Beginning with a mandatory viewing of “The Interview” in Kemper, students belonging to the first inaugural “Hammer and Sickle” immersion program embarked on a ninety day trip to North Korea. After touching down in Pyongyang, the children were thoroughly frisked and hosed by freezing water. Cell phones were immediately confiscated to keep students present during their vacation, not to “conceal the reality of the regime” or anything like that. Shortly after, the program found itself bowing before the Mansu Hill Grand Monument, a touching tribute to the nation’s supreme leaders. After kneeling beneath the statues for the first seventeen days, impoverished students and their “twisted Western morals” were promptly sent home (we think). The remaining group dragged their bags to a five-star hotel. Each night before bed, chaperones exalted government officials and sang to students. Unfortunately, these songs did not satisfy students’ curiosity about the numerous paintings hanging in the hotel, as many snuck out to examine them after lights out. Sadly, these disobedient foreigners were quickly arraigned and convicted of treason. However, Doctor King Ton Un, a well respected diplomat was able to help the “Hammer and Sickle” program return back to the United States. Participating students were sentenced to 15 consecutive GAP sentences, and work duty during senior year. Despite the program’s notoriety, this LITW program remains a giant success. In fact, with nearly a five-term waitlist, “Hammer and Sickle” is set to operate during every break of the school year, allowing students to continue exploring repressive governments.
