Deerfield Scroll: February 24th, 2010 by The Deerfield Scroll

VOL. LXXXIV, N O .9

D EERFIELD A CADEMY , D EERFIELD , MA 01342

Febr uar y 24, 2010

Reinventing the Gr eer Stor e By THEO LIPSKY Staff Writer As the winter term draws to a close, the campus has turned its attention to poster boards located in the Trophy Room and Greer Store. They advertise the floor plans of the new Greer and fitness center renovations. Chief Financial Officer Joseph Manory explained that as early as the beginning of May the Greer Store will be shut down for a “demolition.” In its place a New York-style hot dog cart decorated by Mr. Dickinson’s art class will visit Albany Road to cater to student’s snack needs. Mr. Manory said, “Louis Café hours are expected to be extended further into the afternoon and evening.” Despite these compensations, there is no doubt the Greer Store will be missed, and its return will be allthe-more exciting. Deerfield Projects Manager Jeff Galli made clear just how exciting the renovation will be. Scheduled to reopen in early October, the new store will be much bigger than the existing one. While only 78 seats are currently available, the newer store will have 164. The room itself will be 4,230 sq. ft., including the new men’s and women’s rooms within. To effectively call order names in the bigger Greer, a PA system will be installed.

The kitchen will also be larger. Director of Food Services Florrie Paige noted, “The service will speed up significantly, as the equipment and workspace will be much more efficient.” The new store has more to offer beyond its efficiency and greater size. According to Mr. Manory, the wood paneling on the walls will be cherry, mimicking the “feel of the Trophy Room.” The new furniture will be similar to that of the Koch Center, and new menu items such as pizza will be available. According to the architect, the new Greer will include a stage equipped with “multimedia A.V. and I.T. system.” “The plan is that a student band could come in anytime, plug in, and play,” Ms. Paige said. New room provided by upcoming “demolition” will relocate student mailboxes and introduce a multi-use room. Outfitted with its own audiovideo system much like the stage, the multi-use room will most likely house Academy board meetings and may be available for extra-curricular clubs. The board originally planned the project two years ago, but halted it due to the economic downturns. With new donor interest and a drop in construction cost, the new plan “saved 25% of the original cost,” Mr. Manory said.

Alex Berner A student band performs at the KFC, the winter Koch Friday Night Concert.

Student Actors to Learn from Peers at Theater Fest By SARAH WOOLF Staff Writer There are few opportunities for Deerfield’s theater students to see the work of peers at other schools. However, this April, the Acting Tutorial Class will attend the third annual Interschool Student One Act Festival. A group of theater students at Phillips Academy Andover started this day-long festival. Currently eight schools including Hotchkiss, Exeter, and St. Paul’s participate. In its first two years, the festival was held at Andover,

Camille Coppola ’10 will be leading a workshop on a concept she learned at an acting program this past summer. Despite her nervousness, Coppola said, “I’m really excited. I have wanted to teach this idea since I learned it.” In planning this year’s schedule, Mr. Reese was adamant about attending the festival. (In the past two years, it was impossible to attend due to other events.) He feels it is important for the artists to interact with other schools just as athletes do.

Poet Naomi Shihab Nye to Visit Campus in April

David Koch Named Lifetime Trustee

By FREDDY ROCKWOOD Staff Writer

By LUCY COBBS Editor-in-chief Philip Greer, chairman of the board of trustees said, “David Koch is a living example of Mr. Boyden’s aspiration.” In tribute to Mr. Koch’s selflessness and dedication to Deerfield ideals, the board recently voted to name him the first and only Lifetime Trustee. This unprecedented honor gives Mr. Koch all the rights of an active trustee, including voting, and he may come to as many meetings as he wants for the rest of his life. “There may well be no one else ever accorded this honor,” said Mr. Greer. Since first arriving on Deerfield campus in 1954 as a student, Mr. Koch has served the Academy in many capacities— but especially as a trustee and generous donor. In the past

but this year it will be at Choate for its convenient location. The festival begins with workshops on different elements of drama and theater. In the evening, each school performs a ten minute one-act play led by a student director. The focus on student involvement is what attracts Director of Acting John Reese to the festival. “Letting it be more or less student run makes it much more fun.” He also thinks that the lack of competition in the festival “fosters a nice spirit.”

Jim Gipe, Pivot Media David Koch shares a light moment with Ms. Curtis at the dedication of the Koch Center.

twenty years, he has significantly helped to fund the construction of the natatorium and Koch Math and Science Center. “Mr. Koch has shown through his actions and his words that he is worthy of his Deerfield heritage,” said Ms. Curtis. In 1995, Mr. Koch was a major donor for the natatorium, which houses an eight-lane pool, a Jacuzzi, a lap-pool, and three diving boards under soaring ceilings. Not only is it home to Deerfield swimming and diving teams, but it also serves as a facil-

What’s so appealing about the GTL lifestyle? Page 4

ity for the Franklin County community and swimming Special Olympics team. The Koch Center, to which Mr. Koch made a major contribution in 2007, has been called “the science and math Mecca of the boarding school world” by Board members. “I would like to be known in the future as someone who is not just a wealthy, successful businessman,” he said, “but someone who really cared about the well-being of others—did his darndest to be charitable and help others.”

Missy Walker wins “gold key” in writing contest Page 5

Poet, anthologist, and lecturer Naomi Shihab Nye will visit campus for three days beginning April 7. A close friend of Katie Flato P’10, ’12, Ms. Nye has Palestinian heritage that shines through in her work. Much of her work, such as 19 Varieties of Gazelle: Poems of the Middle East, speaks of the Middle East and the issues facing the region. During her three-day visit, Ms. Nye will meet with the English Department and students. “We’re trying to make it an experience that reaches out to both the English classes and history classes,” said Hannah Flato ’10. Ms. Nye can speak not only about what it takes to become a successful writer, but also about centuries-old struggles. Arabic Teacher Samar Moushabeck is also optimistic about the poet’s visit. “I want to broaden the horizons of my students so they can know what’s out there,” said Ms. Moushabeck.

Ms. Nye is a Lannan Fellow, a Guggenheim Fellow, and a Witter Bynner Fellow. Her children’s books have won many awards including an Arab American Book Award. She was recently elected as a chancellor to the Academy of American Poets. “Because she has spent a lot of time back in Palestine, she has become an ardent advocate for the Palestinian people,” said English Teacher John Palmer. Ms. Nye strives to break down Arab and Muslim stereotypes that degrade the proud people. Ms. Nye currently lives in San Antonio, Texas, where she came to know Mrs. Flato, the mother of Hannah and Malou Flato ’12. Mrs. Flato finds event speakers for the San Antonio Library Foundation, so it was natural for her to suggest a speaker for Deerfield. Ms. Nye is often in the New England area to give lectures at various colleges. Mrs. Flato and Hannah began to speak to Ms. Nye over a year ago about coming to the Academy, and the momentum quickly began to build.

Girls start their own golf team Page 6

OPINION / EDITORIAL

The Deerfield Scroll

February 24, 2010

Letter From the Editor

VOL. LXXXIV, NO. 9

February 24, 2010

Editor-in-Chief

LUCY COBBS

Opinion/Editorial JOHANNA FLATO

Layout Editor ELLEN SHIN Assistant Layout Editor SARAH KIM Photo Editor STEPHANIE OLIVAS

Arts & Entertainment TAO TAO HOLMES

Photo Associate ELEANOR PARKER

Features AMANDA MINOFF

Online Associate JAKE BARNWELL Business Manager CASEY BUTLER

Front Page CAMILLE COPPOLA

Sports CYRUS WITTIG

Editorial Associates EMMETT KNOWLTON YU-JIN NAM GRACE MURPHY ELISABETH STRAYER

Online Editor CAMILLE VILLA Advisors

SUZANNE HANNAY & JOHN PALMER STAFF REPORTERS: Nastassia Adkins, Mary Banalagay, Delaney Berman, Casey Butler, Audrey Cho, Jacqueline Colt, Daryl Cooley, Kayla Corcoran, Danielle Dalton, Ashik Desai, Malou Flato, Albert Ford, Anna Gonzales, Lizzy Gregory, Miles Griffis, Philip Heller, Sonja Holmberg, Shaye Horn, Ritchey Howe, Claire Hutchins, Andy Kang, Jade Kasoff, Stefani Kuo, Francis Lauw, Eunice Lee, Theo Lipsky, Daniel Litke, Dylan McDermott, Matt McKelvey, Marly Morgus, Courtney Murray, Hadley Newton, Sarah Oh, Zoe Perot, Freddy Rockwood, Nina Shevzov-Zebrun, Andrew Slade, Eliot Taft, Julia Trehu, Libby Whitton, Christopher Wong, Sarah Woolf, Elizabeth Yancey, Michael Yang STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS: Alex Berner, Megan Cai, Arleen Chien, Jennifer Coulombe, Sarah Cox, Clair Fair, Will Fox, Daniel Han, Chesney Henry, Veronica Houk, Nina Kempner, Susanna Kvam, Louisa Schieffelin The Deerfield Scroll, established in 1925, is the official student newspaper of Deerfield Academy. The Scroll encourages informed discussion of pertinent issues that concern the Academy and the world. Signed letters to the editor that express legitimate opinions are welcomed. We hold the right to edit for brevity. The Scroll, published nine times yearly, is entered as third class bulk rate at the U.S. Post Office at Deerfield, Mass. 01342. Advertising rates provided upon request. Opinion articles without names represent consensus views of the editorial staff. Opinion articles with contributors’ names represent the views of the respective writers.

Leading Sans Leadership Meeting Would it be brash to suggest that a pragmatic leader in the Deerfield community ought not to attend the “Leadership Training” sessions? Perhaps not. For starters, why is it necessary to formalize so-called “leadership positions”? If Deerfield is such a prestigious institution, each and every one of its students, from freshman to senior, should be a capable leader. It is uncalled for to specifically deem certain roles on campus “leadership” roles when students are all encouraged to be well-rounded, Renaissance men and women—the future leaders of the world. The appointed “leaders” of the school should have the skills of time management and priori-

tizing. By handling the demands of Deerfield, they have already displayed adeptness in these areas, and as competent young people, have already acquired socalled leadership skills. Many if not all of the most successful Deerfield leaders chose to skip the second Leadership Training meeting. After attending the first, in which a mandatory group reflection on handmade flow charts met with cynicism and silence, they chose to forgo another meeting after considering the best use of their time. Deerfield needs to trust and believe in its leaders—they are all capable of handling what they have taken on. If not, they’ll catch on fast.

Current Electives Miss Out As juniors and seniors looked over this year’s spring electives, many were disappointed to find no science offerings. Where, for instance, have Skywatching and Forensics gone? Aside from these traditional stand-bys we would like to see courses with more relevance to students. Many have expressed interest in seeing more practical or hands-on courses such as home economics or wood shop. How about a course focused on keeping abreast of current events? Middlesex, for example, offers a course in which students

must read the paper daily and write letters to the editor while pursuing a research topic. It seems especially important that seniors on the cusp of, if not already, exercising their voting rights, be well-informed about the issues of the day. In the past, we have complained about students’ ignorance when it comes to current events, why doesn’t the school try a proactive approach as Middlesex does? Offering this to seniors might be a first step towards a class offered towards the entire student body, encouraging overall political awareness.

At the risk of sounding slightly cliché, the past year and nine editions of the Scroll Volume 84 have flown by. I’d like to first thank all the 2009-2010 editors; your hard work produced high-quality pages and your levity during layout kept me sane. Also, none of this would have been possible without our advisors, Ms. Hannay and Mr. Palmer, who guided us, motivated us, and brought us donuts when we were hungry. Thank you to everyone on and off campus who supported us: readers, Dr. Curtis, and administration. Reflecting on the quality of Volume 84, I like to think that we accomplished many of our goals. We reported with clarity on a number of weighty issues—gender dynamics, over enrollment, the on-campus International Debate, the settlement of the Koch Center lawsuit, our rivalry with Choate, and the fire in the Dining Hall. In addition, we provided a forum for discussion, receiving and publishing many letters from students, teachers, and alumni. We also introduced a couple of exciting initiatives, including Scroll Online. Thanks to Online Editors Camille Villa ’10 and Jake Barnwell ’12 for spearheading the project. Scroll.deerfield.edu, our website launched in May, has had 16,000 visits and allowed us to begin a video-journalism program and publish a greater volume of and more timely articles. With commenting available online, we’ve received more feedback from a larger audience. Also, we started a regular book review column and blog by Kayla Corcoran ’10, and we feature Amanda Bennett ’10’s almost daily-updated blog about her experience in Spain School Year Abroad. Throughout the year we strove to report on a balance of topics with accuracy and fairness and to accept all constructive criticism with grace. Finally, to end this letter, I’d like to congratulate and wish the best to Elisabeth Strayer ’11, the new editor-in-chief, and her staff. Good night and good luck. -Lucy Cobbs, editor-in-chief

Letter to the Editor

Re: “Re: ‘Why We’d Rather Be Here Than Choate,’” Letter to the Editor, January 27, 2010 Neither of my parents are diehard football fans, yet every November they both follow one game with passion. The game: the annual showdown between their alma mater and their traditional rival. This rivalry has lasted over a century, with both schools producing thousands of upstanding citizens during that time. Rivalries are hardly a recent invention of Deerfield and Choate. I would like to take a moment to consider the spirit behind the rivalry. I was shocked when I read the comparison between our Choate Day traditions and harassment practices of the Ku Klux Klan. I find it disturbing that someone perceives me and my peers as capable of such egregious acts of hatred as seen in the South during the height of the violence carried out by the Klan. I have now taken part in Choate week for three years, I have sat in the darkened dining hall listening to the legend about a brave warrior’s defeat of a wild boar centuries ago, I have stood basking in the warmth of the overwhelming school spirit watching the burning of the C, and I have been filled with pride as the familiar words of the cheering song ring out over the fields at the end of the Choate games. While each time I have

been honored to be a part of these traditions, I have never once felt the need to carry out violent action against a Choatie. This rivalry is not as much about hating Choate as it is about loving Deerfield. As students of history, we have all studied the dangers of the “other” mentality as seen in imperialistic conquests, the holocaust, and acts of terrorism and racism within our own country. However in each of these examples, there lies a stark contrast to the Deerfield-Choate Rivalry. This rivalry is hardly a oneway street. For our caveman tshirt, Choate made a t-shirt featuring an easy button. A rivalry can exist only between equals. If we truly believed Choaties to be inferior human beings we wouldn’t compete with them. Competition requires a worthy opponent. In acknowledging Choate as our rival, we acknowledge them as being one of our peer schools. One of the things that first drew me to Deerfield was the character of the students here. When you meet Deerfield boys or girls, they will look you in the eye and shake your hand. This is a phenomenon not seen in most of the adolescent world. It is also a demonstration of respect for a common humanity. We as students at Deerfield pride ourselves in being respectful individuals. On the athletic field we continue to hold ourselves to this standard. Before I came to Deerfield, I attended a large public high

school outside of Boston. When my old school played their rival, the police from both towns were in attendance and every year had to break up several fist fights between fans. At Deerfield we do not resort to such violence. Even the most hot-headed of athletes is encouraged by our coaches and peers to conduct his or herself in an honorable manner. In my three years here I have never seen a level of athletic competition that I could consider “extreme.” Deerfield has some of the strongest sportsmanship I have ever encountered in an athletic career that has now spanned 15 years. Frankly, I would argue that such extreme violent competition would not only be seen as unacceptable by Deerfield students, but would be against the very nature of the character of this school. Mr. Boyden believed the value of sports lay in the molding of character. We strive everyday to shape ourselves into young adults worthy of the vision set forth by Mr. Boyden. I would encourage the author of the letter to please take an afternoon to talk with students at Deerfield, to get to know the people they believe would don a white hood and take part in a lynching. If you are seeking grounds for comparison, please look at collegiate or other prep-school rivalries before making the jump to genocide and historical extremes. Nori Welles-Gertz ’10

The D C Thr ea t

By PAUL PASCUICCO Contributing Writer

Almost every week students hear the familiar words, “Last night, the DC met to discuss the case…” While some of the students whom the DCs judged ultimately left with Letters of Reprimand and other similarly light punishments, the fact that we as a school have gone from Boyden’s casual conversations over infractions to treating every infraction as a disciplinary case is alarming. Deerfield was initially and remains to this day a “secondchance” school, a school that encourages character growth after mistakes, rather than treating them as errors of character. Deerfield looked not to punish students, but rather to leave students with improved character at the end. As a student who learned from Ms. Creagh’s understanding but firm tone my sophomore year, I am concerned with the change in approach. Dragging

students in front of the Disciplinary Committee for minor offenses is humiliating and not effective. Far more effective is the previous Boydenesque model, in which the Administration would leave the DC for only the most serious offenses, dealing with the rest through dialogue and instructive repercussions such as letters of reprimand. Particularly worrying is the recent case in which the DC’s ruling of a two-day suspension for a unique alcohol offense was overturned by the Administration, and subsequently withheld from the student body. The case was a classic example of Deerfield character building. Two students were caught purchasing alcohol offcampus and rather than attempting to shirk their responsibilities and attempt to hide the incident from the school, they volunteered the information after returning to school. In an acknowledgement of their honesty, the DC’s deliberations concluded that the circum-

stances warranted a slightly shorter suspension. However, this ruling was quickly overturned by the Administration in what appears to be an attempt to send a message. The message that was sent was not the intended one; rather, it sent a message that conflicted with what many students thought that Deerfield stood for. Deerfield is meant to teach students through their mistakes, not to punish them to send a message to others. What truly makes Deerfield unique is its ability to allow students to grow and learn from their mistakes, academic, behavioral, or other. What we do not wish to move towards are the stricter policies of our rival schools. Our policies are a sign of strength in our student body and a show of confidence in its character, not a sign of weakness or tolerance of bad behavior. Our reactions to future infractions should reflect that Deerfield spirit and seek to develop the character of our students rather than vindictively punish them.

The Deerfield Scroll

State of the Union State of the School By BRAD TINGLEY Contributing Writer President Barack Obama’s State of The Union Address, a political swamp, reinforced the lack of success with today’s polarizing party system. Yet who is to blame for the inefficiency of today’s politics? Is it the Republicans, who systematically deny any chance of a health care reform in America? The Democrats who insist on leaving the issue of immigration alone? The answer does not rest in a political party, as the American people might assume it would. Instead, the issue is us. As Americans, we pledge allegiance to our political party, not our country. We insist on labeling ourselves as Republican, Democrat, and even the indecisive Independent. Instead, we should take a more democratic approach to our politics. We need to prioritize the country’s needs and vote accordingly. We cannot simply vote for the Republican governor simply because we agree with a few of the Republican platforms. Instead, we need to create a better party system, with the extremes on either side and the general public somewhere in between. We need to eliminate the party names and the agendas that follow them. Why should a politician who supports strengthening the immigration policy then be forced to be prochoice? A disheartening sign from both parties was the lack of support for Obama during his address. For example, when Obama praised the tax cuts for 95% of Americans, the Democrats jumped from their seats with a thundering applause while the Republicans sat stonefaced on their side. On the other

OPINION / EDITORIAL

hand, Obama viciously attacked George W. Bush and made him responsible for all the hardships of Obama’s first year in office. How can our political system be effective with such polarization between our leaders? While here at Deerfield, many of us cannot voice our opinions through a poll vote, we can still practice the same principles with our own Student Council. With the Student Body President election coming up in the spring, we are sure to hear of all the successes that each candidate had while at Deerfield, yet unfortunately, we are sure to see a popularity vote of some sort in which students simply vote for their friend or someone they imagine would be a good leader because of his or her public speaking abilities. Everyone needs to consider their vote—to think more about the platform of the campaign rather than the person standing behind it. If we do that, we are sure to have an excellent President of Deerfield next year with a cohesive student government and numerous opportunities for student input. America needs the same kind of system—needs to avoid the external party connotations and simply focus on the motives of the candidates. Inevitably, the next time you are asked about your party affiliation you will be enticed to simply state, “I am a Conservative,” but instead you should say, “Well I do not belong to a specific party. I support the idea of creating more strict immigration laws, yet at the same time I am prochoice.” Essentially, we need to break out of the shackles of the political party names that constrict our beliefs as well as the efficiency of our government.

February 24, 2010

One Senate, One Seat

By NICK WHITTREDGE Contributing Writer Scott Brown’s upset victory over Martha Coakley in the recent Massachusetts special election came as a surprise to many who believed that the Bay State would forever vote for Democratic senators. The seat was previously held by the late Ted Kennedy, who served as senator from 1962 until his death on August 25 of last year. Beyond Democratic candidate Martha Coakley’s lackluster and perhaps overconfident campaign, the Massachusetts race is symbolic for the nationwide popular apprehension about the proposed health insurance reforms being debated in Congress. Voters from across the state voiced their concerns “that the health care bill is being ramrodded through.” One of these same voters noted that his vote for Brown was “also a statement about what I don’t want.” A growing majority of Americans are opposed to health care reform because they feel they don’t have enough information about the changes the proposed bill would entail. The implications of Brown’s Senate victory are disturbing for the nation as a whole. Exactly one year after Barack Obama was inaugurated with a mandate to strive for bipartisan cooperation, the senate has become more partisan than ever. Every vote on recent major bills has been split along party lines. Now that Democrats have lost the Senate supermajority and Republicans have a 41st vote in Scott Brown, it is almost certain that Republicans will filibuster any attempts at passing health insurance reform. Senate Republicans have decided that their role in the government will be to veto any progressive legislation that is pro-

posed. Given their current minority, this also means that no Republican projects will be passed either. It seems as though the power to prevent legislation from being passed has surpassed the need for effective reforms. This stalemate is especially dangerous because it comes at a time when reforms are needed most. The current health care reform bill was found to reduce the ballooning budget deficit in future years. As New York Times columnist Paul Krugman writes, “Given the state of American politics, the way the Senate works is no longer consistent with a functioning government.” What can be done to put the Senate back into a position to serve the people and not their own political goals? The filibuster, which by Senate rules allows any bill to be blocked, allows senators to put their own personal or partisan goals before those of the country and even their constituency. It is a technique that has been used by Democrats and Republicans for years, more often by the party in minority. One option the Democrats have is to try to change the senate rules in order to ban the filibuster. This change, deemed the “nuclear option,” would prove difficult to effect given that 67 votes would be needed (there are currently only 59 democrats), and because the filibuster would still be fair game during the consideration of its elimination. Were they to succeed in changing the rules, Democrats could move forward without republican obstruction, and try to pass some form of health insurance reform. Hypothetically, this tactic could solve two systemic conflicts that have plagued the Government for decades (major health care reform has been attempted twice without success). But Democrats

are weary about eliminating the filibuster because, come November, it may be the most valuable tool they have. The unpopularity of the current health insurance reform has slated Democrats to lose senate seats in November and the disparity between political agenda and public opinion has put health insurance reform in jeopardy. Last week, President Obama announced that he would hold a bipartisan health care summit on health care to be televised this month. “I want to come back and have a large meeting, Republicans and Democrats, to go through systematically all the best ideas that are out there and move it forward.” sources: http://thecaucus.blogs.nyti mes.com/2010/01/19/blogging-the-mass-senate-race/ http://graphics8.nytimes.co m/packages/images/nytint/doc s/new-york-times-cbs-newspoll-health-care-overhaul/original.pdf http://graphics8.nytimes.co m/packages/images/nytint/doc s/new-york-times-cbs-newspoll/original.pdf http://www.whitehouse.gov /the-press-office/remarks-president-state-union-address http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/107xx/doc10769/CLASS_ Additional_Information_Miller_ letter.pdf http://www.nytimes.com/2 010/02/08/opinion/08krugman.html Beth, Richard S., “Entrenchment” of Senate Procedure and the “Nuclear Option” for Change: Possible Proceedings and Their Implications. March 28, 2005. http://rules.senate.gov/public/i ndex.cfm?p=SenateFloorProced ures http://www.nytimes.com/2 010/02/08/us/politics/08webo bama.html?

When Was the Last Time You Were Alone? By KELSEY JANIK Contributing Writer

he dry summer dust on the road is soft on my bare feet, and the glaring sunlight gives everything an aura of over-exposure. When I finally reach the shade of the trees, my face aches from nearly an hour of subconscious squinting. I leave the roadside and walk a short way into the woods to a stream that runs towards the river at the bottom of the mountain. In one of the deeper pools I walk out knee deep into the cold water, digging my toes into the mud and watching the waterstriders shoot across the surface and crowd under the opposite bank. I am intensely aware of the cold, living-and-mineral water and the pushing current. I am going to enjoy this day with no company but the water striders. When was the last time you were alone? When was the last time you spent most of a weekend, or even a day or a couple hours, entirely by yourself, without a companion, a computer, or a phone by your side? Did you do so voluntarily, for your own pleasure? In this day of “bathroom buddies” and stream of consciousness text-messaging, my guess is it was a long time ago. A group of students sit at a table during walk-through. A girl stands up: “Come up to get salad with me” she asks her friend next to her, pulling her out of her seat. Poor girl. She can’t walk twenty feet to the salad bar by herself. Earlier that day, another girl from down the hall had knocked on her door: “Are you wearing boots today? I’m not sure whether to wear boots or flats—will you wear boots with me? I just don’t want to be the only one.” Here you have it: the future leaders of America. They can’t even decide what to wear without help and the assurance that someone else will wear the same thing with them. Some of them can’t sit alone at a table. What are they afraid of ? They are giving

up their ability to think and act independently, and as much lip service as ‘independence’ gets in the educational world, here at Deerfield we often have an incentive to depend on others. Isn’t it often easier to discuss homework as a group, or to have a difficult concept spoon-fed to you by a teacher rather than to figure it out by yourself ? Study groups and extra help have their place, but many students find that when test-day comes and they have only themselves to depend on, they are unprepared to succeed alone. What will happen, then, when they have to face the real world? How is someone who can’t walk to the salad bar without company going to manage going to a supermarket? This isn’t just Deerfield’s problem; everywhere I have gone in America, people my age and younger exhibit a degree of dependency, a constant need for companionship, contact with friends, assistance, and social approval. So the question is: Are these the sort of people to whom America is passing? Those who have never learned how to manage when they have to trust and depend on themselves? The truth is, this isn’t just a question of going on a long walks on the weekends. Developing the self-confidence and sense of self-worth necessary to be a good companion to oneself is a way towards something more important: learning how to survive independently. We will all have times in our lives when there is no one to help us, no one who understands, or no one who cares. In those times, we are all we can depend on. In preparation for those days, let us learn to trust in the one who is, after all, closest to us, and let us learn our own powers and limits; they are higher than you might think. In order to do so, we must enter situations that make us uncomfortable. So sit alone at lunch, wear a sweater that your friend thinks is tacky, and skip the history study group tonight. Can’t handle it? Maybe you can convince your friend to do it too…

TheDeerfield Scroll would like to thank the members of the Grounds Crew for all of their hard work this winter. We understand that you make it possible for us to continue walking easily from class to class, dorm to Dining Hall, gym to dorm. Thank you!

Congratulations to Junior Declamation Winners Mia Fowler Emmett Knowlton Ellie Parker

We wish to extend our deepest sympathy to ROSE CAOUETTE and to her family on the death of her husband ROBERT F. CAOUETTE, SR. The Deerfield Scroll apologizes for the omission of Sonja Holmberg’s byline of the article, “Soft Shadows, Hot Wax” in the January 27, 2010 issue.

The Deerfield Scroll

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

February 24, 2010

Awards Galore at Artspace Student Exhibit By LIZZY GREGORY Staff Writer Eight Deerfield art students were selected to show their pieces in the annual Teen Art Exhibit, hosted by Artspace Community Arts Center in Greenfield. Representing Deerfield this year were Harley Brown ’10, Eloise McEniry ’10, Jen Mulrow ’10, Nastassia Adkins ’11, Hannah Dancer ’11, Lizzy Gregory ’11, Sonja Holmberg ’11, and Porter Simmons ’12. Local professional artists judged the works in each category: drawing, painting, photography, prints, assemblage/mixed media, and sculpture, and Best in Show. Deerfield artists took top honors at the gallery’s awards ceremony on January 29. In the drawing category, Mulrow took first place with her self-portrait in charcoal pencil, and Holmberg’s Vessels took third.

THE

SITUATION By DELANEY BERMAN Staff Writer In the past few years, reality shows have shown up all over television, flooding networks like Bravo and MTV. Recently added to the reality mix is The Jersey Shore, a show featuring overly-bronzed Italian-American men and their scantily clad female counterparts, which has reached an even higher level of mass appeal than its competitors. But what exactly draws adults and teens alike to this show, or any reality show for that matter? Why are we so fascinated with this “GTL” (Gym, Tanning, and Laundry) lifestyle, even going as far as dedicating high school dances to the show? The simplest explanation is that The Shore is incredibly entertaining. “It is the greatest show ever created—just the right combo of ridiculous behavior and steroids,” science teacher Rich Calhoun exclaimed. “It’s just so entertaining, and the characters are hysterical!” Julie Wardwell ’12 echoed. Mr. Calhoun later compared it to a car wreck, saying, “You know you shouldn’t look, but you just can’t help yourself! You can’t tear your eyes away.” Another possible explanation is that it is intriguing to see a world so unlike our own. “It’s funny to imagine that people actually live like that! It makes me wonder why I don’t,” Victoria Serra ’12 joked. English teacher Michael Schloat agreed: “It’s like going to the zoo, like watching a different species in its natural habitat. The people are just so self-absorbed, it’s ridiculous; they lead an utterly different lifestyle.” In addition to its entertainment value, Shelbi Kilcollins ’12 uses the show to boost her selfconfidence. “It makes me feel better about myself,” she said. Whether The Shore provides a guilty pleasure or a self-esteem booster, it has sucked in mass audiences who revel in the show’s absurdity.

The photographers also dominated in their section, with Simmons’ Bicycle Vine and Adkins’ Mortality taking first and second place, respectively. Gregory was awarded first prize in the Mixed Media category for her collage entitled Hannah. Deerfield Fine Arts teachers David Dickinson and Tim Trelease had the challenge of choosing eight works to enter the competition. Mr Trelease explained that they “tried to spread out the type of artwork,” submitting an equal number of pieces for each category. They chose early on and Mr. Trelease said, “If the show were to take place now, we would have many more works to choose from.” Mr. Trelease said the selection process was difficult, as there was a vast array of quality pieces from which to choose. “We picked works by exceptional artists, but there are so many more exceptional artists at Deerfield that could have won

awards. It’s remarkable how many talented and dedicated students there are in the arts at Deerfield.” After much deliberation, they decided to submit four photographs taken by Adkins, Brown, McEniry, and Simmons, thus dividing the submissions equally among photographs and rendered pieces. The photographs by Adkins and Dancer have limited color palettes, while those by Brown and Simmons feature bold, vivid colors. The four pieces of nonphotographic art are varied in their subject matter, medium, and execution. Half of the works are portraits, while the other half are still-life pieces. Like the photography submissions, two of the four are in full color, while the other two consist of subdued palettes. While ceremony attendees and visitors were impressed by all of Deerfield’s submissions, Mulrow’s piece Self Portrait drew

Self Portrait, by Jen Mulrow ’10, earned her Best in Show at the Artspace Teen Art Exhibit this past February. a particularly noticeable amount awareness in the community that of attention, earning her the Best quality work is being produced.” Although the exhibition in Show award. “It’s really nice for students ended February 12, pictures of to get recognition,” Mr. Trelease the works from the show are on said, “and it’s really nice to raise the online gallery on DAnet.

Field Trip to Broadway! What By DARYL COOLEY Staff Writer While the rest of the school went on with its regular Sunday schedule, twenty students from English teacher Suzanne Hannay’s senior classes voyaged to New York City and back. The purpose of the trip on January 31, was to see the Broadway play A View from the Bridge. “The play is about blue collar workers in the Red Hook section of 1950s Brooklyn,” explained Ms. Hannay. Ms. Hannay had already been planning to read the Arthur Miller play in her senior English class when she saw an announcement for it in The Greenfield Recorder. “It was really cool to see the play,” said Grace Burns ’10, a member of Ms. Hannay’s seventh period class. “We had acted the scenes out in class, but it was really exciting to see the play on Broadway.” Fellow classmate Haley Patoski ’10 agreed, “I was a lot

A Summer of Hummingbirds A Local Author on Literature, Art, and History By ELIOT TAFT Staff Writer Christopher Benfey, professor at Mt. Holyoke College, has received widespread praise for his book A Summer of Hummingbirds. In this scholarly work that revolves around multiple 19th-century figures, Benfey combines an analysis of literature, art, and cultural history. Through vignettes woven together like a thick bird’s nest, the author depicts the lives of celebrated American writers, poets, and artists during and after the Civil War. The book describes how Emily Dickinson, Mark Twain, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and Martin Johnson Heade, among others, curiously

more interested in the play after seeing it in New York.” This isn’t the first time Ms. Hannay has taken her class to see a Broadway play. “Last year,” said Ms. Hannay, “we read and saw All My Sons with John Lithgow and Katie Holmes.” Students had the privilege of meeting and talking with star John Lithgow. This production also included Hollywood stars Liv Schrieber and Scarlett Johanssen. “They did an amazing job portraying complicated characters. There was intense emotion between them,” Kevin Smith ’10 said. Ms. Hannay created her English course “Literature of the 1950s” in 2004 after discovering “a huge similarity between the 1950s—with fear of communism, McCarthyism, and atomic bomb—and the 2000s post 9/ 11 with fear of weapons of mass destruction, Islamic terrorists, and any voice that questioned American righteousness,” she described. Ms. Hannay’s interest in the 1950s spawned the class which

has gained the nickname “50/50.” The syllabus includes novels, plays and movies from the fifties and the course explores the defining qualities of the decade and how it compares to present day America. If this visit was so successful, why don’t more classes go on field trips? While Ms. Hannay wishes that more classes at Deerfield went on trips, she explained that “they’re never going to happen unless we start school a week earlier.” Both Burns and Patoski agreed that finding the time for one of these excursions is difficult. “The trip was really fun,” said Burns, “but it was hard to lose my whole Sunday.” It is certainly tempting to stick to the comfortable Sunday schedule. And perhaps New York City is too far to travel on a busy weekend day, but as Ms. Hannay pointed out, “Few of us ever make it into Boston, Stockbridge, or even the Smith or Amherst College Art Galleries. That’s a shame.”

intersect in the ever-changing American society. These renowned personalities search for love and inspiration in a post-Civil War nation, which has “left behind a static view of existence, a trust in arrangements and hierarchies, and ultimately find meaning in a world of instability and evanescence.” As the nation reshaped itself following the horrors of war, so too did Benfey’s subjects search for spiritual rebirth in their own idiosyncratic ways. The hummingbird, with its constant motion and resonating effect in nature, serves as the symbolic nexus that ties together the various characters and their shifting realities. Beecher, renowned speaker and brother of Harriet Beecher Stowe, was naturally fascinated by movement and resonance. Inspired by Darwin’s theory, Beecher began to view nature’s perennial qualities as vital concepts in their own lives. He wrote, “Creation, Darwin argued, was ongoing. Life in its diversity was not fixed for all time but in flux.” Benfey notes the intersecting themes and paths of his subjects. Mark Twain prepares his Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by traveling the country’s riverboat system and by exploring the jun-

gles of Central America. Martin Johnson Heade, too, sought inspiration for his paintings in the tropical countries south of the United States. His fascination with hummingbirds flourished in this region, and Heade returned to the United States to paint them. In the summer of 1882, the “Summer of Hummingbirds,” Heade traveled to Western Massachusetts with Dickinson and Beecher. During this time, Emily Dickinson wrote her signature poem, a riddle about a hummingbird, which epitomizes the attitude of all Benfey’s writers and artists, on the ephemeral state of society and life. Thus Benfey, through Dickinson’s climactic poem, defined the hummingbird as the ever-changing symbol of his subjects’ lives. Benfey describes not only a symbol, but also the transformation of a country, its artists, and the metaphors that revolve around the art itself. Benfey’s depiction of the reshaping of America’s perspective on society, art and even God traces back to the movement of a hummingbird. “Human life, all life, is a route of evanescence.” Mr. Benfey will be talking to English III students on Thursday, February 24th.

does it take?

By LIZZ BANALAGAY Staff Writer Amnesty International’s “Jamnesty,” DBSC’s “Open Mic,” and Albany Road’s coffeehouses give students and faculty a chance to showcase their talents and raise awareness on global issues. Giving life to student-run activities can be a difficult task. “It’s hard because you also have to prepare for the worst,” said President of the DBSC Akilah Ffriend ’10. “You really don’t know what happens until the day of.” So, how does one arrange these performances? “First, it starts with the email,” explained Editor-InChief of Albany Road Hannah Flato ’10. “You need to email the people that you think would be interested in performing. Next, you contact the people in charge of the building you need for the performance space, and of any technology you might need,” she continued. Ffriend added, “Then, you advertise the event through numerous announcements. It takes constant planning and constant communication.” Choosing the performers is a little different for each studentrun activity. Students auditioned for Jamnesty with “performances ranging from the a cappella groups to lip syncing,” said President of Amnesty International KG Kaelin ’11. Jamnesty is a student-organized Haiti-relief project, a performance to initiate a response to the crisis in Haiti. “With coffeehouses, it all depends,” said Flato. “If it is theme-based, we try to look for specific selections that fit the best with that theme. If not, we still elicit readers and performers we would like to see perform. If someone shows up unexpectedly and wants to perform, we welcome that as well.” For the Open Mic, “We choose students based on past performances, what they do in the community, and how prominent of a community member they are” explained Ffriend. Kaelin said, “We hope that, as well as providing the student body with a wonderful evening, we will engage and inform on current issues.

The Deerfield Scroll

EATURES ebruary 24, 2010 5 F

City of Light, City of Love G u e s t L e c t u r e r D r. E l i z a b e t h B u ck d i s c u s s e s Pa r i s as mythic landmark and modern metropolis

Images of Paris (left to right): Gustave Caillebotte, “Le pont de l’Europe”; “Hotel de Ville (1871)”; Gabriel Loppe, “Eiffel Tower.”

By COURTNEY MURRAY Staff Writer Dr. Elizabeth Buck, Visiting Lecturer at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and parent of Emory ’11 and Kelley Buck ’13, delivered this year’s Jaffe Lecture, “Picturing Paris.” The lecture, delivered on Sunday, considered “the creation of Paris as a site of fantasy: as the city of love, the city of decadence, the city of light, the city of revolution and liberty, and the city of mass culture, of fashion and food.” Dr. Buck was first approached by fine arts teacher David Dickinson who planned this lecture and was extremely excited to learn more about Parisian cul-

ture. “This will give the community an opportunity to learn more about Paris from an expert. This opportunity does not come around very often, and I am very excited to experience it with everyone,” he said before the lecture. What started out as a small talk became a lecture open to all students about the wonders of Paris in the 19th century. The presentation gave students the chance to understand the preconceptions and legends of Paris and also gave the opportunity for students to figure out for themselves whether or not certain legends are true. “Paris is not actually this antiquated place that is living in the past,” said Dr. Buck, “It is sub-

ject to change as it is a modern city with modern problems. These changes can definitely be seen in the impressionist paintings of the 19th century.” The lecture Dr. Buck delivered was a condensed version of the course she teaches at UNC. She spoke about the changes that took place in Paris during the 19th century and how they affected the city. “It’s fun to look at paintings that are familiar to you while finding many aspects and details that you may not have noticed before,” said Dr. Buck. “Picturing Paris” explores the effect of major events in the 19th century, such as the French Civil War, on the artists of the time. Dr. Buck explained, “Many artists were affected by the

changes made to the city in the mid-19th century such as the Franco-Prussian war of 1870 and the civil war that followed.” At Deerfield, Dr. Buck’s lecture also helped students understand how the French poeple live in comparison to Americans. “The French are very different socially than us, and it really shows in their artwork,” said Dr. Buck. Mr. Dickinson expressed his excitement, saying, “This was just a wonderful opportunity to learn about a city that still remains a hub of interesting art and culture.” Dr. Buck’s lecture was supported by the Jaffe Lecture series, which helps to fund presentations specifically for the Fine Arts Department.

Honor and Victory to Thee We Will Ever Yield By DANIELLE DALTON Staff Writer In 2007, a group of seniors who were concerned about the high number of disciplinary cases created the Honor Code Book. They created the Code to further emphasize the sense of honor and integrity for which Deerfield stands for. So, three years later, has this vision been realized? “Student council decided to make the honor code more visible on campus. The whole idea was to raise awareness,” explained Student Council member Nori Welles-Gertz ’10. In past years, the Honor Code book was available for members of the community to sign. A student’s signature would mean that he or she respected Deerfield’s tradition of honor and integrity. However, Student Council noticed that many were still

unclear on why they were signing. “The honor code is not just something to sign; it is committing to a way of life,” added Honor Code Committee Member Muheb Esmat ’12. “The importance of the Honor Code is not the words, but rather the discussions that surround the issue,” said Welles-Gertz. In hopes of generating such discussions, the Honor Code committee and Student Council are working on starting a program in which sophomores will take an Honor Code class. The class would be taught by students and discuss honor at Deerfield by looking at examples of past Disciplinary Cases and discussing the honor and ethics involved. “Our hope is that we will have a tangible definition for the honor code,” said Welles-Gertz.

Guinean dancer, singer, and drummer Sidiki Conde, who lost the use of his legs at the age of 14 from polio, enthralled students and guests on Sunday at the second Academy Event performance of the winter. “Music and dance became his transcendence and his vocation,” says the website for Mr. Conde’s dance troupe, which also performed at DA in February 2007. Dean of Students Jan Flaska called Mr. Conde’s life an “amazing story.” In Guinean tradition, disabled people are considered shameful and unlucky, so in order to protect the rest of the

village and the families, they are exiled from their homes. Following his paralysis, Mr. Conde was sent deep into the forest to his grandfather’s village. Undaunted by the coming-of-age ceremony in which young Guinean males must dance into manhood, Mr. Conde joined in the ceremony by recreating the traditional steps using his hands instead of his feet, knowing that his future in the community was at stake. Through singing and dancing, Mr. Conde reconnected with his culture. Mr. Flaska first saw Mr. Conde perform five years ago at a lacrosse camp that focused on character and motivation. Mr.

By LIBBY WHITTON Staff Writer Missy Walker ’10 has been acknowledged for her excellence in creative writing by the National Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. The organization recognizes the creative writings of teens ranging from grades 8-12 from schools across the country. What pieces of writing did you choose to submit? MW: I submitted my senior writing portfolio which is a collection of four creative pieces. The portfolio first went to the preliminary round where it won a Gold Key which qualified it to be sent to national judging. Right now it is being judged along with other pieces and portfolios from around the country. How were you introduced to this program? MW: In eighth grade I was encouraged by a teacher who was familiar with the program to submit a collection of poetry and a personal memoir. I decided to take the opportunity and ended up receiving a Gold Key for both my poems and personal memoir at the regional level. What appealed to you most about the program? MW: Really interesting artists and authors have won awards from the program, so there are a lot of remarkable alums. A few of these notable authors and artists that particularly stand out to me are Truman Capote, Andy Warhol, and Sylvia Plath.

Steph Olivas

Grace Murphy The Honor Code— “More than just a book”

Dancing to his own Drum: Sidiki Conde By ANNA GONZALES Staff Writer

Walker’s Words Win Award

Flaska found Mr. Conde’s life story and performance so impressive that he asked him to come to Deerfield. His first performance was well-received by the student body, even without the added bonus at the end of his performance of announcing a Head of School Day.

“I was mesmerized in my seat.” -Caroline Schurz ’10 Four-year seniors, who saw Conde as freshmen, reflected

fondly upon his performances. Caroline Schurz ’10 summed up Mr. Conde’s visits: “I was mesmerized in my seat.” Former Academy Events, such as humanitarian Paul Farmer and modern-day Indiana Jones Wade Davis’s speeches, have been much calmer and quieter than Mr. Conde’s “electrifying” performance. “This performance is a lot of sound and moving around,” Mr. Flaska said. The Academy Event committee coordinates all the performances, presenting a compelling blend of culture and science and lending a new sense of perspective to students.

Which English class are you taking this year? MW: I am taking Mr. Coffin’s Creative Writing class. It’s a really awesome class that fits my interests perfectly. Mr. Coffin keeps us writing a lot. Instead of giving us outlined essays to write, he lets us choose our own. We peer edit our classmates’ work and get to see many different approaches to writing. It is definitely one of the best classes I’ve taken. Do you see yourself pursuing anything involving writing in the future? MW: I’ve always loved to write so I definitely see myself majoring in English, most likely with a concentration in creative writing, once I’m in college. When I’m older it would be great to do something with creative writing, but right now I am not sure what that might be. How does it feel to have this sense of recognition from so prestigious of a program? MW: Of course I like the good feedback, but for now I am just happy to be at a school and in a class that gives me the opportunity to do creative writing, something I genuinely love and have fun doing.

SPORTS

The Deerfield Scroll

February 24, 2010

Your Goal For Today: To Break Your Partner A Closer Look at Deerfield Wrestling By CYRUS WITTIG Sports Editor On my way to the weight room each day I see the same group of kids entering the Kravis room. They wear the classic greens and greys and a look of extreme determination. About an hour later, I see the same students, wearing shirts stained dark with sweat and showing obvious signs of mental and physical fatigue. These are the wrestlers of Deerfield Academy. I am done with my workout at this point; they might not even be half way done. “Practice is two hours of war,” said Chase Weidner ’10, when asked what the atmosphere is like behind the closed doors of the Kravis. Weidner was sporting multiple bruises across his face and a cauliflower ear. The way he moved across his room gave away his exhaustion, but that is what it takes to have an 18-0 regular. He dealt with

“We get crushed, banged up, bruised every day” —Chase Weidner ’10 his pain because he had no other choice as a wrestler. A tri-varsity athlete, Weidner is more than familiar with the physical demands of a sport, but as he stated, nothing is quite like wrestling. “Soccer doesn’t even compare. Wrestling is constant resistance,” said Weidner. Wrestling does not carry the popularity of Deerfield hockey, lacrosse, or football. As Alexis Wagener ’10 put it, “Most people don’t know the rules, or understand the sport of wrestling. It’s hard to be a fan of something that you don’t understand.” Weidner filled me in on a few of these little-known rules. “If you want to grab someone’s fingers, you cannot grab less than four, but you can grab the thumb individually. You must be fully shaven, and the whites of your fingernails cannot be showing.” Luke Mario ’12 sees wrestling in his future saying, “I’ve always wanted to wrestle in college.” Mario won Class A’s as a freshman and was second place in New England’s at the 103 pound weight class. This year Mario ended the regular season with a 17-1 record, and won Class A’s at the 119

weight class. Mario comes from an impressive wrestling pedigree: his father, Carter Mario, was a wrestling Captain and All-American at North Carolina. Mr. Mario also helped bring in two outside coaches for the season. Vincent Ramirez and Mike Pinza, captains of North Carolina and Williams respectively, have brought a new level of intensity to wrestling practices this year. “They help with everything; our technique has improved, they brought new training methods, and just an overall intensity to the program,” said Mario. The results have shown in the record as well, as they went from ninth in class A’s in 2009, to fifth this year. Both Weidner and Wagener had great things to say as well. “Across the board there has been a dramatic increase in ability,” said Wagener of the new techniques. “They are young guys who can relate to the stresses of an intense academic environment. They don’t just tell us what to do, they show us,” Weidner added, referring to the fact that the coaches spar often with Deerfield wrestlers. Mario feels the pressure of wrestling on a day-to-day basis, saying “practices break you down mentally and physically.” Since Wagener and Weidner will not be wrestling in college, I began to wonder why they continue subjecting their minds and bodies to such pain every day. “That question is always floating around,” Weidner commented, cracking a smile in the process. “We get crushed, banged up, bruised every day. I know that when I look back on wrestling, it will be worthwhile. There is no feeling like winning a wrestling match,” Weidner finished with his second smile of the conversation. Even Wagener, who has been wrestling competitively for six years and finished with a 14-4 regular season record at the 145 weight class, sometimes questions why he puts on the headgear every day. “Sometimes I don’t know why I do it. Practice, matches, cutting weight, it’s all I think about during the season,” said Wagener. However, he finished by saying, “I want to be able to look back and be proud.” Wagener said, “There have been practices where the coach has told me the goal for today is to break your partner.”

Catching Up With Kevin Roy By CLAIRE HUTCHINS Staff Writer Kevin Roy ’12 from Quebec, Canada, has become a hockey sensation. Upon arriving at DA, Roy quickly established a large cult following. “Roy’s Renegades,” his unofficial fan club, wear his name on their own jerseys to the varsity hockey games. I had the opportunity to sit down and talk with this young star about what life at the top is like. When did you start playing, and why did you decide on hockey? I was about three years old, and all the cool kids were doing it. How do you feel when you hear the girls cheering for you? Real good, I feel good. How is hockey different here than in Canada? Mackasey says it’s better back home. How do you style your “flow”? Well, I saw my friend John Rose and noticed his flow wasn’t that sick. So I had to beat his. My hair is modeled after Lovejoy and Doyle’s. Who is your favorite teacher? Ms. Hannay. She got mad at me once, though, for missing a meeting. What happens in your free time? I don’t have any, I’m always at the gym.

What’s been the biggest change since coming to Deerfield? Going to class. What’s your favorite thing about hockey? I like to compete and try to make my team better. What do you see yourself doing in ten years? Hopefully working at Penzoil with my good friend Alan Klebanskyj. What object describes you? A right triangle. For reasons I cannot explain. Your favorite DA slang word? Money. Props to my proctor Peter Sullivan for that. If you had one superpower what would it be? To speak good English. Are you a morning person? 27 AP’s would say no… Alex Gonye wakes me up now… Do you have any signature moves on the ice? My backward sauce. It’s sweeter than Alex Ward’s. If you could change anything about Deerfield, what would it be? Coed dorms. What’s the one piece of advice you would give to your fans? Nothing, Deerfield fans are the greatest. Do you have any closing remarks? Yeah, George Wheatley is better at hockey than Jimmy Bitter.

Julie Cullen Alexis Wagener ’10 goes on the attack against a St. Paul’s wrestler.

Twins Hoping to Tee Off By PHILIP HELLER Staff Writer Last year, it was a big surprise to science teacher Rich Calhoun and his wife, math teacher Kate Calhoun, that Deerfield did not have a girls’ golf team, but had two co-ed teams instead. They learned about this from Grace Murphy ’11, who lived on their hall and was trying out for the team. Upon hearing about this, the Calhouns offered to support Grace and her twin sister Caitlin Murphy ’11 in starting a girls’ team for the first time in Deerfield history. Last year, Grace and Caitlin both played on the co-ed JV golf team, but, like many female golfers, did not score low enough to beat out the guys. As a result, they were only able to practice with the team and could not compete in matches. Being unable to compete

against girls’ teams at other schools is why starting this team is so important to the Murphy twins. Grace told the Calhouns about her idea and said, “Mr. Calhoun really encouraged Mr. Davis, the athletic director, to create a girls’ team. Also, Mrs. Calhoun is on the Athletic Committee, so she pushed for the idea at their meetings. Without their support none of this could have been possible.” Now, with signups occurring, they hope to get a good group of girls to fill the roster. The girls’ portion of the team will practice and play at the same course as the boys’ team, Crumpin-Fox Club, which is just over twenty minutes from our campus. They will play nine holes during practice four days a week, and on the other day they will play a match against a girls’ team from an opposing school. The schools that already have girls’ golf teams are Taft,

Andover, Choate Rosemary Hall, Lawrenceville, Hotchkiss, Loomis Chaffee, Williston, and Miss Porter’s. “If all these schools can have girls’ golf teams,” Grace wondered, “why can’t Deerfield?” The current golf coaches are Nicholas Alberston (varsity) and Jeffrey Armes (jv). “Mr. Armes will be more involved in the girls’ team because we are going to be considered a jv team,” said Grace. Girls with exceptional skill, such as Izzy Marley ’11, can still be considered for varsity. Grace and Caitlin showed their interest to Mr. Davis by writing a letter to him this summer. Their letter stressed the importance of gender equality and equal opportunities for girls, and even calculated the additional costs of the team. Grace and Caitlin believe that the team will be “a great way to get more girls involved in golf at Deerfield.”

Skiers Successful at NE’s By MARLY MORGUS Staff Writer On Wednesday, February 10, the varsity ski team had the honor of cohosting the NEPSAC Alpine Skiing Championships with the Northfield Mount Hermon School at Berkshire East, a small mountain 30 minutes west of Greenfield. The race began at 9:30, with the top five boys from each team skiing giant slalom, and the top five girls from each team skiing slalom. Jack Stobierski ’12 led the Deerfield boys’ team, coming in third behind skiers from NMH and Gould, a ski academy in Maine. Alex Osgood ’13 was the next Deerfield skier coming in 19th overall, an impressive feat considering there were 72 boys competing. Osgood was closely followed by Keo Brown ’11, who finished 21st after recovering from a fall in his second run. Also skiing for Deerfield were Bryant Seaman ’11, who finished 33rd and Captain Alexander Heller ’10, who rounded off the boys with a 43rd place finish. The girls’ team skied slalom in the morning, and Beth Lawless ’12

was Deerfield’s top finisher coming in 6th place out of the 48 girls competing. Next in line was Marly Morgus ’12 finishing 13th. Deerfield’s only other top 20 finisher was Captain Hayley Lawless ’10 who came in 18th. Also skiing for the girls were Annie Eldred ’11 who finished 26th, and Charlotte McLaughry ’11 who finished 31st. After an hour-long lunch break, both teams suited up for their second and final event of the day. For boys it was slalom, and for girls it was giant slalom. Despite competing against skiintensive academies that center their curriculums around the sport, Stobierski still shredded his way to the win in the slalom with the only combined time under a minute and 1.41 seconds, separating him from the second place skier from Gould Academy. Brown also managed a top ten finish, coming in seventh and nosing out the next skier from Kimball Union Academy by .07 of a second. Seaman rounded out the top twenty, followed by Oliver Hopkinson ’12 with a 24th place finish, and Heller with a 30th place finish.

The girls, also trying to conquer a difficult field, put it all on the line in the GS course. Beth Lawless led the girls with her second sixth place finish of the day. Morgus was the next Deerfield finisher with a 16th place, and Hayley Lawless followed suit with her 22nd place finish. Rachael Gibson ’11 came in 29th and McLaughry was 35th. With 15 boys’ teams competing and 10 girls’ teams, the day was an overall success. Thanks to strong finishes by Stobierski and Osgood in the GS and Stobieirski and Brown in the slalom, the boys were able to rip their way into third place overall. The girls had the Lawless sisters and Morgus to thank for laying down four solid runs and pulling the girls’ team into 4th place. Both teams were generally satisfied with their results on their home course. Of the girls’ fourth place finish, Beth Lawless said, “It was nice to maintain the consistency from last year, especially because we were concerned about losing a couple of seniors.” As McLaughry said, “We beasted at the B-East!”

Who Will Win Olympic Gold? Henry Michaels USA

Christina Lund Norway

Jimi Park South Korea

Shelbi Kilcollins Canada

Men’s Ice Hockey

Canada

USA

Canada

Bobsled

Jamaica

Norway

Jamaica

Canada

Curling

USA

Australia

Canada

Speed Skating Relay

USA

China

South Korea

Canada