Vol. LXXXV, No. 8
DEERFIELD ACADEMY, DEERFIELD, MA 01342
A Farewell to Arms:
March 2, 2011
Courtesy of Marc Dancer
Day Student Lounge Lost in Renovation Plans By SARAH WOOLF and NOLAN BISHOP Editorial Associate, Staff Writer The Arms building will undergo renovation in the coming months to make use of the space left vacant when the student mailroom was moved last summer to the new Greer Store complex. Though the exact specifications are still undecided, the space will be devoted to the English department. New classrooms will be added, and there may also be a reading lounge or a screening room. The renovation will also edge out the day student lounge. “For past few years we have worked to bring the department under one roof,” said department chair Mark Ott. “I’m very excited that the board is willing to fund this project.” “[The English teachers] want to use the space effectively and creatively,” said English teacher Mark Scandling. “We have to figure out how to assure that the quality of the area will be similar to that of the upstairs classrooms despite their being in a basement.” English teacher Michael Schloat also desires careful plan-
ning in this enterprise. “We have a chance to create a new pattern of traffic in the English department,” he said. “I’d rather have a shared space—a reading room, a screening room, maybe even a performance area—and a few large classrooms than a greater number of smaller classrooms.” Students (both day and boarding) and teachers were concerned by the removal of the DSL. “I hope that, in all things, day students continue to receive ample consideration as stakeholders in any decision affecting the student body,” said Mr. Schloat. “The DSL is a place for us to hang out, do work,” said Thomas Shuman ’13. “It is also more private than the Memorial Building lobby, which makes it a refuge from the rest of the school comparable to a dorm.” However, thanks to the persistence of Shuman and other students, there are plans for a new DSL in the basement of the Kendall Classroom Building. As always, there is a budget to work around. “We have to think about the possibilities but also live within the practicalities,” said Mr. Scandling.
• Proposal approval pending on changes to DA to Z, the DC system, and the parietals policy. • Plans are under consideration to institute a required Honor Code class for sophomores. Weekly discussions would consist of issues on students’ minds and anything else the class instructor deems relevant.
The medal winners celebrate the boys’ and girls’ varsity ski teams’ victory at the New England championships at Pat’s Peak in New Hampshire on Wednesday, February 16.
Te a c h e r s Te s t Tu r n i t i n By HENRY LEWIS Staff Writer
In response to a string of eight academic disciplinary infractions in the 2009-2010 academic year, Deerfield is instituting a trial period to test the online software program, Turnitin. Turnitin.com is a program owned by iParadigms, LLC. Institutions, built to catch plagiarism by comparing assignments to various databases: all published material available on the Internet, books and periodicals, or previously submitted essays. The software detects and highlights any parallel phrasing. Teachers then use their own judgment to decide whether this overlap constitutes plagiarism. From now until the end of the year, ten teachers in the English and history departments are testing the program in the classroom and evaluating its effectiveness. If reports from these teachers
are positive, the program will be widely used next year. Academic Dean Peter Warsaw, one of the primary proponents of the program, emphasized that Turnitin would be used as a teaching tool to raise awareness, rather than as merely a way to catch cases of plagiarism after submission. “By using the program as a step in the writing process, students will learn how to avoid unintentional plagiarism,” said Mr. Warsaw. Teachers who have taken part in this pilot program, such as history teacher Julia RivellinoLyons, have been positive about Turnitin. “It’s been a reminder that I need to clearly define plagiarism for students,” she said. In the event that a teacher finds material suspicious, “[Turnitin] is a really fast way to find academic dishonesty.” However, English teacher Joel Thomas-Adams feels that using
the program illustrates a trend towards being too technology dependent. “I don’t want to see yet another of our important human relationships mediated by computers,” he said. He also believes that matters of trust should be kept within the school. “Turnitin externalizes the policing of a relationship that should be one of trust and communication within,” he said. According to Mr. Warsaw, the program was chosen over other anti-plagiarism programs because of its reputation for excellence; it is used extensively by our sister schools, and all essays within the IB (international baccalaureate) system must be submitted through Turnitin. By bringing Turnitin to Deerfield, the Academy hopes to impress upon students that it takes the issue of plagiarism seriously. As Mr. Warsaw pointed out, “Our academic reputation is one of our most valued assets.”
STUDENTS INTERVIEW POTENTIAL FACULTY MEMBERS
’11, who has taken part in three interviews so far. “I am glad that the administration is interested in and trusts our judgment and Council and SPC members opinions on how the candidates By SARAH WOOLF and have been the interviewers be- relate to people our age.” CHARLES JONES cause “their peers have choMr. Taylor also believes that Editorial Associate, Staff Writer sen them as representatives, so this experience will benefit stuit seemed most logical to have dent interviewers in the future. Members of Student Council Student Council members rep“I think there is an important and the Student Programs Com- resent Deerfield and its students educational piece here. They are mittee have been busy interview- to these faculty candidates,” said learning something that is appliing potential faculty members Student Body President Charles cable in real life and developing for the past few weeks in a pilot Giannini ’11. critical skills that can be used in program that intends to heighten “Students can’t really deal the professional world long after student involvement with the with the candidates’ athletic or Deerfield.” faculty selection process. academic qualifications, but we “Considering the impact new Dean of Faculty John Taylor can tackle the more social as- faculty members have when they is enthusiastic about the initiative. pect,” said Giannini. “We are try- arrive on campus, I’d say this “I think the students will give ing to provide Mr. Taylor with a interviewing is one of the most me a very valuable perspective,” full view of how the interviewee valuable jobs we can perform he said. “Also, the candidates would add to student life and cul- as representatives,” said Student enjoy meeting the kids, getting ture.” Council Chair Ellie Parker ’11. a sense of what the students are “The questions are mainly “I am grateful to be entrusted like.” student-oriented,” said Jen Chu with it.”
Ben Bolotin Former Headmaster Eric Widmer speaks about King’s Academy at school meeting on Tuesday, February 22.
p. 4
p. 5
p. 6
What do you dream about?
An exclusive look at the faculty band
Deerfield Diving Team