The Deerfield Scroll: December 16, 2009

VOL. LXXXIV, N O .7

D EERFIELD A CADEMY , D EERFIELD , MA 01342

December 16, 2009

Religious Contr oversy Sur r ounds Annual School Tradition

By SARAH WOOLF Staff Writer Confusion surrounded the details regarding Deerfield’s Vespers Service. Although originally a required event for all students, it was quickly changed to an optional one.

Vespers, planned for December 13 this year, is an annual event held at the First Church of Deerfield for the DA community. It features both religious and non-denominational musical performances and readings of poetry and prose. The seasonal service has been present at Deerfield for years. Dean of Spiritual and Ethical Life Jan Flaska organized this year’s event. This was the first year that a dean required attendance.

According to Mr. Flaska, feedback from certain members of the community who attended the service last year was overwhelmingly positive. Many of them felt it was a shame attendance was not greater. In making the event mandatory, Mr. Flaska hoped to provide a time when all students could breathe, be still, and reflect together. “I don’t think we meet enough as a school. There is value in sitting with a community in silence.”

The First Church felt, to Mr. Flaska, to be a more appropriate, and certainly a more intimate and beautiful location than the Large Auditorium. The service is not meant to be specific to any religion, but rather includes readings and music from as many religions as possible. “I wanted a moment for everybody,” said Mr. Flaska.

Readings included a Chinese poem by Li Bai and a passage from the Old Testament. Head of School Margarita Curtis read the poem, “O Day of Peace” by Carl P. Daw, Jr.

“Music and inspirational readings enhance our sense of community,” said Ms. Curtis.

“They provide an opportunity to reflect on the meaning of our work and lives. I always encourage any event that invites us to share our thoughts and aspirations with one another.”

The term “vespers” often refers to a Christian evening service. These religious overtones, along with the event being mandatory, made many members of the community uncomfortable.

There was a greater response against the service being required this year than Mr. Flaska expected. Most of the responses were from faculty, he said. Among students, there was an overriding sense of confusion. “I thought it was odd that they were requiring something that seemed so religious,” said Isabel Kent ’12.

Mr. Flaska understands people’s reactions to the combination of location, name, and required attendance. “In hindsight, I can see how that could put them in an uncomfortable position.”

“Deerfield Academy is a secular school and it is important that it remains so.”

– Joel Thomas-Adams Even after the decision to make Vespers attendance optional, not everyone felt satisfied.

“Deerfield Academy is a secular school and it is important that it remains so,” said English teacher Joel Thomas-Adams.

“No matter how hard we try to give the semblance of accepting all denominations, it is impossible to ignore the Presbyterian-Christian structure,” he said.

Are They Greener on the Other Side?

Part 2: The Northfield

Mount Hermon School

By FREDDY ROCKWOOD Staff Writer

Shaye Horn Kayla Corcoran ’10 and Steph Olivas ’10 celebrate the season’s first snowfall in festive apparel.

Mr. Thomas-Adams believes that the school should remove any explicit religious practice from its traditions, such as holding Baccalaureate at the First Church and saying prayers at various school events.

Although he thinks it is important to study different religions, he feels that involving them within our community’s traditions “shows a lack of imagination.” He believes we should take traditions and reform them to fit the modern community to which we all belong.

The location of the service does not bother French teacher

Claudia Lyons. “I wouldn’t care if it were in a mosque or a synagogue, as long as we can appreciate the atmosphere of the season.”

“Part of me is always concerned that we forget that students here may have had a religious upbringing,” she said. She feels that at Deerfield, expressions of body, art, and mind are encouraged, and we should therefore encourage the expression of the soul and inner essences as well.

“We must remember to celebrate peoples’ spiritual lives,” said Ms. Lyons.

Sierra Dickey ’11, a student Eco-leader at Northfield Mount Hermon, spends more than four hours a week planning projects to both raise awareness and improve sustainability on campus. One day this past month, she made a presentation to the school with fellow Eco-Leaders about heating systems. With pictures and statistics, they walked students “step by step through the heating system.” Later that afternoon, she met with NMH’s communications department to discuss the publication of a “sustainability journal.”

All Eco-Leaders at NMH show this same commitment to environmental programs at their school within a single day. Each is required to spend at least four hours of “eco-work” a week to plan and work on projects. One of these leaders’ recent undertakings involved retrieving from recycling bins clean paper that had single-sided printing. These sheets were bound together into booklets and sold for a dollar each as “Sustainable Scribbles.”

With the Green Cup Challenge, Task Force for Sustainability, and numerous other programs, NMH has helped set high-efficiency standards for other schools as well.

One individual helping to decrease NMH’s environmental impact is Becca Leslie, a biology teacher at NMH since 2002.

Ms. Leslie co-founded the Green Cup Challenge in 2005, when only NMH, Phillips Exeter Academy, and the Lawrenceville School competed.

Continued on Page 4

Academy Seeks to Level Uneven Test Prep Field

By LIBBY WHITTON Staff Writer Academic Dean Peter Warsaw said the current test prep situation “presents a confusing landscape. What do scores mean when they are unevenly influenced by test preparation? And what if anything should secondary schools do to level the playing field?”

Many families provide their children with an edge by paying for test prep or tutoring. The reliance on tutors and outside help for test preparation is becoming more and more common in the school community at Deerfield, resulting in discussions among Deerfield administrators to decide whether this issue is truly an example of

social injustice and, if so, what would be the most appropriate solution.

Both Head of College Advising Martha Lyman and Mr. Warsaw are aware that tutoring is happening on campus, whether the school wants it or not.

The presence of unauthorized adult tutors on the Deerfield campus is actually more than just an internal ethical issue. Inviting unvetted strangers onto the campus and into Deerfield buildings violates Massachusetts state law.

Mr. Warsaw noted that last year, Deerfield interviewed four vendors who proposed various solutions.

The Academic Approach offered free online tutoring to all sophomores and juniors. This plan failed to gain

Hometown Homicide page 2

traction with most faculty for logistical reasons, though Mr. Warsaw explained that the Academic Approach’s grammar program, designed to help students master grammar concepts using an online program designed by teachers, has been taken on by various English teachers on campus.

English teacher Mark Scandling was one of the faculty members who chose to take part in the pilot program last year.

“My students found the drills useful, and I have one section of sophomores who are using the service again this year,” Mr. Scandling noted.

Mr. Scandling believes that extensive reading remains the best long-term way to ensure success on the verbal section of

Nate Chu: The man behind the “screens” page 4

the SAT’s, and that all his colleagues in the English department incorporate vocabulary drills, grammar instruction and practice on timed essays which help prepare students for standardized tests.

This year, the school is paying for online SAT tutoring through Academic Approach for twenty to twenty-five students as a pilot program.

Deans and college advisors will evaluate these students’ results to determine the effectiveness of the program.

Akilah Ffriend ’10 explained her perception of SAT tutoring, “I feel that tutoring is a form of social injustice, though I also believe that preparation is necessary for some students to receive the scores they want. A plan that

offers free help to students would be a great opportunity.”

Ms. Lyman believes that colleges usually know when students use tutors.

“Admissions officers read your entire application and gauge whether or not all the pieces add up,” she said.

“What is the fairest response to this situation?” asked Mr. Warsaw. There may not be just one solution, though Mr. Warsaw explained, “Embracing SAT prep seems to be the lesser of the evils.”

He noted that Deerfield is not unique in facing this issue.

“Almost every school is at this same place. SAT prep is here whether we want it or not. Now we must decide if we want to accept it,” he said.

Holiday Gift Ideas page 5

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OPINION / EDITORIAL

The Deerfield Scroll

­December 16, 2009

Letter From the Editor VOL. LXXXIV, NO. 7

December 16, 2009

Editor-in-Chief

LUCY COBBS

Opinion/Editorial JOHANNA FLATO

Layout Editor ELLEN SHIN Assistant Layout Editor SARAH KIM Photo Editor STEPHANIE OLIVAS

Arts & Entertainment TAO TAO HOLMES

Photo Associate ELEANOR PARKER

Features AMANDA MINOFF

Online Associate JAKE BARNWELL Business Manager CASEY BUTLER

Front Page CAMILLE COPPOLA

Sports CYRUS WITTIG

Editorial Associates EMMETT KNOWLTON YU-JIN NAM GRACE MURPHY ELISABETH STRAYER

Online Editor CAMILLE VILLA Advisors

SUZANNE HANNAY & JOHN PALMER STAFF REPORTERS: Nastassia Adkins, Mary Banalagay, Delaney Berman, Casey Butler, Audrey Cho, Jacqueline Colt, Daryl Cooley, Kayla Corcoran, Danielle Dalton, Ashik Desai, Malou Flato, Albert Ford, Anna Gonzales, Lizzy Gregory, Miles Griffis, Philip Heller, Sonja Holmberg, Shaye Horn, Ritchey Howe, Claire Hutchins, Andy Kang, Jade Kasoff, Stefani Kuo, Francis Lauw, Eunice Lee, Theo Lipsky, Daniel Litke, Dylan McDermott, Matt McKelvey, Marly Morgus, Courtney Murray, Hadley Newton, Sarah Oh, Zoe Perot, Freddy Rockwood, Nina Shevzov-Zebrun, Andrew Slade, Eliot Taft, Julia Trehu, Libby Whitton, Christopher Wong, Sarah Woolf, Elizabeth Yancey, Michael Yang STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS: Alex Berner, Megan Cai, Arleen Chien, Jennifer Coulombe, Sarah Cox, Clair Fair, Will Fox, Daniel Han, Chesney Henry, Veronica Houk, Nina Kempner, Susanna Kvam, Louisa Schieffelin 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, published nine times yearly, is entered as third class bulk rate at the U.S. Post Office at Deerfield, Mass. 01342.

Advertising rates provided upon request.

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

Opinion articles without names represent consensus views of the editorial staff unless otherwise specified.

Deerfield, Pay Attention!

President Barrack Obama delivered a speech announcing plans to withdraw from Iraq by 2011 and send another 30,000 troops to Afghanistan on December 1.

Some teachers assigned their students to watch the speech, but the majority of the school did not see it. Many weren’t even aware that this major discussion was occurring.

Our hectic lives tempt us to disregard current events. This is compounded by a vacuum of political activity on the part of student organizations this fall.

Where are our political clubs?

While our daily routines go on as usual, the turmoil of the outside world continues. With important questions concerning health care, the recession, our involvement in two wars, and climate change on the table, it’s crucial that we remain informed of decisions that will affect us for the rest of our lives.

Our campus political organizations may be lacking energy this year, but the responsibility of keeping ourselves up-to-date is in our own hands.

Thank You This fall, the Health Center handled the H1N1 outbreak with impressive composure. It put an enormous amount of work into its planning to ensure that every student felt taken care of.

Ms. Curtis also had the well-being of the students at heart when she took note of our swine-incited stress and gave us a much needed “health day,” even when she knew the decision would result in some formidable re-scheduling. So thank you, to the Health Center and the administration, for sacrificing time and resources in order to keep us healthy and happy.

Those responsible for integrating community service into our co-curricular activities also deserve a thank you. Whether the different groups were raising money for cancer research, or simply helping out with the busywork around campus, all took a break from our own self-enrichment to help others.

The Community Service Program has started a tradition that brings us closer to Deerfield’s aspiration of being “worthy.”

These decisions are valuable because they make us a healthier, more vibrant, and more engaged community.

Student Council Takes an Initiative Student Council recently resolved to prepare significant changes to the student handbook by winter break. While the current DA to Z ostensibly serves as an outline of the school’s expectations for student behavior, students have often been confused by ambiguous wording and have questioned the relevancy of certain policies.

Such issues came to a head this fall, when changes made over the summer prompted discussion about student say in new rules. In light of all this, we applaud Council’s initiative to increase student involvement in revising the handbook.

The Council plans to reinstate the distinction between “major” and “minor” school

rules, outline the procedure for the removal of students from leadership positions, and update the dishonesty and dress code policies.

Rewording of the same-sex parietals policy aims to clarify questions raised at the start of the school year. These changes should secure greater accountability in the disciplinary process and reinforce a student’s right to represent himself or herself in D.C. Council hopes that the revised document will resolve uncertainties about school policy, emphasize our status as a “two-strike” institution, and boost student-faculty trust on campus. We approve of this student-influenced handbook.

On the lower left-hand corner of page four of the November 11 issue of The Scroll, a box entitled “Why We’d Rather Be Here Than Choate” containing student quotes was printed. I realize now that it was inappropriate to publish these derogatory, pointed remarks, and I apologize to all those offended.

Thank you to Mrs. LaScala and Mr. Merriam for writing letters and expressing your concern.

I regret that the tone of the “Here and There” special issue, which included thoughtful reflections from alumni and current students, was tarnished by this small part of the edition. There is no excuse for this honest mistake; perhaps we were caught up in the excitement of Choate week and chaos of layout, but still it should have been noticed.

The fact that no one on the editorial board who saw this box was alarmed by the animosity of the quotes speaks, however, to a larger issue. I hope we can use this to generate discussion about the nature of our rivalry with Choate. While friendly competition is healthy, we should question when it crosses the line. I encourage you to send The Scroll your opinions at scroll@deerfield.edu, and we appreciate the constructive criticism.

-Lucy Cobbs Editor-in-Chief

Letters to the Editor

Re:“Why We’d Rather Be Here Than Choate” (Sports, November 1 1 , 2009) I have just received the November 11 issue of The Scroll which does not express the Deerfield Academy I once knew.

The juvenile article about Choate and its students is a fall from the grace I did not expect from The Scroll, the school and the students.

Deerfield has always emphasized its accomplishments to the community and the world and once admired the humility of the faculty and the students.

Disrespect for others and schools is not a part of the Deerfield tradition built over a period of years. It has been lost by the thoughts meant to be humorous by unthinking writers who will no longer be remembered but whose thoughts will be.

I am upset by what I loved and can no longer respect.

Sincerely, Robert L. Merriam ’43 * * *

It was a relief to come to the Health Center tonight, at the end of Choate Day, and find only two students in our beds. Finally the swine flu is winding down and we are seeing fewer sick kids.

I took report from the evening nurse and she left for home.

Then I made a cup of coffee, and before starting the night’s tasks I decided to read the November 11 issue of The Scroll that was sitting on my desk.

What a treat! It was delightful to read about present students who hail from faraway places, and alumnai who are finding their way in the world.

Their stories intersected nicely with the email I’d read just before leaving home. My son, an ’03 grad, is on an atoll in the South Pacific at the moment, and will soon be in Hawaii where he will continue his work with honeybees. Cool stuff from Deerfield students, past and present.

All of that good feeling melted away, however, when I turned to the last page of The Scroll and read the text in the eyecatching orange square in the lower left corner: Why We’d Rather Be Here Than Choate.

Yuck. I was transported as a

reader from the pride of accomplishment in Anne Jamison’s story, and the world-experience of Gabor Gurbacs in his, to reading comments calling Choate students sucking parasites. Really. Who are the “disgusting creatures” in this story?

Where is the class act?

As a staff member and the parent of an alum, I found the tone and the sentiments inane and disappointing as well as just plain embarrassing, and I have to question the editorial decisionmaking process that chose to run this feature.

Rivalries are fun, and playing off one another’s perceived weaknesses is a long tradition.

But where is the clever word play and humor of bright Deerfield students? This square of text transformed a proud issue of The Scroll into a common tabloid.

Diminishing their rivals by listing the reasons they “hate” them makes the Deerfield commentators look small-minded and mean. I felt sad as I placed my issue in the recycling bin.

Susan LaScala, MS, RN-C Family Nurse Practitioner Deerfield Academy Health Center

The Boy With A Lighter

By ANDY HARRIS Contributing Writer A boy picked up a cigarette from the frosted dirt path and took a lighter out from his pocket. But he was the nicest kid.

With one fluid motion, he lit the tip and inhaled before returning to the New Year’s party. This boy was one of my best friends in middle school. But like most at Deerfield, I lost touch with many of my friends over four years, and the boy with the lighter I only saw occasionally at parties on vacations.

After the party, some parents said to stay away from that kid, “He’s headed in a bad direction.” Why do they say that? I trusted them and I was obedient, but can they put trust in me? I’m not “headed in a bad direction”—I can make good decisions. When someone falls away, do we chase after to catch them, or watch as they drift off ? Do we assert some sort of conceived superiority by disassociation?

For many of us, Deerfield is a tradition; for others, the logical step before college; but for many of us, Deerfield is an opportunity we wouldn’t have pictured even a few years before arriving on campus. And since we

arrived, how many of us stayed in touch with those we left behind and how many of us became too isolated by the “Deerfield Bubble” to look back? To see our roots? Or even or understand a new situation without an air of superiority?

It wasn’t until recently, when reading a group invitation on Facebook, that I became suddenly aware of the town I had left.

A Google search turned up headlines like “Four Teens Arrested in Murder of Mont Vernon Woman.” Two of the four were from my town, Class of 2010; one was the boy with the lighter.

I drove home to console my friends and family, but they were all away. I was lost in the center of town surrounded by people I didn’t know.

There were two other boys, who drove the car to the Mont Vernon woman’s house at four in the morning. They were the ones with the machete and the knife. They murdered her and almost killed her daughter. The other two who never dealt a blow, the boy with the lighter and another, are only accused of robbery.

The town’s so small, newspapers only covered the one story—I wish I could read paper copies. When the stories are

published online, everyone’s comments are made public, and I’m afraid to read them. But the ignorant, hateful, and often threatening comments are taken down or “censored” moments after they are posted. YouTube has even disabled commenting on a number of videos where the boy with the lighter is singing in coffee houses. I imagine that he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time and didn’t know what would happen. He must have been scared, waiting in the basement with cold feet on the cement when the woman died.

“Four Facing Charges in Murder Waive Right to Hearings.” There will no longer be a trial for probable cause while he waits in jail on a bail equal to the cost of twelve years at boarding school. What should I have done? There were no signs; he smiled except when he didn’t, for the same reasons as everyone else. Who is to blame?

Those of us who lost touch?

Those of us who obeyed when others said to stay away? Life is a series of our small choices.

The next time you’re in a foreign place, choose to participate and to understand. The next time you think of a childhood friend, wonder where he or she is; wonder where in your life’s series of choices you let your friend go.

The Deerfield Scroll

OPINION / EDITORIAL

­December 16, 2009

Letters to the Editor, Cont’d Re:“Who is ITS?” by Grace Burns (Opinion, October 21 , 2009) Who is ITS? In ITS we provide a wide variety of technology support services on campus including hardware/software support, telephone/voicemail support, resetting passwords, providing you with network and internet access, and finding your files when they go missing. One of our goals at ITS is to make sure that you have a fully functional laptop for school use. All students are issued a Deerfield laptop when they start school at DA. This is the laptop for which we provide unlimited support and we will always make sure you can get your school work done on it.

We’re friendly, we bleed green, we don’t bite and we encourage you to stop by. top?

What does ITS do with your lap-

If your laptop is experiencing technical difficulties or it has a virus we will often reimage it.

Reimaging means restoring your laptop to the way it was the day you received it from ITS. Reimaging is an excellent and effective way to clean up and improve the overall performance of your laptop. We save all your documents, pictures, desktop and favorites. One change this year is that we do not save your music, mostly because of the incredible length of time it takes and because of the increase in

virus activity. Instead, we give you the option to first backup your music onto an external hard drive (available for purchase at the Hitchcock House). The only time we do not backup your data is if your hard drive is damaged beyond repair. We make every effort to save your data but sometimes even your Deerfield computer experts cannot perform miracles.

Some hardware repairs can be done in-house; for example, a new keyboard, cd/dvd drive, hard drive or palm rest. Parts replacement on the MAC’s is more limited but we hope to expand that capability in the future. If the hardware problem is more serious, like it needs a motherboard replacement or it grew wings and flew off your desk and needs the screen replaced, we have to ship it out to be repaired. This process can take anywhere from 1-2 weeks.

We won’t be upset with you if you dropped it, stepped on it or your brother ran it over with his car. We just want to know what really happened so it’s easier for us to fix and we can get it back to you faster. And remember you can always get a loaner laptop if your DA laptop needs repair.

Why doesn’t ITS help with my personal machine?

We have a required laptop purchase program here at Deerfield. Each student has a laptop (MAC or IBM) that was provided by Deerfield with a school “image” that includes all the necessary academic software.

This method allows us to more accurately and efficiently service your laptop. With a uniform platform, we have images built

and ready to restore to your laptop when you get a virus or your hard drive crashes. If each student came to us with a different model laptop to repair we wouldn’t have the images, drivers, software or support access to be able to service it. In addition, most of our software licenses do not include use for your personal machines and are strictly for Deerfield issued laptops. It’s important to remember that there are TWO technicians in ITS to provide hardware/software support for all 600+ of the student laptops and the faculty and staff machines.

2009 MAC Attack The MAC transition has been a learning process for us all.

You asked and we listened but it’s going to take time to iron out the wrinkles and we in ITS need your support and patience. Our policy of not supporting nonstandard machines is not new to this school year. All new students for the 2009-2010 school year received a MAC from Deerfield.

This MAC is fully supported by ITS. We also gave returning students the option to purchase a MAC at a discounted price, as we had always done in the past with the IBM’s. This MAC was not meant to replace your existing IBM and consistent with our past practice, your personal purchase MAC has to be treated as “non-standard” because of licensing issues. However, we will provide very limited support including facilitating warranty repairs in the event of hardware failure due to normal wear and tear. Returning students are still expected to use their IBM laptop and we will continue to provide

support for your IBM since the warranty is effective until you graduate.

Although we cannot provide the same support on a non-standard laptop we do provide you with instructions posted on DAnet (under Library/IT, ITS Help Desk) for the most commonly asked questions including printing, setting up email clients, connecting to networked drives and installing academic software.

These are all procedures that we have tested and verified. If you have problems beyond that with hardware or your operating system, we recommend you visit an Apple store. We are not currently certified Apple Technicians. If these problems are preventing you from doing your school work, then please use your Deerfield provided IBM. We’re here to HELP We have a ticketing system that keeps track of all the work we perform on your laptop.

We’re happy to share that information with you—all you have to do is ask. Typically, we email you to let you know when your laptop is ready, if we had to ship it out for repair unexpectedly or to let you know what parts have been replaced, especially when you have a recurring problem. If you have a question or concern about your laptop, please ask.

We’re not holding your laptop for ransom and we’re happy to clear up your fears of the unknown.

Stop by the Help Desk and tell us how we are doing and what we can do to help you!

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* * * Dear ScrollI would like to comment on a recent opinion piece in The Scroll that took a critical view of our IT department, and perhaps lend a slightly different view.

In an environment where we ask students to be evaluated on a daily basis, it is reasonable to expect some criticism on how we perform our jobs and go about our daily lives. The notion of constructive criticism is something I whole-heartily support, and we in the Dean of Students office certainly welcome such forms of critiques.

I am confident that our colleagues in the IT Department responded well to the recent concerns laid out in The Scroll, but I always hope we choose to directly communicate with all members of the Deerfield Community.

For what it is worth, I have had nothing but positive experiences with all my interactions with the IT Department. In fact one month ago my daughter destroyed the plug on my computer for the AC charger.

Within minutes, I was outfitted with a loaner with my hard-drive installed; I never missed a beat.

I know that I tend to look at the world with rose-colored glasses, but I am always grateful to have the helpful and supportive people in the IT Department willing to lend a hand.

Respectfully yours, JT Emerson

Jodi Walsh ITS Help Desk Coordinator

* * *

ONE DECADE DOWN! 2004

2000

2002

George W. Bush elected

No Child Left Behind Act and Patriot Act passed

King Abdullah II of Jordan speaks at commencement

Harold Smith Dormitory is opened

Gay marriage in MA Red Sox win series Facebook!

International Round Square Conference

9/11

US invades Iraq

iPod released

SARS pandemic

David Koch ’58 makes donation for new science center

Deerfield math and science classes move to the Mods

2001

2003

2008

2006 YouTube launches

Obama elected

Pluto ≠ a planet

Burma cyclone

Ms. Curtis becomes first female Head of School

China earthquake

Pope John Paul II dies Hurricane Katrina

2010 Who knows??

Imagine Deerfield launches task forces Michael Jackson dies

VA Tech shootings 2,100-year-old melon found in Japan

H1N1 outbreak

students required to purchase laptops

Koch Center opens

20 years of Coeducation

2005

2007

2009

The Turtle Island Quartet Academy Event: Students Skipped, but the Blame Goes Both Ways

By TAO TAO HOLMES Arts and Entertainment Editor On Monday evening of exam week, the Turtle Island Quartet came to play. As an Academy Event, it is expected that all students attend, whether or not they feel they can take the APs. But, sitting in the seventh row of the Large Auditorium at seven o’clock, I turned to look around at rows and rows of empty seats, not only in the senior section.

Who was responsible for this lack of attendance?

Students? Faculty?

The sea of lonely, green seats in the Large Auditorium that night was a result of two basic factors: timing and lack of student interest. While timing can’t always be altered, student interest can. To prevent a repeat

of this fall’s Academy Event in the future, there must be student representation on the Academy Event planning committee.

At first glance, students who skipped are blamed for their absence at a required event. But can you blame students for skipping in order to study for tests and upcoming exams?

Skipping a required Academy Event is four accountability points. I had one. That meant I had sixteen left before restrictions. So, should I have skipped? The answer: No. I contemplated not attending but knew I was going to end up going. Deerfield is based on such an upstanding code of honor and respect that skipping an Academy Event—an occasion that comes only twice a year and requires an incredible amount planning and money—is something I simply couldn’t do.

To all those who skipped, I understand the justifications, but I don’t think that they’re enough.

But I need to back up. So, granted, I went. But did I completely consent to it? No. I was present but I was not paying full attention to the musicians. I was glancing at a review sheet in my hand as the mandolinist played.

So, many students didn’t show up, and students like me who went didn’t give the musicians full respect.

BUT—this is only half the equation. The other half ? The Academy Event planning committee is an equal part of the problem.

Last spring, the committee was choosing between the Turtle Island Quartet and an African singing group named Ladysmith Black Mambazo.

There were no student representatives on the committee,

but some students were asked their preference. All chose the African singers.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo is an absolutely outstanding musical group. I have grown up listening to their CDs and have seen them on television performing with Paul Simon. They travel across the globe and are fantastic performers, and I would have gone to see them on an exam night.

I don’t know how the final consensus was reached, but the committee chose the Quartet. I would confidently argue that far fewer students would have skipped Ladysmith Black Mambazo because they weren’t interested or wanted to study.

I am aware that a lot of factors go into planning Academy Events, but shouldn’t student interest be one of the most important?

Why, if one hundred percent of a surveyed class of students voted for group A, did the committee choose group B? As I sat in the uncomfortably empty auditorium, I thought how awed I would be if Ladysmith Black Mambazo was performing instead.

There is musical value in the Turtle Island Quartet, but while many of us have seen violinists and cello players, native African singers are much more unusual.

Well, that’s how I see it.

I don’t think anyone had the right to skip, even if, like me, they weren’t particularly interested. At the same time, the planning committee should not have chosen group B without student input.

There need to be representatives for the students who are expected to attend these events, particularly since so much effort is put into them.

The Deerfield Scroll

KAYLA’S BOOK

ARTS & ENTERTAiNMENT

NOOK

HOLIDAY WISH LIST

By AUDREY CHO Staff Writer The winter holidays are here! The snow has finally fallen, and bauble-decked houses are now frequent sightings. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or any other holiday this winter, it’s time to start thinking about gifts for your loved ones. And for those of you who are in a rut with ideas, here are some fresh, economical, earth-friendly, and overall fabulous finds!

Concerned about animal extinction? Why not try the World Wildlife Fund’s Species Adoption? You can “adopt” an endangered species like the polar bear or the arctic fox through kits ranging from a hefty $250 to a reasonable $25 that include gift certificates, photos, and a stuffed animal. The profits are directed to field programs to support the animal’s environment. This is perfect for those who are worried about animal endangerment; an adoption kit in their name will surely be appreciated! Or, if you simply want to buy someone a

stuffed animal, why not add a new, animal-friendly twist by buying this adoption kit that comes with an adorable stuffed animal? (http://www.worldwildlife.org/) Don’t want to order presents online but still help the planet? Whole Foods sells Endangered Species Chocolate, a brand that donates 10% of its profits to its species protection partners such as the African Wildlife Foundation and The Ocean Conservancy. A small box or a couple chocolate bars wrapped together by a bright ribbon is simple, economical, and not to mention delicious.

Now for green gadgets, the iPhone Solar Skin from NovoThink is a skin that charges the iPhone from the sun while keeping the screen and USB port free. Although it is a pricey $70, split the cost with another family member or two: the iPhone lover will be utterly grateful not having to worry about running out of battery. (http://www.solararcadia.com) But for those of you who aren’t fans of the ideas above, not to worry.

For the men of the family, J.Crew sells colorful boxers, and their deal, two for $25, covers two people at once.

And for those who want to protect their hands from the harsh winter winds, L’Occitaine has launched a special holiday package: Shea Hand Cream & Food Cream Duo, for only $15. (http://usa.loccitane.com/FO/ Catalog/Product.aspx?prod=97 4602) For girls, what about a deviation from the usual gifts of jewelry? Urban Outfitters sells earmuff headphones in white or black for only $20. A great way to keep those ears warm and listen to music!

Now if you’re still unsatisfied, gift cards and delicious homemade cookies never fail. As the time-honored cliché tells us, it’s the thought that counts.

But remember, the holidays aren’t all about giving and receiving materialistic goods. Whether curled up with hot cocoa or enjoying a spirited snowball fight, spending time with one another is the beauty of the holidays; exchanging gifts is simply one means of doing it.

THIS IS NO PINK FLOYD ALBUM New Actors Look to Take the Winter Stage

Imagine standing up in front of a crowd of peers and judges.

The judges ask you to give them a taste of what you can do in two minutes, including singing a song, and while the tension in the crowd builds, more students prepare to mount the stage. This feeling is nothing new, as anyone trying out for anything can attest, especially in something as competitive as auditions for the winter play.

This year an unusually high number of students auditioned, many of whom are new to Deerfield’s theatrer program and to theater as a whole.

The winter play, Dark of the Moon, is no Pink Floyd album, but rather a folk song turned play

by William Berney in the 1940’s.

To u c h Fire

By SONJA HOLMBERG Staff Writer

By KAYLA CORCORAN Book Reviewer

By ANDREW SLADE Staff Writer

5

Contemporary Ceramics Exhibit at Smith College

Kayla Corcoran ’10 cozies up next to the fire with The Ecco Book of Christmas Stories, edited

by Alberto Manguel.

“Even at their best, Christmas stories [are] no more than wish-fulfillment dreams…And yet how [can] anyone propose to write an unsentimental Christmas story?” asks the narrator of Paul Auster’s “Auggie Wren’s Christmas Story.” Introducing The Ecco Book of Christmas Stories, Auster’s short story recounts the tale of Auggie Wren, whose well-meaning intentions to return a lost wallet lead an elderly woman into mistaking Wren for her grandson come to visit her on Christmas.

Delightfully obscure and strange, Auggie’s story begs to be taken for truth, although his “wicked grin” at the end suggests otherwise. This first story mimics the larger idea presented in The Ecco Book: whether fiction or memoir, “as long as there’s one person to believe it, there’s no story that can’t be true.”

Enlivening the pages of the collection are characters who breathe both reality and ordinariness into a season that so often means only gifts and “plum pudding, mince pieces, mousses, [and] puddles of melted ice cream.” There’s Charlie, the elevator operator in New York City who “[has] fourteen dinners spread out on the table and floor of the locker room,” all conned out of the residents in his building; a young man in Johannesburg for whom “Christmas Eve [is] a drunken riot”; and the teenage girl who works at the Turkey Barn for the Christmas season, learning both about cleaning turkeys and her fellow workers, whose personalities are simultaneously peculiar and endearing.

Compiled and edited by Alberto Manguel, the collection contains short works by authors as vibrant and diverse as the stories themselves, such as Truman Capote, Graham Greene, Alice Munro, Vladimir Nabokov, Itoh Seikoh, Muriel Spark, and William Trevor. Both fresh and compelling, the tales compiled in The Ecco Book of Christmas Stories fearlessly grapple with and succeed in addressing the contradictory nature of Christmas stories.

­December 16, 2009

Director of Theater John Reese described the play as “the Romeo & Juliet in the Smokies” and claimed it is often considered one of the great, classic American plays.

“I really don’t care what age someone is or what class they are in, or what kind of experience they have had. I base it on the quality of the auditions,” Mr. Reese said. He likes new people because they bring a fresh flavor to the production. If he gives all leads to juniors and seniors, the underclassmen will be left with no experience once the upperclassmen graduate.

From speaking with aspiring actors, it became clear the common theme was a desire for something new.

Michael Yee ’10 said, “I heard from friends who participated before, and they had a

great time.” When asked why he chose theater instead of a winter sport, he replied, “I did basketball last year, which was fun, but I wanted to try something new.”

New junior Phil Hah ’11 is fairly new to acting, like Yee. His goal this year is to try as many new things as possible. Hah acted at his previous school and loved it because “it lets you transform into a different person.” Hah also shared that if he didn’t get a part, he would give a shot at wrestling.

There are other reasons to audition beyond making friends and having a good time. Alfonso Velasco ’11 wants to be in the play because “I want to improve my English abilities by reading, studying, and memorizing in English.” In addition, he hopes to overcome his fear of public speaking.

Many new actors shared that they weren’t as confident in their auditions as they might have hoped, and that they were impressed and sometimes intimidated by other students’ auditions. Still, each actor believed the experience would bring a new sense of self-confidence.

The returners are always excited to see new faces and talent. “I think that the new actors have potential, and it gets boring seeing the same people perform over and over again,” said veteran actor Camille Coppola ’10.

And you never know—any one of the potential winter play actors might go on to become the next Matthew Fox of Lost and carry the Deerfield name with them in their acting careers.

Dark of the Moon will run from Tuesday, February 16 to Saturday the 20th.

Touch Fire: Contemporary Japanese Ceramics by Women Artists is a unique exhibit on show at The Smith College Art Museum through February 2010. The exhibit, consisting of work by 21 female ceramicists, showcases the artistic breadth of women artists throughout Japan.

The 94 ceramic pieces on display are of diverse styles, ranging from Ono Hakuko’s spherical gold and platinum-leafed vases to Takano Miho’s Robot Girl series.

The exhibit begins with the Georgia O’Keefe-esque work of Shigematsu Ayumi, whose pieces, such as Yellow Orifice, are made with stoneware, clay slip, and pigments. Her works are characterized by sensual curves and matte finishes with rich, blending pastels. The organic forms often resemble flowers or bodies.

Hoshimo Kayoto’s contrasting style in pieces such as Stand and Fall is achieved with stoneware, glaze, and silver luster. Hoshimo’s trademark is silver ceramics in angular and geometric shapes. The silver luster finish heightens the contrast between rough edges and smooth interiors.

Ono Hakuko works mainly with large, spherical forms.

Hakuko’s pieces, such as Circle and Shape of the Stars have the richness of color and the stunning iridescence of gold and platinum leaf. The polka-dots sported by both pieces lend a bold and humorous tone.

With a similar humorous appeal, Mashima Kimiyo reflects Pop artist Andy Warhol in innovative works like Sunkist Lemon Box and Australia Postpak Box, which depict boxes stuffed with newspaper, made entirely from silk-screened stoneware.

In a departure from Mashima’s Pop Art style, Koike Shoko shows elegance and delicacy in her Shell vessel series, made from stoneware, clay slip, and silver luster, and characterized by conch shell shapes and white glazes with various undertones. White Peak and Rough Water resembles an open clam shell with a bright blue pool of glaze serving as the focal point.

Kitamura Junko’s equally elegant works, such as Vase with Seascape, are made with stoneware and white slip. The smooth, wheel-thrown pieces are adorned with white dots which contrast with the black backgrounds. In the spirit of pointilism, the placement of these dots provides Kitamura’s works with an element of movement.

The unique pieces of Takano Miho are action-figureesque and sculptural.

Constructed from stoneware, clay slip, and enamels, the pieces in Takano’s Robot Girl series present futuristic, mechanical, and abstracted female forms.

The variety and quality of the work in Touch Fire are astounding. Traditionally forbidden from participating in this art, these women ceramicists have broken the mold and proven themselves to be incredibly capable, talented, and imaginative. If you are looking for something to do on a weekend or over break, look beyond the hills and into the Smith College Art Museum.

To see the full version of this review, see Scroll Online.

4

The Deerfield Scroll

F Behind the Helpdesk: IT Coordinator Nate Chu Expresses Concerns and Offers Advice

­ ecember 16, 2009 D EATURES ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­

By DANIELLE DALTON and COURTNEY MURRAY Staff Writers

Steph Olivas IT Coordinator Nathan Chu helps a student deal with her computer troubles. He is a new addition to the technology team this year.

Cooking Up a Climate-Friendly Kitchen

By DYLAN MCDERMOTT and ZOE PEROT Staff Writers The dynamics of the dining hall change in the winter. With no sit-down dinners, students order out more often. Sports teams, such as hockey and swimming, have late practices, which accounts for varying walkthrough dinner schedules.

Nevertheless, the dining hall manages to stay relatively “green” and efficient when it comes to excess food, costs, and recycling.

On average, Deerfield students order from restaurants such as China Gourmet, Goodies, and Dominoes between one and three times per week. And in the winter, when students are more likely to obtain food from alternative venues, the dining hall faces competition from these restaurants and the Greer.

As a result, the level of food consumed in the dining hall inevitably changes; however, it is difficult to compare the change in food consumption between fall and winter terms because of the change from sit-down to walk-through meals. During walk-through meals, students have more choices and may take more food than the students will actually eat.

But the dining hall has an online system that uses the program CBORD to keep track of food consumption. This program is especially helpful to Director of Food Services Florrie Paige because it keeps a six-year record of the history of menu items. After an item is served, information is put in about the number of portions made, the amount consumed, the temperature outside, what was served for the previous meal, and how much the item cost. This prevents the waste of food by insuring that the dining hall staff makes different amounts of each food item based on these statistics.

“The system is remarkably helpful because every week when

we are making up a new menu, we can look back over years and years of data and determine if students will eat it, and how much of it,” explained Ms. Paige.

“It is impossible to control the amount of food that students take and then choose not to eat,” said Ms. Paige, “but the dining hall compensates by composting the waste.” All food goes into the campus compost; the biodegradable material from the Greer, Café Louis, and dining hall are sent to be commercially composted at Martin’s Farm in Greenfield.

“This system is more sophisticated than systems at any other boarding school, and even most colleges,” explained Ms. Paige.

“However, it is easier to have such a system at Deerfield than a place like Exeter, because we have only one main dining hall.”

The dining hall has made many changes in an effort to control our impact on the environment. Flatware has been moved to the end of the line during walk-through meals, in hopes that students will only take what they need. A few years ago, the dining hall did away with trays to avoid using extra water to wash them. Students must now make their own salads at sitdown meals so as not to waste the communal salad, which often went uneaten. The dining hall is also careful to recycle all glass, metal, cardboard and plastic bottles.

One environmental issue that still persists, however, is the quality of the packaging that the food comes in. The food is bid on and then shipped to Deerfield from more than 50 large suppliers including Sysco. The plastic packaging that the ingredients arrive in is not recyclable, but when possible, the dining hall tries to buy in bulk.

“We’re also working very hard to buy locally,” said Ms. Paige, “It’s tougher to do this in the wintertime, but we still get local potatoes, squash, and other winter vegetables. Our milk comes from Garelick Farms which is right down the road.”

NMH Environment (continued from the front page) NMH won the first Green Cup Challenge by reducing its total energy consumption by 10.23%. Now, the challenge involves over 150 schools worldwide.

NMH Math Department Chair Dick Peller reflected, “NMH allows the opportunity to live and work in a beautiful part of the world, in which the natural environment is cherished and preserved.”

Sources: nmhschool.org

When students encounter problems with their laptops, they often take out their frustration on what they perceive as the elusive force of “ITS.” But what makes up this force? Who, exactly, is the man behind the ITS Helpdesk, and what kinds of technological issues does he encounter?

As it turns out, this man is Nathan Chu, Administrative Services Coordinator for ITS. As one of the fifteen workers in ITS, Mr. Chu takes in all of the computers, assesses the problems, and decides what action to take with laptops. He is also in charge of maintaining the stock of loaner computers as well as looking after all video cameras and other audio visual equipment that can be loaned out.

In addition, Mr. Chu tracks the ITS budget and purchases new equipment. Recently, Mr. Chu has also assisted in the mailroom and switchboard.

As the liaison between the school body and ITS, Mr. Chu is the first responder to any issues that may arise with computer technology. When a student first brings his or her computer to the Helpdesk, Mr. Chu assesses the problem at hand.

If a computer has a hard-

ware problem, Jason Zalenski, ITS support services technician, will decide where to go from there. With these hardware problems, many times the computers have to be reimaged. Students believe that reimaging occurs in excess, rather than addressing the original problem. ITS only reimages computers when they see it necessary, and in most situations, reimaging is the best solution to address the problem.

“When we take a computer in, we analyze the problem and try to figure out the best solution to meet the needs of the student, while not taking up an undue number of resources needed to repair the machine,” said Mr. Chu. When fixing hardware problems, many times it benefits the computer to create a clean slate rather than trying to fix the complex issue.

“It makes for a much more stable system when we start from scratch and return the documents in, and then to try to roll back certain changes, or fix small problems here and there,” explained Mr. Chu. “Often times it is more successful to reimage than to try and patch things,” said Computer Science and Department Chair and Director of ITS Wendy Shepherd.

This year with the switch from Lenovo IBM computers to Apple Computers, the Helpdesk

has seen new problems arise in the community. One of these problems involves connecting to network printers. With the IBM computers, the access to the network authenticates our ability to use these public printers. The Apple Computers require a password every time a paper needs to be printed. ITS is working hard to address this issue and make it easier for everyone.

Another issue ITS often faces is the use of peer-to-peer file sharing, such as sites like BitTorrent and Limewire. Mr. Chu explained, “Because Deerfield owns the network and Internet connection, the school is ultimately responsible for the content that’s on there, and it’s a legal liability for the school and the user of the computer,” he said.

Mr. Chu said that students do have their own responsibility when taking care of their laptops. “Everyone who is issued a laptop should try to take as good care of it as possible. You should be sure to try to avoid any sort of virus activities, and to make sure you treat it carefully. Don’t put in places where you could spill on it; don’t leave it lying on the floor where you can step on it.”

“We try to provide the best service possible to all students, but it would be great if more students who came to us took a more active role in taking care of their computers,” he said.

Seniors, How Will You Spend Your Spring Break?

N a

“I will be going to Scotland to visit my proctor from sophomore year, Meg Dougherty!”

-Morgan Marks

15% Unsure

“This past summer, I travelled to villages in Xian, China.

I collaborated with a research organization in gathering information about student nutrition, study environments, etc. It was a great experience and I hope to continue this trip over spring break!”

-Arleen Chien “I am going to Europe to see famous art works with my family and Claudia [Easton] so we can experience history in front of us instead of just seeing it in a text book.”

-Rand Singleton

ssa u

?

33% Yes

53% No Graph based on 111 responses from the senior class to a question asking whether they would go to Nassau, Bahamas, for Spring Break

Curl up with a Good Book Computer

By MAE FLATO Staff Writer The printing press, invented in 1440, increased the demand for books and for years, book printing was considered a true art form. Now, 569 years later have books become old news?

Cushing Academy, a boarding school in Ashburnham, Massachusetts, has done away with its traditional library, and in its place, has created a futuristic $500,000 “learning center.”

In a letter posted on the Cushing website, Cushing Academy headmaster James Tracy wrote, “When I look at books I see an outdated technology, like scrolls before books.”

In their attempt to embody the ideal 21-century school, the Academy decided to metamorphose their 20,000-book collection into what they call a “virtual library.”

In place of the books, they are filling the space with three large, flat-screen projectors, computer-compatible study cartels, electronic readers, and in

place of the reference desk, a complete coffee shop.

A survey taken at the school suggested that students hardly used the library, and so the implementing of new technology would be a practical change.

However, not everyone at Cushing was on board for the plunge into the digital world.

Some teachers worry that students will be distracted by applications like Facebook and AIM on their computers. Others think it is depressing to no longer have books where one can flip through the dog-eared pages.

Some Cushing alumni, teachers, students, and national news commentators are upset by the changes and think that removing the books was a great loss for the students.

One of them is Deerfield Academy Librarian and Director, Lynne Robbins.

“Even people who don’t darken the door of a library are appalled by this issue,” Ms. Robbins commented. “It is important to accept that we need to be in the age of technology, but books deserve to stay

offline.”

Ms. Robbins is also concerned that a “virtual library” might lack much-needed security.

“A library is a guardian of information and when no one is responsible, things can be censured and charged.”

Luke Mario ’12, who recently wrote an experimental paper entitled, “Books a Thing in the Past?”, commented, “as the world’s youth becomes more obsessed with technical innovation, books become outdated.”

But with our 9000 e-books, 75 databases, and plethora of research guides, Deerfield is certainly partly reliant on electronics. We no longer house VCRs or cassette tapes but in their place are DVDs and CDs. Deerfield did consider having online textbooks and sent out a poll, receiving a response with 90% against this change. We are not contemplating moving towards an electronic library.

And as it stands now, Cushing Academy is one of the first and only schools to have completed this change.

6

SPORTS

The Deerfield Scroll

Back On Trail: Nordic Skiing Returns

By CLAIRE HUTCHINS Staff Writer After its long period of dormancy, Deerfield welcomes back its Nordic ski team. Over the past few years, both students and faculty alike have expressed their interest in reintroducing cross-country skiing to the school.

The foundation for a competitive team was created by students Miles Griffis ’11 and Ellie Parker ’11, when last year they took an interest in creating a winter cross-country skiing club for the school.

This year head crew coach Ben Hamilton and Nori Welles-Gertz ’10 also took a serious interest in the sport, and the four of them collaborated to create the first Nordic ski team since 1989.

For the Nordic skiing meets, students will gather from many different schools and race skate-ski style on groomed trails through the back country of New England. The typical trails for each race are anywhere from five

to ten kilometers long and span across downhill, uphill, and flat terrain. The races will be set up like cross-country running races where the skiers will line up in rows on a six-foot wide track before the competition begins.

The small group of students along with Mr. Hamilton wanted to create a team that combined a great opportunity for physical fitness with the enjoyment of competing outdoors.

“I raced in high school, and just loved it. I was really surprised that Deerfield didn’t have a team yet,” said Mr. Hamilton.

Three days a week, the team will practice at Northfield Mountain, on the lower level and surrounding areas that have cross-country skiing trails.

The Nordic ski team from Northfield Mount Hermon has even invited Deerfield’s team to a few of their own practices so the skiers will get more time to develop their racing techniques.

The team plans on competing with both public and private schools

including Holderness, Gould, and Vermont Academy.

“We’ll be racing about three or four times this season, and if we feel we’re ready towards the end, we plan on competing at New England’s,” said Griffis.

“The levels of experience range from those with long-time exposure to cross-country skiing, like Christina Lund ’10, to novices who just want to try the sport for the exercise and the outdoor component,” said Parker.

Skiers include athletes who are looking to prepare for their spring sports and those who want to try something new during the winter.

“Although there’s a huge range of talent, the enthusiasm is exceptionally high,” said Welles-Gertz.

For the time being, the Nordic ski team is registered as a recreational sport and will use this winter to get a feel for how the team works together.

“We have no expectations. We just want to go out there, have a great time and we’ll see what happens,” said Mr. Hamilton.

December 16, 2009

Sports Editorial:

By Cyrus Wittig I feel it is my duty as the editor of the sports page to share some of my thoughts on the immediate criticism of and disdain for the unfortunately infamous “Choate quotes” article that was present in the November 11th issue of the Scroll.

Let me start off by saying that as the editor of the sports page, I, not our editor-in-chief, or the Scroll associates who help produce the issues, had responsibility for the article. It was not intended to offend anyone at Choate, and certainly not at Deerfield. Simply put, this article was the playful banter that goes on between Choate and Deerfield students before, during, and after every Choate Day of which I have been a part.

It is fact that the majority of Deerfield and Choate students come from the tri-state area. They have known each other for years, and both student bodies are more than aware

Girls’ Hoops Depend On Defense For Another Playoff

By PHILIP HELLER Staff Writer

Alex Berner Shenae Lundberg ’11 watches Jackie Tavella ’11 move the puck up ice against the Connecticut Polar Bears

Girls’ Hockey Strikes Gold In Net

By SARAH OH & ANNA GONZALES Staff Writers The girls’ varsity hockey team has tapped a goldmine of talent, potential, and experience in two new freshmen goalies, Hannah Insuik and Sammy Hirshland. Both girls hail from Massachusetts: Insuik from Andover and Hirshland from Concord.

Both started their hockey careers young, following the paths of their families. For Insuik, her brother set the model. “I always wanted to do what he did,” Insuik said, and so she began her hockey career at age five.

Hirshland had a similar experience. Influenced by her cousins, she began to play goalie when she was ten.

Hirshland and Insuik have both been attending camps and going through intensive goalie clinics since then.

Now they have something to show for it as they play for one of the premier prep school teams in New England. Hirshland made the decision to attend Deerfield because “it’s something a lot of girl hockey players do,” and Deerfield’s wonderful hockey reputation, often earning a spot in the playoffs against fierce competition, spoke for itself. “Coach Meier had already seen me play,” Insuik said,

referring to the team she played for in the NEWHL (New England Women’s Hockey League), which travels around New England and competes against prep school teams in exhibition games.

Hirshland and Insuik are enjoying the camraderie between the team’s goalies early in the season. Both Hirschland and Insuik spoke of separation from the rest of the team when there is only one goalie on the team.

Hirshland, for instance, had never been on a team with more than one goalie: “It’s good to be close with the other goalies.”

For the past two years, Shenae Lundberg ’11 has had the full-time goalie spot. She has seven years of experience, was nationally ranked, and was invited to the USA Hockey Development Camp three years in a row. It didn’t take her long to establish herself as a key asset to Deerfield’s program.

While Lundberg accepted and excelled in her role as the team’s starting goalie very early in her career, she said having two other goalies on the team brings a positive effect.

As Lundberg put it, “I can help push them and help them get better just as they can push me and help me get better.” Lundberg remains starter

for the girls, but with the two new goalies, she strives to play even better.

“I still have to work for my spot; they push me to work hard.”

As for the whole team, having more than one goalie makes a huge difference. “It makes us better and the goalies better,” said Gregg Meier, the girls’ varsity hockey coach.

Historically, girls’ hockey has one goalie on the roster. In the 2001 playoffs, the team’s only goalie had to play with a 100 °F fever. Lundberg similarly had to play through injuries her freshman year.

Captains Alex Philie ’10 and Madeline Keeshan ’10 expressed appreciation for the addition of the two new goalies.

“Their youth is extremely helpful, as they will have much room to improve over four years on the team,” said Philie. Practices will be made easier as well, since drills can be extended without tiring their only goalie. “We’ve got a really young team this year, and a lot of energy and talent.”

This attitude is helpful heading into the DA girls’ hockey tournament, a holiday invitational, on the weekend of the 18th. Big Green will face off against the National Sports Academy, Nichols, and the Kingswood-Oxford teams in the tournament.

Boys Battle Hardwood Hardships

By NASTASSIA ADKINS Staff Writer This year, boys’ varsity basketball will come under the new stewardship of Coaches Conrad Pitcher and Matt Langione. Both played competitive high school basketball and Mr. Pitcher has served as the varsity team’s assistant coach for the past three years, alongside last years Head Coach Dave Powers. Mr Langione served as the boys’ thirds coach last year.

Last season the team played 24 games, finishing with a record of 9 wins and 15 losses.

This season, the team is stacked with a completely upperclassmen

group consisting of a very strong junior class headed by returning contributors Jimmy Bitter, Yianni Grupen, Kyle Kager, and Andrew Sutphin.

Conner Scott ’10 is the team’s sole captain, although they may elect another.

The team will certainly miss the leadership of Will Workman, a PG who played a big role in the team’s success last year and now plays at Amherst College. However, Coach Pitcher asserted, “We have enough depth and talent to be a very strong team.”

Alongside a strong core group of returning players, five PGs join the roster to lay the foundation for a suc-

cessful season. Among them are Connor Arnold, Justin Dana, Will Hall, Christian Walsh and Trevor Wheeler. In addition, Hayes Gifford ’10 and Seth Stegelmann ’11 will step up from JV to join the team.

Unfortunately at the outset of the season, the team has been plagued by injury with Scott healing from a lingering shoulder injury from football season and Arnold and Walsh also battling injuries. Luckily, most of these injuries are close to being healed, meaning these players with be able to contribute sooner rather than later.

“I’m excited about a season with a number of talented players.” said Mr. Pitcher

that these are not fighting words.

These are the absurd claims made by each student body in order to poke fun at the other institution.

It seems that many have felt the line has been crossed now that this war of words has been put into actual print. But let us not forget some of the things that go on during the highly anticipated “Choate Week.” We present a “dead Choatie” after a sitdown meal. We tell humorous stories of a Boyden-esque figure fighting off wild boars in ancient times. Finally, we conclude the week with an actual burning of the “C.” All three of these events are cheered on fiercely by Deerfield students who embrace the chance to be more or less barbarians when they are covered in green an white paint.

This is all part of a rivalry, and in this case a very historical and very heated one. It is also one where it is apparent that it has become a rivalry in which words sometimes speak louder than action, and I should have taken the responsibility to make sure that didn’t happen.

After losing their top two scorers and head coach from last year, just about everyone on the girls’ varsity basketball team will play an unfamiliar role this year. However, the players and coaches alike are embracing this challenge, and plan on returning to the New England playoffs for the second year in a row.

With the departure of Head Coach Kimberly Libby, Darnell Barnes will be taking on the head coaching position, joined by Julianne Schloat as assistant coach.

Mr. Barnes has been coaching for seven years, many of which were spent in Atlanta, Georgia at Frederick Douglas High School. Mr. Barnes was also an all-conference and all-state selection in high school, where he scored over 1,000 points in his career.

Looking to this upcoming season, Coach Barnes has been stressing team defense, and a fast-paced style as the main coaching points early in the season.

“We are going to play up-tempo this year with an intense defense.

There will be a lot of full-court pressure, which we hope will force the other team into mistakes,” said Mr. Barnes. “We will be very tough this year.”

Jacque Hulburd ’10 made it obvious that plans for a fast-paced style of play meant being well conditioned.

“We have a lot of important tournaments coming up before winter break, so it is important for us to be in shape.”

The two captains, Luigia Goodman ’10 and Caroline Dickey ’10, bring much-needed experience to the team, as they are both three-year letter winners. “Luigia will be the biggest contributor this year, as she is our best player. She even committed to Williams College earlier this year to play basketball,” said Mr. Barnes Mr. Barnes also has faith in his two young starting guards, Rosemary Straut ’11 and Ali Schulz ’12. Schulz is returning from an ACL tear suffered last year, while Straut was also sidelined for much of the season with lower back injuries. They are both excited to be healthy and to work together in the backcourt, hoping to drive the team into the playoffs.

“We are looking pretty good. We are going to play a more defensive game this year with many different lineups and strategies that we hope will confuse our opponents,” said Schulz.

Last year the team made it to the New England playoffs, but lost in the first round of the tournament. The team knows they will have to beat some of the tougher opponents who they have struggled against in the past, and they have already started circling their big games on the schedule which include NMH and Andover, and of course Choate, which will be the last home game for the girls.

Coach Barnes spoke for all the girls when he said, “I’m excited. This is a wonderful opportunity, and Coach Schloat has been great to work with. I am hoping that in a few years we will be able to talk about our girls’ basketball team in the same way as our lacrosse and water polo teams.”

Clough Quickly Making a ‘Splash’

By RITCHEY HOWE Staff Writer When walking by the Koch pool, you would likely see a young diver bouncing ten feet off of the board.

He is performing his favorite dive; the “three and one-half tuck flip.” He flips three times before hitting the water and makes it look easy. Taylor Clough, a freshmen diver from Westin, MA, already appears to be a strong asset to the Deerfield diving team.

Clough started diving when he was nine-years-old at his summer country club. As his interest in the sport increased, he started to dive year-round in the Boston area. “At home, I put in about twenty hours a week and nearly four-hundred crunches per day,” said Clough.

Last year, he finished second at the Massachusetts state championship diving meet and eighth place in an international meet held in Canada. He has also received All-American status, which is given to the top one-hundred divers in the country. So far, Clough has been to eleven national events, competing on the one meter and three meter boards, and he doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon.

“I almost quit when I was twelve because I didn’t like my coach. But with encouragement from my dad I stuck with it and I’m thankful for it.”

Clough has an unusual approach to the dive, which he learned from

from a Chinese Olympian. This approach helps lighter divers get just as high off the board as more heavyset divers. “It is unique but he pulls it off,” said teammate Georgina Hutchins ’12 on Clough’s unorthodox technique.

His approach, although accepted in national meets, is unique in the NEPSSA league (New England Prep School Swimming and Diving). Many of the NEPSSA officials question its validity and have deducted points because of it.

Clough had the opportunity to attend an Olympic development program where he could have pursued Olympic dreams. Instead, he decided to come to Deerfield where he could focus more on academics. Had he stayed at his old public school, Clough would have gone to “two practices a day and would have skipped school to attend national and regional meets.”

So far, the rest of the diving team has embraced Clough not only as a good teammate, but another coach.

“It is helpful to have a teammate who is my age with such high caliber.

It’s almost like having a second coach to help me out when Head Coach Mary Ellen Clark isn’t there. He definitely takes some of the pressure off,” said Kellam Witherington ’12.

Although the boys’ swim team lost nine team members at the end of last season, Clough will help the boys in their season where they hope to defend their New England title.