The Deerfield Scroll: December 9, 2015

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Vol. XC, No. 5

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Deerfield Academy, Deerfield, MA

CONTROVERSY ON CHOATE DAY //MADDIE CHAI Staff Writer

possibility/likelihood that there are Choate fans that should be better behaved, that the vast majority of the Deerfield community served as wonderful hosts.”

Some students at Deerfield disagreed with Petrus’s decision to send an apology. Although she intended for the letter to represent only her own opinion, some peers pointed out that the way in which she wrote the letter, and that she signed it as “Chair of the Student Council at Deerfield Academy,” suggested that it represented the whole student body’s opinion.

Saorise Kennedy Hill ’16 stated, “I think Claire’s use of the word ‘our’ in her letter was used inappropriately, because it’s speaking about the Deerfield student body’s opinion, as opposed to her personal opinion. Also, I think it would have been best if she had checked with more students at Deerfield, because this letter is not representative of what the majority of us think.”

Alex Platt ’17 disagreed. “I can understand that some students were angry because they thought she was speaking on their behalf without their permission, but I also think that it shouldn’t matter, because we should all be mature enough to have wanted to send that letter.” Additionally, Platt added, “She signed it with her own name, and I think it was clear that it was on her own behalf.”

Although Petrus knew she would get some pushback from students, she wanted to send the letter out of what she felt was a personal responsibility. “The point was not to justify what Choate did, but just to say that we weren’t at our best on Saturday. Some people were being really rude, and we apologize for that.”

Petrus’s Letter To the Students of Choate, I apologize for the offensive comments made by members of our community. Choate/Deerfield Day is not supposed to be about insults and ignorance, but rather sportsmanship and spirit. I am personally embarrassed that our school was represented by behavior that is not indicative of our character. Although this letter will not solve the larger problem of people thinking it is acceptable to make such demeaning remarks, I hope that it will allow us to start working on this issue together.

Once again, I apologize to anyone who was offended by what happened over the weekend, and if you would like to discuss this further, please email me at cpetrus@deerfield.edu.

Best, Claire Petrus Chair of the Student Council at Deerfield Academy

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9 December 2015

LOCAL CENTERS WELCOME REFUGEES //HELENA TEBEAU Staff Writer

Countries all over the world are accepting Syrian refugees forced to flee from their wartorn homes. Turkey, Lebanon, and Jordan have collectively taken more than 3.6 million displaced Syrians. As refugees seek homes and safety, even Western Massachusetts is seeing an influx of immigrants. The state of Massachusetts has already admitted 72 Syrians, and the number will most likely continue to grow as President Obama pledged to admit 10,000 Syrians into the country.

However, after the recent terrorist attacks in Paris, the governor of Massachusetts, Charlie Baker, opposes the idea of welcoming refugees into Massachusetts. He stated, ‘‘The safety and security of the people of the commonwealth of Massachusetts is my highest priority.

I’m always going to be willing to at least hear what the federal government has to say. As a public official, that’s my job. Hearing what they have to say does not mean saying yes.’’

However, for the Syrians who have already arrived, The Center for New Americans, a community-based education and resource service for immigrants and refugees in Western Massachusetts, could be instrumental. The Center helps refugees from all over the world find homes and jobs. There are locations in Greenfield, Turners Falls, Amherst, Northampton, and Springfield.

According to the website, the mission of the Center for New Americans is to “provide under-served immigrant, refugee and migrant communities of Massachusetts Pioneer Valley with education and resources to learn English, become involved community members and obtain tools necessary to maintain economic independence and stability.” The Center is a community-based, non-profit organization for adult refugees and their families.

Laurie Millman, Interim Director of The Center in Northampton explained, “We help immigrants to integrate into our community by teaching English, providing technology instruction, offering education and career advising, and citizenship and immigration assistance.”

The Center helps about 450 people each year, although the number fluctuates.

Refugees and immigrants come from over 50

countries and Laurie explained, “In any one class, we might have students from Cape Verde, Morocco, China, Thailand, Cambodia, Ghana, Ecuador…”

Alhough The Center does work with some Syrians, Palestinians, and Iraqis, and has even helped some Iraqis obtain citizenships, Laurie noted that “The Center for New Americans is not a refugee resettlement agency.” She added, “We educate people once they are re-settled.”

While The Center is not, according to Millman, a “first responder” for refugees when they first arrive, the Ascentria Care Alliance, based in Worcester, acts as a “first responder” to refugees arriving in the United States. Its mission, according to its website, is to “strengthen communities

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Every fall, Deerfield students dedicate a full week to showing their school pride in anticipation of Choate Day. Battle cries echo throughout the dining hall banners are hung from dorms and buildings and students dress in spirited clothing.

This year, on Choate Day, some chants turned negative and extreme. Choate students yelled “Daddy’s money,” while Deerfield fans said that Choate volleyball players were wearing “spanx” and told them to eat more salads. Students from both schools insulted the opposing side.

The Monday after Choate Day, a sophomore girl from Choate posted a Facebook status about some of the offensive comments she had heard. She stated that Choate students value themselves based on virtues such as intelligence, integrity, kindness, athletic and artistic talent, while Deerfield students appraise their self-worth based on superficial things such as clothing, appearances, money, and their campus.

Some members of the Deerfield community who read the post were frustrated by her apparent disregard for Choate’s rudeness on Choate Day and because she ignored Deerfield’s perspective while making claims about students she has never met. However, others took the comment into consideration and felt badly about Deerfield’s actions.

Claire Petrus ’16 felt that Choate deserved an apology out of common courtesy. “I was personally upset, because our school didn’t look very good, and we weren’t at our best,” she said. She felt a personal obligation to send an apology letter to the Choate community.

“You just send an apology letter to be polite,” she explained. “I felt really passionately that something should be said.

The other people who knew about [the status] didn’t really seem to have an opinion, or they didn’t really want to do anything productive with it.”

After meeting with Ms. Creagh and Dr. Curtis to discuss the matter, Petrus sent the letter to Choate’s Dean of Students. In the letter, she expressed how embarrassed she was by the behavior of Deerfield students and alumni and apologized to anyone who had been offended on that Saturday.

The Choate Dean of Students responded and said that he would read Petrus’s letter to the Choate community at their first winter school meeting and use it to “provide some context that acknowledges the real

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by empowering people to respond to life’s challenges.”

The Syrian refugee crisis has also rippled into the Deerfield community. Ms. Moushabeck, who keeps in touch with her Middle Eastern family and friends through the internet, described seeing the updates in Syria as “very depressing, especially when you learn that most of them do not have adequate shelter, blankets, or clothes, let alone medicine or food.” She explained that in our own community, “sometimes it is hard to see the abundance around me and not feel some guilt for not doing enough. But I have donated clothes and participated in fundraisers like the Soup For Syria cookbook, the proceeds of which go to the UNHCR that provides food relief for the Syrian refugees.”

Deerfield students at can help The Center for New Americans by making financial donations. According to the Center’s website, “$104 dollars buys books and materials for two students, $260 dollars provides citizenship assistance for two students, $780 supports six students through employment counseling and $1040 provides English classes with support for six months.” The Center is community-based, so any type of support is encouraged.

DA OPPOSES PIPELINE ‘AS CURRENTLY PROPOSED’ //PERRY HAMM Associate Editor

As of November 19th, Deerfield Academy stands in public opposition to the Tennessee Gas Company’s NED Pipeline “as currently proposed.” The pipeline would be constructed through Franklin County in April of 2017, passing within a half-mile of the Deerfield campus. Deerfield’s announcement follows those of both Bement and Northfield Mount Hermon, and together, these public stances fuel what The Greenfield Recorder calls “growing opposition.” In an effort to provide safety for students, to limit environmental destruction of the area, and to preserve the history of Deerfield, the Deerfield Board of Trustees has formally opposed the project as it now stands.

Director of Communications Mr. David Thiel’s statement for The Greenfield Recorder, explains that the pipeline “affects such a broad swath of people that it had to be addressed.” Once the issue was brought to the Board, the members felt that the pipeline could pose danger to the Deerfield community, an important factor in their ultimate opposition.

Dr. Curtis explained to The Scroll “It was clear that safety and environmental concerns weighed heavily in the [Board’s] decision.”

In order to make this decision, the

Board followed a process Dr. Curtis called “deliberate and careful” in a school-wide email. This process, she later explained, involved the Board of Trustees reading two articles, “One in favor of the pipeline, and another against,” as well as the two page spread on the pipeline that was published in last month’s edition of The Scroll. The Board then met to “discuss the issue thoroughly.”

At this meeting, Mr. H. Rodgin Cohen, Head of the Board of Trustees, came prepared with a resolution based on the information he had obtained. That resolution “was slightly amended based on the feedback from trustee members,” Dr. Curtis added.

She explained that The Board “felt it was important to highlight that it did not support the pipeline project ‘as currently proposed.’”

The Board’s process did not end at that meeting, however, as the members took another two weeks “to study the issue further” before arriving at their final decision. Dr. Curtis shared the Board’s decision with the Deerfield community shortly after it was shared publicly by way of The Greenfield Recorder. Dr. Curtis also found it important to establish an advisory committee to meet regularly as the NED project unfolds.

Thismcommittee, comprised of Dr. Hills, Mr. Stobierski, and Mr. Finan, serves as the link between the Rachel Yao

ongoing matter of the pipeline and Deerfield administration, and will continue to closely analyze the issue.

Dr. Curtis shared that Deerfield’s plan going forward is “to stay informed about the evolution of [the] project, and to continue to focus on the safety and environmental factors that concern the school.” The Deerfield Scroll will continue to cover the pipeline and update its readers to any new announcements.

Rachel Yao

Ms. Whitcomb

BodyTraffic, an LA-based dance company, performed at Deerfield Academy on December 3rd.

As pictured here, the group taught master classes to Deerfield dance students during its visit.

Vol. XC, No. 5

OPINION

9 December 2015

editor-in-chief BELLA HUTCHINS online editor managing editor william ughetta brooke horowitch front page editor josh tebeau

online associate editor freddie johnson

opinion & editorial editor caroline fett

online content editor virginia murphy

features editor julia dixon

layout associate editor alex guo

arts & entertainment editor maggie yin

photography associate editor valerie ma

sports editor david darling spread editor dane scott layout editor ashley wang photography editor gwyneth hochhausler graphics editor rachel yao distribution manager justin hsu video editor emily yue

graphics associate editor tia jonsson social media editor elizabeth tiemann associate editors vaish gajaraj camille moeckel richard park ethan thayumanavan nia goodridge liam jeon perry hamm senior writers katherine heaney maddie moon felix schliemann yasmine deswandhy

advisors julianne schloat, carrie brown and john gregory brown 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 and is uncensored.

Opinion articles with contributors’ names attached represent the views of the respective

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Dear Reader, These past few weeks, we have witnessed incidents of tragedy around the globe, so The Scroll staff and I thought it would be appropriate to dedicate space throughout this issue to honor those who have lost their lives, those who have lost their loved ones, and those who are facing oppression.

By creating the “Voices Against Violence” spread on pages 4 and 5, my goal was to shed light on the fact that there are members within this community who have been affected by the tragedies of the past few weeks or months. Though The Scroll was, of course, unable to cover all of the violence that has erupted as of late, I hope that this spread will urge you, reader, to seek to learn more about the issues that lay behind these tragedies and to have the difficult conversations about these issues with your peers and your

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#StopSelectiveMourning, and #PrayForParis. Social media is a powerful platform bringing together many different views, so as to make comprehension of these difficult problems more complete.

I encourage you to take the time to look at the photos and read those long posts from media-users about what they believe and why. I know I’m glad that I did.

Reader, if you look around you, the people who make up this campus can act as another version of that platform. We’re lucky to attend a school filled with people so eager to learn. I urge you to partake in as many conversations as you can and to learn as much as you can. As we head into the coming months, keep your head up, be grateful, and be thoughtful.

Cheers, Bella Hutchins Editor-In-Chief

FREEDOM OF SPEECH AT DEERFIELD //SERENA AINSLIE Contributing Writer

writers. Opinion articles without names represent the consensus views of the editorial staff.

The Scroll Board cedes this space in honor of all of those, both in the U.S. and abroad, facing struggle or oppression.

teachers.

This past Sunday afternoon, I participated in a Greer Chat about gun control and gun violence, which Serena Ainslie and I decided to co-host after the shooting in San Bernardino, California last week.

I came out of the conversation understanding much more about the pro-gun argument than I had expected to. Once you become willing to step into a conversation that is outside of your comfort zone, you become willing to learn something new you come to understand, or at least try to understand, somebody else’s beliefs and the reasons that they hold those beliefs.

Therefore, reader, I hope you will recognize that through these times of struggle, there is opportunity. In the past month, I’ve learned so much about the root of the problems causing trending hashtags such as #BlackLivesMatter,

Freedom of speech at Deerfield has been a controversial topic since I arrived here in 2012. Stories of teachers and students criticizing my peers for speaking their minds have become commonplace. However, I didn’t realize the extent to which some members of the Deerfield community restrict speech until this fall.

In the previous issue of The Scroll, I shared some of my observations on the negative effects of the Freshmen Village with Ballard Brown, so that he could include them in his “antivillage” article.

Considering that the paper also published a “pro-village” article, I thought it was important to point out that, while The Village has been successful in many ways, there are aspects of it that can be improved.

After the article was published, all hell broke loose. Faculty members and students alike told me that I was closeminded and was not trying to see the positives of the Village. People told Ballard that he clearly didn’t understand Deerfield culture. No one asked to have a conversation with Ballard or me about why we feel the way we do.

No one who spoke to us tried to understand our opinions. We wanted to shed light on areas of weakness with the hope of improving our school and home in response, we found disrespect.

My frustration with the response from the community did not come from people disagreeing with me. I would have been glad to elaborate on my experiences that led to my opinions about The Village or to hear about others’ experiences, both those similar to and different from mine.

Unfortunately, my experience following the article’s appearance in The Scroll led me to conclude that Deerfield can be a stifling place when it comes to freedom of expression.

In my four years here, I’ve found that there are a few people who are very vocal about their opinions. I respect that. At the same time, I’ve found that many of these people are also so set in their ways that they aren’t willing to listen to opposing views. If they do, they condemn the other person for disagreeing and disregard his or her opinion. This attitude leads community members who aren’t as confident about their beliefs to fear expression, stripping them of opportunities to develop their opinions and practice thoughtful

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conversation and debate.

I’ve personally experienced a peer attacking me when I tried to discuss the presidential candidates at a sit-down meal. A teacher with apparently liberal political views told a friend that she should stop watching a more conservative news source she referenced in a class discussion. My opinions about Deerfield life have been met with

insolence from members of the administration.

I am not upset that people disagree with my beliefs. I think we learn most from those whose beliefs are different from our own. I am troubled that our value statement calls for “respect, honesty, and concern for others,” yet often we do not respect each other’s beliefs. We owe it to each other to listen to others’ opinions, ask clarifying questions about why someone b e l i e v e s what he or she does, and then offer one’s own opinion without regarding the other as invalid. This kind of disagreement promotes openmindedness. It allows us to see the other side of an argument and question our own beliefs without feeling disrespected.

I am concerned about the effect Deerfield’s culture of silence will have on students once they graduate. Deerfield is home to some of the brightest young minds in the world. In the classroom, on the field, on the stage, and in the studio, we excel. Yet too many of us are either disrespectful or afraid and unprepared when it comes to discussing topics like the presidential elections, ISIS, and climate change. I have no doubt that we are intelligent young people who are capable of solving many of the issues gracing the headlines today.

But in addition to equipping us with the academic tools we need to face these issues, Deerfield should teach us to stay well informed and develop and express opinions with confidence, respect, and openmindedness.

We owe it to each other to accept diversity of thought and to understand that people will still disagree with us, even when we share our side of an argument. We constantly contemplate how we can break the notorious “Deerfield bubble.” When we create an environment where people feel safe speaking freely about their opinions, the bubble will pop.

The Deerfield Scroll

RACIAL IGNORANCE IS NOT BLISS //SHANE BEARD

Contributing Writer Recent events on college campuses and around the country have sparked many conversations about the state of race relations in America. While I’m happy those conversations are taking place, it’s unfortunate that the people who would benefit the most from these conversations— those who are uncomfortable or unfamiliar with the subject of racial tension—often choose not to participate. When I ask them why, I get the same answer time and time again, either explicitly or implicitly “It doesn’t matter to me.” The truth is that the events at the University of Missouri, Yale, and other academic institutions are very relevant to Deerfield’s status as a predominantly white school. To dismiss the issues those schools face as something that can only happen there and not here is irresponsible and keeps Deerfield from growing and improving.

This isn’t to say that Deerfield hasn’t come a long way in addressing issues of diversity and race on campus, especially in the last few years. The number of faculty of color has expanded greatly, and Greer Chats (started last year by alumni Tarek Deida ’15 and Matt Morrow ’15) and the Deerfield Student Forum (a Facebook group started last year by Nicky Conzelman ’16) have given students strong platforms to share their ideas. As successful as these platforms are, however, the notion that their simple existence eliminates the campus’ struggle with issues of race bothers me a lot. Too often we have incidents where students dress in bandanas and sweatpants as “gangsters,” posing with captions like “The Real Housewives of Detroit,” and failing to see the problem this creates. Too often I’ve overheard white students saying “nigga,” when they think I’m not around, or telling me it’s racist that they can’t say it in the first place. Too often I’ve heard “you should come to my dance piece. It’s so ghetto.” And while I’ve made an effort to have conversations

Ashley Wang

about these things, the sad truth is that most students at Deerfield don’t seem to care. They’re not offended, so what’s the problem?

Do I think that these students are bad people? Absolutely not. I believe that, like all Deerfield students, they have the best intentions in mind. But that’s the thing about discrimination these days, it comes less from an ideological perspective like the KKK or the Nazis, but more from ignorance.

At Deerfield, the idea that everyone is the same, that we’re all uniform and equal, is a comforting thought, but it also acts as a barrier to truly understanding one another.

A senior at Yale put it very well when talking about the recent protests on the campus “[The protests are] about a mismatch between the Yale we find in admissions brochures and the Yale we experience every day.” The Deerfield I saw in the brochures and fell in love with was a school that gave people the opportunity to be the best version of themselves. Deerfield is supposed to challenge our preconceived notions and change us for the better. Frankly, I haven’t s e e n people embrace the challenge that comes with understanding those who are different from them, but instead have seen them choosing to assimilate into Deerfield’s homogenized culture. This inability to face difference can build up and quickly lead to issues like those seen at Yale and Mizzou, where tensions have peaked, because people didn’t listen to others before it was too late.

So this is an open invitation to all — go to l the meeting of a group you wouldn’t normally go to, even if you disagree with the group’s purpose or mission. See what kind of things they talk about at the JSA or in the Indian Student Alliance, or stop by the Feminism Club. Or, if you can’t make it to a meeting, go sit next to someone you’d otherwise never talk to. Face the unknown, the unexpected, the uncomfortable, and reap the benefits of that challenge. Listen to your peers, and choose to learn about things you may not know. Give back to Deerfield by making the most of what it has to offer, because making Deerfield a better place matters to everyone.

A CALL FOR MORE USEFUL COMSERV //ISABEL GILMORE Staff Writer

Please note that examples of service projects given in this article aren’t real, but are similar to actual Deerfield trips. This was to avoid condemning any specific project.

At Deerfield, community service has become something of a “must have” for college applications. However, after thinking about community service projects undertaken by Deerfield students, I have come to wonder whether the Common App has affected students’ intentions, essentially defeating the purpose of community service.

I worry that we are blinding ourselves to the point where we are less concerned about making a lasting impact and more concerned about finding inspiration for a college essay. In our pursuit of obtaining “impressive” community service, perhaps we fail to tend to the specific needs of the people with whom we work, essentially doing the community a “disservice.”

The ultimate myth regarding community service is that in order to make a lasting impact, one must develop a project that includes a thousand dollar airfare and manual labor. Although traveling to Ghana with a group of prep school students to build a water pump sounds awfully impressive, it isn’t actually the most pragmatic way to help the community. In fact, it is an extremely unconventional use of time and money. By allowing the local citizens in Ghana to build the water pump themselves, that same group of students could have omitted airfare costs, donated the money saved to a community in need, and provided job opportunities for the Ghanaian locals, who often suffer from unemployment.

As students, many of us have come to believe that our greatest contributions to a community in need will stem from our hammer skills or our ability to withstand the hot sun, when, rather, they will stem from our most valuable attribute our education.

At Deerfield we are taught language, economics, business, math, and science — subjects to which a large percentage of the world, especially the Third World, has little or no access. We have to recognize that in many cases we can make a greater and more

effective impact from our dorm room. Why are we spending $890 on a round-trip ticket to Guatemala to teach children English for a week, when we could use the money to provide them with computers that would allow us to virtually teach them English for six months?

Some argue that traveling in person to the communities we are helping is crucial, because it enables students to witness the product of their work, therefore heightening their sense of gratification that one “must receive” in turn for community service.

They also argue that witnessing community service inspires students to further help the community in question, even after the project has been finalized. I would argue that the purpose of community service is not to give you a sense of fulfillment or satisfaction. Also, if community service is done successfully, you should get that sense of reward regardless of where you are when you’re helping.

Ultimately, I’ve come to realize that a lot of community service today caters more to the needs of and is more beneficial to the volunteer than the target. Although certain trips and endeavors may be humbling and instill a great change in Deerfield students, they may not be the most effective way to instill change in the lives of those who need it most.

I think it is crucial and healthy that everyone, especially coming from a community like Deerfield, feels the humbling experience of witnessing poverty firsthand.

Nonetheless, witnessing poverty doesn’t have to include an expensive airfare, and I believe that the Common App’s implied service requirement has skewed the intentions and impact of community service.

To conclude, I would like readers to understand that, in writing this article, I by no means wanted to bash against past community service projects, because I believe that they have made an impact. I also think it is commendable that we take time to help, regardless of our intentions.

My objective in writing this article is solely to shed further light on the prospect of modifying future projects, so that they can benefit communities in need more fully, and for us as students to come to terms — honestly — with why we are doing service.

Maybe if we do, we will make even greater contributions to the world in which we live.

9 December 2015

Valerie Ma

//NADIA JO Staff Writer

It’s finally here a 9th grader’s perspective on The Freshman Village.

I didn’t know a single person before stepping foot on campus, and The Freshman Village has been incredibly helpful for me to form close friendships with other 9th graders.

From roommates to Crowe Commons, my grade has bonded tremendously over just one term in Johnson-Doubleday. This dorm arrangement makes sense to me why not create a positive environment to allow students, especially boys and girls, to interact within their class? By providing a strong foundation and helping students start off on the right foot, we can look forward to the next four years that will be our Deerfield experience.

It’s true that socializing with people in other grades is no longer as easy as simply going next door. But there are still plenty of opportunities—through clubs and cocurriculars—to meet students from other grades. Meeting the same people during cocurriculars at least five times a week naturally leads to conversations, and I made several friends in other grades before I knew it. I began sitting with them during walk-through meals, and they introduced me to other friends. Once I started hanging out with a few, it was easy to branch out and interact with more sophomores and upperclassmen.

Because my co-curricular was such a great place to meet new people, I was startled to hear about the conflicts in athletics cited in last month’s Scroll.

Upperclassmen have been extremely

quick to make judgments about freshmen as team players. Yes, there have been reports that freshmen don’t always follow directions and understand school dynamics. But we should not assume that this is a result of the new dorm configuration. To determine if The Freshman Village is actually at fault, we have to look at how the class of 2020 and subsequent years act as freshmen.

The same goes for stories about freshmen being rude to Greer staff and not cleaning up after themselves. There are outliers in every group of people, whether they’re from the class of 2019 or 2016. A few isolated incidents shouldn’t serve as a generalization about the entire freshmen body.

When it comes to Crowe Commons, freshmen are criticized even further.

Apparently, there’s a problem wherever I choose to hang out. If I’m in Crowe, I’m too isolated from the rest of the school. If I’m in the Greer, I’m not using the resources the administration has provided, like the flat screen TV. Upperclassmen express disapproval in both cases, which makes me wonder are they unhappy about The Freshman Village, or are they upset about the freshmen as people?

Because freshmen and upperclassmen have repeatedly expressed eagerness to get to know one another, I am confident that we can overcome the misunderstandings of the past term and continue to form strong bonds.

We are still Deerfield, a warm and vibrant community that has withstood more than 200 years of change. Together, we can enjoy every moment of our high school years, whether we are just starting our journey or leaving our mark before graduating.

AUTHENTIC DIVERSITY //NIA GOODRIDGE Associate Editor

Sometimes, I take a moment to look at my hands. In private, I will hold them up and stare at them intently. I will wonder why my color, a deep brown, holds so much say over how the world views me. Walking around campus, anyone can see that Deerfield is a diverse community. Everywhere you look, you see waves of different hair shades and textures, multiple skin tones, and glances revealing numerous eye colors. If one skims a Deerfield Admissions pamphlet, scrolls through the school website, or observes various tables during a sit-down meal, the wealth of physical variety in the student body almost overwhelms normal diversity statistics. These observations would lead many to conclude that Deerfield has succeeded at “rudimentary diversity.” Rudimentary diversity, a phrase I have decided to coin here, is diversity that is skin deep, objective, and indisputable.

It is the type of diversity that operates on the quantity of different races, ethnicities, and nationalities present in a given area.

Preparing students for the “real world” is one of Deerfield’s major objectives. As a result, Deerfield has done its best to create a synthetic “real world” on campus in order to teach students the skills and capacities necessary to succeed in today’s diverse society. Perhaps the school believed that by creating rudimentary diversity on campus, “authentic diversity” would organically follow. Unfortunately, with this aspiration, Deerfield did not consider the teenage tendencies of its students, the human nature of its community, and the stifling effect of the Deerfield bubble on its inhabitants.

“Authentic diversity,” another one of my coined phrases, purely boils down to true acceptance and inclusion. Valentina Connell ’16, a strong activist and feminist on campus thinks that “diversity is being aware of other people’s differences and accepting them for it.” Imani Goodridge ’17, a leader of the DBSA with Caribbean heritage, believes that “diversity is everything inclusive. It is everything on this Earth.”

I believe that authentic diversity is acceptance of one another that transcends arbitrary labels and differences such as race, gender, sexuality, socioeconomic class, etc. It is not something that can be seen or touched. It is something that can only be felt. In a place like Deerfield — with its vast opportunities, state-of-the-art facilities, and collection of fascinating people — one would wonder how anyone could ever be unhappy here. Using the idea of authentic diversity as a lens, students at Deerfield are unhappy when they feel judged, disrespected and/or not

accepted by the community. Daniella Faura ’17, who has Mexican and Cuban heritage, noted, “If you feel like you are a part of something, that’s when you feel like you fit in.”

To feel accepted, many students begin to conform to the majority’s popular opinion.

Conformity is what has prevented Deerfield for years from progressing from rudimentary diversity to authentic diversity. Marco Marsans ’18, a trilingual student who has lived in three countries, said, “I would pair diversity with individuality, meaning you’re strong enough not to conform, and you’re strong enough to show the different sides of who you are.” This notion of conformity hindering authentic diversity poses a bigger question How can we at Deerfield sincerely have a diverse community if we are afraid to be true to ourselves? I firmly believe that we should not view our differences as dividers but as tools to educate one another.

Lately, I have seen more students showcasing their differences. In other words, I have witnessed students starting to be true to themselves. In the past, the administration has always taken the first step to ensure authentic diversity on campus. A few examples include creating the Office of Inclusion, hiring Ms. Marjorie Young as the Director of Inclusion & Community Life in 2013, and initiating the Freshman Village into the dorm configuration this year. But in recent months, it is the student body, not the administration, that has created a spirit of acceptance on campus. Real change has occurred, and the student body has begun to embody these changes for the first time collectively. These days, I see the gender divide crumbling, ideas spreading like wildfire, action beginning to be taken, students respecting one another, and uniqueness beginning to be truly accepted.

On November 16, 2015, the student body participated in a blackout to stand in solidarity with the students of color at the University of Missouri being threatened. On November 13, 2015, the renewed school spirit during the pep rally shook the foundation of the Hess building, and during Choate Week, students from all backgrounds could be seen wearing various student alliances’ shirts.

Truly, as Miles Menafee ’17 stated, “Deerfield hasn’t changed, but the students have and the students are what make the school.”

Students on campus have become more open-minded, and the majority of students have begn to understand and become aware of all social issues present in the community and beyond those with which they have personal connections and those with which they do not. Deerfield has changed since the first time I stepped foot on campus, and I can confidently say the recent growth in authentic diversity has changed it for the better.

3

VOICES AGAINST VIOLENCE ...insights from members of the DA community affected by recent world tragedies in recognition of the lost lives and suffering caused by those tragedies, and what we can do to help move forward towards peace.

#PRAYFORPARIS with insights from Michael Beit, Sevrin Saracheck, Tendayi Peyton, Francois Ellis, and John Van Eps //ANNABEL NOTTEBOHM Staff Writer On November 13th, Paris, France was made victim to a devastating number of attacks that left more than 120 innocent civilians dead and a nation stricken with grief. The Islamic state, also known as ISIS or ISIL, has publicly claimed responsibility for the deadly acts of terrorism. The worst European terrorist attack in over eleven years, three ISIS units launched catastrophic attacks on six separate locations in Paris.

The ambush shooting at the Bataclan Concert Hall, when three terrorists arrived with assault rifles and opened fire, resulted in close to 90 fatalities.

In the Stade de France, at least three people were killed as a result of the explosions caused by suicide bombers. In addition, there were several fatal shootings around a variety of restaurants, bars, and cafes in the tenth and eleventh districts of Paris. Within minutes of one another, 15 victims were left dead as gunmen attacked an area outside of Paris restaurant Le Petit Cambodge, and other attackers killed up to five people outside of Cafe Bonne Piere. Shortly after, attackers launched a final mass shooting on a restaurant called La Bella Equipe — the cause of 19 more deaths.

“It was very surreal to be in Paris at that time,” said alum Michael Beit ’15, who has been in the city on a gap year. On the 13th, he and another Deerfield graduate, Binger Shanguan ’15, had been having dinner at a tiny Italian restaurant. It was late, and they were the last ones there. The chef came out and asked where they lived, warning them that they might have a hard time getting home that night. After checking the news on their phones, the two soon found out why.

Beit noted that “the news reported a lot of things incorrectly” during the mounting hysteria and confusion of that night. Subways were closed, there were no taxis—everyone walked home through the darkness in the City of Light.

“Everything happened in a very French part of the city, while the Parisians were doing exactly what regular Parisians do on a weekend: drinking, socializing. That definitely scared a lot of people. It was quite literally an attack on their regular way of life,” Beit said.

“It’s scary, because I could have very easily made an earlier dinner reservation, finished early, and gone to one of the local brasseries.”

Following November 13th, the world has reacted with support. International tributes and respects have been paid to those affected by the attacks. Tendayi Pey-

ton ’17, a student on SYA France, described the candles, flowers, and drawings arrayed around the French Parliament as “both devastating and beautiful.”

Further evidence of strength throughout France is apparent in less tangible ways.

Despite the presence of grief and shock, Peyton noted the remarkable normality with which the French have carried on: “They live their lives as they were. They are not afraid.”

Yet effects of the tragedy exist in other forms.

Francoise Ellis, a Deerfield French teacher on sabbatical in France, commented on the decrease in tourism: “Hotels, restaurants, stores, and other sectors of the economic life of the country have really been touched.”

There are questions among the citizens of France that Ellis predicts “will come out to play in the important regional elections in the coming weeks.”

As it has done for many global issues, social media has played a role in bringing attention and awareness to the attacks on Paris. In this day and age, the Internet and popular websites such as Facebook and Twitter can be powerful vehicles for showing support, sharing news, and provoking discussion.

A French citizen named Antoine Leiris, who lost his wife in the shooting of Bataclan, posted a video directed at the terrorists who took her life. Staring at the camera, he defiantly said, “You want me to be afraid, to cast a mistrustful eye on my fellow citizens, to sacrifice my freedom for security. You have lost.”

Sevrin Sarachek ’17, who has family ties to France, discussed the importance of how we use our words during times like these, insisting how “you have to mention specifically ISIS [as the perpetrators], instead of blaming one religion for these tragedies— because than you’re just creating destructive islamophobia.”

The Deerfield community promotes ongoing discussion and students are encouraged to approach the challenging questions that present themselves each day, from smaller scale issues on campus to significant events in the world. Sarachek added how crucial it is for us to be informed in order to “form knowledgeable opinions” about these situations, and Mr. Van Eps, a Deerfield music teacher who’d been performing in France this past month, additionally cited raising awareness in our community as absolutely critical. “To address issues without censorship is the first tool in helping students effectively understand and pursue major worldwide causes and concerns,” he said.

“They live their lives as they were.

They are not afraid.” Francoise Ellis

“It was quite literally an attack on their regular way of life.” - Michael Beit

TIA JONSSON

HOW WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE //JULIA ANGKEOW Staff Writer

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Attacks. Terror. Death.

The headlines flooded the media worldwide, recounting the recent tragedies in Paris, the Middle East, Kenya, and the United States. Hashtags including #PrayforPeace, #RefugeesWelcome, #PrayforKenya, and #BlackLivesMatter trended as millions of people publically expressed their grief. However, beyond the effectiveness of social networking to voice opinions and send prayers, there are other substantive ways to help the victims, their families, and others affected by these devastating events.

Differences in religion and race are common themes in these catastrophes. Extremists attacked the Parisian headquarters of the Charlie Hebdo newspaper in early January, due to the paper’s cartoon satires of the Islamic Prophet, Muhammad. Other radicals suicide-bombed the city in November, killing 130 people. A day before, suicide bombers affiliated with ISIS left forty dead in Lebanon.

Lebanon has been subjected previously to numerous attacks by ISIS, which actively seeks to persecute Christians and Shia Muslims throughout the Middle East, especially in Syria, a country already entangled in a civil war. The violence forced over four million Syrians to flee and seek refuge in neighboring countries including Lebanon. In Kenya, a militant group aimed to retaliate against Christians by killing

147 people at the Garissa University College.

Misconceptions and allegations of police brutality led to the deaths of African-American men including Michael Brown and Freddie Gray.

There are tangible ways for people to contribute to diminishing the hostility that intolerance engenders by donating to organizations. Although the French Red Cross no longer needs blood donations for the Paris bombing victims, monetary donations are still being accepted for post-catastrophe relief and rehabilitation.

Other non-profit organizations including Secours Populaire Française and Secours Catholique Caritas France respond in the immediate aftermath to emergencies but also routinely strive to help the disadvantaged in France. Secours Populaire France helps resolve the daily challenges faced by the impoverished by supplying food and clothing and offering access to emergency services.

Secours Catholique Caritas France is part of the Catholic Church and aims to help many pursue a better life through its development efforts. Believing that “everyone accesses a worthy place in society,” the association helps all, regardless of their religious and personal values.

In the Middle East, World Vision helps Syrian refugees gain access to basic supplies. The organization focuses on Syrian children, who are not only more susceptible to infections and diseases from malnutrition and poor hygiene but are also vulnerable to forced labor and sexual exploitation. These children cannot attend school and lack access to books and toys. World Vision thus accepts monetary donations to help the refugee families physically by

providing food, water, and clothing, and also mentally through educational programs and trauma care. UNICEF and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) also provide refugee assistance, emphasizing the need for more support as the winter approaches.

Lastly, people can continue to spread awareness of events over social media, especially events in Kenya and Lebanon, as both countries felt overlooked during the attacks in Paris. Elie Fares, a Lebanese doctor blogged, “When my people died on the streets of Beirut on November 12th, world leaders did not rise in condemnation. There were no statements expressing sympathy with the Lebanese people… Their death was but an irrelevant fleck on the international news cycle.”

A Few Organizations You Can Donate To (as described in this article) -French Red Cross -Secours Populaire Française - Secours Catholique Caritas France - World Vision -United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

THE GARISSA UNIVERSITY ATTACKS IN KENYA with insights from Robert Muni

//JUSTIN HSU Senior Writer

“They were Christian students having a fellowship,” explained Robert Muni ’16, a DA post graduate from Kenya. “So they shot and killed all of them. [They] had students jumping through the windows to the outside of the resident’s halls [in order to escape].”

Approximately 500 students were able to escape, of which 79 were injured.

By the time the Kenyan Defense Forces had successfully repelled the militants, 147 people lay dead in the halls of Garissa University.

The members of Al-Shabaab, who are stationed in Somalia, have harbored ill feelings towards the Kenyan government since 2011, when Kenyan troops entered Somalia in an attempt to undermine Al-Shabaab power and influence. The intrusions have been largely disastrous, catalyzing more attacks and kidnappings by the jihadistMterrorist group.

“They threatened to attack more schools,” recounted Muni. “They said they were going to attack a national secondary high school. And my [former] school, the Starehe Boys’ School, is a national secondary high school. I was terrified, so terrified. I had very scary thoughts that something could happen to our school because it’s very open [to the public].”

When asked about the lack of comprehensive coverage and knowledge in the western world about the Garissa University attacks, Muni maintained that “it’s about which country has more to lose. That’s the sense. Kenya is just an African country — so just put it on the news for one day, and that’s it.”

“It makes me upset,” expressed Muni, “Be-

Shortly after the ISIS attacks on Paris, messages of hope and prayers for peace flooded all platforms of social media. The story of a massacre in Kenya, however, also appeared among the multitude of updates about the Paris attacks. “Man, what’s happening with the world right now?” queried one Facebook user, sharing a link to a BBC article detailing the Kenyan attacks. “147 dead in terrorist attack on Kenya college,” tweeted another, “Hate consumes and destroys.”

When this heavily shared article began trending on social media, attentive readers pointed out that the event had not in fact occurred in November of 2015.

In actuality, the Garissa University attacks had transpired seven months prior, in April.

The attacks, orchestrated by the jihadist terrorist group Al-Shabaab, a branch of Al-Qaeda, commenced at 5:30 am on April 2nd. During their 15-hour siege, four militants armed with explosive vests and AK-47s held more than 700 students hostage. Those who identified as Muslims were freed, while Christians were persecuted and murdered for their faith.

“Every life matters, regardless of whatever economic background someone is from, or what country he or she is from.” Robert Muni

Rachel Yao

cause, you know, every life matters, regardless of whatever economic background someone is from, or what country he or she is from. Countering globalism is a global mandate. Currently we have attacks in West Africa; I haven’t seen much coverage about that.

It’s the same problem. It’s still terrorism. There’s no different definition of terrorism across continents.”

Jessica Contrera of The Washington Post conjectured that “people are more likely to care about the tragedies they feel close to, and more likely to show their concern if everyone else is doing the same. Comparing levels of outrage in response to tragic news is nothing new.”

Therein lies the problem of social media and its power over traditional media, Contrera asserts. Stories about tragedies will only circulate if they hit close to home, whether that’s geographic, socioeconomic, political, or religious. The Garissa University attacks only earned the empathy of readers as an offshoot of the Paris attacks.

“We need to take time before [personally] redefining the events that have taken place through some distorted [lens] like politics or business,” Muni said. “We need to really take time to consider what has happened to the families and friends of these people.”

#BLACKLIVESMATTER

with insights from Imani Goodridge and Aminata Ka

a M

“‘Even if we belong to a group, we are still unique.” -Aminata Ka

embraces diversity: “I feel that people should take more time to go out beyond themselves to reach out to someone they’ve never spoken to before, [...] someone that’s completely different from you. If it’s awkward, it’s awkward, but you should try. Take the initiative to go outside of your comfort zone.”

I think that students of color will only ever feel really comfortable and welcomed if they aren’t [...] treated as people to be approached differently on matters as simple as making friends. Even if we belong to a group, we are still unique,” added Aminata Ka ’19.

ia

While Deerfield students geared up for athletics during Choate Week, colleges around the nation faced an entirely different challenge: fighting racial discrimination.

In the first week of November at Yale University, student activities attempting to stop “systematic racism on campus” reached a peak. This struggle, which had been going on “for years” as described

by Yale student Aaron Lewis, came to light on Halloween. A group of administrators sent a school-wide email urging students to be “safe and thoughtful” in avoiding costumes that were racially stereotypical. Lecturer Erika Christakis opposed this, writing in an email, “Is there no room anymore for a child or young person to be a little bit [...] offensive?”

She was met with many angry students, who publicly confronted her and her husband, Professor Nicholas Christakis. Tensions doubled when the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity turned away several people from a “white girls only” party based on their race. This prompted an open forum held by students to share stories of discrimination they experienced at Yale.

Around the same time, history was made when president of the Missouri University System, Tim Wolfe, resigned after demands made by numerous student associations. The series of student protests started during the Missouri homecoming parade on October 10th. Students blocked Wolfe’s car and expressed long-held concerns about the administration’s failure to acknowledge racism on campus, but Wolfe did not respond. “The largest state university and its administration has shown a lack of willingness to acknowledge the negligence and overall violence shown to black students. This is a pattern they’ve demonstrated both in the last year and historically,” stated the campus activist group Concerned Student 1950 on its YouTube video of the parade.

Concerned Student 1950, named after the first year the university accepted an African American student, demanded that Wolfe issue an apology and step down from office ten days after the parade.

African American football players followed suit, refusing to play games until Wolfe resigned. They garnered public support from the football coach and the athletic department. Finally, after outcries from the Missouri Students Association, Wolfe conceded on November 9th.

But the victory was short-lived, as on November 11th, two messages surfaced on Yik Yak containing racially charged threats to the university students. Upon hearing this news, many high school and college students nationwide, including Deerfield students, posted the following message on Facebook: “To the students of color at Mizzou, we, student allies at [insert school name here], stand with you in solidarity. To those who would threaten their sense of safety, we are watching. #ConcernedStudent1950 #InSolidarityWithMizzou”.

Deerfield Black Student Alliance Officer, Imani Goodridge ’17, posted on the Deerfield Student Forum only a few hours later, proposing a Blackout Day at Deerfield to support students of color at Yale and the University of Missouri. “[Blackout Day] was a movement with a lot of colleges around the nation, [...] and I thought we should bring it to Deerfield because it would make people aware, and I know a lot of kids actually really did care about what was going on, it’s just that most people [didn’t] know. I think that’s something we have to work on at Deerfield — to stay aware of things that happen outside of our campus,” Goodridge said.

Blackout Day proved to be a success, with an overwhelming turnout of students wearing black clothing. As another means of raising awareness, Orlee Marini-Rapoport ’19 suggested, “It would be great for certain classes to explore what happened at Yale and University of Missouri. The more there is dialogue surrounding these issues, the more likely we are to avoid the struggles faced at these schools.”

Aside from discussions in organized settings such as classrooms or alliance meetings, Goodridge explained that everyday interactions are valuable in promoting an inclusive community that

Va le r

//NADIA JO Staff Writer

5

9 December 2015

The Deerfield Scroll

FEATURES THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND ITS TWO NEWEST MEMBERS

JUNIORS LEAD MOVEMBER CAMPAIGN

//MAYA HART Staff Writer

Every year, during the month of November, men all across the world put away their razors and grow their best mustaches in support of prostate cancer. The effort, coined “Movember,” has become an international phenomenon, aiming to raise both awareness and funds for the cause.

According to the National Cancer Institute, prostate cancer is the third most common type of cancer, and 14% of men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.

This year, Tim Gerber ’17, Jack Wood ’17, and Jared Strauss ’17 spearheaded the month-long event within the Deerfield community.

When the three boys showed interest in spreading awareness, Dean of Students Kevin Kelly immediately granted them permission to lead the project.

Gerber, Wood, and Strauss also hoped to get the female population more involved. Although they acknowledged that women cannot be diagnosed with prostate cancer or

//CAMILLE MOECKEL Associate Editor This fall, the Co-curricular Committee granted 32 students exemptions from participating in sports, dance, theater, community service, or yearbook. Twenty-one of those students had art exemptions, while 11 pursued other passions.

After completing his own film during the exemption, Dane Scott ’16 stated, “There’s no disadvantage to pursuing what you love and are passionate about.” He added, “Getting exemptions allows you to do something that’s completely ‘you.’...I’ve grown so much as an artist because I use my time in the same way I’d use it outside of school, or in life.”

Coco Spagna ’16 and Derek Alvarez ’17 completed photography exemptions. Spagna compiled photos of athletic leaders in the Deerfield community, while Alvarez created analog prints of summer expeditions around America.

Spagna explained, “Having a

6

grow mustaches to raise awareness, Wood explained, “We want to be more inclusive to both genders, to unite the school towards a worthy cause.” To achieve this objective, the juniors ensured both genders were addressed during sit-down announcements and via other messages. They also hoped to bring on a female representative to encourage girls to buy the

gender-inclusive merchandise that will be for sale.

This year, they decided to make T-shirts as well as bracelets to raise money and awareness for prostate cancer. All proceeds will go to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, “chosen specifically over the American Cancer Society, so that all profits made will go directly to the cause,” explained Gerber.

Gerber, Wood, and Strauss decided to feature Timothy Wondoloski, known fondly as “Wondo,” from Shipping and

Receiving on the T-shirt design.

Gerber described Wondo as “an obvious choice” after “extensive conversation with him” and seeing pictures of his “legendary mustache.”

The heads also tried to order and sell mustache products, like dyes and gels, to really take the event to the next level and motivate Deerfield’s male population. Wood recalled his “freshman year mustache role model,” alumnus Gil Roddy ’14, who said, “If you’re not using product, you’re not trying.”

Overall, the group considered Movember a success and hope the momentum will carry into the rest of the year. They believe that Movember should not be limited to simply a month of dedicated efforts, but a year-long awareness and consciousness of prostate cancer and related diseases. By building on similar events, like “Saving by Shaving,” in which community members shaved their head to support the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Gerber, Wood, and Strauss plan to continue raising awareness about cancer through their Movember initiatives.

committee because he feels he can “give meaningful feedback to the community.” He explained that “the Board meets with all of Dr. Curtis’s senior staff during Trustee meetings to get a sense for all aspects of student life at Deerfield.” However, Mr. McInerney added, he “would like to see the Board have the opportunity to spend more time with students in the classroom, at sit-down meals, and elsewhere on campus so we can

Provided by: Deerfield Magazine

By next April, the final pair of new Trustees will be elected.

The Trustees are the “cultural and financial stewards of the school,” Dr. Curtis explained. “They operate at the strategic level, rather than at the tactical level. For example, their job is to hire the Head of School, and then the Head of School is in charge of management.” In other words, the Board is responsible for governing the school and providing the guardrails for Dr. Curtis and her team.

When members cannot resolve a specific issue, the Board allocates a special focus committee called an AdHoc committee to propose a solution.

Board Members are also divided into several other committees covering aspects of life at DA. When new Trustees are elected toithe Board, they usually join three to four committees. Mrs. Newton requested to be on the committee for Academic Affairs, the committee for Admission, Financial Aid and College Advising, the committee for Student Life, as well as an Ad-Hoc committee for Inclusion.

Mr. McInerney requested to be on the committee for Admission, Financial Aid and College Advising, the committee for Buildings and Grounds, and the committee for Student Life.

Mr. McInerney is aware of the challenges students face. He chose to be on the Student Life

Mr. and Mrs. McInerney

see and hear firsthand what students are thinking.”

The Board will always be concerned with the future and how it can differentiate Deerfield from the other top secondary schools.

Generally, the Board plans numerous projects at once, but some key

//HOLLIN HANAU Staff Writer

Who is the hardest worker?

“Caputo.” – Jack Wood ’17 “Not either of the Hamiltons.” – Tommy Hale ’17 “Ross Hamilton not only sacrifices his time... but also his clothes. He is a good worker and has rather handsome forearms.” – Duncan Mackay ’17

game and look like a big hoss at the conveyor belt.” – Will Hamilton ’16 Who has the best smile?

“Me.” – Tommy Hale “Myself.” – Duncan Mackay “Duncan Mackay. He and Bruce love to have food fights back in the hole.

Duncan lights up everyone’s day.” – Will Hamilton Who are your dish crew inspirations?

“Harrison Lane ’15.” – Jack Wood

Who is the laziest?

“Caputo.” – Jack Wood “Jackson Caputo.” – Tommy Hale “Tommy Hale. He just throws ice at people and watches Ross do his job.”

– Duncan Mackay Who is in it for the ladies?

“Probably me.” – Emerson Logie ’16 “Ross has gotten four numbers so far!”

– Jared Strauss ’17 “Tommy Hale... He loves to talk a big

“Christian Schade ’15.” – Emerson Logie “Francesco Franzinetti ’14.” – Ross Hamilton ’16 How do you choose your jobs?

“You’re born into your job.” – Ross Hamilton “The job chooses you.” – Tommy Hale “By the personality you can just tell… he’s hole, he’s pitchers, he’s cups, he’s forks…” – Jared Strauss

Elliot Gilbert

A LOOK INTO STUDENTS’ FALL EXEMPTIONS

photography exemption was a great way to de-stress my senior fall.”

However, she also noted that she found herself increasingly lonely on afternoons.

“On Wednesdays and Saturdays, if I didn’t go [to games], I would hardly see anyone in the dorm,” she said.

Alvarez’s exemption allowed him to take on a time-consuming project, since it takes about eight hours to make a single quality print. He said, “For me, the hardest part was not having the collaboration of a team sport. At first, I thought working alone would allow me to focus, but I got really bored some days.”

Lucy Beimfohr ’17, who worked on a watercolor landscape, nude sketches, a photography collage, and a self-portrait, explained, “You aren’t getting assigned projects, and you aren’t being graded, which

is really liberating.” However, she acknowledged, “At times, I found it difficult to motivate myself without deadlines,” because “It’s really tempting to just procrastinate without a lot of direction.”

Several other students worked outside of the arts.

Alex Kaminsky ’17 and Kent Yamamoto ’16 had robotics exemptions.

Kaminsky, with the Valerie Ma help of Markus Feng ’17, worked on programming a robot for a spring competition, because he “was more passionate about robotics than any fall sport the school offered.”

Kaminsky does not see “any disadvantage to having an exemption… other than that it limits the number of interactions you might have with your peers.”

Yamamoto used his time after school to further prepare for the

current initiatives include the new Field House and Ice Rink and working on making Deerfield a more inclusive community. Students can contact Dr. Curtis and her administration if they would like to know more about the immediate steps that will be taken.

Mrs. Newton and Mr. McInerney have led successful careers and are looking forward to drawing from their experiences when governing Deerfield. Mrs. Newton is a Senior Fellow at the John G. Tower Center for Political Studies at Southern Methodist University. She is also an adjunct professor who teaches National Security Policy in the Political Science Department.

Mr. McInerney is a member of GCA Savvian’s Executive Committee and Co-Head of Investment Banking. As a member of the Board of Directors of GCA Savvian, he has over 29 years of experience in the investment banking industry.

Before arriving to campus in October, Mrs. Newton said, she reread The Headmaster by John McPhee in order to reconnect with the Deerfield her father, brother, husband, and daughter attended. Mr. McInerney ’81 knew the Deerfield just after the days of Mr. Boyden, and just before the implementation of coeducation.

He explained, “Everything about this school is better than it was 30 years ago.”

DISH CREW SUPERLATIVES

robotics season and plan, with Mr. Bakker, the meetings for the night.

“I told myself that because this is my last year participating in DA robotics – and since I created the original team four years ago – I wanted to put in 150% and win everything this year,” Yamamoto said.

Lucas Tupinamba ’16 used his exemption to expand Deerfield Foods, a studentrun hunger relief nonprofit .

Over the s u m m e r, he worked w i t h students at Middlebury College and Deerfield a l u m n i C o n o r Kennedy ’14 and Gordon Xiang ’15, and earned federal non-profit status for the organization in October.

This fall, Tupinamba began to work on the state papers so that Valerie Ma

Last spring, the Deerfield Academy Board of Trustees elected two new members: Diana Newton and Mark McInerney ’81 will serve five-year terms. Mrs. Newton and Mr. McInerney arrived on campus in October for their first meeting but are by no means strangers to Deerfield community.

Mrs. Newton’s father ’48, brother ’87, husband ’80, and daughter Hadley ’12, are all graduates of Deerfield. An alumni himself, Mr. McInerney sent his three children to Deerfield for ten consecutive years.

His youngest son, Finlay, is a member of the class of 2016.

Since the Board only meets oncampus every October and April, few students know about its members and initiatives. In the same way that Deerfield students follow the handbook, the Board of Trustees obeys its Bylaws & Charter. For example, section 9A of the Bylaws states, “The Board shall consist of no more than thirty Trustees, a majority of whom shall be alumni/ae.”

Because many Trustees are either alumni or Deerfield parents, they know which school traditions they would like to preserve, such as sit-down meals, class dress, and school meetings, as well as how

Deerfield can, according to Mrs. Newton, embrace “the technological innovation and changes that can transform the classroom in the 21st century.” Looking forward, Mrs. Newton hopes that she can “be instrumental in helping Deerfield walk the fine line between maintaining DA’s special recipe of community and character, while keeping up with the dynamism of the 21st century.”

O v e r the years, especially since the return to coeducation 25 years ago, the Board of Trustees has transformed into a diverse Diana Newton group of individuals of different ages, races, and genders.

Dr. Margarita Curtis, Deerfield’s Head of School, believes “the Board is able to engage in serious, generative discussions” because of the different perspectives each member brings to conversation.

This year, Dr. Curtis pointed out, is a critical time of change for the Deerfield Board of Trustees. In a period of three years, the terms of six Trustee members will have ended.

Provided by: Diana Newton

//LILY BEAUBIEN Staff Writer

Deerfield Foods can become involved with SNAP, the government’s food stamp program. He also invested time in social media platforms, accounting, and the introduction of new marketing strategies. Tupinamba was drawn to this exemption by its positive impact: “We help real families with a serious issue that afflicts millions of Americans,” Tupinamba said. “When 14% of Americans are food insecure, and I can do something to help change that, I’d personally take that over sports any day.”

Tupinamba added, “I believe that there are many ways to make a positive impact in any community.

Perhaps by playing sports and hosting sporting events student-athletes’ performances binds the student body together and harnesses our Deerfield school spirit. Others focus on the arts, broadening our creative horizons and stimulate thought. Personally, out of all the possible opportunities for positive impact here at Deerfield, Deerfield Foods has been the most rewarding.”

The Deerfield Scroll

9 December 2015

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT A GLIMPSE INTO ARCHITECTURE AT DA

//KIANA RAWJI Staff Writer

stories for those families and at some other point in life.”

Some students, however, do designed the apartments to best fit their needs, giving students hope to pursue a career in At a recent school meeting, “experience working with a architecture, such as Samantha Kuo the Deerfield community was hypothetical client,” Mr. Payne said. ’16. She audited one of Mr. Payne’s According to Mr. Payne, most classes her junior year, and it inspired astonished by what students in students come into architecture her to spend six weeks at Cornell’s Architecture Teacher David Payne’s Advanced Architecture class classes with no previous experience. summer architecture school, one designed last spring — the model So, Mr. Payne believes that for a dorm to replace Johnson- the most challenging aspect Doubleday dormitory. This glimpse of his classes is that most into what goes on in the Deerfield students are so unfamiliar architecture classroom was with it. “We all interact with informative. While dance and acting buildings on a daily basis but performances and studio artwork most of the time, you don’t are often on display, the community really pay attention,” he said. knows relatively little about the “Architecture is a glaring hole architecture projects on campus. in most people’s common The architecture program at knowledge. We all know a little Deerfield has been around for about bit about Shakespeare, a little 50 years. Before Mr. Payne, Robert bit about biology, and a little bit Maddie Blake Moorhead taught architecture from about the civil war, but you ask 1976-2014 , and prior to him, Yuji somebody about architecture, The floor plan for the new Johson-Doubleday shown at school meeting.

Kishimoto taught it for five years. and they just kind of blank.”

Ellie Koschik ’17 has In fact, Kishimoto went on to teach at Clemson University, a school experienced the challenge first of the best in the country. Now, as with one of the top architecture hand in Mr. Payne’s Architectual a senior, she is taking Architectural programs in the country, where Design class and noted that “the Design with Mr. Payne. “Not a lot Mr. Payne obtained his PhD. hardest part is coming up with of people see this, but architecture ideas.” She added that affects everyone’s lives,” she said. the class forces students “I just love the idea that you’re to ask themselves, constructing the environment [of “‘What is the best people’s] daily lives.” She added, way I can do this?’” “I like the fact that there’s no right rather than “‘What is or wrong. Few people realize a way I can do this?’” that, like any art, architecture Because architecture can be a way to express yourself.”

Most students who take is unfamiliar to so many students, Mr. Payne architecture classes at Deerfield do so because it is such a rare Maddie Blake does not expect the Mr. Payne’s Architectual Drawing students work on a project. majority of students opportunity, especially in high to become architects school. “Unless you’ve sought This past term, the in the future or master the skills it out,” Mr. Payne said, “you Architectural Design students of designing. Instead, he simply probably have had no exposure designed a New York City apartment hopes for students to “discover to architecture…. this is a unique where one half was their own a more acute awareness of the offering at Deerfield just because dream apartment and the other built environment” and to “have it’s something that a lot of people half was for a family of four. The an architectural awareness and have had a possible interest in students created backgroud sensitivity that could help [them] but no opportunity to pursue it.”

NEW ENGLISH TEACHER, NEW NOVEL //PERRY HAMM Associate Editor

Sweet Briar and then moved on to Hollins University, where she served as the Distinguished Visiting Professor of Creative Writing.

Now Mrs. Brown has moved her entire life to Deerfield. “Any time you enter a new community,” she said, “you’re asking new things of yourself.” Perhaps the most significant among these new things is learning how to adjust her teaching style. Moving from a higher education environment to the high school level at Deerfield has been an interesting transition for Mrs.

Photos provided by Carrie Brown

research project,” Mrs. Brown said.

“It just wouldn’t let me go.” Mrs. Brown’s inspiration for the novel, she said, came from the radio New English teacher and Wilson astronomy program StarDate on Fellow Carrie Brown not only gives National Public Radio. She was creative writing assignments to her dropping her kids off at school senior creative writing students, she one morning when she heard a completes her own. Mrs. Brown, an short segment about William and acclaimed author who has written Caroline Herschel. Mrs. Brown seven novels and a short story became “totally hooked.” The collection, will release her eighth inspiration for the novel stemmed published book, The Stargazer’s from the siblings’ relationship “and Sister, this coming January. the work that [the sister] did at a Mrs. Brown, a Connecticut time when women were largely not native, loved English in her early engaged in astronomy.” school days and admitted, The Stargazer’s Sister “I was a hopeless, is unique not only in embarrassingly bad math the sheer time it took student.” After graduating to produce, but also in from Brown University and the amount of research beginning her search for a required to write it, in newspaper job, she steered particular the complex clear of big metropolitan astronomy that Mrs. papers, attracted instead Brown needed to learn. by smaller communities Although Mrs. Brown where people relied on admitted that while the newspaper to be writing the novel, she informative and helpful. experienced a constant While in college, Mrs. cycle of a few months of Brown interned at the hard work followed by Hartford Courant and worked for the Asian Wall Mrs. Brown’s novel, The Stargazer’s Sister, will be released in January 2016. long breaks as a result of frustration, she said, “I Street Journal. When she really don’t like giving up. met her husband, John Gregory Brown, the couple moved to Brown. She explained, “It has been a I don’t like failing.” The novel will Virginia, where Mr. Brown took a pedagogical, intellectual challenge.” finally hit the shelves in January.

Mrs. Brown’s newest novel, Through The Stargazer’s Sister, teaching position at Sweet Briar College, directing the Creative The Stargazer’s Sister, is based Mrs. Brown hopes to convey Writing program. Mrs. Brown’s early on the lives of the 19th century “what it means to love someone, months at Sweet Briar without a job astronomer William Herschel and especially when that love is not gave her time to write. Her career as his sister Caroline, who served as always an easy love to give.” Mrs. a novelist really took off as she spent her brother’s assistant and became Brown illustrates Caroline’s unlikely her days building characters and an accomplished astronomer in story—her trials and successes in plots, publishing her first book the her own right. Though many of the search for her own identity— same year she graduated from the Mrs. Brown’s books have taken as as an example of how “to find our University of Virginia’s MFA program little as a couple of years to finish, own place in the universe, a place in Creative Writing. Eventually she Brown has spent much of her adult from which we can look out at the joined her husband teaching at life writing The Stargazer’s Sister. world and see it with the truth “It became a twenty-year and knowledge of our own gaze.”

ARTIST OF THE ISSUE: SAMI HABEL //HOLLIS MCLEOD Staff Writer

the stress you put on your body and all of the toil and hard work so worth it. It’s a moment of pure joy.”

Although Habel has experienced great success in dance, she has also experienced a struggle to balance all of her commitments. “It is hard to balance time between dance, which is something I’m extremely dedicated to, and school. I’ve figured out pretty well how to manage my time, though. I’ve realized everything’s going to work out for the best, and I don’t need to stress myself out too much.”

After she leaves Deerfield this spring, Habel will leave a legacy of hard work and leadership behind, as her fellow dance ensemble members and teachers can attest.

Mrs. Whitcomb spoke about Habel’s leadership and impact on the dance program, saying, “I think the most remarkable thing about Sami is that this year, for the second

Sami Habel ’16 has been pursuing her passion for dance since she was nine years old. While dance was initially something she did to supplement her acting lessons, it quickly became an important aspect of her life. “When I started dancing,” she said, “I found a natural love and talent in it.” Beginning with lessons, her interest progressed when she went to classes at Broadway Dance Center. “It really felt like something that I wanted to be serious about and push myself in.”

Fast-forward five years, Habel, a day student from Conway, MA, was a freshman at Deerfield, already dancing in the Advanced Dance Ensemble. Now a senior, she reflected on her high school career, saying, “It’s been really cool, because I’ve been able to direct my own path here. I’ve gotten to be creative and create my own choreography… the dance program here has really opened my eyes to how different and creative dance can be.”

While Habel has a breadth of talent in various styles, she enjoys particular types of dance.

“I love contemporary, just because it’s such a broad style,” she said. “I think that my home, and where I started, however, is jazz and musical theater. I always feel comfortable doing a cheesy musical number.”

She has continued to work on her favorite styles outside of Deerfield at the Joffrey Provided by Sami Habel Jazz and Contemporary Habel dancing in the fall 2015 showcase.

Summer Intensive in 2014 and the American year in a row, she volunteered to Dance Festival in 2015. choreograph the piece that we did in Dance Teacher Jennifer the first school meeting. She literally Whitcomb reflected on Habel’s came in three days before that other strengths and also referred event, had three short rehearsals, to the great progress Habel and put up a piece that was has made in areas of dance polished and performance worthy.” that were initially a weakness.

Dancer Maddie Thies ’17 said “She’s been a phenomenal hipabout dancing alongside Habel, hop dancer and has greatly “Sami has been like a mentor progressed in her ballet skills.” to me in the dance program.

Regarding her personal Her enthusiasm is infectious.” connection to the art, Habel said, Habel has chosen to pursue “Dance really helps you get in dance as a career because it is touch with your emotions. To sell something that means so much pieces, you have to be in touch to her. “I’m applying to colleges with the themes or stories behind based on their dance programs, them.” She also explained the so I’ll be doing a lot of auditions… incredible rush she gets from it’s something that I’d be willing to performing: “The energy on stage risk everything for.” This fall, Habel when you see the audience and was accepted into Marymount the lights for the first time - it’s an Manhattan College, and she is unreal experience and there’s so looking forward to a future in much adrenaline. The audience’s dance, wherever it may take her. reaction is so magical and it makes

Coco Spagna

Coco Spagna

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The Deerfield Scroll

9 December 2015

CHOATE

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The Deerfield Scroll

9 December 2015

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Photo credits to: Claire Petrus, Coco Spagna, Sophie Michaels, Rachel Sit, Imani Goodridge, and Communications

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The Deerfield Scroll

9 December 2015

SPORTS

OUR BARN, OUR CULTURE

//ETHAN THAYUMANAVAN Associate Editor

ATHLETE OF THE ISSUE: WINSLOW ROBINSON //ALLI NORRIS Staff Writer

Valerie Ma

Meet the athlete of the issue - Winslow Robinson ’16, a post-graduate from Tallahassee, Florida, who identifies himself as a high-level football player but is also a very skilled wrestler. Robinson is already an AAU All American wrestler, a two time state qualifier, and among the top eight wrestlers in Florida.

Varsity Wrestling Coach Mr. Mark Scandling commented, “Winslow will add physical and mental toughness to our young squad. He understands the demands of competing at a high level in dual meets and tournaments.”

Robinson was an All-Area Champion each year during his high school wrestling career and was the first person to achieve this accomplishment. However, wrestling was not his first sport. Robinson has been playing football since he was six years old. “It was my first love,” he said. He began wrestling as a freshman when his football coaches

recommended the sport to him because of his strength and athleticism.

In past wrestling seasons, Robinson has dieted to drop his weight and become stronger in comparison to other members of his weight class. By maintaining a strict diet of egg whites for breakfast, yogurt for lunch, and fish (with no salt) for dinner, he lost 30 pounds during last year’s season. He remembers feeling “really irritable and more tired throughout the day” but he was still successful on the mat.

After his season concluded, Robinson quickly gained back the lost weight. However, he does not plan to do this again this year.

Coach Scandling agreed, commenting, “As much as possible, we try to ask the wrestlers to compete at weight classes near their natural weights. The days of serious weight loss are behind us.”

Robinson’s goals for the season are to place in the New England tournament and even make it to Nationals. He is most excited to “get a chance to wrestle in other states and against other kids.” The biggest challenge Robinson faces during wrestling season is “making sure he is in good enough shape to last as long as he has to on the mat.”

Coach Scandling confirmed that Robinson “will likely be able compete for a title in the Class A and New England Tournaments.” He explained, “The National Preps will offer an opportunity to test himself against some highly regarded wrestlers from around the country.”

Wrestling has one home match this year, on January 9th, and Robinson believes that he “wrestles his best when he has fans watching.”

In the winter, hockey season begins in the “Barn.” The Deerfield Academy ice hockey rink is full of traditions for both players and fans.

Courtney Morgan ’16, one of the boys varsity hockey team captains, explained that playing in the barn is “special because we think about the people who have come before us and the people who are coming after us, too.”

Morgan added, “A home game, where the barn is packed, and a lot of people are there, and it’s loud, I think it pumps you up more. I know 80’s night in the Barn was one of my best games last season because you know everyone is watching, so you just want to play well for your whole school.” Jenna Greenbaum ’17, a member of the girls varsity hockey team, shared a similar outlook saying, “It’s our house, our home. We want to protect it.”

The Barn will be renovated within the next few years. Administrators expect that a renovated, more energy-efficient Barn, with a field house above it, will be ready by the fall of 2019.

Greenbaum said of the renovation, “I think getting a new rink will be really nice because we’ll have new locker rooms, a new rink obviously… I think having a new facility will be really good for the program.”

Morgan added, “I know [the new Barn] may look new and modern, but I think one thing that I want is to still have some old traditions.” 80’s Night, exciting for both fans and players, is something that many students, Morgan included, want to continue in the new Barn.

However, many students also believe that certain aspects of the “Barn culture” need to be changed. Many students have voiced their discontent about the tradition that only senior boys are “allowed” in the top row of the stands and that girls are supposed to

stand against the glass.

Valentina Connell ’16 said, “I think it goes all the way back to it being an all boys school, and how seniority allowed you to get higher up on the stands.

As girls came in, I think students didn’t want to disrupt that tradition of elevation or hierarchy.”

Connell is among the many students unhappy with this tradition, and she is working with Philip Rachel Yao Goss ’16 and this year’s Captain Deerfield, Charlie Carpenter ’16, to get rid of the gender divide. According to Connell, they hope to have “senior girls along with senior guys on the top row of the bleachers. This way, there is still some kind of hierarchy, due to your grade level, but at least everyone has a chance to get up to the top.”

Another aspect of the culture that many students hope to see changed is the relative attendance at boys’ games versus girls’ games. Connell said, “Boys varsity hockey games always get hyped up, like whiteouts or 80’s night. Those themes garner a lot of support, and I feel like for girl’s games, we don’t have those sort of fan traditions in place.” Connell thinks Deerfield should implement traditions for girl’s games to draw more support for female players.

Greenbaum said, “We do not get even close to as many fans as the boys do.” She added, “When people are there, you have a real drive to play, like you’re playing for the people,” but “we never really have that big of a crowd.” She hopes a new rink, and renewed effort to attract fans to girls’ games, will change the culture.

As the rink gets renovated, fans and players alike hope that it will bring about a new Barn culture as well, a culture that still has all the glory and excellence that Deerfield hockey prides itself on, but also brings about a fairer, more equal experience for fans and players alike.

ATHLETIC EXEMPTIONS: YAY OR NAY? //KATHERINE HEANEY Senior Writer

DIFFERENT COUNTRY, SAME FIELD: ROBERT MUNI

//YASMINE DESWANDHY Senior Writer

Having played field hockey for four years in Kenya, post graduate Robert Muni ’16 decided to keep pursuing his love for the sport by playing on the girls varsity field hockey team this past fall.

Although Muni originally signed up to play soccer, he felt an increasing yearning to play field hockey, especially after seeing Deerfield’s turf. Muni recounted a conversation with defender Emily Yue ’16, who “jokingly asked [him] to come down to practice,” so he “decided to go check it out.” After talking to coaches McVaugh and McDonald, Muni joined daily practices.

Even though Kenya placed a great emphasis on sports such as track & field and cross country, Muni’s previous school had a strong field hockey program with a boys team that played in national championships.

Upon joining the Deerfield team, Muni changed position. Back in Kenya, he solely played forward, but at DA, he mostly played defense. “My former coach believed in specializing in your area. I had played forward for all of my four years of experience, so when I was positioned to be in defense, I had to learn to adjust and be better in things such as communicating with the goalkeeper,” Muni said.

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Another difference was the change in the level of aggressiveness while playing at DA. Muni explained that field hockey at home was “pretty rough and very dangerous.” In his league in Kenya, the rules focused more on the safety of the players. “I like it much better here, because back at home, I would have to keep looking out for myself, instead of focusing on playing well,” Muni said.

Despite all the differences, Muni thoroughly enjoyed his time on the team.

He was shocked that it did not feel strange for him to play as a male on a girls team and was especially happy about the tight-knit relationships everyone had with each other.

“I love the closeness of the team. Everyone has each other’s backs, and I can’t say the same about my team back home. It actually felt fun to play field hockey; it wasn’t only about the competition,” Rachel Yao Robert said. Maia Taylor ’16 added that Muni “brought a new spark to the field. He is so goal hungry that it made us want to defend harder and run faster.”

After being used to having boys and girls field hockey teams back home, Muni reflected that there should be both teams here at Deerfield as well. “I was shocked when I was looking at the website over the summer to see that there is only a girls team here at DA. They should create a boys field hockey team in the future.”

Over the past decade, prep schools have noticed a shift from athletes playing two or three sports a year to highly competitive athletes honing their skills in one sport. Sports exemptions are becoming increasingly popular every year, because specialization is on the rise.

In order to be the best at a sport, athletes are beginning to focus on solely improving in their “main sport.” Many schools are conflicted about whether sports exemptions should be permitted on campus or if a subsequent decrease in athletics participation as a whole is damaging to the school.

Deerfield is at a point where it permits students to take exemptions to improve their skills in a particular sport if these athletes compete in two terms of a team sport.

However, ten years ago exemptions were far more uncommon than they are today.

As Assistant Athletic Director and Assistant Admissions Officer Drew Philie ’09 said, “Exemptions are a product of how things are with athletes at this point. Kids are starting to do them at younger and younger ages.”

Playing multiple sports as a competitive athlete can have advantages and disadvantages, and exemptions also come with their own set of pros and cons on a high school campus.

This fall, Kathryn Grennon ’17 took an exemption for lacrosse. She described her daily routine as going to the gym most days to work on cardio and weight training, then joining other lacrosse exemption players on the turf to work on shooting.

This opportunity allowed players to get in shape and set goals to improve before the spring season. Grennon said, “Shooting with other dedicated and talented lacrosse players this fall has helped me improve my own skills by learning from them.” However, Grennon also noted, “I missed competing on a team and meeting new people the way I usually would during a fall sport.”

Nate Chong ’17, one of several varsity rowers who will take an exemption this winter, said, “We’ve already started practicing Monday through Friday by working out, running stairs, and erging.” He and five other crew exemption athletes are looking forward to improving their skills this winter. Specifically, Chong said, “We plan to improve our times on the erg throughout this winter.” This is especially important to them, because they will be able to track exactly how many seconds they’ve improved from the beginning of the winter term to the end. Although he looks forward to focusing on improving his times and getting in shape for the spring, he added “I, unfortunately, will be sacrificing the exhilaration of playing a sport competitively this winter.”

A few common exemptions at Deerfield this year are crew, track, ice hockey, and lacrosse, as athletes seek to thoroughly prepare for their seasons. With that in mind, there are also other ways to improve in a particular sport while not officially receiving an exemption, such as managing a team or Special Exercise.

When Mr. Philie attended Deerfield from 2006-2009, students rarely sought exemptions. He noted, “More often than not, kids played two or three sports every year.” Since exemptions can have both positive and negative impacts on an athletic program, they have only become popular in recent years, perhaps due to the stress of starting specialization much earlier on in life.

Philie stated that he does not think exemptions should be encouraged on campus. “I think as an athlete you learn something from being on a team, by meeting different kids, and playing for different coaches. In exemptions, an athlete isn’t actually competing. Yes, you lift and run, but you don’t actually get that competitive aspect in sports.”