Search this site

Dear Reader, Oh, how time flies! The 2016-2017 school year is rapidly coming to an end, and that means saying goodbye to the incredible Class of 2017. This class has gracefully embodied their theme “Fam17y” by reaching out and touching the lives of many members of the younger classes. As members of the Class of 2018, we hope that our class will follow suit and continue to emphasize the familial atmosphere on this campus. Along with the Class of 2017, we bid farewell to a number of faculty and staff members who have left their mark on Deerfield through their commitment both in and out of the classroom. Among these departing faculty members is History Teacher Mr. Thomas Heise, who is retiring from Deerfield after 28 years of riveting discussions and thought-provoking assignments. Throughout his time here, he has deeply impacted the lives of his students and has shaped them into thoughtful citizens of the world. This year, both of us have had the tremendous privilege of taking his Honors U.S. History class. Without a doubt, we and all his former students will deeply miss his “good for you’s”, witty sense of humor, and unwavering commitment and compassion. To all members of the Deerfield community, we know that goodbyes can be difficult. As Commencement grows ever nearer, we urge you simply to enjoy these last few days and thank everyone who has made a positive impact on your life, no matter how big or small. To the Class of 2017, we thank you for leaving a positive mark on this campus and wish you the best as you pursue your passions and embark on new adventures. All the best, Kevin Chen and Jillian Carroll Editors-in-Chief P.S. We would also like to thank Karen Tai for her tireless work during layout week and helping the new board smoothly transition into their roles. 🙂

Dear Margo, Rita, and Curtis, I don’t know what I am going to do next year without my proctors. They’re like older siblings to me. I am going to miss them so much. Sincerely, crowrat216 — Dear crowrat216, Ah, yes. The worst time of the year has come: graduation szn. It is time for the class of 2017 to leave the nest, to flap their wings, and to fly out into the real world. During this time we, as a school, often focus on the graduating class by paying tribute to their accomplishments… but let’s be real­—graduation is mostly about the three remaining grades that will be ditched. Graduation for the ninth-graders, tenth-graders, and juniors alike, is similar to a bad breakup—it comes in 6 phases: Denial : At first you’ll pretend the class of 2017 isn’t leaving. It will all feel like a bad dream. This is okay, but will soon lead to a rude awakening. Anger: You’re going to be angry at your seniors for leaving you behind in the valley. Try to channel that by punching your bed pillow. Tears: You’re going to cry. A lot. Own it. …More tears . Lots and lots of tears. Acceptance: Once the seniors have left campus, your pillow is bruised and beaten, and all your tears have dried, you will be forced to accept the fact that the seniors are gone. This phase comes with time. Finally, comes freedom: With each class that graduates, there is a new class of ninth-graders, bright- eyed and bushy-tailed, ready to take on the Academy. So, channel your inner proctor and take good care of the newbies. For the class of 2018: Although the class of 2017 were never our proctors, they have been there right there beside us for every step of the way throughout our Deerfield careers. They’ve seen us at our worst (think freshmen, socially awkward, and painfully bold) and they’ve helped us to become our best. So now, as graduation creeps up on us, let’s bid the class of 2017 farewell. Take all the wisdom and knowledge they’ve passed down to us since our days when freshman/sophomore halls ruled in 1 B.V. (before village) and honor the FAM17Y they created. For underclassmen: Speaking from experience, don’t try to hop in your proctor’s luggage. It does not, and will not work. Trust me, I’ve tried. Instead, I would recommend eating your sorrows away in the Greer. Don’t worry: we will always have Choate Day. Cheers, Margo, Rita, and Curtis (P.S. To the class of 2017: This is not goodbye…it’s see you later.)

History Teacher Mr. Michael Silipo has taught at Deerfield for 21 years and has coached numerous varsity sports during his time at Deerfield, including boys varsity football and boys varsity baseball. He is currently the head coach for boys varsity squash. He recounted his favorite athletic memory at Deerfield: A championship home football game in 2002 against the Hotchkiss School. He explained, “Deerfield got the ball first, scored in overtime, and then held [the Hotchkiss team] on the last play to win the game.” Mr. Silipo emphasized how much he loves to get to know all the different students and athletes at Deerfield: “Each year there are different personalities you have to work with, and that’s what makes it fun.” He explained, “When you teach, you’d like to believe that the kids are believing you, and I’ve had that sense that the kids believe me and trust me…that’s important. People have been really good to me.” Many students at Deerfield greatly appreciate the positive impact that Mr. Silipo has had on them. “Over the past two years of my Deerfield career, I have had the incredible opportunity of getting to know Mr. Silipo,” said Colin Olson ’19. “Ever since my first day in his classroom, Mr. Silipo has only heightened my interest in history and in learning by not only engaging with me in a light-hearted and encouraging way, but also by pushing me to come across ideas on my own and to grapple with them in my own way.” Olson also remarked on Mr. Silipo’s skill as an academic and personal advisor. “Mr. Silipo’s experience has not only been of invaluable worth, but his friendship has also helped me through many tough decisions and experiences,” he noted. “It is evident that he cares about the learning of each of his students and knows exactly how to push them to become better versions of themselves.” Carolyn Melvin ’18, who took Mr. Silipo’s Topics in Western Civilization course, felt similarly about Mr. Silipo. “Mr. Silipo sought to make meaningful connections with all of his students,” she said. “Both in and out of class, he is there for his students. I remember that at the end of the school year, Mr. Silipo took my Western Civilization class to his house for an end of the school year party. We played corn hole and drank lemonade. This experience was very meaningful for me, and it is a perfect example his dedication to his students and love of his job.” “Mr. Silipo not only transformed me into a better student, but also a more cosmopolitan citizen of our world,” Daniel Cui ’19 added. “By learning about Greece and Rome of antiquity and the roots of western civilization, I have gained a greater appreciation for the world we live in today. Mr. Silipo has greatly shaped the way in which I view the world, and I feel that I have a much better understanding of not only our past, but also our present and future, because of Mr. Silipo.” As for his future plans, Mr. Silipo hopes to continue coaching squash and do more cooking. He’s also an avid woodworker, and three out of four of his children live in Boston, so he hopes to spend more time with them and his two grandchildren. He will be speaking at Baccalaureate this year. Mr. Silipo said, “We’re really fortunate to have the type of young kids we have [at Deerfield] that care and want to do well.”

On May 7, 2017, France elected former French Minister of the Economy, Finance and Industry Emmanuel Macron, over National Front Party President Marine Le Pen to serve as the next President of France. Macron, founder of his party, En Marche!, stood out in the election as a centrist and liberal, a strong contrast to his opponent Le Pen, the leader of France’s far-right party. Le Pen’s father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, founded the National Front party and is notorious for his anti-semitic beliefs. While leader of the party, Jean-Marie proposed deporting three million immigrants, and denied the existence of the Holocaust. Le Pen eventually expelled her father from the party for his controversial statements, and steered the party away from anti-semitism. The French election caught the world’s eye as many claimed it could determine the future of the European Union. The United Kingdom, in 2016, voted to leave the EU, a decision Le Pen strongly agreed with. If she were elected as President, Le Pen stated that she would withdraw France from the “eurozone” and implement a new currency for the country, and while she didn’t want a full “Frexit,” she suggested to negotiate to restore French sovereignty under the EU. However, although President-elect Macron is a strong supporter of the EU, it is worth understanding why such anti-EU sentiment is growing in Europe. Spencer Rosen ’18, a student from London, responded to this sentiment, stating, “Brexit was based on anti-immigration. People are playing off the fear of islamic radicalism, and people have seen incidents in Sweden, or France, or even in the UK. People are equating radicalists with immigrants.” Anti-immigration ideology dominated other recent European elections. During March 2017, Geert Wilders gained popularity in the Dutch election with anti-Islamic, anti-immigrant rhetoric, proposing policies such as paying Muslim residents to leave the country. Wilders proposed leaving the EU in order to ensure less immigration. A similar shift was present in Denmark, where the New Right party proposed leaving the EU to further limit immigration. “It’s becoming a popular way for politicians to get new votes,” observed Angel Paes ’17, a Spanish post-graduate student. “They want to stop Syrian refugees because of a few uncorrelated incidents…They don’t want new people in their country.” Noah Lang ’18, also from Spain, described how the EU is advantageous from an economic point of view: “There is a ridiculous amount of corruption… Because of this, Spain benefits from there being an EU.” Paes elaborated, “Some ‘populists’ in Spain, they wanted to leave the EU, because of the economics and debt. Now it’s all about immigration, not economics.” While both Le Pen and Wilders lost their elections, their ideologies still play a significant role in European politics, while the UK is still on track to leave the EU. Paes described the impact of shifting voter demographics, stating, “I think in the future Europe will become very conservative, very anti-immigrant. People don’t know the power they have, [so] they are just voting on impulses.” However, Rosen holds a more hopeful stance: “I see the EU in 15 years being stronger than it has been in the last 15 years. I believe that my generation believes firmly in Europe, and is going to restore the power of the EU.”

Deerfield sports teams have found success by providing environments where each player has the opportunity to do their best. The camaraderie between all of the players goes beyond just practice and games. Some teams even have unique traditions before games in order to boost morale and enthusiasm. Here are the pregame rituals of Deerfield’s varsity spring sports, as told by the players: Softball: Before each game, the softball team “normally plays really loud music, and [does] aga-chi right before we run onto the field to get everyone pumped up and ready for game time,” explained Ireland Miessau ’17. Baseball: According to Javier Irizarry ’19, varsity baseball “gets in a circle and a senior says a prayer.” This gives the team an opportunity to calm down and come together as a group. Girls Lacrosse: Bailey Cheetham ’19 described, “Before we walk down to the field, the whole team gets in a circle in the locker room and one girl starts screaming and then the girl next to her starts screaming and it goes around the circle until everyone is yelling. Then, the captains follow up with a little speech.” Boys Lacrosse: Captain Brian Davis ’17 said, “One of the longest standing traditions for our team has been following a bagpiper down to the field for our biggest home games. Also, every Friday night after practice in the spring, there are vans that go to Antonio’s in Greenfield, so we can share some quality food together.” Girls Tennis: Before every match, the girls varsity tennis team “sits in a circle, closes [their] eyes, and listens to a speech given by our coach that has been given before every match for a very long time. Then, after he leaves, we do a sort of hand and foot game that goes twice around the circle,” as told by Claire Koeppel ’18. Boys Tennis: “We always get super hyped during the handshake and then in the huddle when Mr. Speer gives his speech,” explained Connor Finnemore ’18. Golf: “Before every match, Garrett Moe sings ‘Sweet Child o’ Mine’ acappella, which is a big tradition that gets us hyped,” tells captain Lowell Weil ’18. Water Polo: Doris Zhang ’18 commented that “before every game, our team does the aga-chi agacha cheer to get us excited.” Ultimate Frisbee: Iqbal Nurjadin ’18 describes the frisbee team’s “gauntlet” as “everyone getting into two lines to form a tunnel. Then the coach calls the names of the starters, and they all high five the team through the line. Afterwards, we bring it in for a cheer.” Boys Crew: “We don’t have any team traditions before every race, but every year on the bus to New Englands, the captains of the current year read letters to the team from the captains of the previous year,” described Captain Freddie Johnson ’17. Girls Crew: Captain Anna Scott ’18 explained that “right at the start [of each race] we always high five down the boat from stroke to coxswain, dump out our one water bottle that we share at the start (so there is no extra weight in the boat), and wear our Crocs!” Track: “To get ready for meets we usually all jog together, and someone plays music really loud, and we all just talk,” explained captain Felicia Renelus ’17.

“Lives of Meaning” is a club here at Deerfield Academy run by students and supported by Mr. Jan Flaska, the Dean of Spiritual and Ethical Life. As explained by Mr. Flaska, the club’s intention is to “examine the life we are living in order to live it well.” The members of the club hail from many different faiths, including Theravada Buddhism, Catholic Christianity, Protestant Christianity, Hinduism, Sunni Islam, and Reformed Judaism. Lives of Meaning enables students to share their own unique, valuable perspectives, enriching their own lives and the lives of others. Mr. Flaska further explained, “[The club aims to provide] a safe and supportive space to assess one’s life through a lens that acknowledges our human existence as inextricably linked, both to those that have cared for us and for our environment in the past, and to who we will be to those that we meet in the future. In a word, Lives of Meaning builds community.” To Sally Siripiphat ’17, the club exposes students to various religions to foster diverse understanding. For example, Siripiphat explained that the group sometimes meditates and listens to Hindu songs to gain enriching lessons from a wide range of exposure. As a group, the members have realized the importance of seeking understanding from multiple perspectives as part of that process. Siripiphat stated, “There are probably many paths that lead you to their own meaning of life. It’s about understanding other religions and yourself.” With each background bringing a unique experience and perspective, Siripiphat highlighted her own experience of being a Buddhist from Thailand, which she learned through the club, is different in practice than being a Buddhist from Japan. She further explained, “There is beauty in this individuality, which the club acknowledges in its explicitly pluralistic approach where participants regularly ponder the great questions of human existence and experience…. acknowledging many paths to a transformative destination, and many names for that unified and essential presence somewhere beyond this moment, somehow seeking to be known.”

After the school bell signals the end of a period, we hastily cram our books into our bags, rush out of the classrooms, and squeeze our way through the clogged paths to the buildings where our next classes take place. Every extra minute we waste on “travel time” will earn us a frown from our next teacher and stain our attendance record with two more APs. It’s in moments like these that the temptation to take a shortcut across the grass straight to our destination begins to grow. Let’s weigh the pros and cons of giving in to this temptation. While cutting across the grass brings us faster to where we need to be, doing so won’t save us more than a minute on a campus like Deerfield’s, where school buildings are clustered relatively close together. The one minute we do save, however, comes at a high cost. By trampling on the tender shoots that have just sprouted from recently planted seeds, we crush the soil in which they’re growing. In turn, the denser soil exerts a pressure on the seedling cells that the developing cell walls can’t support. Although it’s true that, thanks to its remarkable resilience, some grass can thrive under the weight of our feet, it stands no chance against consistent damage. Unfortunately, the most efficient path between two locations on campus often requires us to walk across the grass. And if we continue to use it like a real path, we will transform it into one in no time, carving out a long, soil-brown scar on Deerfield’s lush, green lawn. This would be especially unfortunate around the time of Commencement, when we ideally want our campus to look its best. Even if, for some of us, the beauty of our campus doesn’t occupy a high place on our list of priorities, we should still take a minute to consider all the time and effort that the Physical Plant has invested in making sure that every seedling grows in the right place, receives the right amount of water and nutrients, and sprouts at the right time. Instead of nature’s work, we should remember that each of these seedlings is the result of professional human care, which we have no right to destroy. As hard-working Deerfield students, we can imagine too well what it would feel like if our teachers gave us an F on the paper we’ve been mulling over all week. Meanwhile, the Physical Plant has been tending our grass fields for months. When we stomp all over these fields, we’re giving their work the equivalent of the abhorred F that none of us wants to receive on a paper. Many of us used to be chronic grass-crossers, including myself. However, after the Physical Plant’s repeated requests that we change the bad habit, we can’t keep pretending that we’re unaware of the trouble we’re causing them when we ravage our campus. Nevertheless, when we see others tread on forbidden ground, we let their actions dictate our own and proudly trail behind them, reasoning that the option the crowd chooses must be a safe one, if not a right one. Subconsciously, most of us know that following the crowd doesn’t justify our individual decisions, but right and wrong no longer matter when we’re guaranteed that the crowd will take on the burden of our responsibility for those decisions. As proven by many students and faculty members who have reminded us to stay off the grass over the past few weeks, our community members still hold some respect for the work of the Physical Plant as well as for our environment and its role in the Deerfield experience. If all of us just go the extra mile to do the same, we will see our collaborative effort reflected in a greener campus.

Edrik Lopez After teaching English at Fairfield University, Dr. Edrik Lopez brought 17 years of experience to Deerfield in the fall of 2016. Mr. Lopez explained that he “had to reorient [himself] to secondary education” in coming to Deerfield and while he “thought it might be tough to adjust,” he emphasized that “this year was the most rewarding teacher year [he’s] been blessed with. Deerfield brought back the joy in teaching for me.” He was “unable to find a way to move [his] family up [to Deerfield], and a job opened at a Connecticut school that shall not be named,” where he’ll be next year with his family. He emphasized that he leaves Deerfield with two impressions: “Deerfield students are brilliant and intellectually courageous; and they are funny and soulfully caring…[and] Deerfield’s leaders work very hard for the student body. They not only grind it out on the daily tasks of keeping the school functioning, but they also care about the vision and mission of the school.” He said, “Deerfield is an incredible place, and it is easy for me to say it is the best place I have taught at…Deerfield transformed me.” Sarah Tarrant Madden After three years of service as a college advisor and a dedicated boys and girls water polo and swimming coach at Deerfield, Ms. Sarah Tarrant Madden will be heading to the Hopkins School in New Haven, Connecticut to continue her work as a college advisor. Throughout her time at Deerfield, Ms. Madden has impacted many students. Maddie Blake ’17, JV swim captain and water polo player remarked, “Ms. Madden is a special coach because she is dedicated to helping every player on her teams succeed. Ms. Madden has brought an unparalleled level of experience and enthusiasm to the pool, and she will be greatly missed.” Doris Zhang ’18 further explained, “Ms. Madden really focuses on each individual player’s strengths and weaknesses, helping everyone improve regardless of what level they’re starting at. Also, she is great at making practices intense but also fun and light-hearted at the same time.” Uwa Ede-Osifo ’18 added, “Ms. Madden is very down to earth and kind which really helps when beginning the broad process of applying to college. Her advice is very straightforward and honest, which her college advisees appreciate.” “Ms. Madden was a strong voice of reason who I could confide in about any topic,” Evan Santos ’17 said. “She consistently kept me as well as the other PGs in our dorm on a straight path, reminding us of our goals at Deerfield.” Ms. Madden remarked, “I will miss the boys in New Dorm, my wonderful college advisees and stellar academic advisees, the [water] polo and swim teams, plus many generous colleagues here at DA.” Alice Grimm Math teacher Ms. Alice Grimm arrived at Deerfield in the fall of 2015 and has taught several classes including Linear Algebra and Fourier Analysis. She has also aided the math team enormously as its faculty advisor. Reflecting on her Deerfield experience, Ms. Grimm stated, “[I will] miss terribly [my] amazing colleagues who have done so much to support [me] over the past two years.” She remembers fondly when, on the day of the Pulse shooting during summer vacation, a student reached out to her by email to reassure her of her place at Deerfield. Ms. Grimm recalls one of the most memorable conversations she has had at Deerfield: “One of our students, a young black woman, asked me if I felt like my queerness fundamentally shaped the way that I experience Deerfield. I made a confused face and she offered that for her being black palpably affected every aspect of her experience at Deerfield. I’ll remember that moment of solidarity and vulnerability for a long time.” She will remember the GSA meetings, commenting, “you all give me life!” Although her future plans are “not firmly established, which is both exciting and terrifying,” Ms. Grimm hopes to teach at an independent day school near a major city. Charlotte Patriquin Ms. Charlotte Patriquin, Library Director, arrived at Deerfield in fall of 2013 and has played an instrumental role in the running of the library, aided by her previous experience of working at the Mount Holyoke, Beloit College, and DePaul University libraries. She will be departing with a “great respect and appreciation for Deerfield.” She noted that “it was especially meaningful to have participated in the Boyden Library renovation project from concept to reality,” which concluded when the library reopened last winter. Ms. Patriquin emphasized that “this is a very special place, and I feel privileged to have been a part of it for the last few years.” Her future plans include “getting more deeply involved in the community, doing more traveling, and learning new things.” Ms. Patricia Kelly, Assistant Director of the Library, commented, “During her tenure, Mrs. Patriquin challenged the library staff to think on a higher level and review their best practices for customer service, analysis of the library collection, and information literacy. Teaching Fellows: Meghan Jimenez Science Teaching Fellow Ms. Meghan Jimenez joined Deerfield in fall of 2015 and has taught a variety of classes from Physics IA to Robotics. After two years of teaching at Deerfield, Ms. Jimenez will be joining the faculty of the Wheeler School in Providence, Rhode Island next year where she will teach engineering and robotics and running the Design-Innovate-Build Lab, which is similar to Deerfield’s iLab. Ms. Jimenez will miss seeing students “in different contexts” and “knowing people beyond the classroom,” such as having a student on her team, in her class, and in the iLab at night. She has loved “seeing the kids in [her] class come up with these really cool ideas for projects and just making them happen even though they’re absolutely not normal high school projects,” including a remote-controlled surfboard, a drone that follows the user around, and a hockey puck launcher. Ms. Jimenez said, “I’m really excited for the future, but also really grateful for everything that I’ve learned here.” Kayla Corcoran During her time at Deerfield, History Teaching Fellow Ms. Kayala Corcoran ’10 has taught African and Latin American History and has been a vital member of the Inclusion Committee. Next year, she will be teaching at the Lawrenceville School in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. She feels that she has found her home at Deerfield and is saddened to be leaving. Ms. Corcoran added, “Getting to work with Deerfield teachers, the people who inspired me to do what I’m doing right now, has really been an honor.” A highlight for her was teaching in Tanzania over spring break on a Global Studies trip. She said, “I’ve seen students do really good work and really participate genuinely in learning and embracing what is different…I hope that every student and every teacher gets to do something like that at some point in their educational careers.” A fun fact: Ms. Corcoran didn’t get any APs while a student at Deerfield. She went out to Thai Blue Ginger with Mr. Flaska’s assistant in the Dean’s Office her senior year and, laughing, said that getting no APs is “possible, kids, so don’t tell me it’s not!”

On Thursday, April 20, the sound of scissors snipping and razors buzzing radiated through the dining hall foyer. Students and faculty alike ran their hands over their heads with surprise and laughter on their faces. Over three hundred people crowded around waiting for their turn. For every head shaved, or at least four inches of hair cut off, the Hale family donated 1,000 dollars to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to benefit pancreatic cancer research. Brett Hale ’18 explained that since her grandfather passed away from pancreatic cancer, her family has been passionate about raising awareness about the devastating disease. Brett said that her family started the Saving by Shaving initiative in hopes of involving “as many people as possible in fighting this lethal disease.” Brett observed that the event brought the whole school together. After noticing the event’s success at Deerfield two years ago, the Hale family wanted to organize the event again this year. “Everyone was in such high spirits after, and I think for the people who participated in the event we all felt connected to each other through our hair. It has always helped to comfort people who know loved ones fight cancer, and after [the event], they know they have a whole community supporting them,” Brett stated. This year, 356 people participated in the Saving by Shaving event, which raised $356,000 in total. Hale stated, “The fact that 356 people were willing to shave/cut their hair shows how special Deerfield is.” On April 27, DA gathered at the track for a Cancer Connection fundraising event. For every completed lap, one dollar was donated to Cancer Connection in Northampton, which helps individuals and families affected by cancer. Following the “survivor lap,” hundreds of students and faculty walked the track. Students in the Cancer Connection planning committee sold Richardson’s ice cream, with profits going to Cancer Connection. Games and raffles also took place. Lily Horowitch ’17, a student leader on the Cancer Connection committee, commented, “So many people at Deerfield have had loved ones affected by cancer and it is [a topic that is] close to everyone. Cancer can be hard for families and friends to deal with, and Cancer Connection provides a space for them to process everything. What is so special is that all of their services are free.” The event raised awareness in addition to funds. Horowitch explained that the Cancer Connection event was their “only fundraiser [this year] because the [Center for Service and Global Citizenship] tries to focus more on awareness to stay away from people handing over their Greer cards without thinking about the cause.” Assistant Director of the CSGC Heather Wakeman also believes that community participation was crucial to raising awareness. The CSGC chose “a local organization so it could have more of that community engagement and personal feel.” At the event, Ms. Wakeman not only saw a “clarity of purpose,” but also “a lot of people enjoying themselves in the process.” In addition to the impacts both events had on cancer research and anyone affected by cancer, the events impacted the Deerfield community. Ms. Wakeman hoped that “students walk away…thinking about the questions ‘what is my purpose?’ and ‘what am I excited about?’ or ‘what problems or global issues do I want to contribute to solving?’” Ms. Wakeman believes that these events on campus prompted students to become “civically engaged and [think] about how and why to do so. [Civic engagement among students] is something I’m really passionate about and hope continues.”

Regular readers of may wonder how articles get assigned. Sometimes a writer has an idea for an article and asks to write it. Sometimes an editor assigns articles to the writing staff. And sometimes, there’s an article that no one wants to touch with a 10-foot pole, but someone will inevitably point to the one writer who has shown an interest in the topic in the past. This is one of those times, and I am that writer. Full disclosure: I actually suggested this topic, but that doesn’t mean I actually wanted to be the person to write it. The topic of Trump’s first 100 days has been covered in virtually every way possible — 100 days of lies, 100 days of insanity, 100 days of failure. The editorials just keep coming, and it feels difficult to add something unique to this discussion. But just in case you’ve been living under a rock for the past 100 days (or, you know, just being a Deerfield student studying for your AP exams), Donald Trump’s presidency hasn’t gotten off to a great start. Since day one, he has attempted to strip women and immigrants and many other minority groups of their rights. He has continually attacked and attempted to defund Planned Parenthood. In his new healthcare plan, sexual assault may be considered a “preexisting condition.” He attempted the well-known “Muslim ban” and has made life harder in practically every way for immigrants living in the United States. What does it say about Trump if he is content stripping women of healthcare and splitting up families who have lived in the United States for as long as they can remember? Trump has picked fights with our allies, including Germany and Australia, and has jeopardized our fragile relationship with China and provoked North Korea. He has started ridiculous Twitter wars in the middle of the night. He has appointed people to head agencies whose beliefs are at odds with those agencies’ very purposes. He has hired his own family members as top advisors, a hallmark of authoritarian regimes. He has continually attacked members of the media, labeling anything that he doesn’t agree with as “fake news.” Who would have predicted that electing a reality T.V. star with no government experience to the highest office in the land would be such a disastrous idea? Along with problematic policy decisions Trump has made, his hypocrisy about how citizens should react to his first 100 days is striking. Over the years, Donald Trump has frequently used a president’s first 100 days in office to assess their effectiveness and talent. He criticized how “little” Obama had accomplished during his first 100 days in 2009, using this to discredit him as a president. Yet in late April, he said, “It’s a false standard, 100 days, but I have to tell you, I don’t think anybody has done what we’ve been able to do in 100 days, so we’re very happy.” In just one sentence, Trump both contradicted everything he once said about the importance of a president’s first 100 days and then attempted to appeal to those people who will, in fact, judge him by his first 100 days. In fact, what’s remarkable about Trump’s first 100 days is the continuous contradictions between what he once said and what his actions now reveal. During the Obama administration, Trump tweeted dozens of times to attack Obama for golfing as president. Yet Trump went golfing 19 times during his first 100 days while Obama golfed only once during the same period. Ironically, Trump himself said in August 2016 that he was “going to be working for you… [and] not going to have time to play golf.” I guess he got that one wrong. His golfing obsession coupled with his frequent trips to Mar-a-Lago are costing taxpayers millions of dollars while he is cutting funding to necessary programs such as Meals on Wheels. But it’s not all doom and gloom. We, as citizens, do have a little bit of control and we have a duty, not just a right, to protest at this point in our country’s history. People across the country are jamming phone lines and leaving voicemails for their Congresspeople, Senators, the Secretary of State, the Department of Justice, and more. People are rising up and asking that GOP Congresspeople hold the Trump administration accountable for everything from the healthcare bill to the Russian hacking. We at Deerfield forget that we still have a voice and that even though many of us are not yet of voting age, words can matter.

Lily Fauver ’17 is a two sport-varsity athlete, competing for the Deerfield girls basketball and crew teams. So far this season, Fauver has been a key contributor to the crew team’s three first-place finishes. Next year, Fauver will continue rowing for Dartmouth College. Fauver’s beginnings in crew started with former Coach Eve Goldberg’s interest in her 6’1” height. Although she had never encountered the sport, Fauver decided to try it as a sophomore. She attended the crew pre-season trip at Jacksonville, Florida in 2015 after finding herself without a spring sport. During her first day on the water, she remembers feeling “terrified because the other boat got swamped and basically sunk.” However, even after that experience, Fauver grew to appreciate the sport. Now, two years later, Fauver leads the team as a crucial member. College advisor and head coach Melanie Onufrieff said, “Lily’s leadership is tied to her ability to stay calm under pressure and in the face of setback. She tackles obstacles with poise and without complaint, and as a coach I am very grateful to have Lily as the model of a strong and resilient teammate.” In addition to helping lead the first boat, Fauver sets an example for the novice rowers. Ella Holowesko ’20 described Fauver as someone who “is undoubtedly a leader giving everything from warm ups to races.” Holowesko also noted how supportive Fauver is and how devoted she is to the improvement of her teammates. Fauver attributes much of her success to the different coaches she has had, as well as the seniors from her first year with the sport. She recalls a particularly memorable moment: “There was one practice where there were two ergs, and we each had to row for a minute. We had to see who could go farther, and whoever won stayed on. I was on an erg with Claire Collins ’15 and Paige Cleary ’17, and Claire was going so hard that she didn’t get off the entire time. She won every single piece, and she was pulling so hard that she was crying at the end.” This memory inspired Fauver during her crew career. With the New England Championships and the Youth National Championships fast approaching, Fauver and the crew team hope to maintain their longheld tradition of success.

After graduating from Deerfield Academy, Andrea Leng ’15 went on to pursue English and art at Georgetown University. Leng has immersed herself in several of the studio art programs offered by the university and has created a Squarespace website to exhibit her artwork. Leng recalled a childhood intrigue with attending art exhibitions, and visiting galleries and museums. However, it was in Visual and Performing Arts teacher Mr. David Dickinson’s class at Deerfield that she truly realized her own artistic abilities. Leng noted, “Deerfield gave me confidence not only to pursue art, but also to exhibit my work online and in public spaces, to get the comments I needed to improve my technique.” Having been able to experiment with so many different mediums at Deerfield, she was also very comfortable with the majority of the projects she encountered once in college. In addition, Leng felt that she had an advantage over other students in her Georgetown art classes freshman year thanks to the rigor of Deerfield’s art program. Reflecting on her experience in Deerfield’s art classes, she commented, “Everything I learned from Mr. Dickinson haas proven very useful in college. I remember him telling me to take a figure drawing class with live models, and I ended up doing that the first semester of my freshman year. It really paid off.” Due to the classes Mr. Dickinson suggested for her, Leng was able to improve her drawing skills and simultaneously determine her specific artistic strengths, helping her decide what classes to focus on throughout the rest of her college career and which artistic interests to pursue in the professional art world. Leng is a frequent contributor of artwork and illustrations to different magazines and publications around the Georgetown campus. With regards to her own website, she noted, “It’s cool to be able to step back and see the work I’ve done over time, especially since being in college.” Leng is currently deciding between majoring or minoring in art. She is also considering a semester abroad to study art or a Sotheby’s semester program in London. In addition, Leng is thinking of going into development and marketing of museums or galleries, or working in an auction house. Regardless of where she ends up working after Georgetown, Leng hopes to find a position that has an overlap between art and business. She wants to be able to make use of her communication and writing skills in an art-related environment. Wherever Leng ends up, her roots will always be at Deerfield. She reiterated, “The skills I acquired in Mr. Dickinson’s class will continue to help me improve my artistic ability, and to pursue my passions in the field with confidence.” Leng is in the midst of planning a summer internship at the National Endowment for the Arts and hopes to start building her professional arts resume from there. To view the artwork that Leng has created at Georgetown, see her website, andrealeng.com.