Vol. LXXXVII, No. 1.5
DEERFIELD ACADEMY, DEERFIELD, MA 01342
May 10, 2012
outsidethewirellc.com
WAR’S WORST MEMORIES ENACTED Classics Seminar Looks at Ancient, Modern War Traumas AFTER SHOCK
When the Battle is Over By STUART BICKNELL Contributing Writer We’ve all heard of posttraumatic stress disorder, PTSD. But what exactly is it? The experience of trauma is, unfortunately, all too common even in these relatively safe and peaceful United States. Automobile accidents, violence, abuse, untimely death of a loved one—all can be traumatic. What distinguishes PTSD from other trauma is the lingering, intrusive nature of it. It seems to take on a life of its own. Flashbacks and nightmares and a triggering sight or sound or smell can plunge the individual back into a terrible and terrifying re-experiencing of the earlier trauma. The traumatized soldier can shut down and withdraw or become hyper-vigilant and over responsive. The stereotype of the traumatized combat veteran includes a person with a hair-trigger temper, easily overstimulated and highly reactive to his environment. But veterans also come home, even from a broader “theater of war,” with more subtle symptoms that include avoidance and numbing. For these soldiers, that suit of emotional armor was essential in protecting them from the intense emotions stirred up by the threat to life and presence of death. Once home, it becomes a severe and heavy handicap. When you can’t feel pain, you also can’t feel love and pleasure. Today’s soldiers return from overseas duty to a relatively warm welcome. We may object to the war—but embrace the soldier. In my experience, there was no “Welcome Home” coming back from Vietnam. The antiwar movement was raging, and very few of us were advertising
our military service. We felt out of synch with our peers, deeply distrustful, and profoundly private about our war experience. Many of us felt ashamed of our participation in a cause we didn’t believe in. As a graduate student in a university setting, nobody wanted to hear—or would believe—that I’d spent a year in Vietnam. It was odd and disorienting. While this kind of shut down and withdrawal doesn’t meet the criteria for a true PTSD, it was, for hundreds of thousands of non-combat veterans, the legacy of Vietnam. In 1995, Jonathan Shay in his ground-breaking book, Achilles in Vietnam, wrote persuasively that for those returning from combat with PTSD, there would be no such thing as a “return to normal.” To be exposed to the horrors of war is to be scarred for life. Some degree of recovery is all we can hope for, Shay said. Fortunately, there are encouraging newer PTSD treatment modalities that have been developing since then. The response time to returning vets has accelerated and follow-up programs and treatment groups have multiplied. Some of today’s vets object to the stigmatizing that comes from coupling the “D” (Disorder) with the PTS. They argue that it’s not a disorder; it’s a predictable and understandable reaction to an extremely unhealthy situation (the violence of war). I can appreciate their concern. The Pentagon, in response to the thousands of traumatized soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, tried to rewrite the PTSD criteria to limit eligibility for benefits. In a show of solidarity, veterans’ organizations and other supporters registered sufficient outrage to force the Pentagon to reconsider. That the government would make every resource available to support returning soldiers— medically, psychologically, and financially—is simply the right thing to do.
By JAMES CHUNG Staff Writer Students of the new spring elective, Classics Seminar, analyze ancient literature to understand the horrors of war, such as the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder and other forms of trauma in the lives of soldiers. Samuel Savage, the teacher of the course, described it as “a way of connecting intellectual work that students have done at Deerfield to a real world issue.”
“I feel like the discussions I’m having in this class will stay with me for the rest of my life.” The course specifically prepares students for Saturday’s performance of Theater of War by the group Outside the Wire. The group conducts readings from classical war literature. Actors aspire to find the link between the modern and the ancient soldier, a similar goal students of the Classics Seminar hope to achieve. “The idea of this course is to give us a better understanding of what modern day veterans go through. By using ancient materials, we are able to make conjectures and explore concepts we would feel uncomfortable talking about in the real world,” said Thomas Earle ’12, one of the eight seniors in the course. Students of the seminar recently visited a group of veterans at Greenfield Community College to describe their class and Theater of War. “The class is specifically designed so that all students are able to have a culminating experience in the classroom,” Mr. Savage said. “I feel like the discussions I’m having in this class will stay with me for the rest of my life,” said Earle.
By CAMERON CARPENTER Staff Writer Students, teachers, local residents and veterans will have the opportunity to attend the first high school performance of Theater of War, by the theatrical group Outside the Wire, which performs selections from Sophocles’ war dramas, Ajax and Philoctetes, to bring awareness of soldiers dealing with posttraumatic stress disorder. The performance will showcase four actors, along with students from the Classics Seminar, a new spring elective. A panel of three audience members and one student will share their reactions to the performance. The student panelist will be Jordan Jancze ’13, whose mother is deployed overseas. Jancze explained the significance of being able to see Theater of War. “I obviously cannot read my mother’s mind when she is deployed, so I think it will be interesting to see how the soldier reacts.” A discussion among audience members will follow, led by director and founder of the group Bryan Doerries. Veterans from the surrounding areas have been invited to the performance and discussion to share firsthand experience and insight into the plays. Classics Seminar teacher Samuel Savage explained how seeing these issues portrayed in a form of art could be a coping mechanism for veterans. “People who have seen what they’ve seen have a really hard time reaching out. It is a deeply personal wound and most people cannot relate. Being with others who have experienced similar things can give you something outside of yourself to talk about,” said Mr. Savage. Mr. Savage and Latin teacher John Burke attended a performance of Theater of War earlier in the year. “It was deeply
moving, even mind blowing to hear people connect with plays that are not at all far from reality,” Mr. Savage said. Designing the curriculum for the Classics Seminar, Mr. Savage wanted to incorporate ancient drama. He contacted Outside the Wire this past summer. The group helped shape the curriculum of the elective and wanted to perform at Deerfield as a part of it. Dr. Burke explained that, for the students of the Classics Seminar, “this is a great opportunity to see how Classics and Classical literature is being applied to modern issues and problems. I think it is fascinating that ancient literature can have something to say about a very modern problem.”
“I obviously cannot read my mother’s mind when she is deployed, so I think it will be interesting to see how the soldier reacts.” -Jordan Jancze This week’s Valley Advocate said that “in Theater of War, combatrelated psychological injury [is] viewed through the lens of Sophocles’ wartime tragedies. The cast for the Deerfield presentation had not been announced at press time, but previous performances have featured high-profile stage and screen actors including David Strathairn, Gloria Reuben, Amy Ryan, and Paul Giamatti.” According to the Advocate, “this New York-based company... employs classic theater works to illuminate and stimulate discussion on such issues as addiction treatment...and prison reform.” The free performance will be held on May 12, at 7:00 p.m. in the Garonzik Auditorium.
2 The Deerfield Scroll
SPORTS
May 10, 2012
BASEBALL, SOFTBALL WORK FOR LATE SEASON TURN AROUND VOL. LXXXVII, NO. 1.5
MAY 10, 2012
Editor-in-Chief KRISTY HONG Front Page CASEY BUTLER
Photography ASHLEY SO
Opinion/Editorial SAMMY HIRSHLAND
Graphics TATUM MCINERNEY
Arts & Entertainment MIRANDA MCEVOY
Online JOHN LEE
Features CAROLINE KJORLIEN
Online Associate DAVE KIM
Sports SARAH SUTPHIN
Editorial Associates CHARLOTTE ALLEN COLE HORTON TARA MURTY EMILY NG JON VICTOR
Advisors SUZANNE HANNAY & JOHN PALMER
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 is published eight times yearly. Advertising rates provided upon request.
Ashley So Alanna McDonough and Tierney Griff are coming to the end of their post graduate year.
By EMILY NG Editorial Associate The baseball and softball teams have not performed as well as they have in previous years, yet their captains and coaches expect a successful remainder of the season. Though each team has won only a single game each, the players are undeterred. Softball coaches Rebecca Melvoin and Danielle Chagnon foresaw difficulty from the start of the season as the team lacked both size and age. “With small numbers, we knew we would have to get back to the basics and we were prepared for the hard work ahead,” said Ms. Melvoin. One cause of the team’s losing streak is the repetition of basic errors during games. “Some errors we are working on include hitting more consistently, making good decisions in the batter’s box, and rebounding from errors in the game,” Ms. Melvoin explained. Junior Co-Captain Hannah Insuik’s goal for the team is to avoid losing games by the “mercy rule,” which ends the game because one team is ahead by so much. “I want us to play the whole game instead of losing by 15 runs. I hope to make cleaner plays, keep our confidence, and avoid strikeouts,” Insuik said. Nevertheless, the softball team is one of most well-bonded on campus. The team’s creed is to have fun and not take themselves too seriously when making mistakes. “Our team gets along so well, and that’s what helps us gets through our games. We’re able to have fun because it is a
Penny Ashford Caroline Ashford ’14 goes airborne as Kylie Davis ’14 looks on. Later, Davis outruns Hotchkiss player.
game, and we play to love it, not to win every game,” said Insuik. On the Headmaster’s Field, meanwhile, varsity baseball CoCaptain Nolan Doyle ’12 and head coach David Irwin also hope for a stronger end to the season, in spite of their losing record. The team struggled in its first few games against other schools. “We knew we would have a core of strong hitters and pitchers. The suspect area would likely be with our fielding. We had difficulty with the gloves, and struggled to put together seven innings of clean ball,” Doyle said. Mr. Irwin believes that the team’s losses can be attributed to its difficulty in putting together the three major facets of the game: pitching, defense, and offense. “When we get a great
pitching outing, we can’t seem to score runs. When we score runs, we make too many errors in the field,” said Mr. Irwin. Mr. Irwin hopes for the team to gain more faith in itself to stay competitive for the remainder of the season. “The challenge for us is to keep believing in the team; to know that we are a team who will keep scratching, clawing, and fighting from the first pitch to the last out. No one can challenge the tenacity, perseverance, and commitment that the team has displayed this year,” he said. Doyle enthusiastically added, “You can rest assured that Deerfield baseball is a team on the rise. We took our first league victory on April 28 against Exeter. We liked the taste of victory, but we’re still hungry.”
PGs COME IN GIRLS’ SIZES, TOO! By COLE FAULKNER Staff Writer When most people think of post-graduate students, a big, brawny lacrosse player comes to mind. It doesn’t even cross most students’ minds that there are female PGs amongst us as well… like Tierney Griff and Alanna McDonough. Griff enrolled this past fall in order to play lacrosse, while McDonough enrolled to focus on running. Both girls recognize the PG stereotype and admit that they are definitely not as well known around campus as their male counterparts. “Most people don’t even know we’re PGs,” laughed McDonough. Griff agreed, saying, “I was asked if I was a freshman five times at the beginning of school.” Griff said that even friends from her previous high school were surprised by her decision to repeat senior year. “Back at home, I had to explain that yes, I was going to high school again, and no I’m not a boy. Girls do it too.” Neither athlete regrets the decision to spend a fifth year in high school.
However, despite the attention that boy PGs receive, McDonough and Griff confess that they don’t mind being left out of the limelight too much. McDonough joked, “I’d almost rather not stand out, to be quite honest.” In response to why Deerfield over other high schools, Griff said, “Out of everywhere I applied, this was the one place I didn’t know anyone and I thought it would be a good experience.” “Deerfield is pretty well known for really balancing good academics and athletics and it looks good from a college standpoint,” McDonough added. McDonough, who became a PG to switch her athletic focus from hockey to running, has been satisfied with the level of competition she’s encountered this year. “The cross country and track teams here have greater depth and a few better runners than my old school so I have certainly gotten better.” Griff concluded with sharing the highlights of her year. “Playing on a team and being in that part of the community was really fun. It has been a great experience.”
HAMILTON RISES TO THE OCCASION By RYAN LOGIE Staff Writer When the boys’ varsity lacrosse team lost its starting goalie Luke Aaron ’12 to illness, many people thought all was lost. But, that was before new sophomore David Hamilton stepped onto the field and into the net. Although Hamilton has been thrust into the spotlight, he has taken his new-found responsibility in stride. “It has been great playing on the team so far. It’s definitely a lot of lacrosse, playing six days a week, and I’ve been seeing a lot of shots. It’s a big step up
from the lacrosse I was playing before,” Hamilton said. When asked his feelings toward this opportunity, Hamilton said, “I’m excited to get a lot more playing time than I’ve been used to. I’m also excited for all the big games we have coming up.” Another thing he can be excited about? A prospective lacrosse career. “The playing time he is seeing now will pay off for him down the road. I want him to have a great experience and be the difference in some big games,” said Head Coach Charles Davis. “As a goalie, he sees the ball very well and throws excellent
outlet passes. He puts his work in everyday.” There is, however, always room to improve. No one can help Hamilton grasp this reality more than Aaron. Hamilton said, “It’s been great playing with Luke [Aaron]. He’s super experienced because he has been on the varsity team since his freshman year. I’ve learned a lot from him in all aspects of the game.” So with a string of tough games ahead against competitive teams such as Avon Old Farms and Salisbury, Hamilton has large shoes to fill—and fast. But “he is tough-minded and steady,” Mr. Davis added.