The Deerfield Scroll: October 25, 2017

October 25, 2017

Deerfield, Massachusetts

Vol. XCII, No. 4

Opinion: Choate Day Adeliza Grace

Associate Editor

Provided By Peter Hynds

Celebrating Ten Years of King’s Lilia Brooker Staff Writer

This year, King’s Academy in Madaba, Jordan celebrates its tenyear anniversary. His Majesty King Abdullah II, Deerfield Class of 1980, founded King’s Academy alongside Deerfield former headmaster

Eric Widmer. Head of School Margarita Curtis stated, “From [King’s] inception, the relationship to Deerfield was extremely tight.”

Dr. Widmer brought two Deerfield teachers to begin teaching at King’s in hopes to “create a culture” similar to Deerfield. King’s now includes 670 students from grades seven

to twelve, and 40 countries are represented within the student body.

These figures are not dissimilar to Deerfield’s. Throughout the years, there have been several exchange opportunities for both teachers Continued on News, p. 4

Confronting Racism Head-On Orlee Marini-Rapoport Associate Editor

On September 15, Cornell student and Deerfield alum John Greenwood was arrested after a racially charged verbal and physical assault outside of Cornell’s Psi Upsilon fraternity house.

Head of School Margarita Curtis addressed the Deerfield community the following Wednesday at School Meeting: “Racism and violence have been disturbing themes of recent news cycles, but this particular incident stands out because the alleged assailant is a Deerfield alumnus … if racial hatred is in open display by a Deerfield alumnus at college, then it could dwell silently,

here in this room, right now.”

History Department Chair Ms. Julia Rivellino-Lyons also reflected on the weight of the incident, commenting, “The fact that a [Deerfield] graduate used violence and racial epithets in attacking a student at Cornell in midSeptember is extremely disturbing, revealing the overt hatred that exists in American society — and closer to our Deerfield bubble than we may like to admit.”

In an email to the Scroll, Dr. Curtis said, “To be clear, the Academy renounces any notion of racial hierarchy: racially motivated hate speech or violence is repugnant, and we reject it — and anyone who forwards such

ideology — completely and without reservation.”

The Deerfield community is responding to and thinking about this incident in a variety of ways.

Ms. Rivellino-Lyons believes that to fully understand this incident, it is crucial to put it into a historical perspective: “The past and the present are littered with such hatred and ignorance — forces that can destroy some lives while benefiting others — undermining the ideals of equality and liberty on which this country was founded. It is critical that we know our history so we can understand the roots of racism and Continued on News, p. 4

Reed Student Art Gallery Opens Provided By Deerfield Academy Flickr

Adeliza Grace

Sadies No More!

Associate Editor

study of visual arts past the AP level, as having work displayed in this space is intended as a destination.”

The first works being exhibited in this student space are those of Mr. Dickinson’s Topics Tutorial: Studio Art class — Ines Bu ’18, Adeliza Grace ’18, Hannah Kang ’18, Sofia Novak ’18, Julian O’Donnell

’18, and Maxime Pitchon ’19 — the largest tutorial class Mr. Dickinson can recall.

There are two different projects on display at the moment, both of which are focused around the theme of “no eyes,” a product of Continued on Arts, p. 7

For the first time in recent history, Deerfield’s annual Sadie Hawkins Dance — usually called “Sadies” for short — will no longer match underclassmen and upperclassmen students in one-on-one pairs or “dates.” Instead, underclassmen and upperclassmen dorms are encouraged to make arrangements to attend the dance as partner halls.

The name of the dance has also changed to the “Halloween Dance” to better reflect the creative costumes worn to the event, which is traditionally held on the Saturday immediately before Halloween.

By combining the event with the annual all-school Choate Day Dance on the night of November 11, the

What’s Inside Opinion and Editorial, p. 2

On the Benefits of Buying Into Mindfulness

Opinion and Editorial, p. 3

Agreeing to Disagree: NFL Protests

News, p. 4

The Price of Health: Greer Prices Rise After Five Years Buzz, p. 5

How to Do Fall Right 101

Features, p. 6

Sleep—A Call For Change Features, p. 6

Student Authors at Deerfield

Continued on Opinion, p. 3

Provided By Deerfield Academy Flickr

Nadia Jo

Associate Editor The Reed family Student Art Gallery on the first floor of the Hess Center opened on October 8th in the hopes of promoting the arts program. Ms. Permelia Pryor Reed specifically gave this space in memory of her husband, Mr. Joseph Verner Reed and in honor of their sons: Adrian, Nathaniel, Samuel, and Joseph. This is the first time that Deerfield has ever had a space devoted specifically to student artwork. It is open to students from the studio art, architecture and photography program to display their pieces.

Art Teacher Mr. David Dickinson hopes that it will eventually “highlight all of the work of the many students who continue their

Choate Weekend is a beloved tradition at Deerfield. On Friday night, the past year’s alumni return to campus to reconnect with their peers and esteemed faculty before spending Saturday cheering for Deerfield’s sports teams. The alumni display their love for Deerfield through their enthusiasm at the bonfire and pep rally, and especially through the many miles they travel for the short weekend excursion.

However, in recent years, the administration has dealt with various instances of inappropriate conduct from some alumni, leading it to declare a change in the way the graduated students could participate in this year’s Choate weekend activities. Without a true dialogue with the student body and the Class of 2017, the administration severed the Friday night tradition.

Mr. Kelly provided thoughtful insight on the initial decision for the seniors not to come back for Friday night. He noted that last year’s Friday night sequence was only “a straw that broke the camel’s back.” The administration has, for the past ten years, dealt with the fact that many students choose to come back for the bonfire and pep rally intoxicated, which presents the administration with legality and liability issues that must be resolved.

The love Mr. Kelly feels for the Class of 2017 was clear as he noted, “For us, this was not a reflection on the Class of 2017. For every class, and especially for the Class of 2017, we were thrilled to have them back on campus. The change of that Friday night was in no way driven or directed at this class.” My only wish is that this conversation occurred before letters were drafted and emails were sent, in order to save the anger, distress, and confusion that circulated among students and alumni when the initial solution to the issue was announced.

Our mission statement says, “Deerfield Academy is an independent secondary school committed to high standards of scholarship, citizenship, and personal responsibility… Deerfield encourages each student to develop an inquisitive and creative mind, sound body, and strong moral character.” A key part of this statement is the evolution of students’ “strong moral character” throughout their time at the Academy. If we market ourselves to prospective families as a place where strong moral values are instilled in our students, then why were we ashamed of inviting back our recently graduated Class of 2017 the night before Choate Day? Aside from the dismay I felt at the revocation of the chance to see some of my best friends

Student Planning Committee (SPC) is hoping to promote school spirit by combining two of the most highly anticipated events of the year.

Student Activities Coordinator Mr. Brian Barbato explained, “[The Student Life Office] has worked hard in collaboration with [Director of Inclusion and Community Life Mrs. Marjorie] Young and the Inclusion Office to make sure we’re facilitating a healthy environment for everybody. Our biggest interest is for everyone to feel safe, valued, and fulfilled at our activities.”

Discussions dating back to October 2016 drew together various members of the Deerfield community to share perspectives on the nature of the dance, including Continued on Features, p. 6

#SocialMedia Arts and Entertainment, p.7

Students Find Inspiration at DA Sports, p. 8

XC Wins Westminster Invitational

deerfieldscroll.com /DeerfieldScroll @DeerfieldScroll @DeerfieldScroll

2 ⋅ Wednesday, October 25th, 2017

The Deerfield Scroll

Opinion and Editorial

Letter From the Editors Dear Reader,

Vol. XCII, No. 4 Editors-in-Chief Jillian Carroll and Kevin Chen Opinion & Editorial Editor Kiana Rawji

Online Editor Simon Lam

News Editor Sarah Jane O’Connor

Distribution Manager Sean Yu

Buzz Editor Uwa Ede-Osifo

Associate Online Editor John Chung

Features Editor Maya Hart

Associate Photography Editor Britney Cheung

Arts & Entertainment Editor Doris Zhang

Associate Graphics Editor Hannah Kang

Sports Editor Alli Norris

Associate Editors Julia Angkeow Peter Everett Joshua Fang Adeliza Grace Yingtong Guo Nadia Jo Orlee Marini-Rapoport Fatima Rashid Thomas Song

Photography Editor Roopa Venkatraman Graphics Editor Claire Zhang Layout Editor Ines Bu

Advisors Julianne Schloat and Anna Gonzales 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.

Opinion articles with contributors’ names attached represent only the views of the respective writers. Opinion articles without names represent the consensus views of the editorial board.

Let’s “Do Better” Board Editorial

shared by everyone. We only have one year left at Deerfield, so we must be sure to leave a positive legacy.

We urge all members of this community to recognize and stop hatred at its source. Buy in to the inclusion exercises and practices meant to help us learn and grow.

Have difficult conversations with your peers. But most importantly, always speak up when you hear or see something you know is not right.

All the best, Kevin and Jillian

Gun Control: Learning from Las Vegas Kye Liew

Contributing Writer

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On October 2nd, 2017, a lone wolf shooter killed at least 59 people and injured 512 at an outdoor concert in Las Vegas.

He had stockpiled 20 guns, some procured illegally.

Many observers took a somber, mournful point of view and wanted to focus on the tragedy and its victims, making offerings of thoughts and prayers. Some believed that then was not the time to speak about gun control, that that would be considered twisting tragedies for political gain. Calls were made for unity, and the debate for gun control was hushed.

The disappearance of Malaysian Airlines flight MH 370 struck deep within me. I had no personal connection to the plane nor the victims, but there was a deep national connection, as we united in the face of national tragedy. However, that did not stop us from questioning its cause, possible motives, and how to prevent such tragedies from occurring again. We trawled through information regarding the pilot, the flight crew, the airplane’s own safety features, and the lack of communication. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) worked on implementing new measures to track aircraft.

We were astounded that, in our day and age, a large passenger aircraft could just disappear.

When Germanwings flight

9525 crashed in March 2015, we debated pilot psychology. To prevent further tragedies from occurring, measures were taken to ensure that two authorized personnel are always in the cockpit of a commercial flight. We analyzed the tragedy and sought to prevent it.

We were astounded that a pilot was allowed to fly a passenger

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“Do better.” These are the words Ms. Creagh repeated in an announcement at lunch recently, referring to the influx of racial slurs and prejudiced remarks that have been repeated by some students across campus in past weeks. Out of faculty members’ earshot, some students made intolerant and hateful comments, explicitly targeting other students on the basis of their race, ethnicity, or culture.

We, the Scroll editorial board, stand strongly behind Ms. Creagh’s assertion that there is no place for hatred, disrespect, or intentional insensitivity on this campus. It is worth noting that, as a newspaper, we hold the freedom of expression in the highest regard. We believe that the freedom of expression was conceived to give everyone a voice, and through candid and thoughtful discussion, to ensure that we bring the truth to light. However, to target others is to silence them, and to succumb to ignorant stereotypes is to impede thoughtful discussion. Thus, we see making hateful comments about members of our, or any, community as fundamental abuses of the freedom of expression and antithetical to its goals of equality and truth.

We recognize that sometimes, we may unknowingly say something offensive, and in those cases, we only need to politely educate or remind each other about what is offensive and what is not.

However, in cases where comments are made with clearly hateful intention, it is our responsibility to speak up. While letting one intolerant comment slip past may not seem like a big deal, by choosing not to act, we send the message that such comments are permissible in our community, and over time, they may even become normalized. By choosing not to act, we undermine the very foundations of our community. We, the student body, must hold each other accountable and act against hatred and intolerance whenever we see it.

There is good news, though: we who believe in compassion and community outnumber those who stand for hatred and division. And if we all work together to create an inclusive culture where hate is simply not tolerated, the freedom of expression will truly ring.

This has been a tumultuous time in both our community and the greater community that surrounds us. As a publication that seeks to shed light on the diverse opinions of the student body, we feel that it is important to reflect this diversity of thought in the topics and issues we choose to cover in each edition of the Scroll.

In this issue, our board decided to address the hate that has plagued our community this school year. We agree with Ms. Creagh that Deerfield must do better, and we hope that through our

board editorial, we help her drive this initiative. It is a tremendous privilege to be at Deerfield, where we receive such excellent instruction in academics, sports, and the arts. We must always be sure to use the privileges and freedoms we have to make the world a better place for everyone, and we must make sure that all members of this community feel equal and welcomed.

Fellow seniors, as Dr. Curtis says at the end of every School Meeting, let’s “lead the way.” We must work to set an example for our younger peers and make sure that the sense of community that we pride ourselves on is truly

plane having been diagnosed with “suicidal tendencies.”

Over the summer, the Grenfell tower tragedy dominated headlines. Fires, a tragedy that seemed to belong in the past suddenly came back into view.

We debated building safety codes, building management irresponsibility and the government’s inaction in ensuring that all buildings fulfilled the city’s fire codes. The structural integrity of urban tower blocks was immediately called into question.

The claddings on Grenfell were investigated for being a possible safety hazard. We worked to prevent it from occurring again.

We were astounded that in London, one of the most developed cities in the world, there were still instances of blatant disregard for building safety.

I am in similar disbelief that mass shootings in America can occur on such a regular basis, but never stir up enough debate on gun laws to be at least discussed rigorously in Congress. I accept that it is the right of every American citizen, as given by the Constitution, to own and carry firearms; however, I believe the extent to which that law can be stretched has to be limited. The Vegas shooting has to be a wakeup call. It exposes the inadequacies of the current legislation that a man was able to procure such a large number of firearms so easily. Law is organic, no matter how sacred. I understand that the Constitution is the bedrock of the American legal system, but it should be, like any other law, subject to change.

A law introduced in 1791 is not as applicable now as it may have been then. Although a full repeal of this right is extreme, I believe additional measures can be taken to find a compromise between fundamental American rights and an ever changing and developing society.

On the Benefits of Buying Into Mindfulness

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Not everybody has loved the mindfulness initiatives this year. This is particularly evident during the mindful minutes at School Meeting, which have been characterized by excessive coughing and token participation.

We are required to partake in mindfulness regularly, whether we like it or not. We can do it willingly and best take advantage of these opportunities or we can sit and be unhappy. There are choices to be made and our choice matters.

Mindfulness can benefit us all in meaningful, tangible ways. It is a path to a better understanding of the self, which I believe to be essential in finding a settled, calm spirit. It allows you to develop a mindset with which you can overcome obstacles and move forward purposefully and more happily through life. Mindfulness is more than meditation; it is the practice or state of being conscious.

Very few people on this campus will hesitate to tell you how busy they are. Feeling busy is a state of mind and not a good one. If we allow the demands on our time to weigh us down, they will—at the expense of our

to improve health; it can reduce anxiety, depression, and stress levels. In fact, researchers at Harvard University found that participants who meditated for 15 minutes a day during an 8-week program used 43% fewer medical services than they did the previous year.

Mindfulness can also improve memory, attention, and cognition.

Finding the motivation to do work can be hard sometimes.

Mindfulness can help with this. When you truly understand your goals, intrinsic motivation is the result.

Intrinsic motivation is stronger than any other kind of motivation, and it will allow you to be focused and targeted in your actions. By finding these personal truths, we can eliminate suffering when faced by seemingly overwhelming amounts of work.

There is a lot of unnecessary suffering in the world: suffering that is self-inflicted an

Staff Writer

happiness. I will not argue that we do not have a lot of work—this is true. However, 24 hours is a lot of time. How many hours do you spend watching Netflix or browsing Instagram? How long are you actually working for?

When you say you studied forever for that test, was it focused studying?

Asking these questions and answering them is hard. I firmly believe that if we understand ourselves and the obligations we take on well, any amount of work is manageable, and we will never consider ourselves to be “busy.”

To me, these realizations are worth the struggle because they will allow us to more consciously consider the things that are most important to us.

The administration clearly believes in the benefits of mindfulness, and their confidence is grounded in research.

Mindfulness has been scientifically proven

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or unintentional, suffering that can be understood and overcome. If you have a negative experience, what kind of emotions do you feel and why? Coming to these realizations is a consequence of being conscious. I firmly believe that the benefits of mindfulness — a peaceful spirit and mind — fully outweigh the costs: the time spent.

Mindfulness is something that must be committed to fully and wholeheartedly. The most effective motivation and thorough understanding comes from a place deep within. To reap the benefits, you must embrace the experience and keep an open, unreactive, thoughtful mind. Perhaps these things are not for you. I think that is fine, but I ask you to deliberately consider where the decision to dismiss mindfulness came from, and why you made it. At least try it out before rejecting it.

I appreciate the school’s efforts to better the quality of life on campus. To fully take advantage of these initiatives, we as individuals must make the decision to commit to becoming more than we are. I urge you to buy in and try it out. You and you only have the capacity to transform yourself into a happier, more thoughtful, and more successful version of yourself.

Opinion and Editorial

The Deerfield Scroll

Wednesday, October 25th, 2017 ⋅ 3

Choate Day: Bring Back our Fam17y Adeliza Grace

Associate Editor Continued from Front on the Friday before Choate Day, what disconcerted me most was that I, as well as the rest of the student body and the recently graduated class, had had no voice in the decision.

As Lily Louis ’18 stated fervently, “I feel as though students were exasperated by the way in which the Class of 2017 was blindsided.

We felt that a proper conversation had not been had with these students, given that there was abundant time for discussion throughout their senior year at Deerfield, for the administration to come together with this class and find a compromise for their Choate Day experience.”

Had the administration proposed this change as a discussion, instead of informing us that they had already made the decision, I believe that we could have come to the conclusion that now stands in a much healthier manner.

As Louis noted, “Not only was this a fight for the Class of 2017, but also a fight for our own future Choate Day and that of generations to come.” The alumni, understandably, felt betrayed by the administration’s settlement. As the journey was too long for a day trip, many of them decided that they wouldn’t return at all

for Choate Day when they received the administration’s letter.

In my conversation with students from the Class of 2017, Reid Shilling ’17 pointed out, “It is called ‘Choate Weekend’ for a reason. It’s also referenced as ‘Homecoming’ for a reason. Who are we as a community if we cannot welcome back our alumni?”

Many members of the Class of 2017 felt devalued by the administration’s decision to not have them back for the bonfire and pep rally. They didn’t have a chance to fight to come back and behave respectfully on their old stomping grounds.

Although the administration did reverse the decision and the Class of 2017 will return for all of Choate Weekend, I think it is Amelia Chen important to acknowledge the fact that for a period of time, our administration was planning to keep them from returning to campus. Deerfield students grow so much throughout our time at the Academy. We develop our interests and find our talents; we become unique individuals. Deerfield produces a group of extremely skilled, driven, kind, and passionate young adults.

As students, we realize that we have the duty to act in a way that reflects good character

Agreeing to Disagree: NFL Protests Griffin McDowell Contributing Writer

In mid-August of 2016, Colin Kapernick, then a backup quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, decided to sit on the bench at Levi Stadium during a routine performance of “The Star Spangled Banner” prior to the team’s first preseason game.

For two weeks, his actions went almost unnoticed, and nobody really seemed to care that he was sitting instead of standing.

His decision to kneel during the national anthem at the third preseason game, however, sparked a massive news story that has continued to be a topic of conversation deep into the 2017 season.

In a news conference after the game, Kapernick stated that he was kneeling to “bring awareness and make people realize what’s really going on in this country,” alluding to the oppression of minority groups, an issue clearly important to him.

Conservatives criticize him. Liberals praise him. The conservatives argue that his actions disrespect the flag and the men and women who risked or gave their lives to defend it. Liberals are persistent saying that he is an American hero for making a statement to bring peace to the nation.

One argument against the protests is that Kapernick, as well as the players who followed his actions, are breaking Lucy Blake the United States Flag Code, which was put forth by Congress in 1923. It describes everything from proper attention during the performance of the National Anthem to proper disposal of the flag. According to the Flag Code, during the playing of “The Star Spangled Banner,” all present “should stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart” and any headdress must be removed.

Clearly, the players who kneel during the national anthem break the Flag Code.

However, the code also has other rules that are not as well known and are broken quite often. The American flag is not allowed to be turned into or pictured on clothing, even athletic uniforms. I am guilty of breaking this rule myself. I wear an American flag belt to class almost every day. I have several American flag T-shirts, an American flag tie, and I even have the American flag embroidered into the thumb on my baseball glove. Am I disrespecting the flag by wearing it so often? Is Michael Phelps disrespecting the flag when he receives his Olympic gold medal after swimming with the American flag on his cap? I don’t believe anyone thinks

so, but according to the Flag Code, he is. For Phelps, the flag on his cap is a reason for him to beat the swimmer in the next lane.

However, for Kapernick and many other NFL players, the American flag represents oppression and injustice. Interpretation of the flag is personal; everybody is entitled to their own opinion, and there may not necessarily be a right or wrong.

According to Colin Kapernick, the American flag does not represent opportunity. Apparently, it is not the symbol of the country that presented him with the gift of football, or the country that allowed him to play the game and to work and work until he reached the NFL and started as quarterback in the Super Bowl. Kapernick sees the flag as a symbol of a country that promotes hate and oppression. He does not seem to look at the situation from both sides.

While America has the flaws that Kapernick pointed out, and others as well, it also allowed him to grow from a fatherless child in poverty to a conferencechampion NFL quarterback, earning $43 million in his five-year career.

In my mind, the Stars and Stripes represent freedom, which is what the Bill of Rights and the other seventeen amendments present. The First Amendment grants freedom of expression, and Kapernick exercises that right. This one liberty tucked into the First Amendment is the single most important aspect of this nation, and I support everyone’s right to exercise it, even if I may disagree with the specific action involved. The Constitution is the law.

The Flag Code is not even backed up by law.

Nobody can be punished for breaking the Flag Code, just as no one can take away the freedom of expression that allows players to protest the national anthem. People can criticize as much as they want to, but they can’t force it to stop.

Although I do not agree with NFL players’ choices to kneel during our national anthem in the slightest, their actions do not anger me. They are simply taking advantage of their First Amendment right in order to raise awareness on an issue that they feel needs to be addressed. I am not qualified to judge whether or not their actions disrespect the flag, but the Constitution gives me the right to disagree with them on their interpretation of the flag, just as it allows the players to protest.

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and respect for Deerfield, as well as our community beyond. Therefore, we would like to feel as though the school holds its alumni in high regard as members of the global community, especially as a result of their time at the Academy.

With propositions as controversial as disallowing the alumni to return the Friday of Choate Weekend, it is important that the administration lends the students the true opportunity to participate.

“If Deerfield is changing and becoming the progressive place it projects itself to be, major changes to student life should include bodies of student leadership in the decisionmaking process,” declared former Chair of the Student Council Daniel Finnegan ’17.

With regard to the meeting Dr. Curtis and Mr. Kelly held, Captain Deerfield Ollie Hollo ’18 remarked, “Dr. Curtis and Mr. Kelly were both moved after the Caswell meeting over the original Choate Weekend decision. The key component in swaying them was that everyone at the meeting was honest, while maintaining a polite tone.”

Upon realizing how much this tradition meant not only to the Class of 2017, but also

to the current Deerfield student body, they listened, and the new decision was shaped by the students’ input. Hollo summed up the overarching sentiment that “a Deerfield where students are discouraged from coming back to campus and reuniting with classmates is not the welcoming community on which we pride ourselves. There is only one way to celebrate Choate Day: with pride, family, and tradition.” As a student body, we took matters into our own hands and brought back the Choate Weekend that we know and love.

Even as a freshman, not knowing any of the alumni returning to campus, I remember feeling the excitement that vibrated through the Kravis, down at the bonfire, and in the Greer on the night before Choate Day. Words cannot express the value of embracing old friends, of seeing each other after long periods of time apart, of coming together in the place that shaped them into the successful young adults they now are. Traditions are an integral part of our school; without them, we wouldn’t be Deerfield Academy. Dr. Curtis constantly reiterates that what sets Deerfield apart from other New England boarding schools is our exceptionally strong sense of community, and I couldn’t agree more.

Going forward, I hope that the student body and administration will be able to work together to create healthier dialogue surrounding future issues and decisions.

Open Letter to the Deerfield Asian Community Dear Asian Deerfield student, I am guilty.

Maybe you have Asian parents, maybe you were born in Asia, maybe you have an Asian passport, or maybe your home is in Asia. Maybe you are all or any combination of these things, just like me. Yet sometimes we find ways to take our smallest differences and blow them out of proportion to drive wedges between members of our community.

I am a witness and I am guilty.

When I first came to America as a sevenyear-old, following my dad’s new assignment in Washington, D.C. as a diplomat, I was shocked to discover that other diplomat families’ kids could barely speak Korean after only about a year in America. Feeling pity for them, I swore not to lose sight of the place I belonged to and came from. I read Korean novels and watched Korean news and TV shows, refusing to speak anything but Korean with my parents.

At the same time, I was determined to fit into this new environment. Weeks before starting school in America, I memorized the Pledge of Allegiance and practiced it in front of every adult I came across. Come the first day of second grade, I marched into the classroom, placed my hand over my heart, and triumphantly recited the Pledge perfectly with all of my new classmates. I looked up at the American flag on the TV screen as if it were a prize for my assimilation. It was the first day of school and I already blended in perfectly, like a jigsaw piece fitting snugly into a space where it was meant to be all along.

Later, in my middle school of 1400 students (30 percent of whom were Asian), we surrounded ourselves with enough other Asians to feel as if we were in an entirely yellow world. With fellow Asians at every turn, even the slightest differences were subject to criticism and fuel for gossip. Lunch table seatings were analyzed, social media scrutinized and evaluated, and “twinkies” — yellow on the outside and white on the inside — pitied and resented. An Instagram post with a brunette in a sea of blondes was a red flag. Even people who got highlights in their hair would cue whispers throughout the cafeteria, the phrase “wannabe white” hanging in the air. In truth, I was overcome by a misled sense of superiority. In the endless battle between conformity and “authenticity,” each side took pride in its stance while condemning the other, and I fought to prove that my choices were right.

I moved back to Korea the summer before I came to Deerfield after living in Virginia for six and a half years. Over those years, I had changed completely. When I stepped back in Korea, I realized that I did not really belong there. I saw kids in school uniforms using slang I couldn’t understand, streets swarming with fans of K-Pop stars I had never seen before, and hundreds of

city names tangled up in the map of subway stations, none of which I could relate to.

In the country I struggled to call my own, people pointed out my “American” clothes, “American” accent, and “American” attitude.

Indeed, it was true: once I started viewing myself as an outlier, there was no going back.

By the time I came to Deerfield, I was overwhelmed with guilt whenever I called myself Korean. Curiously, when I introduced myself to new Asian students at Deerfield and explained the (stereotypically Asian) activities I took part in, some of them dubbed me the “epitome of Asian,” laughing.

Of course, it was a fleeting title, but this memory became something of a manifesto to live up to — a foundation for my four years ahead. The nickname seeped into my head like water on dry ground. I was given an opportunity to reclaim my identity, so I took the offer.

Every day, I kept track of even the most trivial decisions to see if I had been “Asian enough.” If I get in the line for lasagna instead of ramen, does that mean I’m not Asian enough? If I don’t go to ASA meetings, does that mean I’m not Asian enough? If I don’t mention Korea in my Instagram bio, does that mean I’m not Asian enough? At the end of the day, I reflected on my performance in these numerous tests: I chose lasagna over rice, didn’t go to ASA meetings, and had an Instagram bio without the word “Korea” anywhere, and I told myself I failed.

Looking down on other Asians’ similar “shortcomings” seemed like an easy escape from this disappointment. With my attention on someone else’s confusion and what I perceived to be a surrender to the American “melting pot,” I could shield myself from toxic self-criticism that threatened to tear down my entire lifestyle and identity.

My time at Deerfield around Asian students with incredibly diverse backgrounds has slowly torn down my misguided judgment. I am still in the process of eliminating these poisonous thoughts that have fogged my mind for so long. But to my friends or any Asian student who has sneered, “X is so white,” please do not lash out against others because of your own confusion. I’ve been there; it does no good for anyone. Being Asian in America — being an immigrant or a child of immigrants in America — hides a world of self-doubt. I know I am not the only one who struggles to come up with the name of a single place to describe where I’m from or debates calling myself “Asian” or “Asian-American,” because identity is not made of the names of places or labels; it is made of experiences.

The path I have walked in my life cannot be distilled down to a few words, and neither can yours. You are not alone.

Sincerely, Nadia Jo

4 ⋅ Wednesday, October 25th, 2017

The Deerfield Scroll

News “Speak Up”: Racism at Deerfield Orlee Marini-Rapoport Associate Editor

Continued from Front bigotry and the power they have wielded in the past – as well as how those forces manifest themselves now.”

Furthermore, Assistant Head of School Life Ms. Amie Creagh gave an emotional announcement at sit-down lunch on October 13 addressing how racism can lie hidden on the Deerfield campus.

Many classes took time that afternoon to discuss her words and reflect on how Deerfield can do better as a community to address racism.

Latin American Student Alliance Head Xochitl Paez ’20 appreciated Ms. Creagh’s announcement, saying, “I’m extremely grateful that she put the issue out there without tiptoeing or sugar-coating it ... I feel safer after the announcement because it reminded me of all the support we have on campus from both the students and faculty.”

English Teacher Mr. Christian Austin also addressed Ms. Creagh’s announcement: “More of us need to step up and say something when we see or hear something that we know is wrong ... Sadly, good intentions and good hearts aren’t enough.”

Language Department Chair Mr. Sam Savage echoed Mr. Austin’s statement, saying, “Racism, in any form, has no place on this campus ... Speak up. Support each other. Social justice needs to be a pillar of this community, but a few of us seem to have shown that they’re more interested in tearing us down than building us up. We need to do better.”

Deerfield has initated inclusion efforts around campus, including a multi-year Strategic Plan for Inclusion. Ms. Marjorie Young, Director of Inclusion and Community Life, is excited about a new inclusion effort at Deerfield this year: Around 25 students will serve as cultural competency ambassadors on campus. These students attend inclusion training and went to the 9th Grade Village to discuss the “negative impact of words.” However, Ms. Young

recognizes that “if people don’t embrace it [the training and workshops], employ it, make it a part of how they live their lives, it really doesn’t make a difference …

At the end of the day, people have to choose to do the work of inclusion, which includes practicing cultural competencies, reading articles, and speaking to people who are different than you.”

Deerfield Black Student Alliance Head Uwa Ede-Osifo ’18 agreed: “We can move forward as a school by learning to hold our students or peers responsible for their actions. Cultural competency is not a rigid set of rules or poster mottos; it is a practiced behavior ... Students have the power to impact the culture of the school, even through subtler actions of engaging in civic dialogue.”

In regards to the Cornell incident specifically, Ms. Young said, “There’s a tendency for people to say that this is not who we are …

I don’t think that’s the appropriate way to approach it … [we must] focus on the fact that this may be here and [we need to know] how to address it … We need to have our skills and courage ready to address issues when no one is watching.”

DBSA Head Niyafa Boucher ’18 echoed Ms. Young’s statement, saying, “Deerfield can say that they don’t stand behind the actions of Jack Greenwood; however, it is wrong to say that it isn’t representative of the Deerfield community … it is important to acknowledge that he spent four years in this place and still felt comfortable behaving in that manner.”

At School Meeting, Dr. Curtis encouraged the Deerfield community to actively pursue inclusion on campus, stating: “I need your help. Practice the cultural competency skills we introduce on campus … Embrace Deerfield’s emphasis on faceto-face interactions, shared experiences, connectedness and citizenship … It really is true that love conquers all. Our community is richly diverse, and all students should seize the opportunity to interact with people whose backgrounds and perspectives differ from their own — and in doing so, transcend the fear that breeds racism and exclusion.”

Emmerson Stephens

Twelve Deerfield students explore the ancient city of Jerash during a spring 2017 trip to Jordan. The students spent ten days attending classes at King’s Academy and travelling through Jordan. This yearly trip is an example of the strong relationship between Deerfield and King’s.

Mabrook, King’s Academy!

Lillia Brooker Staff Writer

Continued from Front and students.

Bakir Mohammad, a King’s teacher currently at Deerfield on exchange with Philosophy and Religion teacher Jan Flaska, explained that King’s adopted many of Deerfield’s traditions and features, such as sit-down meals, weekly school meetings, and promoting “critical thinking and looking at issues from a different lens” in and out of the classroom.

“King’s reflects the Western world and the Arab world,” said Mr. Mohammad. He was also amazed by how sincerely the King connected with the students upon his visits to campus: “He was speaking to them as if they were world leaders. He knows his vision and how he wants to implement it. Deerfield Academy played a pivotal role in the King’s life and will always have an impact on King’s Academy’s vision.”

Deerfield and King’s also keep their connection strong through many exchange opportunities for students. Two students from Provided by Seven Voices Vermont King’s joined the group of Deerfield students who traveled to Colombia in the summer of 2017. Dr. Curtis remarked that “having their perspective in this group was really enriching.”

King’s Academy holds a special place in the heart of Jada Howard ’19. She studies Arabic at Deerfield and wanted to further her understanding of the language and culture at King’s. She attended King’s for ten days during her freshman year as a part of a Deerfield Global Studies trip.

Howard said, “[King’s] has shaped my perspective of the world in the way that I feel that no matter where I am from, I share the same interests and dislikes as someone that lives on the other side of the world.”

To this day, Howard still keeps in touch with several friends she met at King’s. She gained a powerful new understanding: “Just because we live in different countries, with different time zones, or different perspectives on various topics shouldn’t prohibit us from being friends.”

In a congratulatory letter to Dr. John Austin, the current Head of School at King’s, Dr. Curtis wrote: “Deerfield is deeply proud to be the alma mater of His Majesty King Abdullah II. Among his many accomplishments, his focus on education is particularly meaningful to us because we share his mission of sending agents of hope and optimism into our untidy and conflicted world. King’s Academy is preparing global citizens for lives of engagement and leadership,

acknowledging the importance of embracing complexity and nuance in world affairs.”

His Majesty King Abdullah II himself commented on his hopes for the future of King’s Academy, stating, “There is nothing more important than creating tomorrow’s good citizens. The need for young leaders will be even more important as the region goes forward from current conflicts and crises. Jordan has a central role in providing stability, strong values, and new ideas. Ten years from now, we will be looking back on seeds planted here at King’s Academy right now.

All this is just the beginning.”

The whole Deerfield community congratulated King’s on ten years in a video taken at School Meeting. The school shouted “congratulations” in Arabic right before a banner was unfurled and Deerfield’s Arabic language students said a few more words.

Both Deerfield and King’s are schools with “a global perspective,” Dr. Curtis added. “Very few schools in the States have tight relationships to schools in that part of the world. I think that is unique to us.” Moving forward, Dr. Curtis hopes Deerfield will ensure that it keeps “the relationship very much alive and growing.”

Mabrook, King’s Academy!

The Price of Health: Greer Prices Rise After Five Years Emma Earls Staff Writer

As Deerfield students returned to campus this fall, a buzz of annoyance rang through the Greer Store and Louis Cafe. Although the changes were largely insignificant, some students noted that prices had increased on smoothies, cookies, and candy.

Assistant Head of Dining Services Bradley Woodward attested to modest increases: “[These changes] are the first times we’ve raised prices since I’ve been here, and I’ve been here for five years.”

Mr. Woodward explained that the primary cause of these rises result from either the cost of prepackaged food from a vendor, or the labor invested by staff members to make the items.

“Those are the main factors: labor and cost,” said Mr. Woodward.

Vendor prices must be met, so the item prices must rise. Products like cookies or muffins “are made in-house, in our bakery,” as Mr. Woodward explained, and those costs have risen to reflect the time dedicated by staff to providing them homemade.

The menus themselves have also changed for the new school year; some price increases mirror these changes. Mr. Woodward explained that a few years ago, smoothies at the Greer were made from a processed mix that was “90% sugar and 10% fruit, if you were lucky.”

Now, the smoothies are 100% fruit and fruit juice. “The cost on the smoothies is considerably higher than it used to be, because the mix was cheap, and buying fruit is not cheap,” said Mr. Woodward. “But I thought it was worth it, in terms of the quality of the product, and how well it would be received, and the overall healthfulness of the

item.” As the menu evolves with student requests and the increase of healthy options, the prices must change to reflect those shifts.

To minimize confusion about the recent changes, it is important to understand the goal of Deerfield’s on-campus cafes. The cafes are run as break-even operations, and, as such, the prices are manipulated to ensure that the Greer and the Louis Cafe can pay for themselves.

There is a small amount of cushion room to maintain the facility and the equipment, but the cafes have never been operated to generate a profit. Rather, they strive to provide delicious food and drinks to the Deerfield community at the lowest prices possible.

With the increased amount of healthy options and the increased quality of items, both in prepackaged food from vendors and house-made products, prices are bound to rise. Mr. Woodward

hopes that the price increase is moderate enough to not be an inconvenience.

Nicholas Ortega ’19 said, “I didn’t notice [the changes] until someone brought it up, but the cookies only went up a dime, so it’s not a big deal.”

However, other students worry that a dime a day can stack up to a much larger cost overall. “The Greer is very convenient and it is very common for people to miss a meal,” said Valentina Saldarriaga ’20. “With prices rising, a good percentage of campus might not be able to afford it as often.”

Although these changes may pose a slight inconvenience to students, the Academy dining staff hopes that having more healthy and delicious items on the menu will be an overall positive change for the Deerfield community.

Ines Bu

Christian Science Monitor

The Deerfield Scroll

Wednesday, October 25th 2017 ⋅ 5

Buzz Introducing Faculty Dogs!

Fatima Rashid

Claire Zhang

Associate Editor

Hi Margo, Rita, and Curtis,

Snowy is a laid-back, fluffy English golden retriever who belongs to the Cullinane household. He will be 6 years old on July 13. This adventurous individual is in a stable relationship with Daisy Lareau. They enjoy going on walks and spending hot spring days together. Snowy’s love for the Cullinanes runs deep. In fact, when he swims in the river with the family, he walks on two legs in the river and dives under the water with the entire family. However, his favorite activity is sprinting up and down the hallway with his dad, Science Teacher Mr. Dennis Cullinane.

Daisy is an adventurous 2-year-old labradoodle whose soul belongs to the West Coast. College Advisor Amy Lareau adopted her in Colorado in May of 2014. Affectionate, energetic, and kind-hearted, Daisy enjoys hiking and chasing a laser pointer. If she’s not hiking or chasing a red dot, you can find Daisy strutting down Albany Road in a semitwerking manner. Relationship status? She’s in a committed relationship with the dashing Snowy Cullinane.

Brody was born in Kansas. As a puppy he lived at a shelter, and was at risk for being put down after not being adopted for several months. He was rescued by a no-kill shelter in Minneapolis called Homeward Bound and lived there until he was one year old. He was then adopted by the O’Neil-Evans family, whose love for him knows no bounds. Brody is passionate about food, loves walks in the woods, and treasures his raggedy stuffed brown bear.

Pictures by Sofia Novak

How to do Fall Right 101

Amelia Chen

Annie Ilsley Staff Writer

October may signal that it is time to start pulling out your thick sweaters and boots, but don’t miss out on everything that fall at Deerfield has to offer! Soon, it will be cold enough that even the walk from the dorm to the dining hall will be unimaginable, so remember to squeeze out every last drop of the season.

You can start bracing yourself for the winter by spending as much time outside as

possible: go on a day trip to Clarkdale Farms.

You definitely won’t regret it. Everyone can agree there is nothing better to get you in the fall ~mood~ than apple picking with a cider doughnut in hand.

If you can’t make it that far off campus, make sure to take a hike to the Rock. Fall weather is perfect for hiking, and if there’s one thing we should appreciate more about the location of our school, it’s the leaves in fall. The best spot to see them in all of their glory is the Rock.

Speaking of getting in the fall mood, some of the best holidays such as Halloween are right around the corner, and Deerfield makes sure to do them right. If you haven’t ordered a costume yet, take a few minutes to make one! If you don’t have time, go ahead and utilize the absolute lifesaver that is Amazon Prime two-day shipping, but don’t take the risk and added stress of ordering on October 29.

While Scream on the Green was last weekend, to keep up with the October spirit, grab some popcorn and candy from the Greer and settle in for a Halloween themed movie-night with friends this weekend.

Netflix has countless horror movies (or The Nightmare Before Christmas, if that’s more your speed) to watch before Halloween. Yes, you may regret your movie choice trying to

fall asleep that night, but rest assured that Poc is the only dorm where there have been confirmed ghost sightings.

Make sure to check certain things off your fall to-do list before it’s too late. Swim in the river, walk the small loop, or go watch a fall game as the season draws to a close. Of course, the best thing to accompany you on the sideline of said game is a warm pumpkin muffin and a hot drink from the Greer. It’s officially the time of year when everything is seasonally themed, but trust me, the best way to handle the overload of pumpkin spice is simple: embrace it. You can get apple cider and doughnuts from the farm stand across the street, mini pumpkins to decorate your room, and fall-themed candy from Richardson’s; the possibilities are endless!

Possibly the most anticipated event of fall, Choate Day is coming up on November 11, and brings the fall to a close at Deerfield.

Break out your green and white gear and buy into school spirit throughout the whole week. Make sure to practice your battle cry in the mirror, and new students especially should all make sure they know how to spell victory. On Saturday, head down to the courts, the pool, and the fields and enjoy the food trucks, the games, and the tradition that brings together everyone who bleeds green!

Sadies Costumes, Now and Then

While I want to focus on having fun and being happy for my last year, I’m feeling a bit worried about college and life beyond Deerfield, but it sometimes feels like this topic is taboo to discuss. Do you have any advice to help?

Best, seniorsruletheskl --------------------------Dear seniorsruletheskl, I am about to utter the three most forbidden words in all of the English language: “The college process”.. BUM Bum bummm. Hello, Class of 2018! Welcome to what may seem like the most stressful time of your lives.

Tours and interviews and supplements, oh my! Currently, we are in the thick of it. Some applications have been submitted, many more are left to do, and the waiting has just begun. To aid in this process, here are a few tricks of the trade in hopes that they may help guide you towards some semblance of sanity on this ever lovely journey to higher education.

1. Don’t leave applications until the night before they are due. This one is selfexplanatory.

2. Caffeine is your friend. Invest in coffee, Red Bull, 5-hour Energy (heads up: it’s effective, but not approved by the FDA, so maybe not 5-hour Energy), and more coffee!

Long nights and the accompanying tired feeling the following day are inevitable.

Prepare to drink your caffeine, put a smile on your face, and keep chugging along like the little engine that could.

3. Your college advisor is your friend. Thank them repeatedly for holding your hand through this process. We owe them our lives.

4. Find things that make your days enjoyable, whether they’re walks around campus, jam sessions in the Hess, or shriving in the riv.

Good grades are important, but so is your mental health.

5. As all hard times do, eventually this too shall pass. No matter what, we will submit all there is to be submitted, and we will hear the news we are going to hear.

6. In the words of Leo Tolstoy, “Stop a moment, cease your work, look around you.”

We only have 224 days left on this beautiful campus. While getting into college may be completely consuming your life right now, don’t forget to take time to appreciate who and what is around you here in the valley.

We’re only Deerfield students once.

To the ’19, ’20, and ’21s: be respectful.

I’m sure you can tell by the gray hairs and wrinkles that have recently sprouted on the bodies of your senior class, senior fall is hard. Be kind to us: we are a little fragile right now. I know it can be difficult to feel out what questions are okay to ask seniors and which ones might not be. Just use your judgement and understand that in a few months we will go back to being the fun, loving 2018s you all know and love.

“We’re all in this together / and it shows when we stand hand in hand/ make our dreams come trueeee” - High School Musical (2006) Peace and love, Margo, Rita, and Curtis

First Row: Liz Smith ’04, Panda Ebling ’04, Jesse Coburn ’05, Marshall MacNabb ’06, James Guay ’04, Chris Diozz ’04, Jordan Eipper ’06, Tiffany Franke ’03, Vicky Lika ’03 Second Row: Ted Barret ’04, Zac Koufakis ’04, Harley Brown ’04, Christian Walsh ’04, Finn Leslie ’10, Elizabeth Tubridy ’10, Chelsea Weller ’10, Jen Mulrow ’10, Parker Bordeaux ’10, Missy Walker ’10, Oliver Lee ’10, Bella Hutchins ’16, Bri’ana Odom ’15

6 ⋅ Wednesday, October 25th, 2017

Features

Student Authors at Deerfield Joshua Fang

Associate Editor Recently, two Deerfield students, Andari Deswandhy ’19 and Ashley Stewart ’20, each went through the process of publishing their own books, both geared towards educating children.

The idea for Deswandhy’s book, entitled Enchanting Tales from Indonesia, was conceived several years ago when she attended a British international school in Indonesia. She noticed that many local primary schools in Indonesia had scarce resources to teach their children English.

“My cousins go to local schools… when they learn English, they don’t read books because they don’t have the [resources],” Deswandhy explained.

The idea truly took off last year when she received a summer grant from Deerfield’s Center for Service and Global Citizenship (CSGC). She then connected with Gramedia, an Indonesian publishing company, and began writing, compiling traditional Indonesian folktales that many children were likely told growing up, and adapting them in English rather than Indonesian.

“I played off of the stories’ main message,” Deswandhy described.

“I wanted to get them right but also put my own twist on it … I would add in some scenes and take

out some that I thought weren’t as important to the message of the story.”

After several months of writing and editing, Deswandhy published the book in March 2017. The book has received widespread attention in Indonesia, and was chosen by the National Book Committee for many book fairs. Deswandhy has also done book signings to further publicize her book. Even the President of Indonesia is aware of it.

“The President of Indonesia got a copy of my book somehow, and signed it … so now I have the book in my home with the president’s signature in it,” Deswandhy said.

Stewart’s book was published just this past fall. Entitled The Friend I Never Wanted, it details the story of a bullied young girl named Kelly, as she struggles to adjust to her new school.

Stewart began writing the novel over 5 years ago, when she

Sleep– A Call for Change

was only 10 years old. Upon her parent’s rediscovery of the story, they encouraged her to finish and publish it. After working with a publishing company and an illustrator, Stewart’s book was finally released to the public, and is currently available on Amazon and at Barnes and Noble.

“Bullying is not okay in schools,” Stewart said. “That’s what sparked me to write this book. I wanted to show people they should stop bullying …

[Bullies] are insecure. They don’t know how to deal with their feelings.”

So far, many of Stewart’s friends and family have supported her book, and she plans to have several book signings when she returns home for Thanksgiving break.

However, neither Stewart nor Deswandhy plan on having careers as writers. Deswandhy explained, “I don’t really see myself as an author, but I see myself as working in the United Nations … Learning about different cultures is what I really like.”

Stewart said that she hopes to continue writing as a hobby: “I want to be a lawyer, and write books on the side.”

Both authors have found success in their book publications, and have plans to expand upon this success in the future.

One Love Deerfield Lilia Brooker Staff Writer

Hollin Hanau

This fall, a new student initiative called the One Love club is heightening awareness of relationship abuse on the Deerfield campus. The club is modeled after the One Love Foundation, an organization founded in memory of Yeardley Love, a senior at the University of Virginia who was brutally beaten to death by her boyfriend in 2010. The One Love Foundation promotes awareness about the

The Deerfield Scroll

warning signs of relationship abuse, teaches preventative steps, and uses videos to educate students on both high school and college campuses.

Club officers Hollin Hanau ’18, Helen Hicks ’18, Kevin Hendrick ’18, and Mary Mack Brown ’18 led the effort to bring One Love’s message to campus. According to the club leaders, a significant percentage of college students who had completed the One Love program wished they had learned about the signs of relationship abuse in high school.

“We’re not saying that Deerfield has a problem with relationship abuse ... It’s about educating [students] for the future when we’re not in such a safe place,” said Hicks.

The club played one of the foundation’s educational videos at school meeting this September, which raised awareness of the fact that relationship abuse may not always be obvious.

Nate Baker ’19, an active member of the club, noticed how the community “connected with [the video] and saw the importance of it.” Hicks also commented that Yeardley’s story “hit home to a lot of people.”

The entire One Love club collectively hopes that their plans to take action against relationship abuse will be beneficial to all students regardless of whether they are currently in a relationship or not. Hendrick ’18 stated that this year, the club’s goal is to “plant the seeds for the years to come at Deerfield … The change comes from us … Look out for each other, and if something is going on, don’t be scared to just ask. Sometimes that can make a world of a difference.”

The One Love club urges all who are interested in how they can get involved, to contact any of the aforementioned members.

Thomas Song

Associate Editor

Hannah Kang

Recently, Health Teacher Kristen Loftus has led efforts to promote the importance of sleep at Deerfield.

Ms. Loftus explained the importance and value of sleep: “Recent research [shows that] eight hours of sleep is so important as an adolescent in school, since during the last three hours, you are only getting REM sleep, which reinforces procedural memory while also getting a boost in your immune system and a balance in your nervous system.”

Ms. Loftus acknowledged that students could still get by with just five or six hours of sleep but noted that a lack of sleep inhibits teenagers from reaching their full academic and athletic potential.

In 2007, due to concerns in the administration that students at Deerfield were not sleeping enough, the beginning of the school day was changed from 7:55 am to 8:30 am. Ms. Loftus specified that the administration attempted to track students’ sleep by conducting campus-wide surveys in 2009 and 2011. In 2009, two years after the schedule change, students were generally managing to sleep about eights hours a night from Monday to Friday.

However, this trend began to shift in 2011, when students began to report that they were again getting less than eight hours of sleep. The extensive school-wide survey conducted with the help of Arizona State University Professor of Psychology Dr. Suniya Luthar in February 2017 revealed that on average, students were not sleeping eight hours per night.

Ms. Loftus identified two factors that may explain the decrease in the number of hours of sleep that students reported: “I don’t think students value sleep—they see it as optional. It’s almost this badge of honor to be sleep deprived. Also, we [the administration] forget that we have

a new batch of students that needs to hear about sleep ever year. It’s almost like after a few years of progress, we’ve started to think that we’ve solved the problem of sleep.”

Anna Mishchenko ’19 shared a different perspective as to why students tend to fail to reach eight hours of sleep per night: “While I think [sleeping eight hours a night] is possible for some students and especially underclassmen, if you’re an ambitious [student], it’s very difficult. Most people have a lot of homework, and if you’re on a team and you go out for 5 hours on a Wednesday or a Saturday, that just takes more time away.”

Elven Shum ’20 had similar thoughts and noted that the Deerfield schedule often makes sleeping for eight hours seemingly impossible. He remarked, “For you to get eight hours, you’d need to go to bed at 11 and wake up at 7 to get ready for school and get breakfast.

Most co-currics and dinner end at 6:15-30, and then many kids have club meetings to head to. After, we only have 7:45-11 to finish all our homework and study for tests, and if you want to socialize with friends after study hall, you get even less time.”

In spite of the hectic schedules of Deerfield students, Ms. Loftus still expressed that she believed students are capable of sleeping more. Ms. Loftus gave some advice to all students: “You need to prioritize and distinguish what you need to get done with what you want to get done. If you’re not sleep deprived, you’re so much more efficient. You have the capacity to prioritize and get assignments done more quickly.”

In addition, Ms. Loftus predicted, “If we get more sleep as a community, I think we would absolutely have less depression and anxiety. We would be better athletes and would see healthier and more supportive relationships.

You have a better ability to handle stress when you’re well-rested.”

However, Mishchenko believes that rather than solely placing the responsibility of sleeping eight hours a night on students, the administration needs to accordingly adjust the academic and athletic workload: “I haven’t seen efforts to decrease the amount of commitments we [the students] have.

Even decreasing the homework five to ten minutes per subject would make a huge difference.”

Shum ’20 agreed, stating, “In the environment we live in, expecting kids to sleep for eight hours just isn’t realistic. We need a schedule change.”

Sadies and Choate Day Dance Combined to Halloween Dance Nadia Jo

Associate Editor Continued from Front student proctors of the 2016-17 academic year, deans from the Student Life Office, Mr. Barbato, Ms. Young, and faculty residents.

Assistant Head of School for Student Life Ms. Amie Creagh stated, “[Concerns about Sadies] have come from students and parents alike. Each year they’ve increased in number, and this year, their scope and volume were persistent and undeniable. It would have been irresponsible to ignore them and to let the dance continue as usual.”

The previous structure of the Halloween Dance was driven by proctors pairing underclassmen and upperclassmen students of

the opposite gender, with the older student picking a costume for the younger student and remaining a “mystery date” until he or she arrived at the younger student’s dorm on the night of the dance.

Current student proctor Bailey Smith ’18 recalled, “Sadies was something I really looked forward to. I thought [the mystery date] made the whole experience exciting … No matter who you get, you’re so excited because they’re an upperclassman and you’re an underclassman.”

However, this pairing system did not provide a comfortable environment for all, as Ms. Creagh described, “Sadie[s] sets up a dynamic where older and younger students get matched up as dates.

This sends a mixed message about what kind of dating is appropriate and condoned by the school, and it fails to acknowledge an imbalance

of power,” she said.

The heteronormative arrangements of pairs made strictly between boys and girls, excluding LGBTQ+ students in the process,

Amanda Cui

were also raised as an issue. Finally, choices of costumes deemed “distasteful and inappropriate” by the administration exacerbated the perceived power imbalance within the one-on-one matches.

Examples included a postgraduate male student and a 9th grade female student who dressed as a hunter and a bunny respectively,

as well as the number 1 and a night stand.

Ms. Creagh wrote in an email to proctors, “To some of you, these may seem like unwarranted and frustrating changes. You may feel that we’re ruining a tradition. I understand. But I do hope you might also see this as timely and responsive. I know you care about your proctees and want them to feel valued and included.”

Although many students recognized the need for a more inclusive environment, some felt reservations about the changes. Joni Otto-Bernstein ’18 expressed, “I believe a compromise could have been made through dialogue with the students, most of whom acknowledge that these problems certainly exist ... I hope that students will be consulted in the future before changes are made to Student Life on campus.”

Soo Oh ’20 added, “Sadies was unique before the change, [but] now it’s like every other dance.”

Mr. Barbato affirmed that meeting new people will still be possible through the pairing of brother/sister halls and attending the dance as a group: “We are not telling you not to meet up with new people. There are plenty of opportunities on campus ... I challenge our students to get out of their comfort zones and form those meaningful connections.”

Sharing these hopes, proctor and SPC member Kevin Danforth ’18 commented, “I’ve reminded the people in our dorm that these decisions don’t change the environment of the dance, but just the name and the structure. At the end of the day, a dance is a dance, and a Halloween dance on the night of Choate Day—I don’t think it can get better than that.”

Wednesday, October 25th, 2017 ⋅ 7

The Deerfield Scroll

Arts and Entertainment Hess Center Welcomes New Student Gallery

Provided by Deerfield Academy Flickr Students in Topics Tutorial art class observe each other’s work displayed in the new gallery.

Adeliza Grace

Associate Editor Continued from Front Mr. Dickinson’s and Dr. Manning Curtis’s collaboration. The concept of “no eyes” came about from Mr. Dickinson’s “attempt to try and

get [his] students to be as singleminded as possible when working on an assignment, to try and block out external noise.”

Dr. Curtis explained his involvement in the project: “Mr. Dickinson approached me because of my work in teaching trance visualization to both patients and

Teachers Pursue Artistic Passions

Katrina Csaky Staff Writer

Besides assigning homework, coaching athletic teams, and providing late-night feeds, several faculty members also possess musical and artistic talents.

Though she works in the admissions office, Ms. Allison DiNardo has had experience in the arts. “I explored both visual and performing arts in college and was an AP visual arts student in high school. I developed a passion for oil paintings in my free time and sang in an a capella group in college,” Mrs. DiNardo said. She explained that she has continued to create art in her free time at Deerfield: “I have found that painting is a wonderful outlet and is a very calming part of my day.”

In addition to visual arts, several faculty members are also active in the performing arts.

Mr. Peter Nilsson, an English teacher, has been playing piano for several years. “When I was in college I was a double major: music composition and English.

When I graduated, I came here as a teaching fellow in English, but I decided that if I never went to New York to play music I would regret it. So I moved to New York for four years and had a wonderful time playing in jazz bands, funk trios, and recording. I even helped write a one-woman play,” Mr. Nilsson said. Like all members of the Deerfield community, balancing something as time consuming as an instrument can be stressful; yet,

Amelia Chen Staff Writer

The magician behind many of Deerfield’s dances, Peter Pulai ’18 has been DJing for three years. He has DJed for Choate Day, Disco, lock-ins, and opened for the Lost Kings concert last year. Pulai explained why he loves DJing: “I like to make people happy.”

DJing, or disc jockeying, is not an on-the-spot, improvisational task. Pulai stated “[People] think that I can just make a remix on the fly, and that’s not the reality.”

DJing focuses on the transitions between songs, varying widely depending on available equipment.

He does a lot of his “dirty work” on his computer, in software such as FL Studio, while the actual DJing happens in Serato.

Pulai first encountered the art form at Eaglebrook School.

Mr. Nilsson added with a smile, “I am definitely a happier and better person on any day that I can play some music.”

One group that brings together many faculty members is known as the Faculty Band, who rehearse together weekly and perform for students occasionally. Though the member list changes depending on the teachers, the most recent members are Dr. Dennis Cullinane, Mr. John Van Eps, Mr. Darnel Barnes, Ms. Cheri Karbon, Ms. Amy Lareau, Mr. David Dickinson, and Mr. Harcourt, who plays lead guitar.

“I played music when I was in junior high and high school; I played rock and roll,” Mr. Harcourt said. “It’s always been an interest of mine, and when I got here, I found a number of faculty members who had also played in bands when they were kids, and so we got together in 1980. I love having fun with my colleagues, and though we teach in different departments, when we get together to play music it is pure fun for us.”

He also agrees how powerful and important music is: “There’s no pressure, it’s not a competition.”

All of the faculty who were interviewed encouraged Deerfield students to try and become part of the program regardless of experience.

“I hope Deerfield students are never afraid to explore the visual or performing arts, even if it hasn’t been a passion in the past; this is a great time to give it a shot,” concluded Mr. Nilsson.

students. We discussed ways of deepening the blind experience.”

The first project Mr. Dickinson and Dr. Curtis created, Monoideism: Path to Blind Insight, involved the Tutorial students being blindfolded and placed into a trance by Dr. Curtis, in order to approach their canvas with the unconscious, creative part of their mind, ready to create art. By completely engaging themselves in the activity, the students were able to enter a transitive state of mind at any time, using the trigger word “pencil.” Mr. Dickinson also expanded the project’s scope by including a conscious portion to the project where students added white paint to their work in order to accentuate different parts of their compositions.

Maxime Pitchon ’19 noted, “The artwork I produced in a transitive state was definitely a

departure from what I normally produce.” According to Pitchon, it was an eye-opening experience for the Tutorial students, and seeing the finished products was exciting.

He continued, “Focusing entirely on the feeling of the charcoal on the page was a very different experience, yet I surprised myself with the final result; being directly engaged in the activity of drawing without sight, I had an unexpectedly pleasing product.”

The second project also employed the “no eyes” theme.

Students had a photo of their face, and then drew themselves from the nose down, with their drawing instrument of choice grit between their teeth. This project taught the students patience and focus, which was Mr. Dickinson’s goal in assigning it.

According to Ines Bu ’18, “The piece was one of the largest

Students Find Inspiration at DA

Provided by Nick Ortega Nicholas Ortega ’19 performs “Fiesta Latina” with Jacqueline Alvarado ’17 at the 2017 spring dance showcase.

Claire Quan Staff Writer

The Deerfield arts program has inspired many students to explore new genres of art. Despite beginning as complete novices, many students progress to and beyond AP-level courses. These students have demonstrated a natural ability in art forms and have been able to flourish in Deerfield’s art program.

Commenting on the uniqueness of Deerfield’s art program, Art Teacher Mr. David Dickinson explained, “We’re one of a few schools who teach foundational drawing and skills so students can make an intelligent choice whether to continue in this discipline or choose another path.”

Cameron Snow ’18 recalled, “I took a very limited amount of art classes before coming to DA. I mainly doodled in my free time.”

As a sophomore, he decided to take Intro to Studio Art to fulfill his art requirement, but also seized the

opportunity to further explore a hobby. He stated, “I figured that I should take something that was interesting to me.”

Snow continued taking art beyond the requirements and is now taking Topics: Post-AP Studio Art. He spoke highly of Mr. Dickinson, his teacher for both AP and Post-AP Studio Art: “Mr. Dickinson always reminds us to leave our mistakes on paper. [I have learned] to look beyond what I initially see. Mr. D taught us that art is essential to life.”

Snow is confident that he’ll continue engaging in studio art classes in college, where he aims to improve upon his technical skills, as well as explore other mediums of art.

Mim Pomerantz ’18 also reflected on how she began her artistic journey: “One of the biggest things for me was seeing all the amazing drawings of Deerfield students displayed.” Both Snow and Pomerantz are excited to see the program continue and to

Artist of the Issue: Peter Pulai ’18

Initially, Pulai had no interest in DJing, although he’d been listening to EDM since elementary school, going so far as to list Avicii’s “Levels” as his favorite song in his sixth grade yearbook.

“I find it amazing how polished Avicii’s songs are,” Pulai asserted.

“He’s changed up his style completely… He’s kind of mixed folk music [with EDM].” He cites Martin Garrix as another source of inspiration in regards to both music and work ethic.

Pulai is meticulous in his process. Each song has a different tempo and different key, so layering sound involves curating playlists of songs that work, or can be tweaked in order to work with the beats in the background. The science of the matter, according to Pulai, lies mainly in the tempo.

“If it’s faster than one’s heartbeat, then one will want to

that we’ve worked on so far, so it was challenging in many aspects. Mr. Dickinson has told us throughout the years to always be patient in doing our art, but I never really figured out what that meant until this assignment came around.” She believes that the assignment allowed her to improve her technique and skills by working solely with a pencil, but most importantly, Bu learned “that sometimes taking a break, stepping away, and reevaluating the piece later is the most efficient way to make progress.”

Regarding the new gallery space, Sofia Novak ’18 stated, “In the past, we only had the von Auersperg Gallery, which was mostly limited to professional artists. We are proud of our work, and we are glad to have this wonderful venue to share our artwork with the community.”

move and jump, while anything slower will induce only the bobbing of the head,” Pulai commented.

He also often employs musical drops, spacing them around a minute and a half apart in order to maintain the balance between “hyped” and “frantic.” Pulai can spend anywhere up to two hours a day searching for appropriate music. He maintains a larger master playlist that he carefully pulls from for any performance, trying his best to cater to the majority of the listeners.

Currently, the Student Planning Committee (SPC) and Pulai are collaborating to create a more fulfilling dance experience.

“I think [Pulai’s skills are] honestly amazing,” said SPC member Jada Howard ’19. She has worked with him when organizing previous dances, such as the first dance of the 2016-2017 school

year. She continued, “I think it’s cool just seeing a Deerfield student who has that talent, and [the school] giving him the resources and time to do it.”

As with any artist, several figures have provided Pulai with support. Specifically, Pulai accredited Topjor Tsultrim ’18 as “the man behind the curtain” at every dance he DJs. Through both their efforts, the team ensures a “topnotch experience” at all of Deerfield’s dances.

Pulai’s father has also encouraged his son’s DJing career, helping the two performers program the lights and engineer an optimal setup. He designed and built the elaborate truss system that supports the lights and tunes the speakers before each dance.

At the moment, Pulai is enrolled in Deerfield’s music production class, which focuses on a different

develop their own skills as artists.

Nicholas Ortega ’19 experienced a similar learning experience in dance. Ortega joined the dance program with virtually no technical or classical training, a daunting challenge for a new student. Ortega recounted: “I wanted to join the dance program after seeing Lori [Ms. Clark]’s jazz piece to ‘You Don’t Own Me.’ I loved the dynamic of the piece and how everything was able to come together. I just wanted to be able to dance like that.”

Ortega began co-curricular dance as a sophomore, setting a strong foundation for his current position as a member of the Intermediate Dance Ensemble.

Ortega met dance teacher Ms. Stephanie Shumway through the dance co-curricular and is now taking private lessons with her.

“I love Steph as a dancer and a teacher,” Ortega affirmed. “She’s a contemporary dancer; that’s what I strive to be.”

The dance program, specifically designed for students to move through the ranks as they improve, will welcome Ortega to Dance III, the higher level of the intermediate ensemble, next year. Ortega said, “Ms. Whitcomb [the Director of Dance] is very patient with new dancers and encouraging to all of her her students. She’s one of the reasons I felt safe and supported when I first began [dancing at Deerfield].”

As Pomerantz remarked, “Don’t be afraid to try something new.

Just go for it, you’ll be surprised by what happens.”

element each term. Their current topic is music theory, and they will move onto studio production in the winter. He hopes to continue DJing and eventually produce his own music.

Provided by Peter Pulai Peter Pulai ’18 performs at Lost Kings concert in February of 2017.

The Deerfield Scroll

Sports

Meet Matt and Ronnie!

Maggie Tydings

Provided by Sofia Novak

Staff Writer

As the Athletic Center undergoes renovation, the Athletic Center staff obtained some new additions this year as well: Mr. Matt Gallegly and Mr. Ronnie Tamburro.

Mr. Gallegly came in as an intern in the athletic trainer’s office and is currently studying sports medicine. Despite this being his first job as a certified athletic trainer, he has already impacted many students on campus. He helps students and faculty every day with injuries ranging from sprained ankles to concussions.

Mr. Gallegly described his transition so far as “very smooth,” which he attributed to the kindness of the students, faculty, and staff.

“I feel right at home even though I’m not from the area, for which I’m very thankful,” said Mr. Gallegly.

Currently battling shin splints, Bailey Cheetham ’19 works with Mr. Gallegly to recover as fast as possible. Within Mr. Gallegly’s first few weeks on campus, he already implemented a new stretch for shin splints that reaches the tightest area on the side of the calf to help Cheetham and many other DA athletes who deal with shin splints.

Cheetham said, “Mr. Gallegly is the absolute best. He already has helped me out with so much and always has a smile on his face.”

Mr. Tamburro came to Deerfield from an internship at the Fairfield University athletic

Wednesday, October 25th, 2017 ⋅ 8

Athlete of the Issue: Andrew Penner Ryan Kim

Provided by Andrew Penner

Staff Writer

On the left, Mr. Ronnie Tamburro helps spot a student while benching. On the right, Mr. Matt Gallegly tends to a student with a hurt knee.

program. He started off his first year at Deerfield as assistant strength and conditioning coach, and he has already garnered a reputation around campus for an energetic disposition and grueling workout plans. Mr. Tamburro’s office is on the second floor of the Fitness Center, and he is ready to help anyone get in shape.

The first team he worked with was girls varsity field hockey. He noticed that the girls “truly have exceeded all expectations and continue to shatter the new ones I place on them each and every week to better themselves.” The girls have noticed how Mr. Tamburro’s efforts have helped them.

Captain Meghan O’Brien ’18 commented, “Ronnie does a good job at making us quicker. He

focuses on footwork, so we are getting the conditioning we need but also the agility. He makes hard work fun.”

Julia Placek ’20 noted, “He works well with the circumstances he is given and pushes us really hard.”

When working with Deerfield students, Mr. Tamburro draws off of his collegiate experience. When compared to his work in college, Mr. Tamburro said, “Deerfield students trust you to help them to succeed and that is all I could ever ask of them: to succeed and let me learn from them as much as they can learn from me. Because after all, Deerfield Academy really does have great students.”

Welcome, Mr. Gallegly and Mr. Tamburro!

Provided by Deerfield Academy

Andrew Penner ’18 is a twosport varsity athlete, competing for the boys’ water polo and swim teams. As one of the co-captains along with fellow classmate Nolen Rockefeller ’18, Penner has led the boys’ varsity water polo team, which is currently on a four-game winning streak, to a strong start.

Next year, Penner will continue his water polo career at Brown University.

The first time Penner ever saw a water polo game when he was in Italy on a trip and saw a national team match. Given that he has always been comfortable in the water, he decided to try it out. Growing up in the Bay Area, Penner began playing water polo seriously at the Stanford Water Polo Club, one of the most elite clubs in the nation, when he was just eight years old. Penner attributes a lot of his success to his coach from this club, Clarke Weatherspoon. Penner explained, “between ages 12 and 14, he saw a lot of potential in me that I didn’t see in myself, and subsequently furthered my drive to improve.”

As a result, when he arrived at Deerfield as new sophomore, Penner’s experience allowed him to have an immediate impact on the water polo team by becoming the team’s leading scorer. Building off of his stellar sophomore campaign, Penner once again led the team in scoring his junior year and secured a spot on the All-New England Water Polo First Team.

He continues to be the leading

Andrew Penner ‘18 winding up to shoot in the pool during a game against Andover.

scorer of the team, with 56 goals in just ten games.

Now, Penner is focused on doing something “B18” this season. “Under Coach Scandling’s guidance, we hope to do some amazing things,” he stated. “Right now we are 6-2 and at this time last year we were 0-8, so we have really improved.”

While Penner is focused on the continued success of the team, he recognizes that to get better, no one can be left behind. After coaching him for three seasons, Coach Mark Scandling said, “All the while Andrew was improving his polo skills, he was also patiently helping his teammates work together well at both ends of the pool. Now, when opposing teams focus on him, he can confidently make the extra pass to a player ready to make the right play.”

“All three years have been really great, and everyone is striving to be at the top of their game,” stated Penner. With the season already halfway over, and the NE Championship just a month away, the team, lead by Penner, is gearing up for a deep playoff run.

PG Student-Athletes Colman Shea Staff Writer

Both the boys and the girls cross country teams posing after their wins at the Westminster Invitational.

XC Wins Westminster Invitational Nick Fluty Staff Writer

Saturday, September 30th, 2017, was a memorable day for the Deerfield cross-country teams.

Both the boys and the girls climbed into the bus and traveled down to Simsbury, Connecticut for the Westminster School Invitational.

Mr. Michael Schloat, coach for boys’ cross-country, described his feelings going into the race: “I am always excited for the race at Westy because it is the first chance for the whole team to compete at the 5K distance. I was expecting our varsity to be competitive, after we finished a close second last year, but I wasn’t sure what to expect from some of the other teams since it was early.”

The day ended with a complete sweep of the competition. For the first time in a very long time, the boys’ varsity, girls’ varsity, boys’ JV, and girls’ JV teams all won their respective meets.

Upon reflection, boys’ varsity

cross-country captain Will McNamara ’18 commented, “The team as a whole did incredibly.

Not only did varsity do great but JV too. The meet really proved the depth that our program has. All our younger guys really stepped up on such a difficult stage and showed that they can contribute, which was amazing. We stuck with our race plan, and we controlled the meet.”

Captain Carolyn Melvin ’18 similarly describes what the Westminster victory means for the girls’ team. “From the start of the season, it was clear that the team had many strong individuals,” she noted, “but Westminster proved that we could all work together to dominate as a team.”

Both teams’ success marks the program’s improvement from the year before. At the Westminster Invitational last year, both the boys and the girls placed second.

McNamara also added that “[the team] had like 4 or 5 runners in the top 10, and that has never

happened before while I’ve been here.”

Captain Nora Markey ’18 attributed her success to the team’s hard work and execution.

She reflected, “the girls all knew exactly what we needed to do, and we ended up placing first. It was super rewarding for the team.”

Following their win at Westminster, the cross country teams have continued to find success at their meets. Their final two home meets will be against Exeter on October 21, and Andover on October 29. Both boys and girls are working towards the New England Championships on November 11 with high hopes for continued success.

Sarah Jane O’Connor ’18 said, “The team has been incredibly successful so far, but what’s more important than our record is the fact that this team feels like family.

There’s no other group of people I’d want to be with more for my senior year.”

The contributions of postgraduates don’t stop on the field or in the gym, but stretch into the classrooms, the dance studios, and many of the clubs around campus.

This year, Intro to Dance is a hotbed for post-gradutes, including Mike Bevino ’18, Niko Kvietkus ’18, Keegan McHugh ’18, Cabrel Happi ’18, and Elizabeth Hernberg ’18. This class is a traditional favorite of postgraduate students, so Dance Teacher Ms. Jennifer Whitcomb, has a lot of experience in making athletes into great dancers. Tailoring the introductory dance class to athletes is what helps these highly talented athletes use their talents to expand their comfort zones into the arts.

Ms. Whitcomb commented, “These guys are amazing lifters, so they’re perfect for partnering. They bring a whole lot to the program that we wouldn’t otherwise have …

The great thing about PGs getting involved in the dance program is they get involved in the community in ways they wouldn’t otherwise.”

The athletes in the class benefit equally as well. Happi noted that, “The stretching and strengthening that Ms. Whitcomb has us do to better our dancing in class

each day actually helps me be better prepared for soccer in the afternoons as well.”

In the showcase over Family Weekend, the Intro to Dance class will preform their dances comprised of their sports moves.

Bevino comments, “In the fall showcase, I’m going to show all those parents out there in the crowd that I’ve changed the dancing program here, and I’m pretty sure it’s changed me.”

The PGs appreciate that they are taking a 5th year to further their academics as well. Not only do all of these new students actually know where the library is, but a large group of them have also claimed room B209 as their study space during study hours.

They play music ranging from Justin Timberlake to Jay-Z to 2 Chainz, dialing them in for another night of homework. One might wonder how they can work in such an environment, but upon arrival, one soon realizes the air is different in there; each one of them is grinding calculus, English, or the infamous Intro to Dance journals. They know how important academics are and recognize the truth in the “student” coming before the “athlete” in “student-athlete.”

Provided by Mila Castleman DeAndre Byrd ’18, Parker Luber ’18, Nick Osarenren ’18, Mike Bevino ’18, Keegan McHugh ’18, and Niko Kvietkus ’18 posing.