our passion lies by the end of four years, but it’s safe to say that we come closer to our future selves. There are kids with sub-2.5 GPAs who have musical, athletic and dozens of other talents. But how many of us are envious of their position? At the end of the day, far too many of us would be willing to give up following our talents to grind out that 4.3 and 2400.

Every single senior found himself or herself desperately sifting through scattergrams on Family Connection this year, looking for a match based on GPA and SAT score - the two least personal characteristics that they could possibly be assigned. Many were disappointed, clearly not candidates for Harvard or Princeton, because the red circle representing them was too far from the dots that represented other people. Catch the drift? We become statistics and we get into college based on how they lay out in comparison to kids all over the world, doing virtually the same thing. Statistics, however, just can’t cover who we are.

So why be disappointed when the dot you chose to make yourself leads you to a place your Asian relatives don’t approve of? Riding on your talents to a respectable position is sure to change their minds. We can infer immediately that, by attending SAS, your parents have experienced a degree of success that an overwhelming majority of the world hasn’t. Naturally, you want similar success for yourself. And you will get it, provided you have what it takes, regardless of your university education.

Such a statement may sound idealistic, but there are enough anecdotes and success stories to support the notion. There just aren’t many college graduates that regret where they chose to complete their undergraduate education.

Starting now, learn to appreciate where you’re going. Change your wallpaper to the college emblem, put up a pennant in your room. Perhaps even wear the school’s t-shirt. It’s your new home: appreciate it. Please, just don’t brood over your rejections. It just isn’t worth your time.

9The Eye a April 24, 2009arts & entertainment

I said “if,” it’s hypothetical: (TOP) Myspace instructor Danny (Michael Jeong) unknowingly teaches a classroom of pedophiles how to make new friends on Myspace. The pedophiles ask several questions that make their intentions quite clear to everyone but the soccer mom (Caitlin Chou). (from left: Samantha Conrad, Zubin Chand, Caitlin Chou, Ann Lee, Phillip Anderson, Jesse Scarborough) Is democracy EZ? (BOTTOM) Dubbed “the virgins,” Beatrice (Raehanna Reed) and Stanley (Philip Anderson) talk about their proposed prom theme“Worth the Wait” in “Prom Committee.” (From left: Olivia Auerbach, Michael Jeong) Hard Candy? (LEFT) Getting a new job is always hard. A job interview gets heated up in “Hard Candy.” (Ben Adickes, Aditya Subramaniam). Photos by Maria Lloyd.

IN PICTURES: SCENES AND MONOLOGUES

IASAS music celebrates passions, talent across Asiaby Lillianne Cadieux-Shaw

Her palms sweaty, the sound of her voice still ringing in her head, senior Sanskriti Ayaar waited in anticipation for the judges to deliver their comments. This moment was what all the practices and rehearsals had been for: a solo piece in front of the judges.

For the vocal delegates, the judges give an oral evaluation on the spot, and one of the eight SAS vocal delegates is then chosen to perform in the Showcase Recital that night. “[The tension] was terrifying,” Ayaar admitted.

IASAS Music Cultural Convention 2009 was held in Kuala Lumpur in the “Esplanade of Malaysia,” the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO). SAS’ 27 students arrived on Thursday; eight delegates each from choir, band and strings, and three piano delegates.

Tryouts for Music IASAS began in late October. Twenty-five SAS students auditioned with prepared solos, all vying for eight spots. Those chosen came in three times a week or more to practice. Not only did they have solo pieces to perform, but also octet pieces (an ensemble of music with eight musicians). Friendly atmosphere for delegates

Unlike IASAS sports, the atmosphere for IASAS music is

not competitive; the musicians rehearsing there feel pressure to perform well simply because they need the appropriate feedback.

“Instead of kicking each others’ butts, we make beautiful music together,” Stephen Bonnette, the HS music teacher, joked. And indeed they do.

Thursday was a hubbub of mass rehearsals, with all the delegates from all the schools performing en masse. Delegates from other schools cheered others on when they were told to sing a section of music alone. Kids shared their music stands, and some even stirred the conductors to tears with their performances.

Guest conductors take orchestra to high musical level

What made these rehearsals so special was the fact that three world-renowned musical teachers were there to work with student delegates. The strings conductor was Dr. William LaRue Jones, a Texas native who conducts for the Oshkosh Symphony Orchestra and teaches at the University of Iowa. Leading the choral delegates was Weston Noble, Professor Emeritus of Music at Luther College in Iowa. Dr. Robert Busan, who currently teaches at San Francisco State University, was in charge of band. By the end of the rehearsals, many of the students felt an intense connection with their director.

“Mr. Noble could do so much with just subtle movements of his hands; he was really inspirational,” said vocal delegate Sanskriti Ayaar.

“It was incredible watching vast swells of music arise from small motions of his hands.”Judges’ comments cause nervousness among delegates

Friday is usually the day for the solo performances and Saturday evening for mass performance, but the MPO was only open on Friday, so solos and ensembles were switched. This provided more time for solos, and gave students preparation for the nerve-wracking solo adjudications.

Adjudications began Saturday morning. Octet ensembles of strings, band and choir went in and performed

together; then each member stepped forward and performed their chosen solo piece. For the choral delegates the three judges gave their comments immediately, much like the system of “American Idol.” For band and strings, comments are written and then distributed later.

The grand finale, winding down, and fond farewells

The culminating event of Cultural Convention was the Showcase Recital in the MPO on Saturday evening. Parents of delegates and members of the local community made up most of the audience.

One member from each section (band, choir, and strings) and from each school was chosen by the judges to perform a solo as part of this recital. At the end, the conductors and teachers got together and created a list of suggestions for next year’s festival.

IASAS Music ’09 wrapped up after the Showcase in true melodious style with a ‘jam sesh,’ which is very similar to SAS Coffeehouse. Delegates jammed on their instruments, while choral delegates joined in and sang along.

“Not only was it a valuable experience, but it was hella fun as well,” SAS band delegate senior Michael Jeong said.

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All together now: Junior Akane Otani and sophomore Linda Kim follow in synohronizaton with guest condcutor Weston Noble as they play to the tune of Frank Ticheli’s “Vesuvius.” Photo by Michael Cox.

A spotlight illuminates two figures on the far ends of the stage. Juniors Ashley Wood and Yuvika Tolani introduce the theme of the show to the audience, explaining how a single self-help book can meet every need in life. Floodlights came up slowly on actors frozen on stage. “The Thespian’s Guide to Everything” begins. This year’s Scenes and Monologues theme was based on self-help books. The show ran twice on Wednesday, April 8, with topics varying from voting for your favorite prom theme to how to tell your wife she is your mother, and how to deal with it.

Captions by Philip Anderson

Scenes were taken from “Monty Python’s Flying Circus,” “The Breakfast Club,” and “Saturday Night Live,” as well as several monologues from sophomore Kelly Schuster, juniors Olivia Auerbach and Ben Adickes, and senior Elliot Miranda. Cast favorites include “MySpace Seminar” and “Prom Committee.” Juniors Danielle Courtenay and Tolani were the directors for both those scenes, as well as the other SNL scenes. “It was hilarious, and maybe I’m just being biased, but there were really funny scenes that balanced well with some serious ones,” Courtenay said.

10 April 24, 2009 a The Eye arts & entertainment

by Maria LloydFor Eugene Wong’s 3D

concentration on shoes, he modified different styles of shoes to reflect what they are used for. Basketball shoes made into a basketball court, cowboy boots with a cactus sticking out of the top, and swimming fins with a fish inside were a few of his pieces. The most eye-catching shoes, a piece called “Par 2,” were in the form of a miniature golf course, complete with a green, tee-off location, flagged hole, sandpit and ornamental tree.

This is just a sample of creativity from the 59 students displaying 66 portfolios at this year’s A.P. Art show, “Cirque de la Nuit,” the largest in the history of the program.

Work from each of the programs were displayed: Drawing which focuses on hand drawn and painted art, 2D which is mix of classical art, photography, and computer generated graphic design, and 3D artwork which encompasses all sculpture and 3D design.

From Kohei Yamashita’s tentacles made of masking tape and fish made of recycled chicken wire, masking tape and razor blades, to Raehanna Reed’s huge, warmly colored oil paintings on canvas, to Victoria Rushton’s detailed acrylic paintings, the art show, Cirque De La Nuit displayed a variety from the best of this year’s A.P. art students.

The growth in the program brought about a change in venue this year from the American Club used in previous years to the new Riady Center for the Performing Arts. The change was a challenge to organizers, led by A.P. Art teacher Barbara Harvey.

“It was like starting from scratch this year,” Harvey said. “On the other hand, things got done better and more quickly than ever before. Part of that is because this has become a tradition. Those students who were here last year knew what to do.”

Students took over many details of the preparation including layout of the display boards, the bios of artists, hanging of artwork and label making, not to mention the long

hours put into the artwork. Julia Tan, a 2D art student, estimated that she put in 5 days of straight work into her five pieces, and Jia Sung, a sophomore in the Drawing class said her work probably took her 72 hours to complete.

This year’s theme of “Cirque de la Nuit,” French for Circus of the Night, was reflected in the silk banners, balloons, and masks decorating the Riady Center.

During the opening, students dressed as clowns serving food and A.P. art students wore masquerade masks. There was even an entertainer who swallowed and breathed fire for the crowd, twisted balloons into animal shapes, and did magic for children. Ex-student Alex Suter said that the theme of “Cirque de la Nuit” came across better than last year’s theme.

“Last year it was just at the American Club,” Suter said. “I didn’t really get the theme. This art show sets the mood with the decorations and background music. The new [Riady Center] adds to it.”

The opening of “Cirque de la Nuit” was attended by students and teachers of SAS, parents of art students, and students from other A.P. art programs in Singapore. Visitors left comments for the artists on boards next their work.

Senior Alika Savira said she was impressed by the quality she saw.

“A lot of paintings look very professional, not as if it was the work of students,” Savira said. “I like the fact that it’s so obvious how the artists portray their individual style in the artwork.”

Dinesh Gang, father of Aditi Gang in the Drawing class was surprised by the variety of work.

“I think the creativity is something beyond what I expected,” Gang said.

Photography teacher, Paul Griffin was interested to see crossovers in the work of students he had in photography class.

“I think first of all that the media is very different, but I see some of the photos taken in my class in this exhibit. I also see some good

composition skills which can be acquired through photography,” Griffin said.

Cecilia Farmer from the International Community School of Singapore was at the opening of the art show along with two fellow students and their A.P. art teacher.

“The quality of the work is ridiculous in a really positive way. Our school’s quite small so the program is still developing. We have three people in the A.P. art class this year. Our school doesn’t have the luxury of a Pre-A.P. class and most of us don’t have any experience. We just learn as we go,” Farmer said.

On the other hand, Anna Von Essen, SAS graduate of 08’, said that some of the A.P. 3D pieces did not appeal to her as much as the rest of the works in the show.

“I went through the 3D section, it’s just not really my thing,” Von Essen said. “Some of the pieces, like the sculptures, are great, but some others just looked plain weird. I guess there was an artistic intention behind them, but I can’t see it.”

The opening ended with a presentation of a framed art piece created by the A.P. 2D class to

Zulkifri Bin Mohd Monsor, the visual arts intructional assistant. The piece was made up of squares, each completed by a different A.P. 2D student that made up a picture of Zul’s family who all attended the opening. According to Harvey, Zul spent long hours working during his free time to make sure that Art show banners were printed and put up properly and is often called the art hero.

The A.P. art program has grown since its beginnings five years ago when Barbara Harvey arrived at SAS. There were nine students in a combined Drawing and 2D class compared to this year’s six classes of Drawing, 2D and 3D programs with 59 students enrolled. The class size is due to increase again next year. Harvey also said that this year’s students were better prepared for the A.P. test than ever before.

“I’m ridiculously proud of my students,” Harvey said. “Many of them have finished their portfolios about a month before the A.P., something that’s unheard of. It’s just due to their dedication and love of art.”

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Innovative AP art show displays students’ creativityFrom golf-course shoes to clowns, A.P art students take on a colorful theme to showcase their work

by Steffi LeeIn 1999, a small town near

Denver, Colorado witnessed the murder of 12 students and a teacher during the Columbine High School massacre. It was the unexpected conspiracy of two ordinary students. This is the research that junior Max Robertson was required to do to get a better grasp of his character in the upcoming play, “Bang Bang You’re Dead.”

“To play this character, I had to do more research than usual to get inside mindset of my character,” Robertson said.

Robertson plays Josh, an insane student who snaps under the pressures of school and parents, leading to him to murder them and five peers.

“Everything is in his imagination

and flashback. The whole play takes place in a jail cell, while he reflects on his actions and how they affected everyone around him,” Robertson said.

One of his victims, who is a close childhood friend of the shooter, is played by junior Danielle Courtenay.

“I play Emily, who used to be close to Josh,” Courtenay said. “Some of his victims are random people that he doesn’t know, but I’m an exception. He also kills his ex-girlfriend, Katie, played by Elliot Miranda, and her new boyfriend, Michael, played by Zubin Chand.”

The cast of the production is the advanced acting class taught by Tracy Meyer. Sophomore Sam Conrad, who portrays Josh’s mother, describes the direction and theme of

the play.“The set is pretty much a box,

with scenes directed around it,” Conrad said.

Actors in the class decided that this innovative way to present a show is fairly easy and especially interesting to work with.

“We move the box around, so it really lets the imagination take over,” Conrad said. This makes sense, because the whole play is set in the killer’s imagination.”

The mature theme of psychological disorder and murder required approval from Principal Dave Norcott and Vice-Prinicipal Doug Neihart.

“We waited for weeks and weeks to get the okay. to perform the show. But they all said it was fine, under the exception that anyone under

eighth grade is restricted,” Conrad said.

Although advertising for the play has been low-key, Conrad still hopes for a bigger turnout. The controversial aspects of the play are expected to draw attention and persuade people to come to the show.

“Its a heavy subject matter. Very different from my previous productions, ‘Cinderella’ and ‘Seussical!. ‘” Courtenay said.

Actors explained that the play is based on a true story.

“I have been telling our friends to come - we all have. I am definitely excited,” Conrad said.

“Bang Bang! You’re Dead” premiers May 14 and is followed by another showing on May 15th in the Drama Theater.

The opening of the artshow was held in the Riady Center decorated in the theme of “Cirque de la Nuit” and featured a fire-breather.Photo by Maria Lloyd

Senior Eugene Wong’s 3D piece was a golf inspired creation titled “Par 2”Photos by Maria Lloyd

This original poster is an illustration based on a “Bang Bang You’re Dead” by junior Danielle Courtenay

Upcoming play to bear controversial themes, subject matterAfter preliminary reviews and approvals, student-led play based on campus shootings will debut next month

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Think small: For his piece, senior art student Jae Hur decided to construct a miniature toy house around a paper-towel tube

11The Eye a April 24, 2009arts & entertainment

Take it to the dance floor Dancers get ready to perform upcoming showcase “The Silver Screen to the Dance Floor”

by Hee Soo ChungWhen choreographer Bella Lee

walked in to her first rehearsal and faced her dancers last year, the senior took a deep breath.

“It was scary because I had never taught high-schoolers before,” Lee said. “I was too used to learning dance, so I didn’t really know how to connect and teach other dancers.”

Lee said her first year as a choreographer for the Dance Club was a challenging one, especially because she was surrounded by experienced seniors.

“I felt like I didn’t belong because I wasn’t up to par on their techniques and their choreographic skills,” Lee said. “So I practiced a lot and continued on taking classes outside school.”

Her experience has helped her become more comfortable with

teaching dance this year.“Now I know how to run

effective rehearsals, and I can be more flexible,” Lee said.

This initial discomfort with teaching dance to a group of their peers is a feeling most choreographers have experienced.

Junior Yasmin Venema, who started choreographing dance shows this year, said that having to “boss people around” at first made her uncomfortable.

This year’s dance showcase, “The Silver Screen to the Dance Floor,” ran April 23-24. Each dance was choreographed to music from dance movies, including “Step Up,” “Save the Last Dance,” “Chicago,” “Dirty Dancing” and “Fame.”

“It was hard choosing a song from a dance movie,” senior Emily Brotman said. “The song genres [email protected]

are generally hip hop, cheesy jazz or Latin. Although a lot of dances this year are jazz dances, each choreographer put in their individual styles.”

The theme was chosen by dance teacher Tracy Van der Linden before she left on maternity leave. Alicia Araya, a freelance dance teacher, replaced her after her leave.

“The theme has no deep meaning, but it’s audience friendly and the songs are for all ages,” senior Priyanka Arya said.

There were 23 dances and about 200 dancers in the show.

“I like the dances this year because they really use the music and the choreographers made each dance really unique,” junior Alison Tan said.

TOP: Sophomore veteran dancer Michael Too demonstrates a free-form dance move to fellow dancers Heather Morris, Young Rock Lee and Miracle AndersonRIGHT: Senior Vania Zhao experiments with varied dance moves to characterize the themes of the showcase “The Silver Screen to the Dance Floor.” Photos by Kenneth EvansFAR RIGHT: Senior Emily Brotman practices to the tune of dance blockbusters “Step Up,” “Chicago,” “Dirty Dancing” and “Fame.” Photo by Melissa Huston

IN PICTURES: JAZZ NIGHTPhotos by Danielle Courtenay

TOP LEFT: SAS Singers switch positions to face their partners; Sophomore JJ Baek and senior Priscilla Chan take the center stage.TOP: In one of his few solo performances, senior alto saxophonist Michael Jeong belts out a rendition of Howard Shore’s “Closing Theme.”TOP RIGHT: Trumpets blare in a piece dominated by veterans Duncan Clydesdale, Alex Hoffer, Young Bean Oak and Devansh Pasumartry.LEFT: Junior guitarist Luigi Puno strums the blues in Duke Ellington’s “Caravan” along with accompanists Mitch Hulse (drums) and Oliver Kim (trombone).RIGHT: Jazz band conductor Brian Hill opens Jazz Night with a classic jazz piece by Don Menza titled “Groovin’ Hard.” Pictured in the foreground is junior Bari Sax Daniel Ong.

12 April 24, 2009 a The Eye sports & activities

by Philip AndersonEnglish teacher Andrew Hallam

felt the normal jitters that come before a race, but as he traveled toward Esplanade Park on Thursday, April 16, he fell asleep. Hallam took this as a good sign that he was relaxed and calm before the race.

At 39 years-old, Hallam knew that soon enough other competitors, the ones in their mid-twenties, would start leaving him behind.

This was his sixth year in the J.P. Morgan Chase Corporate Challenge, on a course which was first measure dto be around 5.6 kilometers, but turned out to be a little more than 6 kilometers. He placed in the top seven in each of his first J.P Morgan races, but never claimed first place.

Hallam thought he had a good chance of winning this time because he had been running some unusually fast times in training, the two weeks before.

“I knew it was possible for me to win because I had beaten all the past winners at some point, and even the current record holder who was a Ghurka,” Hallam said.

The race began at six in the afternoon, and around the final mile Hallam began to pull ahead of the group joining the few at the front of the pack.

“When I joined them, I felt they were slightly slowing down, and so I accelerated and one other guy came with me but he was breathing harder then I was, which made me happy.”

Fellow English teacher Stacy

Jensen who participated in the race, said that as she ran she saw a couple of runners, who were ahead, coming back around. She saw Hallam in second place, but almost glued to the first runner. A dispersed group behind him was falling behind him more and more.

“I knew there was no way they would catch up to them,” Jensen said. “So unless one of them sustained an injury, the winner was either going to be Andrew or the other runner.”

Jensen was running with a large crowd that included other SAS teachers and faculty. They cheered for Hallam as the gap widened.

“As I was running back a group of teachers yelled my name, which really motivated me.”

Hallam won the race, finishing in 20.25 minutes. Other members of the SAS faculty include Ian Coppell

who finished in 22.50 minutes, Mark Forgeron who finished in 23.07, Paul Terrile in 24.46, and Nathan Schelble who finished in 25.20 minutes.

Jensen finished 18th of the SAS faculty, with a time of 31.49 minutes.

“My first thought after finishing the race was ‘I made it!’ then it was, ‘Did Andrew win the race?’ ” she said.

After the race, Hallam said that it felt pretty cool winning the race for the first time after finishing in the top seven for six years.

“I felt good, because I’m getting kind of old for this kind of stuff, so I savored it more than I would have if I was younger,” Hallam said. “When your 17 you think ‘whatever, I’ll have more chances’.”

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After six years, an exhilarating victory

High School English teacher Andrew Hallam finishes the race in first place by a margin of 2 minutes before fellow teacher Ian Copell. This is his first JP race victory in six yearsPhoto by Paul Welsh

by Jamie LimGoing into the IASAS weekend,

the Eagle boys softball team could be described with one word: confident. With a number of returning seniors and a solid coaching staff headed by Keith Hynes and Kent Knitmeyer, the boys looked eager to place higher than their bronze medal finish last year.

However, two upsets on the first day of the tournament, the first against Bangkok, the second against Jakarta, proved to be a real setback for the team in front of their home crowd. Though starting the day with an 0-2 record, the Eagles played through Sunday to Monday defeating Taipei, then KL shortly after, bringing their record by the end of the second day to two wins, two losses.

Going into the final day of IASAS softball ’09, the Eagles continued their streak, ending the round robin with a win over Manila; however, the final outcome was now out of their hands. The only way Singapore could be in the championship was for both KL to beat Jakarta and for Taipei to beat Bangkok. KL did beat Jakarta, but much to the dismay of the team and the entire host school, Bangkok beat Taipei. The Eagles would finish third in the round robin

behind Manila and Bangkok, just missing out on the championship game.

Coming out for the consolation game in the early afternoon, both the Eagles and ISKL’s Panthers looked to end the tournament with at least a bronze medal. Starting strong, the Panthers scored a run early in the first inning. Though the second inning would end with the score still at 1-0, the Eagles looked for a comeback in the third. A base hit by senior Russell Kreutter sent fellow senior captain Brady Baildon in for a run to tie the game at 1-1, and later on, a double by sophomore Nick Devine driving home senior Josh Block put the Eagles up 2-1.

Rounding off the inning, senior Ryan Goulding grounded out at first, though an error by the Panther first baseman allowed Russel Kreutter to reach home for another run, the scoreboard now reading Eagles 3, Panthers 1. KL’s outfield kept the Eagles from scoring any more runs, but the Singapore outfield did the same, closing the seventh inning and confirming the final result. In a repeat of last year’s finish, Singapore took the bronze, while ISB Panthers took the gold. ISM ended up with silver.

Eagle boys clinch bronze

High school teacher wins J.P. Morgan race after five early tries

Eagle girls return with only two seniors yet grab by Melissa Huston

As senior Vanessa Peck sprinted across home plate, the red-white-and-blue Eagle’s crowd erupted with cheers. With Peck’s run in the first inning, the Eagle’s were on the board and one step closer to clenching the long-awaited gold. Just six innings and 14 runs later the electrified crowd rushed the field and closed around the 12 Lady Eagles: they had done it, they had won.

Unexpec ted mass riots and protests in Pattaya, Thailand sent this year’s IASAS softball tournament from Bangkok to the Eagle’s home fields. The girls’ softball team got to play in front of their classmates, teachers, friends and families.

Peck said that when they found out about the sudden location change, the team was excited and eager to play well in front of their classmates.

“I would have liked to go to Bangkok just because I’m a senior,” co-captain Peck said. “But obviously its nice to have home field advantage, and I think it really helped the team.”

The Eagles practiced every day after school prior to the tournament and played regular games against the middle school select team and the womens softball team.

“During pr-actice, we work on specifics a lot,” junior Natalie Muller said. “We work on relays, polish our hit-ting game and run through situa-tional plays.”

The tourn-ament was held from Sunday to Tuesday instead of the regular Thur-sday to Saturday sche-duling. Plays saw unexpected losses and wins from every

team. SAS lost to the Bangkok Panthers in a close game that went down to the wire with an extra 8th inning. Although the loss to ISB initially dampened the Eagles’ spirits, the girls came back on Monday and beat both Jakarta and Manila, 11-3 and 17-5.

“This tournament was really weird,” Peck said. “There were wins and losses from each team that no one expected. There wasn’t ever really a clearly stronger team until the end.”

Their win against Taipei the next

morning ensured the Eagle’s a place in the championships leaving three other teams - Manila, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok - in a three way tie. The three teams faced each other in a last-minute, modified round robin. In two innings of play that began with a runner on second and no outs, the teams faced each other until one reached two wins. Manila emerged the victor and face the Eagles for the gold medal.

Although the championship match seemed to start even, over the next seven innings the Eagles pulled ahead of the Bearcats and finished 15-5.

“The ending was kind of anti-climatic,” Peck said. “We made a couple of consecutive errors in the last inning but eventually we got the third out.”

The team lost five players last year and returned with only two seniors, captains Vanessa Peck and Erica Padgett. But Peck says that she was proud of her team and how they played.

“It was amazing finishing my senior year with this team,” Peck said. “I know Erica and me are really proud of them. We had such a young team and ended up playing really well, obviously.”

The players feel the same way about their captains.

“Erica and Vanessa know how to lead,” junior Brittany Dawe said. “They joke around and have fun, but they know when to get serious. It’s cliche but they inspire us.”

Long awaited victory: Shortly after their victory, the Eagle girls scramble for a victorious embrace. Photo by Melissa Huston

Touching Victory: Senior Vanessa Peck clutches fellow captain senior Erica Padgett in a heartwarming salutory hugPhoto by Melissa Huston

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Due to time constraints and deadlines, The EYE will have to print the IASAS track and badminton stories in the next issue. *

Co-captains Russel Kreutter and Brady Baildon. Photo by Jessica Nguyen-Phuong

GOLD

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