Deerfield, Massachussetts
Vol. XCI, No. 5
November 15, 2016
Students Shocked at Trump’s Upset Victory Donald Trump (VOA)
//ORLEE MARINI-RAPOPORT Associate Editor On November 8th, 2016, Donald Trump was elected to be the 45th president of the USA. His victory came as a surprise to many because polls leading up to the election projected a Hillary Clinton win. In his acceptance speech at 3 a.m. on November 9th, Trump called on citizens “to come together as one united people.” He also said, “I pledge to every citizen of our land that I will be president for all Americans… I’m reaching out to you for your guidance and your help so that we can work together and unify our great country.”
In her concession speech later that day, Clinton called for a peaceful transfer of power, saying, “We owe [Donald Trump] an open mind and a chance to lead.” She also acknowledged that “[women] have still not shattered that highest and hardest glass ceiling, but someday, someone will, and hopefully sooner than we might think.” Some students expressed their shock in finding out that Trump had won. When Daniella Faura ’17 woke up the morning of November 9th, she “thought [the results were] a joke” because she “had some faith that Americans could see that we all have to hold people, especially people in our government, to a standard where they respect all citizens and their opinions.” Mia Silberstein ’20 said that after she saw the results, she “cried for half an hour straight.” She added, “I can’t believe that so many people would place our country in the hands of someone who is so hateful.” Tom Slack ’17 commented that “never before has a more unqualified candidate taken office. It’s important to remember
Are Sadie’s Dates Outdated? //HOLLIS MCLEOD Associate Editor Every year, Deerfield holds the “Sadie’s” dance to celebrate Halloween. For this dance, proctors find 11th and 12th grade “dates” of the opposite gender for the 9th and 10th graders on their hall. The 11th and 12th graders choose a costume theme and coordinate with their date via the date’s proctor, allowing the 11th or 12th grader to remain anonymous until the night of the dance. For the past few years, there has been a discussion of aspects of Sadie’s that the community finds disconcerting. Ms. Amie Creagh, Assistant Head of School for Student Life, explained, “In the last 12 months, the number of voices and the volume of their concerns have increased.” Given the complaints from parents and students alike about the dance’s dynamic, Ms. Creagh stated, “We felt like some adjustments need to be made... I would have felt irresponsible not to respond to these concerns.” One of many concerns that has been brought up is the power dynamic between the 11th or 12th grader and their 9th or 10th grade date. Ms. Creagh said, “As a school, it sends a mixed message to send a postgraduate boy and a 9th grade girl on a ‘date.’” Ms. Creagh also spoke about inappropriate costumes, such as a bunny and a hunter, that only contribute to this “power imbalance.” She also spoke to “the heteronormative nature of the dance [that] is exclusive to gay and lesbian members of the community,” as every boy is paired with a girl. Finally, she addressed the fact that some upperclassmen aren’t asked to be on halls, causing a “‘who’s hot and who’s not’ arrangement.” Because of the prevalence of these issues, the Student Life office sought to work with proctors to find a solution that “wouldn’t blow up the dance completely, but would thoughtfully address the concerns that have come up,” Ms. Creagh said. During the meeting between proctors
and the Student Life office, a few proposals were put forward to address some of these concerns. Some proposed ideas included continuing a dialogue between proctors and their proctees to reinforce the idea that the pairs are not “dates,” and to have 9th and 10th grade halls walk over together to meet their dates at the dance. Shai Lineberry ’17, a 9th grade proctor on Johnson I, addressed the importance of speaking with proctees about the language used in the context of “dates.” She said, “We talked about framing it right with your proctees through having the right dialogue to desexualize the whole thing.” Lineberry added that using a word like “partner” or “pair” could lessen the pressure associated with the word “date.” Cynthia Lugo ’20 spoke about how 9th grade girls anticipated the dance: “I wasn’t really nervous, but a lot of the girls on my hall were.” She also expressed the disconnect between the expectation of a date versus the typical reality: “We said hello, what our name is, where we’re from, and that was it. When we got to the dance, we just split up.” Valerie Ma Other students appreciated the opportunity to meet students in different grades. Juliet Perry ’19 said, “I liked...how it integrates the upperclassmen and underclassmen.” Logan Knight ’17 hopes to see people of different grades interact in a more normalized context. “I really like the idea of having an upperclassmen hall of the opposite gender be paired with an underclassmen hall and have feeds throughout the year, and have Sadie’s just be an aspect of that relationship.” Ms. Creagh and the rest of the Deerfield administration hope to maintain the tradition of a Halloween dance. However, Ms. Creagh asserted, “Ultimately, [Sadie’s] has been making lots and lots of kids uncomfortable.” As a result, the administration is working with student leaders such as the proctors and the Student Planning Committee to make Sadies more inclusive in years to come.
how persuasive and powerful demagogues have been throughout history and, as Trump has proved, continue to be.” The Scroll attempted to speak with several students who would go on the record as Trump supporters about their reactions to Trump’s political upset, but those students declined to comment. The head of the Deerfield Young Republicans also declined to comment. Izzy St. Arnault ’17, head of the Deerfield Young Democrats, commented, “I am very nervous about the effect the outcome will have on the issues that I think are very important like health care, Supreme Court appointments, and environmental issues.” She feels that “this election clearly showed… divisiveness in our country,” and hopes that “the checks and balances in our political system work as designed” during the course of the Trump presidency. St. Arnault also recognized that “a lot of people feel that there is not a place for them in Trump’s America.” She said, “I hope he proves them wrong.” Margot Genereaux ’17, an international
Political Speakers Polarize DA //SARAH JANE O’CONNOR Associate Editor Throughout the fall term, one event has occupied the minds of Deerfield students and faculty alike: the 2016 election. In the buildup to this election, five speakers visiting the Academy directly addressed the current presidential election: poet Martin Espada, filmmaker Ken Burns, and an election panel comprised of three political experts. As DA experiences polarization like that of the U.S. as a whole, many students feel that the political tones of these speakers call into question the role of DA’s administration in addressing politics. Martin Espada is a Latino poet and English professor from Amherst, MA. Espada’s poetry addresses current issues in the U.S. such as mass shootings, police brutality against people of color, and immigration in his poetry. Though Espada’s poetry reading contained politicized content, including a comparison of Donald Trump to a cockroach, the administration did not have a political agenda when bringing Espada to DA. Jan Flaska, a leader of the Academy Events Committee, explained, “Martin Espada was local, so one of our [English] teachers asked to bring him in.” Ken Burns, a critically acclaimed documentary filmmaker, showed clips from his films on U.S. history and explained historical precedents for this election. However, many students were uncomfortable when during his visit, Burns drew comparisons between Donald Trump and Adolf Hitler. After Burns’s presentation, conservative students felt as if there was not equal representation from both liberal and conservative perspectives. Mary Mack Brown ’18 questioned the actions of the administration, stating, “I think that it is completely acceptable to bring people with strong viewpoints; however... there must be equal representation.” Mr. Flaska hoped to mitigate students’ concerns, stating: “[Ken Burns] has been coming to campus for many years and not speaking about presidential candidates… I
What’s Inside
Exam Schedule
Features
Page 2
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Opinion and Editorial
Open Letter from Will Suter ’17
Valerie Ma
DSASA Sparks Conversation About Sexual Assault Arts and Entertainment
Revealing Hidden Artists Page 7
Valerie Ma
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Photo Spread
Celebrating the Fall Term Pages 4-5
think right now he feels as if he has some sort of obligation to speak up for things in which he believes… there was no intent to have certain views on campus.” On October 26th, an election panel answered questions submitted by students about the election. The panel, organized by Head of School Dr. Margarita Curtis and History Department Chair Ms. Julia Rivellino-Lyons, featured Nancy Dwight, a long-time Republican strategist and the first woman to run a major party committee; Orin Kramer ’63, who served as Associate Director of White House Domestic Policy Staff in the Carter Administration and earned several appointments during Bill Clinton’s presidency; and Vinson Cunningham, a writer for the New Yorker who worked in the White House Office of Presidential Personnel and as Director of the African American Leadership Council within the DNC. Although the panel represented the interests of both Democrats and Republicans, no panelist was in support of Donald Trump. The administration claimed that they tried to find a panelist who supported Trump, but were unsuccessful. However, Brown believes that the school should have made a greater effort to find a Trump supporter so that the student body could hear that perspective. Students such as Nora Markey ’18 appreciated the panel. “The people they brought in were very informed, and instead of attacking the other’s political views, they stayed true to the policies from their own factions and explained them well. In the midst of an election based on personal attacks, it’s vital to be informed about the actual policies each candidate and party stands for,” she said. Mr. Flaska hopes that the community can continue a productive dialogue about these issues in the weeks following the election. He said, “I don’t know why political leanings of people becomes a thing you can’t ask. We talk about much more meaningful and deep moments in adolescents lives…You can’t ask someone who they’re voting for for president but you can be very candid about gender, race, and ethnicity, and these things... are much more personal than this one fleeting alliance.”
#SocialMedia
Opinion and Editorial
Not Down with Weeknight Sit-Down
student from Montreal, QC, stated, “other countries view Trump and his rhetoric to be incredibly dangerous… I am scared for the future of this country and what it means to be a woman or a minority in the U.S.” During School Meeting on November 9th, Head of School Margarita Curtis echoed Genereaux’s sentiment about the roles of gender and ethnicity in this election: “as an immigrant and a Latina—and as a woman in a ‘man’s job’—this election holds special significance for me because even in an election as dispiriting as this one... participating in the democratic process is still a privilege.” David Miller, Director of Global Studies, stated, “I want to make sure that all students on our campus feel safe and affirmed... I hope that we can continue to educate ourselves about the process and promise of democracy, and sustain a dialogue that challenges us all to understand different perspectives, build stronger arguments, and commit to being civically engaged... the election is now beyond us, but the work of democracy and dialogue can and must continue.”
Sports
True-ly Inspiring: Alumna Competes in Rio Olympics Page 8
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Tuesday, November 15th, 2016 ⋅ 2
The Deerfield Scroll
Opinion and Editorial Letter From the Editor Deerfield Scroll Vol. XCI, No. 5
Editor-in-Chief Perry Hamm Managing Editor Nia Goodridge
Managing Online Editor William Ughetta
Front Page Editor Ethan Thayumanavan
Online Editor Freddie Johnson
Opinion & Editorial Editor Karen Tai
Online Associate Editor Simon Lam
Features Editor Kiana Rawji
Graphics Associate Editor Claire Zhang
Arts & Entertainment Editor Richard Park
Photography Associate Editor Maddie Blake
Sports Editor Liam Jeon Layout Editor Ashley Wang Photography Editor Roopa Venkatraman Graphics Editor Valerie Ma Business Manager Will Suter
Associate Editors Jillian Carroll Kevin Chen Maya Hart Nadia Jo Annabel Nottebohm Uwa Ede-Osifo Hollis McLeod Sarah Jane O’Connor Orlee Marini-Rapoport Doris Zhang Social Media Directors Mason Bonnie Thomas Dale Kathyrn Grennon
Advisors Julianne Schloat and Anna Gonzales The Deerfield Scroll, established in 1925, is the official student newspaper of Deerfield Academy. The Scroll encourages informed discussion of pertinent issues that concern the Academy and the world. Signed letters to the editor that express legitimate opinions are welcomed. We maintain 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 writers. Opinion articles without names represent the consensus views of the editorial staff. The Scroll welcomes letters to the editor in response to any published content, but will not grant anonymity in publication of these responses. Please email scroll@deerfield.edu with any concerns.
Embracing Multiple Viewpoints at Deerfield Board Editorial Many students who hold more Republican or conservative ideals are afraid to speak out at Deerfield, understandably fearing the judgment and the flood of counterarguments that might be hurled their way. The lack of outspoken right-wing views on campus makes it easy for Republican opinions to be ignored or brushed aside. While it is not only crucial for more conservative voices to be heard on campus, students being afraid to express their opinions freely is indicative of a larger problem on campus: the majority opinion quickly becoming the only opinion. In a school that prides itself on its diversity not only in appearances, backgrounds, and geography but also in thought and expression, multiple viewpoints within the community should be presented in order to spark meaningful conversation between contradicting Claire Zhang or vastly similar ideologies. By flooding the campus with only one kind of viewpoint, we not only lose the value of opposing ideas and viewpoints that are necessary for healthy discussion, but we are also less educated about the thoughts and logic of the opposing side. As seen in the recent results of the unprecedented election between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, lack of dialogue between opposing viewpoints ultimately leads to further polarization, surprise, and negative emotions. After a fall term of inviting a variety of guest speakers including filmmaker Ken Burns, poets Martin Espada and Carlos Andrés Gomez, and an election panel including Nancy Dwight, a Republican strategist, Orin Kramer ’63, the Associate Director of White House Domestic Policy Staff in the Carter Administration, and Vinson Cunningham, a writer for the New Yorker who has experience working in the White House Office of Presidential Personnel and as Director of the African-American Leadership Council within the DNC — none of whom identified as Trump supporters — the Deerfield community felt the negative consequences of having only one-sided political discussions present on campus in our emotionally charged responses to the 2016 election results. If there is no one to challenge our views, we are not pressed to think more deeply about the reasons for our convictions. If opinions are hidden or silenced, the dream of living in a society that represents all voices is shattered. For those of us who applied to be a part of the Deerfield community, we came to become more knowledgeable and to broaden our perspective by thinking and rethinking our beliefs. To uphold this sentiment, we as a community need to practice openmindedness and the willingness to challenge oneself. In this regard, the next time you are in class, invite a person into the class discussion that has a dissenting opinion from your own. Go to a club meeting where a controversial topic is being discussed. But while performing all these actions, be respectful towards those with opposite views. The skill of being tolerant of and empathetic to all viewpoints is a skill that transcends all controversial topics from politics to race to gender and at The Scroll, we believe it is never too early to start practicing such a skill.
Dear Reader, As the school year of 201516 drew to a close, I became increasingly concerned about the prospect of a Deerfield without its beloved seniors. I worried that, with the loss of a class that did all they could to “bring it back,” our spirit would suffer. I worried that we might become less supportive, less lively, less rowdy. I worried the green and white would fade. As the end of that anticipated year’s fall term is on the horizon, I feel both relief and excitement that my pessimism from last spring was unfounded, that Deerfield has not lost the spark it gained last year. It is because of specific moments in the past week that I am able to feel this way. On Sunday, November 8th, I stopped by the O’Donnell’s House for the Albany Road Coffeehouse. As I opened the door, I immediately
saw about 45 pairs of shoes strewn across the foyer floor; this event was more attended than I would have ever imagined. Every room of Nims house rang with music and poetry. The house was so crowded that I could hardly walk around without bumping into my peers. I sat in the O’Donnell’s living room for an hour, listening to songs, spoken word poetry, and prose. As an audience, we not only listened, but also participated. We sang along together, and laughed and snapped as we heard the impressive written works of fellow students. I was shocked to see people I never would have expected to even show up, sitting there laughing and connecting to the art around them. This was a Deerfield moment I will always remember. Another event that solidified my belief that this year’s spirit will
surely compare to last year’s—if not surpass it—occurred in the heat of Choate Week. With a large group of seniors, I spent my Tuesday morning frying up bacon outside the Hess in honor of preparing to beat Choate. We hope this becomes an annual tradition. It’s the small things like bacon frying and the Coffeehouse that have already made this year so special; I hope our community will continue to create these little moments together. I hope we can hold onto what the class of ’16 brought, and continue to create new traditions. With that said, we still have a lot of year ahead of us. Let’s bring this spirit with us. Congratulations on finishing up this term strong. Let’s make the winter memorable. All the best, Perry Hamm Editor-in-Chief
Not Down with Weeknight Sitdown //KEVIN CHEN Associate Editor
Seven times a week, students and faculty gather together to share a family-style sit-down meal, one of Deerfield’s most treasured traditions. While I believe that sit-down meals are a wonderful opportunity to get to know members of the community that I may not otherwise get a chance to meet, many students and I find sit-down dinners on Tuesdays and Thursdays to be cumbersome for a number of reasons. After a long day of classes and co-curricular activities, students are often extremely tired and simply want some time to wind down. However, when athletic practices run late, many students are forced to rush straight to the dining hall without even showering. When these students also have first waiting obligations, sit-down dinners become an even greater cause of stress. The large number of clubs and activities that meet after sit-down dinner from robotics to orchestra even further compound the hustle and bustle of Tuesdays and Thursdays. Many students are forced to hurry straight from classes to co-curriculars to sitdown dinner to clubs and activities with hardly any time in between, and only then do they have time to start homework. While the intent of Tuesday and Thursday sit-down dinners may be
great, I often find it difficult to truly appreciate sit-down meals when I am both mentally and physically fatigued. Some might argue that sit-down dinners are actually intended to be a restful break in students’ schedules, but I would prefer to use that time to grab a small bite to eat, take a power nap, or even do homework and go to sleep earlier. Some nights during sit-down dinner I feel in danger of falling asleep right at the table, and I know that a number of my friends feel the same way. While it may seem like a 30-minute sit-down dinner should not make such a big difference, it really does have a great impact on the student body. Recently, I have been hearing excitement all around the school that winter term is coming because there will be no Tuesday and Thursday sit-down dinners. When a vast number of students are already sleeping well below the recommended eight to nine hours a night, every minute makes a big difference in students’ happiness and also their health. It is perhaps worth noting that a number of faculty members have also expressed their dislike of Tuesday and Thursday sitdown dinners. After their long day working, I feel that it is not unreasonable for many table heads to want to spend more time with their colleagues or children, especially considering that some of them will be on duty for two hours that same night. Just to be clear, I am personally fond of Sunday sit-down dinners. I think that sharing a meal as a
school is a wonderful way to start the academic week, and I love singing the Deerfield evensong. As we all embrace each other and sway gently to the peaceful melody, I cannot help but feel the overwhelming sense of friendship that transcends our differences and unites us as a school. The absence of classes and co-curricular activities on Sunday allows everyone to truly enjoy each other’s company in a leisurely meal, which is much truer to the ideal of what sit-down meals are supposed to be. I believe that changing Tuesday and Thursday sit-down dinners to walk-through meals would not alter who we are as a school, nor would it represent a shift in our core values. While tradition is important, I feel that we as a school should not be afraid to reevaluate our traditions from time to time to see if they still achieve their intended purposes. Despite not having Tuesday or Thursday sit-down dinners during winter term, I still feel like I have adequate time to meet new people and get to know everyone at my table. There are notable differences, however: I no longer have to rush to first wait without showering, I can get more work done and sleep earlier, and I am as a result happier and healthier overall. Ultimately, I believe that having walk-through dinners on Tuesday and Thursday would relieve students and teachers alike without compromising Deerfield’s great values of friendship and community.
Valerie Ma
The Deerfield Scroll
Opinion and Editorial
Tuesday, November 15th, 2016 ⋅ 3
Will Suter ’17 Addresses Conservative Concerns at DA
Valerie Ma
//WILL SUTER Contributing Writer Hello Deerfield, For those who do not know me, I am a conservative, four-year senior and I love Deerfield Academy. I have debated writing this letter for a long time, but the presidential election has prompted me to do so. In this letter, I will address what I believe it means to be a conservative, conservative representation at Deerfield Academy, and how we should, as a community, embrace voices and opinions from all across the political spectrum. This past year has proven to be one of the most politically estranged in our nation’s history. For conservatives, the 2016 Presidential election marks, in my opinion, the collapse of the Republican Party as we know it. It is important to note that there is a distinction between conservatism and “Trumpism.” Conservatives, like myself, generally believe in small government, free markets, and individual liberty. Regardless of the outcome on November 8th, I hope
we as a nation can join together as one and patch over the deep divisions in our country. While many conservatives despise Trump, he will still receive many of their votes for the following reasons. First, conservatives believe that Hillary Clinton is not a trustworthy candidate, and that it is time for a Washington outsider. Second, as president, Trump will place a conservative in the Supreme Court and possibly a second in the coming four years. Third, supporters want a fiscally conservative president who understands how to responsibly address our country’s economic problems. Fourth, Trump is wealthy enough to not rely on special interest groups. Finally, supporters believe he is a patriot and voices what many are feeling, but are often unable to express. A few weeks ago, Martin Espada jokingly referenced in his poem, My Cockroach Lover, a time when he “revealed a Republican National Convention of roaches,” I laughed initially, but my smile disappeared when I pictured Espada making the same joke about the Democratic National Convention. I doubt that such a joke would receive the same laughter if it were directed at our leftleaning community. Therefore, I was excited to see Nancy Dwight, a Republican strategist, at the school-meeting election panel held a few weeks ago. I was delighted that Deerfield finally brought in a conservative speaker for the sake of hearing both sides of an argument. Doing so reaffirms the Deerfield Academy Mission Statement that promises a “community that embraces diversity” and “prepares students for… a rapidly changing world.”
There are hundreds of conservative students in our school. Some people say we are a “silent majority,” and while I cannot accurately state that we are a majority, there are quite a few of us, and there is a reason we are silent. I, along with many others, feel like there is a pressure put on the students to agree with teachers whose political views are very obvious. I convey the fear of a sophomore girl who felt she would be judged and her grade would be hurt as a result. And, the worries of a senior boy who felt that he will be judged simply by his political views rather than who he is as a person. The students mentioned above requested to remain anonymous; further affirmation of the fear many conservative students hold in speaking their minds. This fear is unacceptable at a school that prides itself on diversity of thought. There is no doubt in my mind that the Deerfield community can evolve to include and respect the views of conservative students. To everyone on campus, I implore you to engage in meaningful discussions regarding politics. It is this free discussion that makes Deerfield a special place. However, I ask that everyone remain calm and keep an open mind; above all, understand that not everyone holds the same viewpoints. There are no “right” answers - there are simply different approaches to solve the same problem. While it may be comfortable to hear the same opinions voiced, the real world will not offer the same safe haven. I hope that Deerfield Academy will continue to embrace our bipartisan community. I hope that my letter does not offend anyone, and I would be pleased to talk with you all about this. I beg that you wait, however, until I have finished my college applications. As of now, I have probably spent more time on this letter than on my Common App essay.
Putting the AP System on Restrictions NADIA JO //Associate Editor A few weeks ago, I received an email informing me that I was placed on Level I Restrictions because of three late overnight forms. Two of those three late submissions were last-minute family plans, leaving me no other choice but to submit them after the Wednesday 10:15pm deadline. As a result, I accumulated 12 APs during the first few weeks of school. Compare this to freshman year, when I missed a few sit-down meals and was not penalized as heavily. Four APs for one overnight form is excessive; two APs for skipping a sit-down meal undermines the irresponsibility behind the action. There are many other pairs of offenses that are not equal in severity but are assigned the same AP values—take, for example, skipping a cocurricular activity and not posting a weekend signout form on the door. How is forgetting to tape up a sheet of paper as bad as missing a co-curricular commitment? I think different cases of APs belong to one of two broad categories: absence and
negligence. The first describes the failure to show up to required events such as a class, school meeting, or a sit-down meal. Under this umbrella are activities that are essential to shaping the Deerfield community; when students fail to show up to these events, they negatively impact Deerfield. Negligence, on the other hand, is more of a mistake than a conscious decision to go against Deerfield’s rules and expectations. Students are assigned APs for common mistakes that anyone can make, such as not signing up for buses on time. Likewise, a student who has to leave campus for sudden unforeseen reasons would also be assigned four APs if that student submits a weekend form after Wednesday. Understandably, faculty members are forced to stay up late at night to go through hundreds of late forms. Although absence and negligence both negatively impact the Deerfield community, there are many offenses across these two categories that are not equal in severity but have the same AP values. Right now, submitting three late weekend forms is “as bad” as skipping six sit-down meals. Clearly, one is a more irresponsible action than the other.
The current AP system, which is almost 20 years old, has no student input as to what the point values should be for different offenses. A reevaluation of these point values would help create a system that holds students accountable in a more reasonable manner. A revision in the current AP system should be centered first and foremost on student opinions. We can start by sending out a schoolwide poll to identify which offenses students are the most concerned with. From there, the administration can hold a series of meetings with the student body that serve as a platform for discussing the offenses in question. After creating a new scale of point values, students and the administration can vote on a new system. Many times, the number of APs students receive are out of proportion with the small mistakes they make. A revision in the current AP system by incorporating student opinions will more accurately reflect the severity of student actions, thereby helping the Deerfield community run more smoothly.
Let’s Make the PSAT Optional ANNABEL NOTTEBOHM //Associate Editor Each fall, Deerfield sophomores and juniors are required to take the PSAT—a standardized test that doubles as the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. The test is distributed nationwide as both a practice for the more formal SAT as well as a tool to determine students’ eligibility for the National Merit Scholarship. Despite these benefits, the PSAT is not useful to all students and should not be a requirement at Deerfield. At our school, like many boarding schools in the United States, there are many international students. Though the National Merit Scholarship awards are available only to American citizens, Deerfield makes no exceptions. In this case, one of the largest appeals of the test does not apply to a
substantial group of students. Additionally, many students prefer the ACT rather than SAT when taking standardized tests for the college process. For this reason, the results of the PSAT may not be helpful as these cannot be applied to the ACT. While the PSAT may be helpful to a limited number of students, it certainly should not be required of all students. Moreover, as the PSAT requirement applies to sophomores as well, it can create premature stress for students who are not ready to begin preparation for standardized testing. Having to start so early, students may feel that standardized testing is extremely important even though it is only supplemental. While students try to juggle their busy lives at Deerfield, an unnecessary test should not place an additional burden on students
and take away an entire morning. Instead of taking the PSAT, students should use this time to explore their interests at school, focus on more immediate academic responsibilities, or simply catch up on sleep. As a school, Deerfield needs to consider that all students have different needs and a required PSAT does not satisfy them all.
1797 Name Tag Controversy CLAIRE KOEPPEL //Contributing Writer
Family Weekend is an opportunity for students to show parents what we are learning in and out of the classroom, to let our family share in our appreciation of our surroundings and experience a bit of all things Deerfield. This year, however, Family Weekend made me feel embarrassed and ashamed. My initial excitement turned to embarrassment when I got the answer to my inquiry over why some adults were wearing green tags around their neck to display their names, while others were wearing black tags that said “1797,” the year Deerfield Academy was founded. I initially thought, as did most of my peers and their guests, that the black tags meant that the adult was a graduate of Deerfield Academy. However, upon further exploration, I learned that the black tag meant that the person wearing it was a substantial donor to the school (and the green tags meant they were not). I couldn’t help myself, but the first thing my eye went to after learning this was not the friendly and eager face of the adult visiting our Kang Hannah school but rather the color of his or her tag. Haven’t we been taught at Deerfield not to focus on the color of someone’s skin or on the God they pray to, or on where they live, or on the size of their family’s home? At Deerfield Academy, we are taught how our inclusivity and open mindedness for race, gender, religion, socioeconomic class, and sexual orientation is something to be praised. We, as a community, celebrate those differences in order to appreciate the patchwork of our backgrounds that create such a special and diverse community. And yet, here we were, building up those “walls” and pointing out the economic differences between us, creating a “class system” and social hierarchy that goes against the very grain of everything that DA promotes on a daily basis. I am sure this was intended to celebrate those donors who make our education possible. All the students certainly appreciate their generosity to make Deerfield so rich in every sense of the word. But I know firsthand that many of these humble and generous donors, marked by their black tags, were embarrassed to be called out in this way. I would also imagine that those adults wearing their green tags were embarrassed to not be able to donate in the same way. I am sure, upon further reflection, the school will re-think this initiative and find a way that does not consist of making students, parents, faculty, and staff uncomfortable, in thanking our supportive and kind benefactors. After the unfortunate choice to have different tags, many parents and students alike were not able to thoroughly enjoy the weekend that was supposedly to be relaxing and fun. In order to learn from and move past this incident, the administration should issue an apology to all the parents who were offended by the blatant class distinction. Although there is nothing we can do to reverse the negative effects, this instance can always serve as a reminder for the school as similar future decisions are made and remind us of the importance of true inclusivity.
Dean’s Response “Many other schools use nametags/ lanyards similar to the ones we experimented with at Fall Family Weekend, but since we received clear feedback that they don’t work for Deerfield, we won’t be using them again at parent/family events. I’m sorry that our experiment caused concern.” -CJ Menard Dean of Advancement
Lynnette Jiang
The Deerfield Scroll
Tuesday, November 15th, 2016 â‹… 4
goodbye,
Photos provided by Garrett Alexander, Julia Angkeow, Lucy Binswanger, Maddie Blake, Sophia Centola, Ashley Chang, David Chen, Cassie Deshong, Sophia Do, Ali Dougal, Mary Edmonds, Adeliza Grace, Hollin Hanau, Helen Hicks, Brenna Hoar, Jada Howard, Celine Kim, Claire Koeppel, Marco Marsans, Carolyn Melvin, Jacqueline Minor, Katie Morse, Maya Rajan, Sinclair Seeligson, and Sabrina Sotirhos.
The Deerfield Scroll
autumn
Tuesday, November 15th, 2016 â‹… 5
The Deerfield Scroll
Features
Tuesday, November 15th, 2016 ⋅ 6
Female Postgraduates Forge Own Paths at DA Maddie Blake
Maddie Blake
Maddie Blake
Maddie Blake
//HOLLIN HANAU Staff Writer
Sally Sirothphiphat ’17 came to Deerfield from Bangkok, Thailand and her postgraduate year will serve as a transition between Thailand’s school system and the collegiate experience. She is a recipient of the prestigious King’s Scholarship, which is awarded to only nine students in Thailand annually. The academic scholarship allows her to attend one year at a prep school and four years of college in the US. When asked to describe her Deerfield experience in three words, Sirothphiphat said, “I love it.”
Ireland Miessau ’17 decided to come to Deerfield from East Haven, CT to play softball after developing tendonitis in her wrist and forearm during the recruiting season. She mentioned that she has transferred to a different high school before – in tenth grade – so transitioning to Deerfield has not been too difficult. “The Deerfield community welcomed me [with] open arms,” mentioned Miessau. “Here at Deerfield, I feel as if I am part of a family, which I cannot say about any other place I’ve been throughout my high school career.”
Olivia Messina ’17 is from Hingham, MA and has come to DA to play field hockey. The field hockey team, currently 8-4-0, has greatly benefitted from the addition of a postgraduate to the program. Messina believes that playing on a varsity team in the fall was instrumental in easing her transition to Deerfield. In particular, preseason training allowed her to meet students before the rushed pace of the school year set in. “I would describe my Deerfield experience thus far as exciting, different, and challenging,” said Messina.
Ericka Ekhator ’17 attended the Middlesex School before taking her PG year, deciding to do so after suffering from an ACL and meniscus injury in the December of her senior year. She currently aspires to play collegiate basketball after Deerfield. Speaking to the experience of being a female postgraduate, Ekhator believes, “As PGs, we are told that we have such an impact on the senior class and school, yet there’s only four of us. We need to both figure out our own individual paths... and make sure we’re reflecting our very best selves at all times.”
DSASA Sparks Conversation About Sexual Assault //UWA EDE-OSIFO Associate Editor
//JULIA ANGKEOW Staff Writer
students develop critical thinking skills through experimentation, as they must continually anticipate and solve problems Since its opening in January 2016 as part of that arise. the library renovation, Deerfield’s Innovation Furthermore, the establishment of the Lab has offered a wide range of opportunities Innovation Lab has paved the way for more for students to turn their ideas into reality. project-based classes, including Mr. Thiel’s The lab, run by Research, Innovation, and Design for Human Impact class, which is Outreach Coordinator Ms. Emily Richardson centered around creating effective solutions with assistance from science teaching fellow for real-life problems. In the class, students Ms. Meghan Jimenez, go through the exists as an open process of designing, space with a variety prototyping, testing, of tools and materials and finalizing their for students to utilize. creations. Its chief purpose is C u r r ent l y, to foster creativity students in Design for and learning through Human Impact are experimentation. It is working on devices open every day during to solve problems regular school hours surrounding earbuds. and evenings, and is Some are building located on the lower mechanisms to level of the Boyden prevent tangling Library. while others are As Assistant Dean finding ways to store of Faculty and English the earbuds in a teacher Mr. Peter compact fashion. Nilsson explained, Just as in the “The Innovation Lab Innovation Lab, prompts students through this class, Mr. to ask the question: Thiel hopes to “help ‘What tasks do my students with what projects require and they want to achieve” how can I arrange by encouraging the my workspace to best process of trial and accommodate these error, as well as Provided by The Daily Bulletin teaching them how to tasks?’” Students are able Xander Li ’17 poses with an iLab creation. use various tools. to create whatever “I hope to instill they wish, from shelves for their rooms to the idea in [students] that a set of tools is just as lightsabers for a Halloween costume. Notably, valuable as word processors or spreadsheets Andres Milmo ’17 created a wooden monitor or digital cameras,” said Mr. Thiel. stand in the Innovation Lab that has proven to Ultimately, the Innovation Lab “provides be very successful. There is also a community the opportunity to experiment with materials project in progress to construct a light fixture. and learn about the mechanics of the world,” “A lot of core skills are discovered through as Mr. Nilsson stated. “There is something direct manipulation of material,” explained so empowering about building something on Director of Communications and visual your own.” arts teacher Mr. David Thiel. Both he and Mr. Nilsson mentioned that, in particular,
Valerie
Ma
“When the St. Paul’s case came out, as horrible as it was, I definitely saw an opportunity to start conversations here at Deerfield about sexual assault,” said Sami Habel ’16 when reflecting on her own inspiration to start Deerfield Students Against Sexual Assault (DSASA). The case she referred to was a 2014 trial of a St. Paul’s School student accused of sexually assaulting another student at the school. The accused student was sentenced to a year in jail but was released early when a judge believed that he had “learned his lesson” according to the Boston Globe. This case brought the issue of sexual assault close to home for Habel. DSASA was created last year by Habel, Ellie Koschik ’17, Saoirse Kennedy-Hill ’16, and Gavin Kennedy ’16. This group of students was eager to ignite dialogue surrounding what they believed to be an issue pertinent to Deerfield. As current head of DSASA Koschik stated, the group’s mission is “to provide a safe space for victims so that people do not feel uncomfortable talking about these topics.” In comparing group activities to one-onone conversations between counselors and students, Dr. Susan Watson, a counselor and an advisor to DSASA, mentioned that the group provides a unique opportunity for “a different and more therapeutic kind of support” for sexual assault victims. However, the conversations that DSASA aims to initiate extend beyond support for specific victims. Last year, the group hosted an inter-boarding school conference with Lawrenceville, St. Paul’s, and Northfield Mount Hermon. The conference included an open forum for student representatives to discuss topics such as visitation rules, hookup culture, and consent. In planning the event, Koschik mentioned that it was difficult to bring other boarding schools together because “high schools do not like to address this topic.”
Habel added, “[Sexual assault] is presented as being a college issue... [but] understanding about consent starts in high school.” When discussing other preconceived notions surrounding sexual assault, Koschik explained, “There’s this idea that only girls get raped and these stereotypes should be fixed to be more supportive of all members in the community.” For students who believe that they have no connection to the topic of sexual assault, Dr. Watson explained how gender norms associated with the issue can lead to unhealthy relationships that impact all students: “Hypermasculinity in which ‘boys will be boys’ is damaging to boys and puts them in box that does not allow them to express other emotions.” Watson mentioned that this stereotype goes both ways: “There also exists the damaging perception of what it means to be a girl, including acting in a feminine way.” DSASA members pointed out that these kinds of stereotypes certainly prevail through social interactions and the media. For example, “Trump’s rhetoric about women contributes to a nasty part of rape culture… it is a harmful way to mask sexually degrading language,” said Habel, whose experience in DSASA encouraged her to volunteer for the Clinton campaign. This year, in conjunction with the Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA), Feminism Club, and Amnesty International, DSASA plans to contribute to gender symposiums and screen documentaries about sexual assault as well as gender norms and expectations such as Miss Representation and Audrie & Daisy. The group will also host bi-monthly meetings and discussions for those who would like join the conversation about sexual assault. Dr. Watson stressed, “It is in all of our best interests to create safe environments.” Ultimately, as Habel added, “talking about issues around [sexual] assault can make people uncomfortable, but once they push [past] that discomfort, progress can be made.”
iLab Turns Ideas Into Reality
“What Do You Miss Most About Deerfield?” “Emerson Logie, Deerfield Class of 2016.” – Zeke Emerson ’16
“The relationships with teachers... I haven’t found the same quality of teacher student relationships in college.” – Beatriz Labadan ’16 All photos provided by pictured students
“The underclassmen. I honestly cared about the younger girls on my teams, halls, and classes as if they were family.” – Arianne Evans ’16
“The view from the Rock at sunrise.” – Carly Tominovich ’16
“Sit-down meals. Believe it or not, I miss them.” – Robert Muni ’16
“I miss walking down to the lower levels on Wednesday or Saturday to watch fall games.” – Chloe Sweet ’16
“I miss the Deerfield community and putting on the green jersey.” – Brendan O’Connell ’16
“I can’t name [just] one… Apple crisp, cinnamon rolls from the Koch... Mrs. Hynds’ feeds, buff chick, and hockey games.” – Saoirse Kennedy Hill ’16
Tuesday, November 15th, 2016 ⋅ 7
The Deerfield Scroll
Arts and Entertainment
Artist of the Issue: Kaycie Sweeney ’17
//ADELIZA GRACE Staff Writer
Acting has always been a dream of Kaycie Sweeney ’17. Growing up, she wanted to be many different things, and often had dreams of being a firefighter, or even a princess. Sweeney eventually came to the realization that if she pursued acting, she could be all of them, instead of just picking one. Therefore, during her boarding school application process, acting was the most important factor in Sweeney’s choice of schools. “I was very adamant about finding a program that wasn’t only great in shows and in production value, but that was also a place which would help new actors and train them in how to perform,” said Sweeney. “I [also] wanted a place that would take the time to go through each detail in every piece of work, and I could tell Deerfield wouldn’t disappoint in doing that,” she continued. Sweeney has found the acting program at Deerfield to be very versatile. She explained that she appreciates that Deerfield tackles several different genres of shows, and still handles the productions very efficiently. Sweeney added that she only truly feels herself in the acting lab at Deerfield, her safe haven. When she is in the acting lab, she can take risks and not be afraid of anyone judging her, which has translated into the way she approaches life. Sweeney also notes that Mrs. Hynds has made her into the actress she is today, by being her pillar of support during her transition to acting and to Deerfield. Sweeney stated, “Mrs. Hynds isn’t afraid to push people’s buttons and make people think about the world around them. She helps you go into every detail of a character and fully flesh out who you are as that character, which really helps the flow of acting.” In addition, Mrs. Hynds knows everything about Sweeney’s life, and is nurturing in dealing with her personal issues, and always encouraging Sweeney to channel these problems into her acting. Having the acting lab has a safe space has been beneficial to Sweeney. She said that she is able to leave all her worries within the acting lab, and return to the stage with a fresh perpsective. The first Deerfield show Sweeney
Poetry Sparks Dialogue
ever performed in was “The Children’s Hour,” in which she played a homophobic grandmother. In order to completely adopt the persona of this character, with whom she had virtually nothing in common, Sweeney had to overcome her fears and escape her own identity. “It’s very hard for a new actress, especially in the black-box, where ‘The Children’s Hour’ was performed, to overcome stage-fright,” says Sweeney. The approach Sweeney uses to do this is in a sense, “to come out of herself,” because she has to take on the role she is playing. She is always ready to
Olivia Jones Expressing the turbulent emotions of her character in the play “Museum”, Kaycie Sweeney`17 shows off her expertise and dedication to bringing her role to life.
switch between her two mindsets, one for the normal Kaycie, and another for the other more adventurous Kaycie, willing to immerse herself into any role. As she plans to pursue acting in college, she says that her Deerfield career will definitely serve as a solid bedrock to her career. All in all, what Sweeney has learned most from acting at Deerfield is to take risks, both in acting and in real life, which she observes as being “very counterintuitive to Deerfield culture considering people are so set in their routine ways.” However, Sweeney is not afraid to veer off the “accepted” path and be herself in every way possible. She doesn’t care if people think she is weird, because in her opinion, that’s exactly what acting is about. Sweeney’s experience in acting at Deerfield has allowed her not to worry about whether people are judging her, because as she sees it, “who really cares what people think anyway?”
The Instagram Winner is...
//TESSA MILLS Senior Writer
feeling “touched and inspired” after hearing Robert Hass speak. Though many of the performances have blown students away, some disapprove, Martín Espada and Carlos Andrés finding them boring or difficult to engage in. Gómez are part of the diverse pool of “I try to pay attention and really poets that comes to Deerfield each year, understand the poems, but I just never get speaking to our student body. Their what’s going on, so honestly, I’m not a huge visits are, in part, meant to entertain fan of the readings,” said Rhyan Brode `17. those who attend, but also to enlighten According to Dr. Curtis, Ms. Trethewey, and broaden the interests of students. Robert Hass, Robert Pinsky and Mr. Espada “For me, the idea of bringing a poet to are all renowned poets, who were selected campus is about exposing students to a type to speak because of their accomplishments, of language that they don’t hear frequently,” as most speakers are former poet laureates. said Dr. Curtis, Head of School. “I would say “I wanted to make sure that we were in our fast-paced world where speed and bringing the highest efficiency are valued, level of poetry possible,” I think it’s important expressed Dr. Curtis. to introduce a type of “It’s about inviting language that allows students to consider why students to reflect someone would spend and to ponder.” time writing poetry. It’s English teacher, about the performance.” Mr. Andy Stallings The performances have sees poetry readings inspired a large number of as full of potential students to sign up for Mr. resonance for students. Stalling’s senior English “[It’s] much like class, “Poetry Now!” the experience that “‘Poetry Now!’ has Mr. Gomez recently been an English class described... a few unlike any other. I’ve students will find that come to appreciate poetry there is something in a new way in all its in poetry that speaks different forms. I’ve directly to them, and especially enjoyed writing causes something to change for them,” Deerfield Academy an original poem each week,” said Uno Wait ’17. said Mr. Stallings. Anis Morgani, Martin Espada, and Sarah Kay have O’Connor similarly Mr. Gomez all visited Deerfield in recent years to share their feels that the class did indeed light a works. has, in addition to the academy events, spark for numerous Deerfield students. “opened her eyes to the beauty of poetry.” “I feel like I’ve had an epiphany. He The newfound appreciation for poetry held my interest during the entire event, shows hope for future performances and it seriously made me appreciate incorporating student pieces, a sentiment poetry. I never realized how relatable echoed by the english department. poems could be,” said Cameron Munn ’17. Mr. Stallings stated, “One hope I have Poets who have spoken in past is that, in addition to the large auditorium years have similarly affected students. readings by major established poets, we’ll “I was completely blown away,” find room for smaller, optional-attendance stated Gillian O’Connor ’17, when asked readings by, in particular, younger poets.” about Natasha Trethewey’s reading. Danny Finnegan ’17, remembers
Revealing Hidden Artists //KEVIN CHEN Associate Editor
Thongthai explained, “Producing is a great way to express how I feel, and my music often reflects my mood at that time.” Like Siegel, though, Thongthai feels Deerfield’s demanding workload and that room for artistic expression is limited high expectations make it difficult for some by the rigorous schedule at Deerfield. students to pursue all of their interests. “It is difficult for me to find large Some students are not able to attend chunks of time to pursue my interests school-organized music programs, such in music, but I love playing piano or as orchestra and chorus, due to conflicts singing when I have free time because with other activities. Yet, despite their busy music a great stress reliever,” he stated. schedules and the lack of recognition on the Mary Mack Brown ’18 started stage, some of these students have pursued playing the mandolin four years ago. their musical interests on their own time. Before then, she played the guitar but For example, Madisen Siegel ’17 has played wanted to try something different. classical piano since 2nd grade. She was very “Originally I started playing it because involved with classical piano before coming my mother loved the way it sounded, to Deerfield, and earning a silver medal in but after playing it for about a week I the Forte International Music Competition. began to love the sound as well,” she said. At Deerfield, Siegel has had private piano Brown takes lessons with private mandolin lessons music teacher Barbara once a week during a Lipstadt since her free period and also freshman year and practices it during the goes to the practice week if she has free time. rooms in her free She elaborated, “I time. However, Siegel do feel like there is has had a hard time adequate time to practice fitting arts classes into mandolin at Deerfield, schedule, and her club but I always wish I meetings interfere with had more time for it.” out-of-class groups Deerfield has many such as the orchestra. Roopa Venkatraman “I think it can be Tai Thongthai `17 frequents the recording studio resources to aid students interested in the arts and difficult for athletes to create original compositions and hone his many teachers who are to express their singing skills. passionate about helping student musicians artistic side at Deerfield,” Siegel remarked. improve. For example, the practice rooms in Tai Thongthai ’17 also plays classical piano, the basement of the Hess Center are open which he started playing at the age of four. for the Deerfield community to use for both He explained, “I started off as individual practicing and collaboration. a competition pianist, but I didn’t As some final advice to all “hidden really like it, so I play music more artists” at Deerfield, Music Teacher Mr. for enjoyment and self-expression.” John Van Eps said, “Music works best as During his time at Deerfield, Thongthai a shared experience. Surround yourself has explored other facets of music as well. with other musicians, talk about what He started voice during freshman year and problems you are having and what pieces loves to sing in his free time. He also started you are working on, and share your stories.” producing electronic music at Deerfield.
The Deerfield Scroll
Sports
Tuesday, November 15th, 2016 ⋅ 8
True-ly Inspiring: Alumna Competes in Rio Olympics
After a 4th place finish in the Women’s Triathlon at the 2012 London Olympic Games, Deerfield alumna Sarah True (née Groff) ’99 had her sights set on medaling at this year’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. A native of Hanover, New Hampshire, True attended Deerfield Academy and then Middlebury College, where she majored in conservation biology and studio art and graduated Cum Laude in 2004. She has gone on to become a world-class professional triathlete, currently ranked #9 in the world in the World Triathlon Series. She narrowly missed qualifying for the United States team for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and in the 2012 London games, True finished with a time of two hours flat— ten seconds short of a podium position and twelve short of gold. “Fourth place in the Olympics is totally bittersweet,” True said. “You think, ‘what could I have done differently to get a medal?’ Because that’s what people remember.” Nevertheless, True herself was very content with her performance. “I was really proud that I stepped it up on the day and had a great race,” she commented, “but you definitely leave thinking, ‘what could I have done differently in the race, what could I have done differently in my prep?’ I went into 2016 with that same sort of focus.” Looking back over the years, True reflected positively on her Deerfield experience, noting that Deerfield protected her from becoming too specialized too early. “Deerfield really reinforces that you should be a well-rounded person,” True mentioned. “An endurance sport is about being able to string together years of hard work, and I think if I had been training like a world-class athlete as a teenager in high school, I would have been burned out by the time I was twenty.” As for the decision to enroll back in
1995, Deerfield was an easy choice for True. She applied and was accepted to Choate Rosemary Hall, Phillips Exeter Academy, and Deerfield Academy, and knew right away that Deerfield was the school for her. “The second I stepped onto the campus at Deerfield, that was it… I was really comfortable with the rural, small town feel of Deerfield. It was a tight knit community.” An aspect of the Deerfield experience that she especially cherished was the number of different opportunities provided by the Academy because they helped shape each student as a person. “I was forced to have other interests,” she said. “The likelihood that you’re going to come out of Deerfield and be a professional athlete is slim to none, so there’s the sense that you should be involved with community service or other co-curriculars just to make sure that you’re a more interesting, balanced person.” True participated in swimming, cycling, and cross-country at Deerfield — the three legs of the triathlon — and she feels that the Deerfield community as a whole made a robust impression on her. “Coming from a small school, you’re used to being a big fish in a little pond. Then you get to Deerfield and realize how many amazingly talented, well-versed people there are, so it was a good wake-up call for me… I got to meet some really incredible people there. Some of the teachers and coaches I had really shaped me, who I am as a person.” Although True is an Olympian now, her discovery of her talent in triathlon did not come until much later in her life. While she had competed in a couple of triathlons in high school and college, it wasn’t until after she finished school that she realized that she could be a professional triathlete. “I narrowly missed the Olympic team in 2008, and that was kind of a wake-up call. [I realized that], I could definitely be world class, I could be an Olympian and I could be one of the best.
Athlete of the Issue: George Fair ’17 //JONOTHAN DONVILLE Staff Writer
his way by opposing coaches and teams this season, Fair has still found a way to score.” “He is very valuable to the team,” stated Fair’s teammate Reid Shilling ’17. “He has Although he mostly rode the bench, so much skill and such a strong finishing George Fair ’17 was the only ninth grader ability that he allows everyone else to just to make the varsity boys’ soccer team in worry about getting the ball to him because 2013. Fast forward three years, and his they know he is going to finish.” Shilling time taking the field for the Big Green also noted the effort Fair makes off the is quickly coming to an end, but the field to help the team improve: “He is not senior has done everything in his power the most vocal guy, but when he speaks it to make his final season a memorable carries a lot of weight. He picks what he one for both himself and his teammates. has to say wisely.” Shilling also pointed Fair has saved his best for last, scoring out the effect that Fair has on boosting a team-high 10 goals through the first 12 team morale: “He is always the first guy to games of the season. More importantly, pick someone up after a bad practice or a he has helped put the team in contention bad game and give them encouragement.” for a playoff spot, a first for Fair. Looking ahead, the playoffs are an “Obviously we have exceeded obvious goal for the team, expectations,” said Fair, Will Briskin but Fair pointed out one “but we are not content. game in particular that It’s my fourth year on holds extra significance. the team and we have “Personally, I really never been close to the want to beat Choate,” playoffs, so we are happy he said. “I have been with the progress but anticipating it for so long certainly not content.” that I just want to play Speaking of his well and beat them.” personal success on the One aspect in particular field, Fair credits the that adds meaning to depth of this year’s soccer this game is the presence team; PG Chad Haggerty George Fair ’17 tracks the ball in a game of alumni, many of ’17, a player who has just against Northfield Mount Hermon. whom played with Fair in years past. recently returned from mononucleosis, “I loved being around the older guys; it has helped with the scoring load. was always serious, but also so fun,” Fair “Early in the season, I felt more reminisced. He admits that his favorite responsibility to score,” said Fair, “but memory of being on the team is simply getting Chad back helped a lot. It allowed being around the other players. “I miss me to play with a lot more freedom and all of those guys from my younger years.” my teammates have just been putting me He distinctly remembers being a in good positions to score. Scoring is great younger player on the team and loving the but it is just a product of good team play.” atmosphere, and now feels that it is his Coach Ramesh Rajballie is certainly time to show the alumni how much he has happy to see Fair’s success and the grown. “I have seen how the Choate game team’s progress. He cited Fair’s affects people. I have thought about it a consistency as being particularly lot,” Fair stated. “Definitely on that day, impressive. “He has been a reliably the emotions will be flying. I was really successful striker,” said Coach Rajballie. tight with the alumni, which includes my “The team almost expects him to score brother, so I just want to perform for the now because he has been so consistent. Even alumni, play well, and give them a show.” with the increased attention being directed
So it took a few years,” True reflected. “I’m definitely going to race [next] year,” After narrowly missing out on a medal in she confirmed. “I love it, I’m still racing the 2012 Olympics, True entered the 2016 well. I think as long as you wake up in the Brazil Olympic Triathlon in peak condition. morning and you’re really psyched about She spent the past four years training with what you do, there’s no need to change. At a new determination, qualified for Rio, some point I’ll have to get a real job, but and felt prepared to take a medal home what I do right now is pretty awesome.” for the United States. However, after a While True has placed highly in several strong start in the swim, True’s quadricep competitions, she believes it is more muscle seized up on the bike. After falling important that she has a blast doing it. Here on a steep hill, getting back on the bike and is her advice to Deerfield students: “You will then being forced to step off again, True find your niche, and if you’re super passionate had no choice but to make the decision to and patient about what you’re doing, you withdraw from the 2016 Olympic Games. can pretty much do anything. It’s having that “What happened was something that mindset that it may take a long time and you never in a million years would have crossed just have to find what really gets you fired my mind as happening,” True stated. “That’s up. Keep on trying stuff!” Thank you True, the really crappy part of the sport. It’s going and good luck on all your future endeavors. to happen. I would love it to have happened on a day where nothing mattered instead of the one day I’ve been focusing on for four years. There’s nothing you can do.” Despite this bump in the road, True is not going to call it quits anytime soon. “I’m really glad I got a good Olympic experience out of the way, because this one wasn’t so great. You end up getting perspective as you get older... it’s just part of sports,” she added. Just two weeks after Rio, True rebounded with an impressive second place finish at an International Triathlon Union (ITU) race in Sarah True ’99 stands proudly in Stockholm, Sweden as champion of the ITU World Edmonton, Alberta. Triathlon Series. Provided by Wikimedia Commons
//ALEX WEINMAN Staff Writer
Equestrians Penner and Holowesko Train Off Campus //ERIC KIM Staff Writer On most Saturday mornings at 7:00am, students usually are fast asleep in their dorm rooms. However, horseback riders Rachel Penner ’19 and Ella Holowesko ’20 are awake and ready to train off campus by 8:00am. Their destination is Kelianda Farms, an equestrian facility in East Granby, Connecticut, where the pair spend most weekends practicing with their horses. During the winter, they travel all over the country to competitions from Marlboro, Maryland to the HITS Winter Circuit in Ocala, Florida. Both Penner and Holowesko travel for show jumping contests, where they typically compete against 30 to 150 other girls in events judged on a variety of technical and flair points. The sport requires a deep relationship between horse and rider, as even one small mistake can prove costly. “You have to trust [your horse] completely and both be in it 100 percent, because it’s not just for you but for the animal,” said Penner. “In riding, you can enter a race and lose within the first second.” Despite the challenges and cutthroat competition at contests, both girls have enjoyed success in their age and height categories. This year, Penner was crowned champion in one of the largest equestrian riding competitions in the nation, while Holowesko qualified as a top-70 rider and won her respective division. The pair feel that their titles are a product of sustained dedication for many
Provided by Rachel Penner Rachel Penner ’19 stands with her horse at the Kentucky Summer Classic in Lexington, Kentucky this August.
years. Holowesko recalled, “I missed birthday parties on Fridays even when I was eight or nine years old. I would be at the barn late and then wake up early on Saturday to go ride.” Penner began riding even earlier than Holowesko; she has been taking lessons since she was four years old. Provided by Ella Holowesko
Ella Holowesko ’20 completes a jump at the Marshall and Sterling Finals in Saugerties, New York this September.
At Deerfield, Penner and Holowesko’s riding commitment often means finding time to finish work or juggling horseback training with volleyball, as both girls play the sport as a their fall co-curricular. “I’ll sometimes have to go in the car and just do some homework quickly before my class,” Holowesko commented. “If you have shows on a weekend, like horseshows, when everyone’s getting time to rest and catch up on work, you’re sitting in a barn.” Although riding is a lot of work, she has no regrets. “It is a big commitment but at the end of the day you can make it work.” “I feel like a lot of people don’t see horseback riding as a sport,” noted Penner. “But riding takes a lot of physical and mental strength, and it’s an incredibly huge commitment. It’s a dedication to an animal who you’re trusting your life with.” Ultimately, Holowesko and Penner’s passion for the sport motivates them to train off campus up to six times a week. “It takes up a lot of time,” said Penner. “But there’s nothing more satisfying to me than going to a competition and doing the best I can.”