The Deerfield Scroll: February 28, 2018

Vol. XCII, No. 7

Deerfield, Massachusetts

February 28, 2018

Deerfield Fights Hate Sarah Jane O’Connor News Editor

Provided by Deerfield Academy Flickr Students engage in dialogue regarding the theme of the “beloved community” at MLK Day workshops.

MLK Day: How to Move Forward Shreyas Sinha Staff Writer

Each year, Deerfield Academy hosts a day of workshops in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., during which students can immerse themselves in decisions about civil rights and the state of equality today or participate in group activities about building a better community.

This year, the day centered on a theme of the “beloved community” and asked students to consider how they could make Deerfield more loving and welcoming.

Many students were pleased with the workshops this year. Colin Olson ’19 said, “I remember looking at the list this year and thinking, ‘Wow, that’s a lot of variety,’ in terms of the topics that were going to be discussed. The options, such as the hip-hop workshop, are definitely creative and have a unique approach. It’s a good way for more people to find a workshop that resonates with them.”

Olson elaborated, “During discussions, I was exposed to a level of vulnerability that some

people showed. Especially for the confederate monuments workshop, I was very impressed by students who I had never met before who stepped up to voice unpopular opinions. Workshops did a good job providing an environment that was comfortable for people to discuss.”

Nadia Jo ’19 agreed: “People felt more engaged with the workshops they were in, and that made the discussions more productive.”

Overall, many felt that the workshops achieved an important level of engagement from students and provided a platform for issues that needed to be discussed in our community.

However, some students also expressed that there is still room for improvement for future MLK days.

“Schools like NMH have a whole week dedicated to MLK day,” noted Vera Menafee ’20, which creates more time for “people to engage in these important discussions that affect the daily lives of students at the school.”

Continued on News, p. 4

“Notice and Connect”

Orlee Marini-Rapoport Associate Editor

The Class of 2021 received suicide prevention training and mental health awareness during meetings on January 25, and each of the six halls of the Ninth Grade Village received training from six of the student Peer Counselors and six adults on campus.

Science Teaching Fellow Hannah Insuik originally designed the training program, called Notice and Connect, while she was a student at Colby College and in conjunction with the school’s counseling office. With the help of Director of Counseling Joshua Relin, they tweaked the program for Deerfield.

They added aspects of the Signs of Suicide program, which Dr. Relin explained to be a program used for students all across the country.

Ms. Insuik designed the Notice and Connect program “to be co-facilitated by a mental

health professional or other experienced adult and a student,” and she felt that incorporating the Peer Counselors ensured the program was “fully entrenched in Deerfield and what students have experienced.” She appreciated that the Peer Counselor for her ninth-grade group “added personal anecdotes when necessary to stress the idea that mental health issues are prevalent here on campus, and there is a lot of opportunity to help as a concerned friend.”

Dr. Relin explained that in the training, they “discussed why suicide is a critical issue in high school, how to ask a friend if they are feeling suicidal, and what to do if you’re concerned about a friend’s safety (reach out to a trusted adult or the Health Center ASAP!).” Ms. Insuik added that students “go through what it looks like to struggle specifically here at Deerfield, how Continued on News, p. 4

Around 8 p.m. on February 15, a Deerfield faculty member discovered a large swastika and the word “heil” on the sidewalk outside DeNunzio dormitory. The graffiti was written with a stream of water, and was removed shortly after the discovery.

The local police, campus security, and administration are currently conducting an investigation on the incident.

In an initial email to inform the Deerfield community about the hate crime, Head of School Margarita Curtis wrote, “To be clear, we utterly denounce the hateful ideology these symbols represent — and this type of hate speech is totally unacceptable.

Deerfield stands for the value and dignity of all people.”

Dr. Curtis addressed the school at a sit-down lunch on February 16. She began her remarks by referencing the current rising tide of anti-Semitism in the United States.

“When we started the school year in September, it was on the heels of disturbing news coming from Charlottesville, Virginia,” Dr. Curtis stated. “If you remember, we spent a great deal of time processing those events — discussing their relevance to our lives here at Deerfield.”

Dr. Curtis also referenced the recent shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High in Parkland, Florida, a brutal event that occurred a mere two days before this incident.

“This is hate speech,” stated Dr. Curtis, “and hate in any form has no place at Deerfield.” She continued: “Racism and xenophobia are repugnant views — they are a special type of learned ignorance, borne from the idea that emotions can eclipse facts.”

Dr. Curtis was clear about the presence of hate and anti-Semitism at Deerfield, affirming: “If you do understand the meaning of these symbols — and yet you still feel they have a place in your life — then I think Deerfield might not be the place for you.”

After the hate crime, a Crisis

Student Action: Let’s Be Proactive Opinion and Editorial, p. 3

Diversity at Deerfield: Just a Statistic?

News, p. 4

What Does It Mean to “Be Worthy”?

Buzz, p. 5

Senior Grass: A History

Continued on News, p. 2 Provided by Megan Relin

Elijah Relin partipated in the efforts to decorate the DeNunzio sidewalks with chalk.

Opinion: Become a Collectivist!

Irvin Li

Contributing Writer People ask me all the time whether I am communist, and I always say that I am not. To understand why, we need to take a closer look at communism.

Communism is the political theory developed by Karl Marx that basically turns everything private to public. Just to be clear before you continue reading, I do not think this is a good idea by itself whatsoever.

Communism as a way of managing a country’s economy never worked and will never be able to work because it directly contradicts the very human instinct of greed and self prominence over others. This is why there has been no successful country that was truly communist. (Also, don’t even get me started on socialism, which is basically the weaker and less mature cousin of communism.) If you really want an answer for what I think the best economic system is, I say it would be state capitalism, though that is not something which I can debate about due to my lack of credentials and expertise on political economics.

Therefore, what I do want to

advocate for here is not communism in the sense of running a country, but the communist spirit and how we can derive something from it to apply to our everyday life. The communist spirit is a lot of things, such as gloriously defending your country from a foreign invasion, or diligently working your job and contributing to the GDP, or taking care of your family members and

ensuring their health and safety, or even merely obeying the established rules and laws and paying your taxes. The communist spirit is the spirit of having a positive influence on society. In other words, though the core of communism is economic egalitarianism, the underlying spirit of it that should be admired is really the idea of collectivism.

Collectivism is the idea of considering yourself as part of a larger entity and doing what is best

What’s Inside Opinion and Editorial, p. 2

Response Team (CRT), comprised of Deerfield faculty, security, and administration met twice On the afternoon of February 16, two meetings were held for the Deerfield community. The first was for the Jewish Student Alliance and Jewish employees, and the second meeting was for any students who wished to speak about the incident or demonstrate allyship. Close to 100 students and faculty met in the Caswell Library for this second meeting to discuss the crime and the presence of hate speech at Deerfield.

Features, p. 6

Deerfield Family Visits North Korea over Winter Break Features, p. 6

Deerfield Voices Speaks Out

for the greater good. It is by no doubt a virtue that should be desired. Even in more individualist societies, the spirit of selfless actions for the greater good is never something that is frowned upon, just not as much as an expectation in more collectivist societies. Some may worry that collectivism may impede one’s own progress, but, in fact, when the benefits of collectivism are distributed back to every individual, one might often find them greater than those produced by individualism. In fact, there are many ways in which individuals can work for themselves while simultaneously forming an overall collectivist entity. For example, when every individual decides to work hard and lead a self-sufficient life, then the government will be able to spend less on welfare and lower the taxes for everyone so that we can all have more free money to spend. On the other hand, if everyone decides to slack off and rely on welfare, then any moral administration would have to be burdened with the responsibility of taking care of these people, meaning more taxes and less drive on economic development.

Continued on Opinion, p. 3

#SocialMedia Arts and Entertainment, p.7

Von Auersperg Welcomes Forgotten Girls

deerfieldscroll.com

Sports, p. 8

@DeerfieldScroll

Bluestein Breaks Exeter Pool Diving Record

/DeerfieldScroll

@DeerfieldScroll

2 ⋅ Wednesday, February 28th, 2018

The Deerfield Scroll

Opinion and Editorial

Letter from the Editors Dear Reader,

Vol. XCII, No. 7 Editors-in-Chief Jillian Carroll and Kevin Chen Opinion & Editorial Editor Kiana Rawji

Online Editor Simon Lam

News Editor Sarah Jane O’Connor

Distribution Manager Sean Yu

Buzz Editor Uwa Ede-Osifo

Associate Online Editor John Chung

Features Editor Maya Hart

Associate Photography Editor Britney Cheung

Arts & Entertainment Editor Doris Zhang

Associate Graphics Editor Hannah Kang

Sports Editor Alli Norris

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

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

Advisors Julianne Schloat and Anna Gonzales The Deerfield Scroll, established in 1925, is the official student newspaper of Deerfield Academy. The Scroll encourages informed discussion of pertinent issues that concern the Academy and the world. Signed letters to the editor that express legitimate opinions are welcomed. We hold the right to edit for brevity. The Scroll is published eight times yearly.

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

Student Action: Let’s Be Proactive Board Editorial

In October 2017, a Deerfield alumna posted an open letter on Facebook urging students to combat institutionalized racism and sexism on campus, which sparked a heated discussion between both current students and alumni in the comments. The following day during advisory lunch, Fernanda Ponce ’19 urged members of the Deerfield community to meet in the Main School Building to address these issues.

The turnout was incredible; more than 100 students, faculty, and staff gathered, perhaps an unprecedented amount of people for an optional meeting. Although people disagreed on the meaning of some terminology used in the discussion, such as the word “institutionalized,” there was a consensus that we needed to take action about the flawed social culture at Deerfield. The potential for change was enormous.

However, that interest has only survived in a single student organization, Deerfield Voices. While the group sets an excellent example by taking initiative to sustain dialogue about inclusion on campus, about 50 people attended their first meeting, and only 23 attended the second meeting. The number of people eager to affect change in our community seems to be dwindling; at the very least, they are not very visible.

At Deerfield, we often adopt a reactive stance to social change, instead of a proactive one. We criticized John Greenwood’s hate speech, and we engaged in a heated debate over Facebook about the alumna’s open letter.

However, if these events had never taken place, it seems unlikely that we would have shown the same enthusiasm and commitment to changing Deerfield’s social culture.

It is easy to follow the crowd; when everyone around us is agreeing on a certain perspective, they influence us to make the same choice. While this “group mentality” may seem effective for a short time, we forget or fail to carry with us the spirit of taking action when the group disperses. If we only take initiative in response to alarming events, we will forever be stuck in a cycle of rising and falling interest levels.

At the Scroll, we believe that students can and must take initiative, even without a planned meeting or the administration urging us. Often, we expect a certain group of people to lead inclusion efforts: Dr. Curtis, the deans, Ms. Young and the Office of Inclusion and Community Life, and alliance leaders. However, the work of inclusion should not be limited to these members of our community; in fact, we students are the key players.

Take this example from November 2015: then-DBSA Officer Imani Goodridge ’17 proposed a Blackout Day on the Deerfield Student Forum [on Facebook] to stand in solidarity with the students of color at various universities around America. On the following Monday, nearly the entire student body dressed in black. One student’s commitment spurred a successful movement, and though Goodridge was an alliance leader herself, no other alliance member or members of the administration urged her to take this action.

However, change does not always have to be made in an overtly visible manner. It can be as simple as listening closely to what people say around you. Discriminatory or harmful comments are often subtle, and being conscious of these statements or giving people a gentle reminder to reconsider their actions can go a long way. Taking the goal of inclusion into our own hands simply requires each of us to commit and to act without being told to do so by others.

Few of us would hesitate to say we like or even love Deerfield when asked individually. We do not need a pep rally, bonfire, or spirit week to show that love for Deerfield. Although being around like-minded people might strengthen our feelings, we each carry those feelings in us. So let’s do the same with another form of love for our school: committing to making Deerfield a more inclusive space. Many of us attended that meeting in the MSB lobby; many of us said we care about inclusion. Our intentions will only bear fruit when we practice what we preach.

This marks the last issue for the Scroll board, vol. XCII! After seven cycles of passionate meetings, long nights of layout week, and the pressure of deadlines and headlines, the Scroll has become an integral part of our lives. It seems almost too soon to say farewell, but we are proud of what we have accomplished since last April. We let articles flow from the front page onto an additional News page, allowing us both to report on a greater number of topics relevant to the Deerfield community and to address those topics in much greater detail. We also added a Buzz page, which served as a platform for some more light-hearted content and revived our beloved Margo, Rita, and Curtis advice column.

Perhaps more importantly, we are proud of the wide variety of topics that we have covered over the past year, such as race, mental health, and gender inequality.

Though these issues may be uncomfortable or difficult to discuss, we firmly believe that it is

important for our community to be exposed to a variety of perspectives and opinions. Even though we may disagree with each other, we must be willing to respect and learn from those differences rather than limiting ourselves to what we are comfortable and familiar with.

Of course, we most certainly would not have been able to accomplish all this on our own.

We would like to thank our fellow editors Kiana Rawji, Sarah Jane O’Connor, Uwa Ede-Osifo, Maya Hart, Doris Zhang, Alli Norris, Roopa Venkatraman, Claire Zhang, Ines Bu, and Simon Lam for their tireless dedication to the Scroll. We also thank Perry Hamm and her board for training us and for providing us the space to grow as editors and writers.

We thank Mrs. Schloat and Ms. Gonzales for guiding us through our positions and pushing us to accomplish more than we thought possible. Their endless support not only encouraged us during restless layout weeks, but also challenged us to delve deeper in our reporting.

We are delighted to announce that the next editors-in-chief of

the Scroll will be Joshua Fang and Orlee Marini-Rapoport. It has been a pleasure to work with the both of them, and see them grow during their time at the Scroll. Orlee, Josh and their board have been shadowing our board these past few weeks, and they have been doing an incredible job. In fact, the incoming board was largely responsible for laying out this very issue. They all bring such commitment and enthusiasm to the newsroom, and we are so excited to see what they will accomplish over the next year. We thank Josh and Orlee for all their hard work so far, and we wish them the very best of luck for the future.

And of course, we extend our deep gratitude to you, the reader, without whom the Scroll would have no purpose. We are most proud to be members of the great Class of 2018 and to call Deerfield our home.

All the best, Kevin and Jillian

Taking Care of Each Other at DA Lilia Brooker Staff Writer

Time and time again, Deerfield students grapple with what it means to “do good” in the world.

Most students are already aware of the basic principles that Deerfield, and the greater world, define as “good,” such as kindness, honesty, gratitude, and hard work. However, “doing good” extends into a deeper meaning among busy Deerfield students often wrapped up in their own concerns. Deerfield teachers and mentors discuss the importance of curiosity, within the classroom and outside of it. We need to broaden our curiosity to the people around us.

How often do you find yourself simply answering “I’m good, thanks” when someone asks how you are doing? How often do you find yourself not really expecting any other answer from someone when you ask this question yourself?

While eating a sit-down meal, Amanda Brooks spending time with friends, or enjoying a feed in your common room, how often do you find yourself looking around and noticing what expressions are on people’s faces, how they are feeling, or if they seem different than usual? Our consciousness is often distracted by toiling over a homework assignment, what we are going to do this weekend, or an interaction we had earlier in the day. While it is natural to be absorbed in our own needs and desires, we can also more deliberately direct some of this care towards others.

Deerfield prides itself on being a strongly woven community. It is up to us, as students, to strengthen these bonds among us. Instead of

asking “How are you?” we can try asking, “What was the best part of your day?” or, “What is on your mind?” or “What was something really funny that happened to you recently?” When someone asks you “How are you?” you could answer with something that made you happy, something that is causing you stress, something you are puzzled about, or something that you are looking forward to.

Instead of falling into habits of short answers and superficial interactions, can we deepen our relationships by communicating more freely?

Being thoughtful towards others does not only lead to more

meaningful conversations, but can be essential in taking care of one another.

A community is responsible, to a certain extent, for the wellbeing of its individuals.

Take a moment to think about your hall, for example. Is there someone who you haven’t seen lately? Is there someone who you know is worried about tryouts, a big test coming up, or something happening back home? Is there

someone who you have observed to be a little down? Is there a new student who you haven’t really gotten to know? Reach out to them and ask them how they are doing.

And listen. Really listen. We can extend this practice to our classes, our sports team, or to our group of friends.

Caring for others has a clear impact on the community, but also has an impact on you. A recent study from Brigham Young University looked into what factors can most prolong one’s lifespan. The study examined tens of thousands of people over the course of several years and considered every aspect of their lifestyles, from their diet, to their medical history, to the places where they lived.

To the researchers’ surprise, the number one factor that prolongs one’s lifespan the most was social integration.

Having close relationships was in second place.

To put that into perspective, exercise ranked in seventh place, and breathing clean air ranked in tenth. Another recent study found similar conclusions about increasing happiness.

This means that being aware of others, saying a genuine hello on the path, meaningfully chatting with your peers, and caring for a struggling friend strengthens the community while also improving your own life.

“Doing good” means taking the extra time to mindfully ask and listen to everyone we come in contact with, including seeking out those we don’t. Isn’t mindfulness towards others an important part of mindfulness? It is our responsibility to look out for one another and to create lasting, meaningful, and honest memories during our high school years.

Opinion and Editorial

The Deerfield Scroll

Diversity at Deerfield: Just a Statistic?

Thomas Song and Shreyas Sinha Associate Editor and Staff Writer

Deerfield prides itself on its diversity. Each year, as a school, we ensure that all students and faculty recognize the vast array of countries that our students represent through the flag ceremony in the dining hall. We host various alliance meetings and celebrate the holidays of different cultures and countries. Our website states, “Diverse perspectives fuel creative and innovative thinking, build empathy and consideration, and provide varied skills and experiences from which the entire community benefits. … Deerfield Academy values and affirms the distinct identities and differences of each person.”

Because of this, many times, our community may just assume that Deerfield exemplifies diversity, and in doing so, we forget to ask ourselves the question: What does true diversity look like?

It is admirable that Deerfield encourages students of different backgrounds to attend our school, but diversity on paper does not necessarily translate into diversity of thought. In spite of the wealth of experiences that our community collectively holds, as a school, we have become victim to labeling other sides as “communists” or “racists.” We have succeeded in fostering a community that is home to people who identify in different ways. However, we have not done enough work to create an environment where people can discuss different beliefs on social and political issues in our community openly without fear of immediate and harsh backlash.

This truth become especially clear during the 2016 presidential election. Students who identified as supporters of either Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump increasingly became frustrated with each other. The fault was not entirely on the student body. Some students felt that the school would bring speakers to campus who almost always supported Hillary Clinton and would speak out against Donald Trump. Additionally, others have reported teachers calling them out for wearing a Young Republicans sweatshirt or voicing approval for Trump. Regardless of where you lie on the political spectrum, the perception that the school has only heeded one side has left the other frustrated. Furthermore, this one-sided mentality toward dialogue is not limited to political beliefs; religion, disciplinary cases, and classism at Deerfield are other topics that we either shy away from or only approach from one perspective.

Instead of focusing on our own personal beliefs or one side of an issue, we should focus on creating

Lucy Blake

a school that embraces pluralism.

According to the Pluralism Project sponsored by Harvard University, pluralism focuses on the “energetic engagement with diversity” rather than diversity alone. Considering how demographically diverse the Deerfield community is, when we confine ourselves to friend groups that are similar to us or remain silent in class discussions, we are losing out on an incredible opportunity that Deerfield offers us each day.

As for the faculty and the administration, our school often claims that it is preparing students to become successful and empowered adults in the real world. And it is true that many of the alliances and on-campus initiatives that promote dialogue have made some progress and are continuing activities to push students of various backgrounds to connect. Nevertheless, we must ask ourselves, “Have we made enough progress to the point that we can call ourselves a school that exemplifies diversity of thought?”

The answer is: not yet. In the real world, if Deerfield does not train its students to actively seek rather than shy away from opportunities to express their opinions and converse with their peers, the extent of the impact that students could have on their communities will be limited.

So what would a Deerfield that embraces pluralism look like?

Taking the steps toward reaching this goal does not have to be complicated. A Deerfield student body that took diversity of thought to heart would actively seek to understand and discuss others’ perspectives in a wide variety of settings, including classroom discussions, alliance meetings, and conversations in the dorm. Instead of just signing up for the same set of co-curriculars each term, we would ideally branch out of our comfort zones, try a new activity out, and forge relationships outside our immediate friend groups. If we as students attempt to put these steps into action on a day-to-day basis, we would gradually begin to change our school culture that celebrates rather than ignores pluralism.

We are lucky to be home to students with such diversity in thought; we just have to learn to appreciate it and make the effort to engage in difficult discussions in the classroom, in the dorm, and beyond. Rather than only surrounding ourselves with people who enforce our opinions, we have to have meaningful conversations with others in order to foster a community that truly embraces diversity.

Wednesday, February 28th, 2018 ⋅ 3

Become a Collectivist!

Irvin Li

Contributing Writer Continued from Front This brings out an interesting misconception that a lot of people have about collectivism.

People tend to think collectivism means more government and less personal freedom. However, in many cases, it is the opposite.

Collectivism often provides us with more freedom as collective cooperation yields conditions with more fruitful outcomes that enables each of us to be free.

So how do we break this concept of collectivism down and apply it to our daily lives? We should start by identifying which entities and sub-entities we belong to. Ranging from small to large, we can be considered from individuals to families, from factions to nations, from species to components of the universe. No matter which level of entity you pledge most allegiance to, it is important to also consider all other levels as well. A true collectivist is not a nationalist, but someone who considers every level of collective entity from small to large, including giving a reasonable amount of consideration to the individual level. Collectivism is not blind sacrifice. It is having a rational and ethical balance between your own good and the common good.

If we implement this concept into our daily lives and ask

ourselves to take a moment and think beyond our self-interest, not only would our community be a better place, we would also become more considerate and likeable people. Before we get ourselves into any arguments with someone, think if it will really result in anything good for either party. If it won’t, then no matter what noble cause it is for, it is not a beneficial action to be carried out. Before we start disobeying an expectation from our parents and teachers, think if this expectation

Claire Zhang

is really a deterrent to your long term personal development. If it is not, then there is no point of disobeying something that is for your own good, regardless of how it might not be fun in the short term. Before we do something that is selfish by definition, we should think if our personal benefit really outweighs the cost to the community. If it is not, which is almost always the case, then it is a deed that should not be done.

What’s more, on a broader scale, beyond our school lives in

the Academy, collectivism can have an even more significant impact. Before mobs take their discontent to the streets in forms of protests and riots, they should ask themselves if blocking traffic and leaving a mess behind will really improve conditions of the local community. If it will not, then find another way to exercise their freedom of expression.

Before political parties and opinionated medias do whatever they usually do to make each other look bad, they should ask themselves if that is really what the people need. If it is not, they should then find a way to work together towards improving the country. Before superpowers start to interfere in regional proxy wars to establish their own diplomatic influence, they should ask themselves if gunfire and killing is really beneficial for the local population. If it is not, then they should cease waving their military tentacles all over the world and work on domestic projects or offer real aid that facilitates peace and stability for the common population.

Is collectivism not the summit of moral high ground? Is collectivism not the way of doing things with least resistance? Is collectivism not the only way for humanity to thrive? Is collectivism not the solution to all the problems we face today? So whatever scary rumors they spread about collectivism, I say that for the sake of my individual interest, I selfishly choose to go collectivist!

Canvas: A Want, Not A Need

Joshua Fang

Associate Editor

technology used in the classroom, the platform’s effectiveness depends on a variety of factors.

Canvas is used to great success in many classes across Deerfield, but no blanket requirements can or should be made. Teachers should not be compelled to use certain technologies or learning management systems simply for the sake of consistency.

Others may cite convenience — having a system such as Canvas allows students to easily check their homework without needing a

Four years ago, according to Academic Dean Ivory Hills, Deerfield’s faculty decided by vote that all academic classes must have an online page with a syllabus and several weeks of assignments.

Deerfield has since standardized its learning management system with an online program called Canvas, calling teachers to move their online pages to this platform.

Now, in line with this precedent set years ago, Dr. Hills is asking all teachers to use Hannah Kang Canvas to post a syllabus and several weeks of assignments.

This requirement should be done away with.

Teachers should not be required to use Canvas; rather, they should be able to draw from their own expertise to shape their classes’ learning.

For example, some Deerfield teachers feel that having students go online to know what chapters to read for their homework would be unnecessarily distracting, creating an environment not at all conducive to studying. It is true that teachers often print out papers to hand to students in addition to posting notebook or assignment sheet. In assignments online. fact, asking students to take several However, some teachers may seconds to write down homework want to keep students completely in class is a basic requirement away from distractions, and if so, that all students should be able to they should have the right to make handle. Isn’t Deerfield meant to that decision. Requiring teachers prepare us for the “real world”? to use Canvas infringes upon If we can’t expect students to their ability to tailor their classes’ remember to write down their learning. The ultimate goal in any homework, how will they ever be class at an academic institution able to stay organized and manage should be learning; any other more important responsibilities? concerns are secondary.

After all, learning management Some Canvas proponents systems like Canvas are simply support this standard for the sake one of many instruments teachers of uniformity. As any Deerfield may use to further students’ student will tell you, there is a vast learning, the same as any other disparity in the extent to which materials used in class. Dr. Hills Canvas is used across Deerfield’s stated, “The Academy benefits classes. Like with all other from having teachers pursue their

passion of student education using the techniques that they feel comfortable with. That genuinely benefits us.” So why must all teachers use Canvas?

Dr. Hills described the current Canvas requirement as simply maintaining the precedent set several years ago by faculty vote.

“It wasn’t a unanimous vote, so this is why it’s complicated,” Dr. Hills explained. “But the school decided that every class should have a Canvas page, and there should be a syllabus and at least several weeks of assignments.”

However, this policy was influenced largely at the time by the outbreak of the avian flu; there was concern as to how faculty would continue to teach if students were not able to return to school after break. Teachers hoped that this standardized online system would alleviate some of this pressure.

We no longer have a need for such a policy.

The opinion of a large proportion of Deerfield’s faculty from years past should not make unilateral decisions for the faculty in the future.

There is a presumed tension here between the importance of maintaining consistency in teaching standards, and enabling teachers to shape their own classroom learning environments. But these two ideals don’t have to be in conflict; rather, they should go hand in hand. Allowing teachers to use technologies as they please would enable them to shape their classroom learning environments and teach more effectively. It would improve the students’ ability to learn from a wide range of methods and practice important organizational skills. Trust our teachers to tailor our learning, for this range of styles is what makes Deerfield special.

4 ⋅ Wednesday, February 28th, 2018

News

MLK Day: How To Move Forward Shreyas Sinha

Provided by Deerfield Academy

Staff Writer

The Deerfield Scroll

Deerfield Fights Hate Sarah Jane O’Connor News Editor

Continued from Front

Continued from Front

Abby Lupi ’18 added: “MLK’s message was always about equality, not just race. We could try expanding MLK workshops through a series that would span through the year, where certain days would focus on certain aspects.”

Olson suggested that there could be certain blocks on MLK day dedicated to workshops on just one type of issue, explaining, “You would have to choose workshops on certain aspects, maybe race or gender.”

Chris Thagard ’20 expressed that the school could focus on the life of Martin Luther King Jr. himself, stating, “I think the school did a good job of addressing some of the problems we have in our community and also in our daily lives, but I didn’t learn one thing about MLK. We never get to do that here.”

In addition to suggesting improvements for the MLK event, students also expressed opinions on this year’s keynote speaker, Jeff Hobbs, author of the New York Times bestseller The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace. Some appreciated Hobbs’ message, while others questioned whether his narrative was relevant to the occasion and Deerfield community.

Olson stated, “It would be more helpful if the keynote speaker had

Before this meeting, Curtis encouraged students: “Listen first to understand. Accept others’ truth.”

Emma Earls ’20 discussed her reaction to the meeting: “Deerfield’s done a lot of talking about change, but at last week’s meeting I think we all realized how drastic this display of hate was. I don’t think anyone realized that there was this kind of hate on the Deerfield campus, but I think we’ve all realized how crucial it is now to make a change.”

Helen Lipsky ’20 discussed the importance of change on campus, stating, “I think that a lot of students and faculty members on campus don’t really know what to do in response to incidents like these because we’re not supposed to see them on high school campuses.”

However, Lipsky confirmed that she still viewed this change as

Jeff Hobbs, author of The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace, speaks to Deerfield students at an MLK Day workshop about the role of empathy in storytelling. Hobbs also delivered the keynote address at Deerfield’s MLK Day School Meeting.

written something for his speech that was more analytical with a thesis; I walked out looking for a main takeaway that I could incorporate into my life, but I felt it was lacking that.”

Thagard agreed, “The keynote speaker was decent this year, but I felt like he did not say anything that was relevant [to us]. I liked the story he told, but it just felt more like a School Meeting speaker and not an MLK Day speaker.”

Donnie Sparks ’18, who had read Hobbs’ book and had a conversation with Mr. Hobbs during dinner, had a different take on the speaker: “[His book is] a guide for everybody. Robert Peace did everything for his community, and would push everyone around him to try new opportunities; even

if they didn’t make it, he put them on the right path.”

Sparks said the novel was very relevant to the theme of “The Beloved Community” and said it taught him to “be like Peace. He was giving everybody a chance, and learning that from him is a very valuable takeaway.”

Jo remarked, “Jeff Hobbs’ keynote speech might have been more valuable if more people had read the book.”

In short, while many enjoyed the MLK Day celebrations this year, students felt that moving forward, it would be important for Deerfield to ensure that the students feel connected to the themes and messages of both the workshops and the speaker events.

What Does It Mean to “Be Worthy”?

Joshua Fang

Associate Editor In a recent initiative dubbed “Be Worthy,” Dean of Students Kevin Kelly has been organizing a program to help upperclassmen build lasting connections with 9th graders. Mr. Kelly invited all upperclassmen to participate in December and currently has 165 juniors and seniors engaging in the program.

The program was prompted by a serious drug incident in the fall term that resulted in five students being dismissed from the Academy.

“It was potentially, for some kids, life-threatening,” Mr. Kelly recalled. “From that, there were three different groups of upperclassmen who were very concerned about the fallout. They wanted to know what we could do to make a difference throughout campus. To me, that was one of

Lucy Blake

the highest levels of leadership, … empowerment that came from the students.”

Mr. Kelly has allowed student leaders to lead the initiative, aiming to connect 9th graders with trusted older students who can advise them and guide them on a path away from drugs and alcohol.

“We are trying to foster strong relationships between freshmen and upperclassmen, using our own experiences at Deerfield to help guide [them],” stated Garrett Alexander ’19.

Hanna Deringer ’20, an underclassman, stated, “I hope to enforce smart decision making amongst my peers and to utilize the example set by upperclassmen role models in providing a safe and close community for everyone.”

In the program, upperclassmen who have volunteered to participate are paired with underclassmen at their sit-down meal tables. Now,

having talked with their pairings for several weeks, upperclassmen are planning to try to meet their newly made friends in a social setting.

“Having a relationship with older students is a crucial aspect of Deerfield life,” explained Luke Terry ’20, another underclassman participant within the program. “It really is essential for older students to help younger students out. …

They can really help you find your step and lead on the right path.”

So far, the program has produced positive results.

“It is great to … notice the will in these kids to build character that will lead them towards what is best,” said Christophe Cote ’18, a PG student leader.

Upperclassmen mentors in the program received green bracelets emblazoned with “Be Worthy” as a symbol of solidarity.

“I have been convinced that … there is an overwhelming number of students on this campus who want a drug and alcohol free campus,” Mr. Kelly elaborated. “When you see others on campus wearing the bracelet, you become aware that there are many community members, students and adults, who support the initiative.”

Mr. Kelly stated he will extend the current sit-down table rotation a week later than it would otherwise be to provide students with more time to connect. After this table rotation, sit-down meal seating will return to normal. The hope is that the newly-formed relationships will continue and blossom organically.

Student leader Chris Camelio ’18 summarized, “At the end of the day, if we can get through to even just one kid, and ultimately make them think twice about their actions on campus, then I believe our goal will have been achieved.”

a possible initiative: “When we do see these incidents, it’s important as a community to understand that anti-Semitism existed before the Holocaust, during the Holocaust, and continues today even after the Holocaust. The coupling of the swastika with the work ‘heil’ is generally a prominent attack on all groups that fell victim to the Nazi regime during World War II and it is a communal job to recognize that. So, the best way for Deerfield to move forward is to continue this recognition.”

Director of Counseling Dr. Joshua Relin spread positivity on the sidewalks around Denunzio on the morning of February 17th by providing sidewalk chalk and encouraging students and faculty families to draw positive messages.

This event, colloquially dubbed “Bringing Out the Colors,” brought together a range of Deerfield students and faculty, aiming to engender hope, rather than fear, throughout the Deerfield community.

Provided by Megan Relin To “bring out the colors” and spread positivity after the recent hate crime, Deerfield faculty, staff, and students colored the sidewalks outside Denunzio with sidewalk chalk on Saturday, February 17.

“Notice and Connect” Orlee Marini-Rapoport Associate Editor

Continued from Front to set the stage for a positive and helpful conversation, and then [they] practice starting those conversations using a few scenarios that we provide.”

Peer Counselor Nora Markey ’18 explained, “We want students to be equipped with the knowledge and resources they need to support someone struggling with mental health and or feelings of wanting to end their life, or be supported in the case that a student finds themselves in that situation.”

Peer Counselor Will McNamara ’18 reported that the training has been an “incredibly valuable experience for him.” He believes that “having the ability to connect with and identify people who are feeling excluded is a really important sign of a supportive community. … Listening can go an enormous way in making someone feel less alone.”

Many ninth-graders found the suicide prevention training beneficial. Chijioke Achebe ‘21 found it “very helpful,” adding that it “made sense that it was done by hall, as you spend more time with the people on your hall than anyone else.”

Ms. Insuik said, “This programming is important, and way overdue in a lot of ways. …

Being at Deerfield isn’t always easy, but I want to try to make it a little bit easier by relieving the huge amounts of stigma that surround mental health on campus.”

The long-term plan is to train all grades and the faculty in suicide prevention. Ms. Insuik said, “If logistics played no part,

we would train every member of our community right away!”

Beyond suicide prevention training, the counselors and Health Center are trying to bring awareness to other mental health issues on campus. Health Teacher and Peer Counseling Director Kristin Loftus believes that “the most significant mental health issue on campus is anxiety and depression that students attempt to mask.”

Dr. Relin believes that the most significant mental health issue on campus right now is stress, and noted, “There’s an important line between finding the motivation you need to push yourself to achieve, and crossing over into something that feels like it’s too much and makes life seem unbearable.”

The counselors emphasized that there are many ways to help a friend struggling with any mental health issue. Dr. Relin said, “If a student has a friend who is struggling, I’d encourage them to take the time to talk directly to that friend and tell them what they see and are concerned about.” He said that the Deerfield counselors “always strive to intervene in a way that feels comfortable to both the friend and the student of concern. And if talking to a counselor feels too intense, any faculty member on campus who you feel comfortable with is equipped to provide support.”

Ms. Loftus commented, “If friends are struggling, the only thing not to do is nothing. Tell them of your concern, tell them what you have noticed without pointing blame or judging, be a good listener and suggest seeing a counselor … or go to the counselor with them. Do not feel like you have to solve their problems for them.”

Buzz

March Horoscopes Annie Ilsley Staff Writer

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Ka

the 23rd signals a time for you to find balance within yourself.

You’re always the life of the party so getting in touch with a friend or family member, and trying to align the new with the old is usual for you.

Libra (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22): This is a great time for you

Aries (Mar. 21 - Apr. 19): Now is your time to use

your energetic nature to revisit your goals and once you get going this term, you’ll be ready for your hard work to pay off when the “Grades and comments are available on DAinfo” email comes out. The flame inside you never dies.

Taurus (Apr. 20 May 20): This is your month

to ditch that sense of comfort and routine you usually love. Try something new, and take risks in March. You only have one life!

Gemini (May 21June 20): In March, Mars

travels into the relationship area of your chart. Valentine’s Day has passed, but it’s never too late if the spark is there. There are still plenty of lonely winter nights ahead where company could be fun.

Cancer (June 21 July 22): Keep your eyes on

the prize this month, but savor the journey. Although spring term feels like years away, you’re close, and your caring nature will lead to closer friendships with unexpected people as the winter term ends.

Leo (Jul. 23 - Aug. 22): As Venus enters your 7th

house, surround yourself with positivity. Spend time with the people who matter most to you, and give support wherever it’s needed.

Virgo (Aug. 23 - Sept.

22): The Virgo full moon on

to simply think about you. Treat yourself with cinnabun rolls at the Koch or an iced chai at the Greer or the Koch this month. Having a little me-time is always beneficial for the aura you project!

Scorpio (Oct. 23 - Nov. 22): February is your time to let go of any baggage you may be carrying: that impossible test you just took, getting cut in the line at the Greer, etc. Remember what brings you happiness, and love life.

Senior Grass: A History Lilia Brooker Staff Writer

When did the long-standing Deerfield tradition of “senior grass” begin? While the tradition has been in place for decades, the exact origin is blurry. Math Teacher Sean Keller ’86 recalled that senior grass existed even before he arrived. He speculated that senior grass originated as a way of preserving the condition of the grass for graduation.

“Since graduation was often held in front of the [Main School Building], the seniors possessed some degree of motivation for keeping the grass in good shape.

While seniors could walk across the senior grass, my recollection is that few of them actually did,” Mr. Keller elaborated.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21): Per usual, you’re simply doing the most. Relax.

Practice a little self-love, or mindfulness if that’s your thing.

Capricorn (Dec. 22 Jan. 19): You are unstoppable this month, so trust yourself instead of letting your usual reserved way of getting things done take over.

Aquarius (Jan. 20 Feb. 18): As the term ends, it’s time to focus. This is your time to shine. Take time to appreciate you as the planet of love enters your sign this month…

Pisces (Feb. 19 - Mar. 20): Around the time of your

birthday, you’ll be feeling pretty good about life right now. Take your genius ideas, and make something with them. All great inventions start from an idea.

With the stars heading into a new alignment in a new month, we hope these horoscopes help guide you through your ups and downs. Let these words carry you and guide your decisions this month!

Wednesday, February 28th , 2018 ⋅ 5

Jeffrey So

English Teaching Fellow Anna Gonzales speculated, “Perhaps, the grass is kept in good condition because visiting families usually see the Main School Building first. Moreover, Deerfield is all about the privileges you ‘earn’ throughout your time here, and taking a shorter route to your classes is a privilege.”

Although the precise origins of senior grass remains a mystery, there have been many memorable

moments relating to the tradition.

One year, as a part of a prank, seniors placed sod over the center walkway leading to the front doors of the Main School Building, so technically only seniors could enter through the main entrance.

In another instance, the Class of 2012 secretly planted tulip bulbs in the fall, so that in the spring the colorful flowers bloomed to form “2012” across the lawn.

While many students view being able to walk on senior grass as a rite of passage, some members of the community question what school values the tradition promotes. Assistant Head of School for Student Life Amie Creagh has mixed feelings about the exclusivity surrounding the tradition: “As much as possible, I think all spaces on campus should be welcome to everybody. Having spoken with a lot of students, though, I know they look forward to the time when the senior grass is theirs exclusively.” She also shared her hope that seniors would react with kindness when they see a student walking unaware across the grass.

Speaking about the future of senior grass, she continued: “I don’t know that [the tradition] is likely to change. If it does, I think it would come from seniors who feel, as fun as this is, and as much as [they] have waited for these moments, they’d like to demonstrate their leadership by welcoming others to that space.”

In contrast, Katie Whalen ’18 believes that the senior grass is not particularly exclusive. One of her favorite Deerfield memories was during the “storming the grass” event for rising seniors.

She said: “Having the opportunity to walk across the senior grass is a celebration of making it this far in your Deerfield career. It’s fun that there is something new and exciting for each year at Deerfield.”

Similarly, Student Council President Amelia Evans ’18 commented, “The anticipation that was built up in the prior years made the reward of being a senior with special senior privileges that much greater.”

Valerie Ma

What are your favorite activities to do on Head of School Day?

“Going to the Brass Buckle ... Oh, wait. Can’t do that anymore.”

“Brunch at Sylvester’s, then sledding behind the barn.”

“Read a book by the fire (after not being woken up by my alarm).”

– Aminata Ka ’19

– Jada Howard ’19

– Suzy Mazur ’18

“Going to the diner and playing music on the jukebox.”

“I like sleeping in.”

– Claire Zhang ’18

– Soo-Min Lee ’18

“I like to walk down to the lowers and sit alone on the football bleachers for an hour or two and just look at the mountains.

I started doing that sophomore year before hockey games to clear my head but found that Head of School Day offers me multiple hours to appreciate the valley from down on the lowers.

I might come back next year for HOS day just to go back down there and enjoy some peaceful, tranquil reflection.

“Being in the game with the neighbors.”

- Andrew Peck ’18

– Justice Chukwuma ’18

Photos taken by Caroline Carpenter, Britney Cheung, Maya Hart, and Harbour Woodward

Claire Zhang

The Deerfield Scroll

Hi Margo, Rita, and Curtis, Recently, I’ve been struggling in my physics and geometry classes; I’m worried about receiving poor grades in these classes and for my exams. Please help!

Studying hard, desperate2021 -----------------------Dear desperate2021, We have all read the infamous words: “Grades are now available on DAinfo. Have a great break!”

In that moment, our innocent eyes are scarred. The dreaded pit-in-the-stomach forms. Palms sweat, throats dry, and legs shake.

Phones are thrown against the wall. As DAinfo lags and fails to load, the anticipation bubbles within the depths of our souls.

Perhaps, you take deep breaths as the page finally loads and suddenly, a short list of numbers manages to define you.

Sometimes, in my experience, those nine numbers — five course grades, three exam grades, and one, soul crushing overall average — feel like they represent all the sleepless nights, all the hours studying, and all the effort I spent over the course of the previous term. At times, those numbers also seem to define my character.

But, hear the good news of the gospel, my friends: YOUR. GRADES. DON’T. DEFINE. YOU. Hear it, live it, and love it.

Although at times this mantra is difficult to remember, it really is the truth.

Now don’t get me wrong, there are times that grades are not soul crushing. Sometimes, grades can warrant celebration (did someone say Martinelli’s sparkling cider??). In that case, be proud of your success and that your hard work translated into an ideal set of numerical values. Just remember that grades can cause massive amounts of anxiety for the people you love, so remain aware of how others perceive your actions.

For all you underclassman, whose parents perhaps haven’t caught on to the whole ~they can access our grades online~ thing, do yourself a favor and keep it that way. Highkey it’s been four years and my parents still barely know that I even get grades at this school. On the other hand, for those of you whose parents do check your grades, or for those of you who willingly share your grades with your parents, there is always that inevitable, “What happened?” conversation.

I advise staying away from the classic and incredibly transparent lines, like: but EVERYONE failed that test, or, my teacher is out to get me. Our parents have been through high school before, and believe it or not, they see right through our cop outs. Instead, offer an: I’m going to meet with my teacher after break to ask about ways I can improve my class participation and study habits, and then actually do that!

Not only will your parents been impressed by how proactive you are, but it will benefit you going into the next trimester.

Keep on keepin’ on, Hollin Hanau

6 ⋅ Wednesday, February 28th, 2018

Features

The Deerfield Scroll

Deerfield Family Visits North Korea Over Winter Break

Provided by Adrian Yao Arthur Yao ’20, Rachel Yao ’16, and Adrian Yao ’20 (left to right) visit the Unified Korea Gate

Nadia Jo

Associate Editor This winter break, Adrian and Arthur Yao ’20, along with their parents and sister Rachel Yao ’16, visited North Korea for four days.

Arthur said, “We were talking with our parents about where to go this winter break, and I said, ‘North Korea.’ I meant it first as a joke, and then I realized how

exotic and interesting it would be, as well as how much we would learn from it.”

Most South Koreans and Americans, and journalists from all countries are denied visits or are only approved under special circumstances. However, having Hong Kong passports, the Yaos did not face many difficulties acquiring a visa.

All tourists are required to be

Deerfield Voices Speaks Out

Ines Bu

Thomas Song

Associate Editor Deerfield Voices is a student group dedicated to encouraging productive dialogue about social issues affecting both Deerfield and the nation as a whole. The group was established in November 2017

by Kishor Bhardawaj ’19, Bailey Cheetham ’19, Erin DeMarco ’18, Jada Howard ’19, and Cam Taylor ’19.

The group’s mission statement reads, “Deerfield Voices is founded on the principles of the desire to provide a safe space to express students’ opinions, share voices of the community, spark open and honest dialogue, and obtain solutions regarding emphasis on the future development of the Deerfield community.”

Deerfield Voices was created in response to an open letter from a recent alumna to the community posted on Facebook last November about institutionalized racism at Deerfield.

Bailey Cheetham ’19 specified, “The post triggered a lot of emotions and thoughts, but most of the confrontations between students were happening over social media. We wanted to create a space that would be a healthy environment where we could talk face-to-face about the issues that [the post] raised.”

Jada Howard ’19 added that Deerfield Voices seeks to allow students to talk freely without the pressure of adults, stating, “We wanted for students to talk amongst themselves without the restrictions or looming shadow of adults controlling the conversation.”

Although the Facebook letter focused on institutionalized racism specifically, Deerfield Voices has since expanded to encourage students to speak out in response to any issue that they feel is worth sharing.

Howard explained, “We told people who came to our first

meeting in November to write down a few topics they wanted to talk about, and we realized that there were a lot of other important issues outside of institutionalized racism that students felt strongly about.”

Addressing the Deerfield community, Cheetham emphasized the importance of continually discussing the issues uncovered through Deerfield Voices. She further stated, “We need people to spread awareness to people they live and talk with, even if those people don’t necessarily attend the Deerfield Voices meetings.

Growing relationships and meeting people who you don’t initially gravitate to is essential in improving our community.”

Howard additionally pointed out how students must take full advantage of attending a school with such a diverse student body, specifying, “It’s already such a privilege to come to Deerfield. You may never get the opportunity to meet people from cultures as diverse as those of Deerfield students. You can only benefit from taking the risk.”

Taylor also spoke about the solution that Deerfield Voices strives toward. He clarified, “Instead of just talking about issues, we’re also really trying to make Deerfield Voices a platform that we as a community can use to start finding solutions to the on-campus problems that are negatively affecting students here.”

Reflecting on her own personal motivation and hope for the future with Deerfield Voices, Howard said, “The amount of support and gratitude we received from the community after the first meeting was overwhelming. The ultimate outcome was so much better than our expectations, and it really affirmed that I was doing something that our school continues to need.”

accompanied by North Korean guides. The family traveled with two tour guides who were fluent in English from studying the language at a North Korean university. They were “very interested” in the family’s lives, as they were foreigners, according to Adrian.

Adrian and Arthur mostly explored Pyongyang, the capital and largest city in North Korea.

Most destinations were tourist attractions and historical sites, such as Kim II-Sung Square, the Victorious War Museum, the Mausoleum for deceased leaders, Grand Monument on Mansu Hill, and Kim II-Sung’s birthplace.

At each place, the twins learned about the history of North Korea, relations with the U.S. and South Korea, as well as the portrayal of foreign countries through the media and propaganda.

The Yaos visited a middle and high school, an art studio, and used public transportation systems. Further, they went to

many recreational facilities, such as an ice skating rink, soccer stadium, bowling alley, and a zoo, where the family saw many locals.

Arthur shared, “I think the two main things that Western media report about North Korea are nuclear weapons and how poor they are, but looking around, [I realized that] awareness of nuclear weapons are not part of the people’s daily lives. They’re normal people.”

The effect of North Korea’s famed totalitarian government on its citizens was also clear; officials were very strict with enforcing rules of respect for images or symbols of their leaders or flags.

“The citizens are proud of their country. They usually wear pins of one of the two deceased leaders,” Arthur observed.

Adrian also described that North Korean society is “quiet and conservative compared to America.” Commenting on a cultural nuance he observed, Adrian further remarked, “My

tour guide [said with a smile] that it is a requirement for men to be the breadwinners and women should tend the house.”

The twins’ favorite site visited included the Demilitarized Zone, which serves as a border between North and South Korea. Standing on a tower, they were able to see both countries at the same time.

Adrian and Arthur agreed that the trip was “definitely an enriching experience.” Adrian added that the trip “gives you more credibility [when talking about North Korea] because you’re speaking from a firsthand perspective.”

The twins had contrasting opinions on whether or not they want to return. While Arthur expressed he would like the trip to remain a one-time experience, Adrian stated, “This trip really reopened my mind and showed me that there is a lot to learn. [I would like to come] back, but not as a tourist, so I can truly dive into the quirks of this nation.”

Prince Fox Performs Live at DA Sarah Jung Staff Writer

The tightly-packed crowd jumped up and down with the Lost Kings last February, dancing along to smooth vocals, airy drum hits, and a blaring house bassline.

Deerfield came alive for the massive concert, and the beat still rang in students’ ears coming out of the Dining Hall that night. This year’s concert enjoyed similar success. On February 10, Deerfield brought to campus Prince Fox, a DJ from Manhattan. He gained fame soon after remixing songs for 3LAU, Cazzette, and SNBRN. Notably, he has collaborated with Hailee Steinfeld for his song “Fragile,” and Bella Thorne for “Just Call.”

Claire Koeppel ’18, an officer of the Student Planning Committee, spearheaded the effort to bring Prince Fox to Deerfield, as she did with Lost Kings last year. “I knew of Prince Fox since I’ve been following his SoundCloud and listening to his music for a while now,” she said. “I think he has a lot of potential to rise in the music industry.”

Working with the same entertainment manager as last

year to bring Prince Fox, Koeppel mentioned that the agency actually asked her to do the concert again due to a largely positive feedback from Lost Kings. “The agency gave us two lists of people. One list included artists like Fetty Wap and the Chainsmokers, and the other included lesser-known artists like Prince Fox.” The school ultimately chose to vet artists from the latter list to maintain a budget of around $20,000.

While Koeppel influenced much of the planning and decisionmaking, Student Activities Coordinator Brian Barbato helped to test out the music and contact the manager.

“Lost Kings was the most wellattended event our school has ever had, so we’re excited to continue this every year,” said Mr. Barbato.

“Looking forward, we’re open to expanding the variety of talent.

We’d like to open the selection process up to a vote, even.”

One concern Mr. Barbato shared was that switching to different genres might make keeping the language clean more challenging.

Not only did Prince Fox deliver a stand-out performance, but Head of School Day was also

announced in a video from Head of School Margarita Curtis and the Student Life Office at the concert.

Students reacted overwhelmingly positively, feeling they needed some respite from school.

Sydney Gregg ’20 said, “Lost Kings last year was really fun but once we settled in to Prince Fox, I had a great time as well. I could do that all night.”

Nikita Pelletier ’20 said, “In the future, I’d be open to something more alternative.”

Hollin Hanau ’18 added, “I may or may not have a crush on Prince Fox now.”

Provided by Hollin Hanau Prince Fox gets the crowd excited at his performance at Deerfield Academy.

Fourth Annual TEDxDeerfield

Provided by Deerfield Academy Kiana Rawji ’18 gives a talk entiteld “Islam Through Many Lenses: A Multi-Story Mindset.”

Inthat Boonpongmanee Staff Writer

Deerfield Academy hosted its fourth annual TEDx event, TEDxDeerfield, on Saturday, February 17. This year, the event was expanded to have twelve speakers: seven students, one faculty member, two alumni and two adults from the local Deerfield community.

The theme for the event was re:define. Topics included the applications of blockchain technology, the intersection of art and science, and the importance of

actively engaging misinformation.

“Terrifying, moving, and exhilarating all at once,” Marco Marsans ’18 responded, when asked to describe the experience.

“A truly empowering experience — one of my best decisions.”

Anna Mishchenko ’19, another student speaker, stated that she applied seeking to gain “insight into fresh realms.” She added, “TEDx catapulted me into nuance and innovation, allowing me to reconsider my presumptions and glimpse into new possibilities within art and science.”

TEDx events are local, independently organized gatherings that resemble the two vastly popular TED conferences that are held each year.

TEDxDeerfield is an event run by a student committee, with guidance from several faculty organizers. This year, the Executive Committee consisted of Kishor Bharadwaj ’19, Joshua Fang ’19, Nadia Jo ’19, Farris Jane Marsh ’19, and Neil Nie ’19. Many other students also volunteered to

help on event day. In total, almost 300 people streamed in and out of the event throughout the course of the evening. The event was also live-streamed online.

Marsh discovered TEDx herself last year, when she attended the event because it was required for a class. However, explaining her shift in perspective, she said, “[I] thought it was really unique that students could share something that they couldn’t write about in their history or English papers.”

Planning for the TEDx event is a year-round process.

Applications open in the fall; after the committee selects speakers, they select a broad theme to loosely unite all of the talks and help guide and shape them as they develop.

“As great as this year was, we’re already looking forward to next year,” Fang surmised. “We’re excited to come back next year and make the event even bigger and better.” Applications for next year’s TEDxDeerfield event will open on November 1, 2018.

Wednesday, February 28th, 2017 ⋅ 7

The Deerfield Scroll

Arts and Entertainment Von Auersperg Welcomes Forgotten Girls

Provided by Mrs. Mercedes Taylor Student tour guides at the Von Auersperg Art Gallery write poetry inspired by the Forgotten Girls collection by Mr. Imo Nse Imeh.

Adeliza Grace Staff Writer

The Von Auersperg Art Gallery is home to a new, cutting-edge exhibit by Nigerian-American artist, Imo Nse Imeh. Forgotten Girls: Black Heroines on the Edge of Darkness and Hope stems from Nora Case’s 1907 children’s book and nursery rhyme about ten African American girls. Mr.

Imeh’s exhibit features pieces reflecting ten “forgotten” girls, with each piece aiming to explore the unique story of a girl who has been quieted and neglected by society. Imeh chose to use pencil, charcoal, and India ink for his pieces in order to represent peril. The majority of the exhibit is composed of black and white series of the ten girls; however, he also includes color pieces from

Artist of the Issue: Osceola Heard ’18 Amelia Chen Staff Writer

“I had to make a choice in the fifth grade to not dance or dance, ” recalled Osceola Heard ’18. “And I couldn’t not dance.”

For Heard, dance has always been a constant. At three years old, he was already dancing West African and jazz, and started training professionally at age eleven.

In addition to training in dance, Heard began choreographing as a young child, making up dances in front of a mirror in his living room as his parents were preparing dinner. “Dinner and a show, that’s like our thing,” Heard described.

At Deerfield, he has been a member of the Advanced Dance Ensemble since 9th grade and has been featured in showcases as both a performer and a choreographer.

“He’s as strong a choreographer as he is a dancer and that’s remarkable,” described Dance Program Director Jennifer Whitcomb. She recalled touring him as a prospective student, They were walking through the Greer, past the senior boys table, when Heard — fourteen and 6’2” — executed a saut de chat leap.

“He’s brave,” summed up Ms. Whitcomb.

Heard’s choreography finds its beginnings in the music itself. “I pick a song that speaks to me, that I can see going somewhere, and I kind of just dance around until I find something I like,” said Heard.

He usually tries to come up with motifs and themes that express the storyline he is working towards.

“Choreography has the power to impact someone emotionally…

They can see what’s going on, they can feel it too… I figure that if I can create those movements, get someone there, then why wouldn’t I use that.”

Although Heard doesn’t classify himself as a hip hop dancer, he choreographed a piece in the style for the 2018 Student Choreography Showcase. Heard enjoys challenging himself. In that same showcase he also worked with two other dancers, Amelia Evans ’18 and Emmerson Stephens ’18, on a piece that, in the process, was completely scrapped three times before it was put onstage.

Communication, Heard

understands, is key. “It’s important to be honest during rehearsals because if you don’t like it, the audience is going to sense that you don’t like it.”

According to Evans, “Working with [Heard] is easy and effective.

He really listens to what other people have to say while still contributing what his thoughts are. He really does everything he can to push himself, and everybody around him, to be the best that they can be.”

Stephens, who has also danced in many of Heard’s pieces, agreed.

“It’s challenging but rewarding,” she said, adding that Heard is his own artist and has a unique way of doing things, which allows his dancers to learn new movements

Provided by Deerfield Academy Flickr Osceola Heard ‘18 performs with the Advanced Dance Ensemble for MLK Day.

and expand their own repertoire.

Despite his playful personality, Stephens explained, Heard knows when to be serious, and has a knack for getting right down to business during rehearsals.

“There’s so much you could say to describe him, but at the same time it doesn’t do justice. …

You know you’re just never going to find someone that’s like him.”

Stephens expressed. “He’s Ossie.”

Heard cannot imagine his life without dance. In college, he will pursue a minor in dance, as a major in dance is too restrictive for the choreographic freedom Heard enjoys. Although he wants to be a cardiothoracic surgeon, he will definitely also be working in the studio, dancing and choreographing as a creative outlet.

a series still under development.

The exhibit being shown is the Chibok kidnapping series, based upon the 2014 abduction of 276 Nigerian schoolgirls from the Nigerian village known as Chibok.

In some of his pieces, Mr. Imeh includes musical notes derived from “coon songs,” which hold derogatory messages regarding African Americans. The artist’s goal in incorporating these drawn lyrics, either on the bodies of the girls or in the background, is to stand up against negative stereotypes and demonstrate the importance of these young Nigerian girls despite the color of their skin. The universal message of his series is that it “shows the amazing beauty and resilience that these and so many other young women around the world demonstrate in times of great pain and challenge” (according to a plaque in gallery).

Mr. Imeh is a NigerianAmerican artist and a professor at Westfield University in Massachusetts. His work reflects

his perception of our culture at large, as well his personal struggle, as he explores language, history and the appalling realities of race in America. Mr. Imeh is a multimedium artist; he has not only created visual art but also written a book about the ideals of feminine power. He notes that the process of creating a piece is just as important to him as the finished work of art itself due to the revelations he has while working and revising.

On Sunday, January 28, the tour guides for this exhibit came together for their initial training. Tour guides are there to be facilitators of conversation.

In preparation for touring, they created poems describing each piece. Visual and Performing Arts Teacher Mercedes Taylor explained the purpose of this exercise: “The poems were meant to allow them to work in unison to connect directly to the image and the labels given by the artist. When the artist gives you something, you bring your own perspective, and you make it happen.”

Henry Pan ’19, a leader of tour guides for the “Forgotten Girls” exhibit, also spoke about the experience of being a tour guide. When asked what he hoped people would get out of his tours, Pan noted, “The ‘Forgotten Girls’ exhibit is at its core a thoughtprovoking series. I hope that through the confronting imageries people can have conversations about the issues at large, and ultimately become more aware of these issues intuitively.”

Mr. Imeh has created an artistic series that helps give a voice to the unheard, allowing them to finally be recognized as the individuals that they are. He acknowledges that, while this series focuses specifically on Nigerian girls, the issues they face are universal.

“Forgotten Girls: Black Heroines on the Edge of Darkness and Hope” is an exhibit which calls into question society’s treatment of the minority and honors girls who have been disregarded. The exhibit will be open until March 2.

Step Team Livens Up Halftime

Britney Cheung

Yingtong Guo

Associate Editor The Deerfield step team performs during halftime of every varsity basketball home game, rekindling a passion for victory in our athletes and eliciting waves of cheers from the audience. There is extensive behind-the-scenes preparation that goes into each halftime in order to ensure their optimal performance at each game.

Like the players they cheer for, Deerfield’s twelve steppers are hard workers, training Monday through Saturday for at least one hour every day. During practice, captain Niyafa Boucher ’18 demonstrates the steps created by previous teams to the others members, who take up to three days to learn and perfect the steps.

Before the end of the year, the current team will develop their own routine, which will then be passed on to the next step generation and so on. Not merely “cheerleading in big boots,” step offers its members with an opportunity to bond with each other while striving toward a common goal: defeating the opponent through their display of enthusiasm.

As Abby Lupi ’18 explained, “For one, our yelling and stomping become a performance, and our frustrations, a brilliant show of Deerfield spirit. The team is a family who sweats together, steps together, laughs together, and cries together. And we know how to bring it.”

Xochitl Paez ’20 added on, saying, “Stepping is really difficult.

It’s really the team that gets you through it.” She praised the team

environment and positivity, saying, “It is always so relieving when we can finish a half time show and just scream and celebrate our successes and laugh off our failures.”

Spectators have a chance to enjoy the artistic side of athletics through step, whose carefully coordinated movements and cheers bring an aesthetic order to the sport hall.

According to Amelia Chen ’18, a spectator at a basketball game last month, “You can tell they [the steppers] put in a lot of practice in order to pull off their routines.”

Over the years, the step team has powered basketball players through their 48 minutes of competition with consistency, and the basketball team deeply appreciates the step team’s efforts.

As Colman Shea ’18, one of three varsity basketball captains, revealed, “[The step team] keeps the adrenaline up, and the gym echoes. ‘Pump it up, say what say what’ gets me going, personally.”

This high adrenaline, particularly at tense moments, can make the difference between a win and a loss in case In the words of Sam Powell ’18, another varsity basketball cocaptain, “When the score is within 10 points, we know it is the step team that will get us over the finish line.”

Big Love Explores Timeless Issues

Hunter Keller From February 20 to 24, the Deerfield Theater Program presented the play Big Love, directed by Theater Teacher Adaire Robinson. Big Love, based on Aeschylus’s The Suppliants, tells the story of fifty brides who flee to Italy in order to avoid marrying their fifty cousins. Though millenia have passed after Aeschylus’s work was first presented, Ms. Robinson recognized that society is still “struggling with the same issues ... [and is] still trying to answer the same questions.” The play boasted a full house each showing and received praise from the audience.

The Deerfield Scroll

Sports

DA Squash Enjoys Winter Success

Provided by Jeff Brown

Soo-Min Lee Staff Writer

The Deerfield Academy squash program has gained an impressive reputation in the squash realm.

Boasting the gorgeous Dewey Squash courts, Deerfield Academy has become notorious for its rigorous squash programs. This year, the Deerfield boys and girls varsity squash teams began their seasons with a bang, playing with grit against various teams in the league.

The boys team consists of captains Chaitanya Shah ’19 and Teddy Durfee ’19; returners Jason Liu ’19 and Max Geraci ’19; and newcomers Charles Braff ’21, Merritt Wurts ’21, Robert Sawyers ’21, and Mason Horton ’19. The boys have had a successful season, beating tough teams such as Tabor Academy, Phillips Exeter Academy, and Choate Rosemary Hall.

This year, while competing in the National Squash Championships, the boys were initially placed in Division II. However, upon petitioning and re-evaluation, the boys were then moved up to Division I. Along with the hectic petitioning and division change, Shah, the number one seed on the team, suffered a concussion weeks before the tournament; he was forced to sit out and rest in order to recover for the tournament.

Despite the injuries and division changes, the boys team emerged victorious, placing 12th in the tournament. With a few more teams left to play, the team currently holds an 10 - 5 record and hopes to finish their season with more wins.

Shah said, “Our season had

Staff Writer

For many, sports are a large part of the Deerfield experience.

From Choate Day to locker room huddles to shouting “aga-chi” in the stands, everyone can feel the spirit that surrounds Deerfield athletics. We asked seniors to reflect on their experiences playing their winter sport.

Colman Shea ’18: Varsity Boys Basketball What has been your favorite moment from your Deerfield Career?

“My favorite moment from my Deerfield career is when my basketball team beat Choate my sophomore year. Although I only played for a couple of minutes, watching my team secure the most important win after a difficult season was awesome. There was a special group on the court, and there was a special group in the bleachers cheering us on in 2016, the group that ‘brought it back.’ I wouldn’t change a thing about that season because all of the adversity was worth it when we became a brotherhood and beat Choate.”

Provided by Jeff Brown

Staff Writer

The girls and boys varsity squash teams pose for their team pictures this winter.

its ups and downs, but I think everyone works hard and buys in, which definitely helped us at Nationals. I’m confident this will carry over to New Englands, and hopefully we will place within the top five schools.”

Along with the boys team, the varsity girls squash team began their season with the proud title of New England Champions on their shoulders.

After graduating five senior members of the team, the returners Emily Henderson ’19, Sasha Hinckley ’19, and SooMin Lee ’19, along with captains Ashley Manning ’19 and Harbour Woodward ’19, welcomed Isabella Rolfe ’21 and Griffin Dewey ’20 to the team. Following the team motto of “be the player in front” the girls trained hard to open with an undefeated season. Unfortunately, the girls lost to Andover with a close score of 3-4, which closed their undefeated season. However, the team continues to boast the best record of winter teams at Deerfield, winning 85% of their matches.

After the Andover match, the girls competed in the National

Squash Championship the following weekend.

Despite injuries and illnesses, the girls fought hard and placed 8th in the tournament.

Captain Ashley Manning said, “I think that the girls squash team has had a great season. I know we didn’t perform as well as we had hoped at nationals, but I was still beyond proud with how everyone played. Going forward, I am so excited for our last few matches and I know that we will crush it at New Englands!” With this sentiment, the girls varsity squash team hopes to bounce back and reclaim their title as New England Champions.

As their seasons come to an end, both the girls and boys varsity squash teams will play in the New England High School Championships. Both teams are placed in Division A; the boys will compete at Choate Rosemary Hall and the girls at Phillips Exeter Academy. With a few matches left before New Englands, the teams are working towards playing hard and finishing their seasons strong.

Provided by Maggie Tydings

Provided by Deerfield Bulletin

Provided by Jeff Brown

Colman Shea ’18, Bailey Smith ’18, Henry Hayden ’18, and Brenna Hoar ’18 playing their respective varsity sports this winter.

Annie Kane

Athlete of the Issue: Megan Graves ’18

Philip Weymouth

The Deerfield Players Tribune

Provided by Jeff Brown

Wednesday, February 28th, 2018 ⋅ 8

Bailey Smith ’18: Varsity Girls Swimming and Diving How has your sport affected you and your high school experience?

“Swimming at Deerfield has given me a family. It was not the sport that changed my life in high school, but the people I came into contact with over the years.

The groups of girls I’ve had the honor and opportunity to be a part of since my freshman year have always been my support system. Also, swimming may be an individual sport from an observer, but we are a true team and we depend on each just as much as any other sport. The Deerfield girls varsity swim and dive team made me a better person, leader, and friend. Without this sport, I would never have this team, and without this team, Deerfield would not be as special for me as it was for the past four years.”

Henry Hayden ’18: Varsity Wrestling What has been your favorite moment from your Deerfield Career?

“My favorite moment of my wrestling career was winning my first Class A Championship title.

Having not been a serious wrestler for my first two years at Deerfield, it meant a lot to see my hard work pay off. Most importantly, however, it was really special to have a team that believed in me, and with whom I could share my success.”

Brenna Hoar ’18: Varsity Girls Hockey How has being a senior on a varsity team impacted your Deerfield Athletic experience?

“Being a senior is hanging on to every little moment with the team, the best of times and the worst of times, I wouldn’t change any of it. Playing sports pushed me to work harder in the classroom, knowing that if I didn’t I wouldn’t be allowed to play and I’d lose the highlight of all my days – practicing, competing, winning with the team. I have two favorite games of my entire Deerfield career. First, hockey season junior year beating Williston 3-0 during the last game in the barn.

Second, soccer season senior year beating Choate with fans lining the sidelines. Both games, we were the underdog by a ton, but we worked harder and had way more heart.”

Even from an early age, Megan Graves ’18 dominated the court.

She first learned about and playing basketball through recreational leagues, starting in the first grade.

However, Megan didn’t always know that basketball was her destiny. She describes “playing a lot of sports growing up,” and it just so happened that “soccer and basketball were just kinda the two that stuck.” Megan also attributes much of her passion for the game to her mother, who played in high school, and certainly influenced her decision to try out the sport.

As she grew up and continued playing, Graves explained that height often became a challenge that she needed to overcome, but this struggle only seemed to motivate her development.

It allowed her to focus on other aspects of her game, such as the mental facet. She details how appreciative she was to have “a lot of really good coaches who have built up my confidence in the sport,” and has come to learn how to be “able to accept that I can’t control everything on the court.”

When it soon came time to play basketball at Deerfield, Graves was certainly no stranger to the atmosphere she would playing in.

As a kid, she remembers watching the girls varsity basketball games, and “wanting to emulate some of those players.” Megan sees herself as “more of a defensive player,” but has enjoyed being challenged

Megan Graves ’18 driving to the basket off a fast break during a home game.

to add more offense to her game.

Coach Caroline Stedman remarked that “her impact on our team has grown to become so invaluable. She is the type of athlete who does not take one single play off – in both practice and games.”

She also added that Graves is “one of the most coachable players with whom I have had the opportunity to work because of her work ethic and leadership skills.”

As a captain in both her senior and junior year, her goal has been to “lead by example,” and her teammates certainly recognize and appreciate this about her. Emma Reavis ’19 noted that “Megan is an amazing leader. She always tries to push every player to be the best they can be.”

In looking towards the future, Graves stated “I would like to play in college,” but she isn’t “ready to let go of this part of my life.”

In the meantime, all eyes will be on Megan and the girls varsity basketball team, as they finish out the last few games of their season.

Bluestein Breaks Exeter Pool Diving Record Maggie Tydings

for her teammates, who have been there for her since her Spring Visit Day. Bluestein also acknowledged Sydney Bluestein ’21 and the fellow diver Monet Meyer ’19 as rest of the diving team traveled someone who has “been a really to Phillips Exeter Academy on great role model for [her] since January 13 with the same goal: to revisit day,” and helped her adjust win. But Bluestein had more than to the team. just winning on her mind, since Before Deerfield, Bluestein January 13 also marked her late found success on the national father’s birthday. She was diving level, placing top 8 in her region, for him, and that was evident after qualifying her for nationals. just her first dive.

Training at this higher level Bluestein said, “Up until Exeter, includes more conditioning I really hadn’t found confidence and longer practices than she in myself. I was focusing on the experiences at Deerfield, but things I wouldn’t do right, but at Bluestein said that Exeter, I took it one Provided by Maggie Tydings during practice, “we dive at a time and make the most out of found strength in the time we have”. myself.”

This year the Bluestein ended up diving team had many obliterating the longnew additions to the standing Exeter pool team, including many record. The former students who had never Exeter pool record was dove before. Bluestein held by Deerfield diver has loved working with Danielle DeNunzio the first-year divers, since 2012. Bluestein and they reciprocate. scored a full 10.3 Morgan Clough ’20 points higher, finishing said, “Bluestein is such with a 293.25. The six a dedicated diver and dives she performed were a forward 1½ Sydney Bluestein ’21 makes a she always strives to be the best she can be.” somersault, a forward splash at a home meet.

Bluestein has noted that since 2½ somersault, an inward 1½ the Exeter meet, she has “never somersault, a reverse dive, a back been this calm while competing, 1 ½ somersault, and a back 1 and it has been allowing [her] somersault with 1½ twists. to dive in a way [she] never has Breaking records during dual before.” This has proven to be true meets is no small feat for a ninth in her undefeated record in meets grader, but it is not unheard of for since Exeter. members of Deerfield’s swim and Coach Jason Cook described dive team. Bluestein’s Green Key, Bluestein as “very positive and Nikita Pelletier ’20, broke two [bringing] a lot to the table.” school records last year, including Looking ahead to New Englands, one that was held for over 20 Mr. Cook said, “Every one of our years. Bluestein commented, girls, including Bluestein, has “[Pelletier] has been the best a chance to go top five at New possible role model for me.”

Englands.”

Bluestein also expressed gratitude

Staff Writer