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After graduation, Deerfield remains a large part of many alumni’s lives. Alumni play an important role in the Deerfield community, and some shape the realm of Deerfield athletics. Mike Trombley ’86, who pitched in the major leagues after attending Deerfield and Duke University, has volunteered to help college advisor and coach Steven August in coaching the boys varsity baseball team this season. Jared Pantalony ’18 describes Trombley as “someone I can look up to knowing how successful he was as a pitcher at Deerfield, in college, and later in the major leagues. He also gives good advice about pitching that has really helped me and has definitely made me a better pitcher.” Alumni achievements have proved inspirational for current Deerfield athletes. Girls varsity lacrosse coach Allison DiNardo said via email, “We love to follow our alumni’s collegiate careers and report their successes back to the team.” As athletes hear the stories of alumni successes, they feel inspired and gain a more profound appreciation for their predecessors. Specifically, the collegiate success of Elliot Gilbert ’16 at Washington and Lee University has been inspirational to the current girls varsity lacrosse goalies Maggie Tydings ’20 and Liv Mikesell ’20. As a freshman, Gilbert has started in 16 games for the Generals, ranks second in the nation with a 3.92 goals-against average and is 2nd in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference in save percentage (.505). Tydings said, “[Gilbert] played a key role in my [decision to attend Deerfield]…she is a great role model to have in the sport, and my position specifically, because I know that with hard work and dedication, you can succeed.” Mr. Drew Philie ’09 represents the impact athletically talented alumni can have on teams. After graduating in 2009 as a tri-varsity athlete at Deerfield and playing lacrosse for the University of Vermont, Mr. Philie returned to campus and currently coaches the football, hockey, and lacrosse teams. He has passed down wisdom on all three sports based off of his own experiences at DA. Ollie Hollo ’18 said, “One of the things Coach Philie always says to us in both football and lacrosse is: ‘It’s not what’s on the back of the jersey, it’s the name on the front that matters. Don’t play for yourselves but play for DA.’ Knowing that he also played for Deerfield makes that statement much more powerful.” Mr. Philie was recently named to the UVM Lacrosse 40th Anniversary Team as a result of his great accomplishments as the captain of UVM’s lacrosse team. Mr. Philie was a four-year starter and three-year captain at UVM, and during his college career, he scored a point in all but one game, ending with 176 points. As Deerfield alumni have continued to find success in their collegiate careers and beyond they also continue to return to Deerfield in hopes of inspiring and mentoring current athletes through.

To take two AP exams or to take seven? This is a decision that many rising juniors and seniors must make during the spring term. In the end, many resort to taking a healthy number of APs, but quite a few decide to take more than necessary through self-studying for classes that they might not even be interested in. And why? From what I’ve discerned, there are two reasons students often self-study: either to have an edge during the college process or out of pure curiosity. The college process is a game of cleverness and luck. To try to be the “best fit” for a certain college is a goal that many Deerfield students chase. And we often get lost in the game of trying to appear as perfect as we can. That’s almost undeniable. For example, student A would much rather turn in a 36 on the ACT than a 20. Why? Because from a young age, we are told from everyone around us to be the best version of ourselves and to put our best foot forward. And that’s when the game gets tricky – when you have to be yourself yet still find ways to win. Although we hear that we should showcase the best version of ourselves to colleges, we also have to keep in mind that the best version of ourselves is a happy version. If a Deerfield student is taking two AP exams and is kind, empathetic, inclusive, and most importantly, happy, then he/she will be much more successful in the long run compared to students taking seven APs, neglecting their personal happiness, and spending time with their noses in prep books, with their happiness correlating only to grades or test scores—material accomplishments. Is prestige more important than happiness? As for the college process, I believe that promoting different sides of a student is more valuable than just promoting his or her academic track. For example, showcasing personal skills, such as personality and self-awareness, rather than how many facts one can cram for an AP, only to lose the information a week later, is a more holistic and well-preserved case. Instead of taking two extra APs, why not get involved with other activities to better yourself and your community? One can take part in community service, join a club, read a book, or even spend a few extra hours sleeping. If those two APs are of genuine interest, then by all means, study. But if they’re not, then what’s the point? I personally do not see the value in staying up three extra hours every night to study for an AP on a subject that I hate. If one’s desire to stay awake is so strong, then it’s better to spend that time doing good for the entire community. The pursuit of knowledge should not be a selfish action. It should be selfless: I believe that it is every person’s duty to do something positive, meaningful, and/or impactful with the knowledge that they attain in their lives. Although there are times when, as students, we have to take classes we don’t love, our entire schedules should not revolve around things that we lack true interest in. This year, during a Martin Luther King Jr. Day workshop, I overheard a senior say that your daily life should serve you and your interests and that you shouldn’t be a slave to your schedule. It does more harm than good to spend seven periods and countless hours afterwards focusing on things you have no care for. Social pressure has a large influence on a Deerfield student. If a person’s friends are taking twice as many APs as him/her, then he/she might feel the pressure to take more. But it is important to remember that everyone is his/her own person. Everyone is unique. Everyone has something different going for him/her, whether that be music, sports, or research. It is important to remember that everyone has different goals and friends should not make their friends feel bad for not taking more or less APs. It’s a personal matter. I understand that junior year is said to be the hardest year at Deerfield. But that doesn’t mean that we have to perpetuate how hard and “dark” it supposedly is. Our time is what we make of it. And if we are not happy with how we spend our time, then we need to change something. Yes, it is important to challenge ourselves and open our minds to classes we’ve never taken before, as it helps us grow. But at the same time, it is also imperative to save time for the other activities that we love. And that is something that our friends and peers should be supportive of. We need to learn how to be content with what works for us as individuals and stop comparing ourselves to each other.

My perception of America changed a little when I came to Deerfield last year. Before then, all I knew about this country of which I am a citizen came from my American teachers and classmates, TV shows, and its occasional mentioning in the Chinese news. It was an odd experience, seeing the flag on every house, a church on every corner: life seemed to be a little different here. However, after almost a year of being immersed in these differences, it seemed that I had accepted them as normal. But my new cultural shock came earlier than I thought it would: on Memorial Day. I remember it was the day after Commencement, the seniors had left, and the campus felt just slightly empty. I hadn’t thought about it much. For me, it was a Monday that didn’t need a 7:30 AM alarm, a day without too much work or stress. All I had to do was show up to a series of events for approximately 2 hours. That’s it. Done. I could do the same this year, simply go through the motions one more time and call it a day. But the more I thought about it, the more it didn’t make sense to me. If US history and common sense had taught me anything, it was that war helps no one and can often be avoided if falsely perceived nationalism and exceptionalism have not pervaded the country. But on Memorial Day, we celebrate the “heroes” who willingly or unwillingly gave their lives to the wars that helped no one. We recount the unfortunate deaths of US soldiers overseas: World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the list goes on. We do not remember or attribute the slightest significance to those who died on the other side of the battlefield. After all, it was their own fault for standing in the way of democracy and liberty. At its core, Memorial Day is a holiday that celebrates and honors all the American soldiers who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. However, such a premise cannot stand under a system of American imperialism abroad that has ruined the lives of many. Those who died in Vietnam did not die an honorable death after participating in the systematic massacre of civilian lives and the destruction of entire villages. No, they were young men who were oblivious, desperate, or in support of the government’s immorality. To the country, their deaths should not be an excuse to hold parades and celebrations but rather, they should serve as a reminder of the horrors of war and imperialism. At Deerfield, we often celebrate ourselves as inclusive, understanding, and diverse. In the dining hall, we have 35 flags for the 35 different countries represented in the student body. We tell ourselves that this is inclusion, that we embrace difference, but when we celebrate Memorial Day, it seems like we forget that some of our students’ home countries have suffered through war because of American soldiers. As a global community, we know that nationalism and imperialism cannot be the future of this country. Yet, we are forced to come together to observe a day that glorifies such crimes committed in the name of patriotism. Why? Why must we, as a community, conform to a nation-wide tradition without stopping to think about the fundamental ideological reasons behind it? Don’t we have something better to do with our time? On May 29, 2017, instead of mindlessly gathering to celebrate Memorial Day, we can learn about the wars, about this country’s rights and wrongs, and how, as future leaders, we can prevent such atrocities from happening.

On Tuesday, April 18, Deerfield Academy hosted Cindy Pierce, a leading social educator on sexuality and healthy relationships. Complemented by a prior showing of , Pierce’s speech aimed to prepare seniors for their next step, specifically by raising awareness about sexual assault on college campuses. Mrs. Caroline Savage, Associate Director of Admission, helped facilitate the talk and explained that by coupling Ms. Pierce’s talk with , which presents “a scary reality of what could and does happen on college campuses,” students were provided “with awareness and tools necessary again to navigate the social landscape in college.” Health Teacher and Peer Counseling Director Kristin Loftus and football coach Brian Barbato also supervised the event, which symbolized the administration’s continued efforts to educate seniors before they enter university. English Teaching Fellow Anna Gonzales ’12 commends the school on its willingness to promote discussion and tackle the issue of sexual assault. “When I was a student, conversations around issues of consent were limited to health class, so it’s been encouraging to see more education on the topic,” Gonzales recounted. She continued, “There was no Deerfield Students Against Sexual Assault or even a Feminism club just four years ago, so it’s great that there are students doing work in those clubs in addition to the gender symposiums.” Mrs. Savage explained that Ms. Pierce’s visit “was really to prepare students for the college landscape and what to expect on college campuses in the fall in terms of sexual activity, drinking, and how those things can go hand-in-hand…it was taking a scary subject and giving seniors some tools to successfully navigate those waters.” President of Deerfield Students Against Sexual Assault Ellie Koschik ’17 attended the event and believed the administration’s invitation of Cindy Pierce was a positive endeavor. Koschik particularly appreciated Pierce’s advice for exercising awareness when safety feels threatened: “read the room.” Koschik commented, “Awareness has definitely increased rapidly in the last few years; especially since the [St. Paul’s School sexual assault case]…all boarding schools have taken it more seriously.” Mrs. Savage emphasized that “No matter what a girl wears, what a girl says, or what vibe she gives off, she never deserves to be assaulted or violated. However, I thought [Ms. Pierce] heeded a very wise warning: that there will be someone in the room who doesn’t understand that, and you need to be aware that that someone is out there.” While seniors interpreted and valued Ms. Pierce’s symposium in different ways, the administration maintains its commitment to education of sexual assault.

This year, Fatima Rashid ’19 has taken initiative to promote substance abuse awareness within the immediate Deerfield community and in the local Greenfield and Franklin County area with the help of Assistant Director of the Center for Global Service and Citizenship (CSGC) Ms. Heather Wakeman and Science/Health teacher Ms. Kristin Loftus. Rashid said, “I think that the reason why substance abuse awareness is relevant is because it [affects] people of different ethnicities, religions, and socioeconomic backgrounds.” Rashid also feels substance abuse awareness should be acknowledged and discussed at Deerfield. She stated, “I think substance abuse awareness is relevant to Deerfield because there are so many risk factors and pressures on kids here…they have their grades, families, and extracurricular activities…being able to tell kids that drugs and alcohol aren’t the only ways they can relieve themselves is really important.” Ms. Loftus additionally emphasized the importance of Rashid’s work by highlighting the lack of current knowledge about substance abuse. She specified, “We [the Deerfield community] rely on random presentations or a speaker or a workshop. Those are hit or miss and very infrequent…my wish is that Fatima’s group brings back what they’ve learned to campus and offers alternatives to students here and in terms of the choices they make.” Rashid began her work in substance abuse awareness at the age of 12, due to the effect it had not only in her own life but also in the lives of others close to her. Rashid explained her personal tie to the cause: after an accident with a drunk driver, she immediately felt a call to action. Shortly after, a similar experience shared with a close friend brought to light the gravity of the situation and the commonality in its effects. “I saw that there was a negative pattern surrounding these substances. This wasn’t just affecting me. It was affecting the people around me,” said Rashid. Five years later, Rashid was involved in multiple projects to promote substance abuse awareness. In her local community in the central valley of California, Rashid attends town hall meetings with her coalition to speak to her mayor. Through the relationships she established, Rashion was able to launch a“Red Ribbon,” week-long national campaign each year, bringing the national campaign for substance abuse awareness close to home in order to reach out to children and adults. Additionally, last September, she organized a conference in her local area in California after months of planning and communication with other advocacy groups. Approximately 500 people attended the conference to learn about the causes and effects of marijuana abuse. Rashid continued to pursue her goals at Deerfield by reaching out to the CSGC and forming the Deerfield Substance Awareness Group. Referring to her first meeting with Rashid during winter of 2016, Ms. Wakeman recalled that Rashid informed her about the work she had done in her home community and expressed her wish to educate others. Ms. Wakeman spoke of her first impression of Rashid specifically and stated, “I saw a student passionate about a topic and [aimed] to make her feel empowered that she could make a difference.” Since this initial meeting, Rashid has worked with both Ms. Wakeman and Ms. Loftus to establish connections with members of coalitions in the Franklin County area and motivate Deerfield students to become involved in substance abuse awareness efforts by joining her group. During this process, the three collaborated to develop the requisite skills for writing an effective proposal, contacting adults in the local area outside of Deerfield, and implementing Rashid’s original plan in a doable way. Clarifying the demands of this endeavor, Rashid remarked, “The members of the CSGC help you actualize all the steps you need to take to reach a goal. You have to get into contact with other people. There’s a lot more than saying you want to do something. You need to answer how you can keep your goal going and make it sustainable.” Currently, the Deerfield Substance Abuse Awareness Group is active with around 18 members and has already had a few introductory meetings. Elaborating on the future of this group, Rashid mentioned that students will be able to contact important individuals off campus and attend policy change hearings. Rashid specified, “Our group not only raises awareness about substance abuse, but it also teaches professionalism and how to work with adults.” Finally, Rashid encouraged any students interested in substance abuse prevention work to contact her and initiate a conversation. Ms. Loftus added that increased knowledge about substance abuse is key in the Deerfield community. Referring to her own personal experience, Ms. Loftus stated, “We have so much to learn. Particularly at Deerfield, we are an equation that equals a risk for addiction. A lot of our students are in that equation, so we need to do a better job in supporting them.”

For the first time, the von Auersperg Gallery is hosting a student art exhibition, comprised of work from students both inside and out of the arts program. “Interpretations: Student Exhibition” opened for display on April 2, and will remain open until May 1. The common thread for the students creating works for this gallery display was to build off of Deerfield’s permanent art collection and to derive inspiration from the architecture around Deerfield’s campus. The exhibit was curated by Visual and Performing Arts Department Chair Ms. Lydia Hemphill and Studio Art teacher Mrs. Mercedes Taylor. For years, Ms. Hemphill and Mrs. Taylor have devoted themselves to the von Auersperg Gallery, significantly contributing to the gallery’s success. Ms. Hemphill and Mrs. Taylor elected to defer the selection of an artistic theme for this student exhibit to the Visual and Performing Arts Department (VPA); the department chose to focus on exhibiting artwork created in response to Deerfield’s permanent art collection. Studio Art teacher Mr. David Dickinson explained how he incorporated the exhibit’s theme into his assignments and noted that he decided to “add some humor to the phrase: ‘Art is for the Birds!’ … given the seriousness of the exhibit.” Mr. Dickinson gave his students the task of recreating Pop Art images, in the spirit of the Russell Collection’s Andy Warhol paintings on display, and turning them into 3D birds. The 3D recreation is something he enjoys teaching, as it pushes students to think outside the box. In giving this Pop Art bird assignment, Mr. Dickinson’s primary goal was for students to recognize that there is a wide range of imagery, intent, and technique in professional, as well as student work. Ines Bu ’18, a Post-AP Topics art student, recalled that she became “better acquainted with more people in [her] class,” as a result of the partnerships formed, and that the assignment itself, “was a worthwhile experience due to the learning process it involved.” According to Ms. Hemphill, the idea for a spring showcase of student artwork came about as a result of “several requests for a student art exhibition.” She stated , “Initially, the VPA department didn’t work it into the cycle in the von Auersperg gallery, but since there aren’t [any] other Hess Center gallery spaces at the moment that can display student artwork, it made sense to include an annual student show beginning this spring.” Since the student art exposition will now be an annual event, Ms. Hemphill noted that she, as well as the rest of the VPA Department “are already thinking about ideas for next year and will be sharing it with students in the fall so they have time to work on pieces that might be considered for the exhibition next March.” This exhibit is a sample of the talent among the Deerfield student body, especially with the considerable range of mediums used and technique displayed among students from various classes. The creative connection Mr. Dickinson encouraged in combining Warhol’s works and the 3D birds was particularly appealing to students. Due to the influence of these annual student art exhibits, Deerfield is hopeful that more students will pursue their artistic passions with the art department in the future.

When news broke out of the Dutch elections, where the far right party, Party for Freedom, was defeated, I rushed into my friend’s room eager to discuss the major event, as we would normally do with any eye-catching headlines. “Did you see the results of the Dutch elections today?” I asked my friends. “Geert Wilders and his far right party failed to win the majority of the seats in parliament!” To my dismay, my friends stared at me as if I had just spoken to them in a foreign language. “Who is Geert Wilders?” asked my best friend, who seemed to always be on top of every piece of news. In our Deerfield community, we are so constantly bombarded with work to fit into our tight schedules that it may seem difficult to find the time to read multiple news articles everyday. However, based on the recent successes of the “current events quizzes” preceding school meetings, a majority of the student body seems thoroughly informed on important headlines that dominate media outlets in the United States. For many students, smartphone notifications offer convenient access to these recent headlines. Curated news headlines from US media outlets provide only snippets of information, often leading to limited knowledge of major issues, especially those concerning international issues. In a nation where any mention of the recently elected American president will grab the headlines of media networks, the news many Deerfield students consume tends to focus on political and social issues in the domestic sphere of the United States. I wish not to downplay the importance of American news in the era of President Trump, but rather to urge a further exploration of events beyond American borders. One of the largest conflicts of our generation, the Syrian War, is an ongoing civil war that began in 2011 and has displaced over 10 million people, according to the United Nations. I have full confidence that the student body is thoroughly aware of the destructive conflict in the Middle East. However, the extent of knowledge on the issue seems to be restricted to American efforts in the war. The recent chemical attacks by President Assad on his own Syrian people led Trump to launch cruise missiles against the Assad regime, immediately dominating headlines in major US media outlets. Not to soften the importance of Trump’s controversial decision, but it may be additionally beneficial to read about the impact of President Assad’s decisions on the relationships between Middle Eastern countries or about the perspectives of European nations on the humanitarian crisis. A further apprehension of the impact of the Syrian War allows for a better understanding of the potential solutions to this massive issue. This year saw the Dutch general elections take place in mid-March, while two other major elections in France and Germany are set to follow in April and September respectively. In the Netherlands, Geert Wilders’s right wing party failed to win the majority of seats, with Mark Rutte’s People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy taking the victory instead. Following the UK’s controversial decision to leave the European Union, the next two major elections in Europe could play a massive role in determining the fate of the EU. In these elections, we see a continuation of the trend of governments moving towards the right wing, where major parties are pushing for their respective nations to leave the EU. The dismantling of the EU would create massive implications for the rest of the world, bringing into question the economic security of less stable European economies as well as the prospect of peace between major powers of Europe and countries such as the United States and China. The list of major international issues that receive considerably less attention than domestic events continues: the famine in East Africa affecting millions, the conflict over the territorial dispute of the South China Sea, and mounting tensions with North Korea’s nuclear threat. All of the aforementioned issues can dramatically shift American foreign policy, as President Trump decides the role that America will play in these issues. I believe in the added benefit of taking the time to read more about international issues, from sources such as Al-Jazeera to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). Both learning about these issues and gaining foreign perspectives on the United States’ role in them leads to a much more thorough understanding of major events. It can be difficult to stay up to date on the events that take place well beyond the bubble of our community while our schedules are being consistently piled on with work. But the impact of these issues on current American foreign policy and our future lives cannot be adequately conveyed. In its own mission statement, Deerfield stresses the importance of “leadership in a rapidly changing world that requires global understanding.” Our highly globalised society can no longer have its constituents isolated with their minds focused only on domestic events. Today, with unprecendented access to technology and information, there is great potential for youth to drive social change. It has always seemed that the interconnectedness of our world would lead us to a time where international news equals the importance of national news. Our generation has the agency to turn this idea into a reality as no epoch in history represents the aforementioned time period as brazenly as our own era.

On April 13, Choate Rosemary Hall announced that at least 12 former teachers had sexually assaulted students in a decade-long pattern of abuse and misconduct. Nancy Kestenbaum of Covington & Burling LLP, a former federal prosecutor, led a investigative team that spent seven months reviewing 23,000 pages of documents and interviewing more than 100 students, faculty, alumni, and trustees. The result was a 48-page report released on Thursday to Choate’s board of trustees. The alleged abuse highlighted by the report ranges from inappropriate touching and kissing to sexual intercourse and rape. It delves into details of many different cases. In one case from the early 1980s, a young female student contracted herpes from an English teacher. In another episode, a Spanish teacher is said to have raped a 17-year-old student after drinking heavily with a group of students. At the time of the assaults, no teacher misconduct was reported to the police. Although some teachers resigned after being confronted, multiple teachers went on to work at other schools after leaving Choate. For instance, French teacher Björn Runquist worked at the Kent School until 2013 after sexually abusing a student at Choate in 1992. “The detailed content of this report is devastating to read,” Choate board member Michael J. Carr wrote in a letter to the school’s community. “One can only have the greatest sympathy and deepest concern for the survivors. The conduct of these adults violated the foundation of our community: the sacred trust between students and the adults charged with their care.” Choate has released the full investigative report in a “commitment to transparency.” They are just the latest in a string of more than five dozen private schools in New England that have recently faced accusations of sexual harassment. In the past several decades, Deerfield has received claims and suits alleging misconduct by three former employees: art teacher Robert Bliss, math teacher Peter Hindle, and English teacher Bryce Lambert. The school admitted inappropriate conduct by Hindle and Lambert, but did not maintain accusations against Bliss, instead agreeing on a settlement of almost $100,000. In response to the recent news, Head of School Dr. Margarita Curtis affirmed Deerfield’s responsibility to remain proactive and transparent in hopes of preventing such issues in the future. In a statement to the Scroll, Dr. Curtis wrote: “The safety and welfare of students must be paramount for all schools, and the recent report from Choate reminds us of the need to be vigilant. We believe transparency is the best way to address the past and ensure greater safety for students moving forward. It is essential that every school give comfort and support to those who have been affected, and do everything possible to ensure that such abuses never happen again.” Amie Creagh, the Assistant Head for Student Life, described the extensive protocols in place at Deerfield to prevent sexual abuse and provide platforms for students to safely report issues “if [they] ever have a concern that sexual abuse is taking place.” The Deerfield Student Handbook outlines these protocols, including that the Dean of Students is legally obligated to go beyond the bounds of the Academy and report any instances of sexual abuse to the Department of Children and Families in Greenfield. According to Ms.Creagh, the administration’s “primary responsibility” is to ensure that “students are physically and emotionally safe.” Ultimately, Ms. Creagh hopes that students and faculty are inspired to take action after hearing news of the events at Choate and other boarding schools. “You can’t do nothing,” she stated. “You’ve got to do something, and whether that’s talking to an advisor or seeking out someone in the student life office… we as a school must respond, but we hope that students know what to do if such an occurrence were to come to pass.” Ellie Koschik ’17, the leader of Deerfield Students Against Sexual Assault, a student organization founded in 2015, believes that Deerfield should focus on preventing sexual abuse. She stated, “I think that Deerfield administrators should be educated in how to look out for these kinds of assaults and inappropriate relationships and how to deal with them if they do arise. Often times, these incidents come out decades after they happen because schools keep them quiet, and as a school I think we should admit that these things happen and learn how to prevent them.” Koschik ’17 also described how members of the Deerfield community must be honest about the reality of sexual abuse at boarding schools. She explained, “It is important to realize that while we hope that no teacher at our school would act in such a way, it could easily happen. There are no cameras, no way to hold people accountable for many of their actions. I think all boarding schools can learn from this in that it is better to be open about what is going on at each respective school, even if it may hurt its reputation.” Ms. Creagh affirmed the necessity for students to remain mature and empathetic towards Choate. She stated, “It is tempting to want to say that this is just another reason we hate Choate…[but] we all have experienced moments in our school’s histories that we wish we could change, and none of us live in a glass house with that. As long as we are all trying to be the best we can be, and learn from our mistakes, which I know Choate is trying to do… I would hope that we can continue to be fair-minded, empathetic, and not see it as an opportunity to condemn human beings for the faults of those who at one point represented the school.”

Late last spring, Mr. Charles Davis made the transition from Athletic Director and economics teacher to Dean of Admissions, a process finalized in June 2016. Filling Mr. Davis’ former positions, Ms. Kristen McVaugh is teaching economics at Deerfield this year, while Mr. Bob Howe has taken on the role as the new Athletic Director. As Dean of Admissions, Mr. Davis represents the admissions office as a member of the senior staff team, comprised of eleven individuals including the Director of College Advising, the Director of Inclusion, and the Academic Dean. Speaking about the change from Athletic Director to Dean of Admissions, Mr. Davis elaborated on how he was able to draw on past experiences when collaborating with the admissions team and coalescing around strategies. However, Mr. Davis did note that some differences exist between his former and current positions, the most notable being the constantly evolving nature of admissions. He expressed this sentiment explaining, “Admissions is all-encompassing. [During the admission team’s weekly meeting last Thursday], we were both digesting the 2016-17 admissions cycle…while already strategizing for 2017-18. You’re never really stopping, whereas in the athletic world, I felt that there was a stop when students left for the summer.” For his first year in the position, Mr. Davis’ goal for the 2016-17 admissions cycle was to improve internal strategizing, encompassing the way in which the students who apply to Deerfield are evaluated. This evaluation includes drawing conclusions based off of interviews, essays, and supplements in prospective students’ total applications. Specifically speaking about improvements in the interview process, Mr. Davis stated, “We attempted to [conduct more] interviews. If we thought the candidate was viable and worthy, we made a large effort to conduct an interview over Skype or on campus. The number of waived interviews declined significantly this year.” Mr. Davis also remarked, “Internally, we [the admissions team] did a better job of recognizing the most gifted and promising academic candidates…We shepherded them through our admissions process more consciously and strategically to…give them more propulsion through the process.” Acknowledging the challenges of this year’s admissions cycle, Mr. Davis expressed that determining how many admitted students will actually accept Deerfield’s offer is often difficult. He stated, “We tried to attach a yield indicator to each student that was admitted,” the yield indicator being an estimate of their likelihood of accepting the offer to attend Deerfield Academy. This yield indicator seems to have been effective. Associate Dean of Admissions Mr. Jose Briones stated, “We are on target…We are not overenrolled, [which] gives us a little breathing room. Overenrollment has been a problem in previous years.” As for the 2017-18 admissions cycle, Mr. Davis indicated that the admissions team plans to specifically focus on external strategy, referring to raising awareness about Deerfield. Particularly, Mr. Davis mentioned that while international interest remains robust and steadily increasing, the volume of domestic applications in recent years has decreased. Mr. Davis pointed to specific areas, such as Florida, Texas, and Southern California that the admission teams intends to focus on next year. Mr. Davis concluded, “Our main goal is to develop new footholds in the US to show off the opportunities at Deerfield and to dispel old notions about boarding school.” These notions include the idea that boarding school is a place to send miscreant children or that boarding school is completely inaccessible for many families. In order to actualize this objective, Mr. Davis intends “to use the Deerfield network to spread the word of Deerfield and then follow up with admission officer travel in order to meet prospective families, hold receptions, and conduct interviews.” Overall, Mr. Davis described the position of Director of Admissions as “wonderfully challenging,” and while the admissions team is already underway with its work to improve Deerfield admissions and its external strategy, Mr. Davis noted, “[This process] is the beauty of the admissions cycle. Faces change each year. You get to refresh your strategy every year.”

For most students, spring break was spent getting some much-needed rest going into the spring term. For others, a week of the break was spent preparing in Florida for the upcoming campaigns. “It’s important to start off the season on a positive note and feel like you’re ready to compete right away,” said boys varsity tennis coach William Speer. The teams grinded through two practices a day and, in some cases, competitive scrimmages. The boys lacrosse team had the biggest turnout of any team with 63 boys able to make it for a week of lacrosse at IMG Academy. The boys were able to work with some of the top lacrosse talents in the country: Tom Kelly of Major League Lacrosse’s Denver Outlaws, and Rob Pannell, who was a three-time All American and two-time national player of the year at Princeton. Girls lacrosse as well as softball traveled down to Orlando to practice at the ESPN Wide World of Sports facility, home to some of the top training sites utilized by professional and amateur athletes alike. Lacrosse hosted the competitive Tabor Academy team and came away with an 11-8 victory. “Preseason gave us an opportunity to stay in rooms with kids we didn’t know as well,” explained lacrosse captain Kathryn Grennon ’17. “This not only brought us together as teammates, but also as friends.” The boys and girls crew teams traveled together to Orlando to practice at Lake Pickett at the University of Central Florida. The boys had an exhibition race against the Episcopal School of Jacksonville, a team with a strong connection to the Deerfield coach. Coach Spencer Washburn’s father heads the team, and his younger brother rows for the first boat. Needless to say, it was more than just an exhibition for Mr. Washburn. The baseball team also stayed in the professional-grade facilities at IMG, playing six scrimmages there. After flying back from Bradenton, the team played a jamboree at the New England Baseball Complex in Northborough, Massachusetts. The boys were defeated 11-2 by Cheshire in the first game, but finished the preseason on a strong note, beating Middlesex thanks in no small part to the pitching of Dylan Presnal ’17 and bat of Peter Marchese ’20 in their 13-0 smackdown. While the main focus of the trips was preparing the teams for their upcoming seasons, they were all able to find some downtime. The boys lacrosse team saw Alex Killorn ’08 play for the NHL Tampa Bay Lightning against the Arizona Coyotes. Both crew teams toured the Kennedy Space Center and had some downtime on the boardwalk of Cocoa Beach. The baseball team got a surprise call at the Baltimore-Toronto spring training game: Orioles general manager Dan Duquette invited the players to come down to the field during batting practice to get up close to the major league field and the players. The girls lacrosse team and softball team both enjoyed time at the Disney World parks. “Preseason could arguably be the most important part of our season,” said lacrosse midfielder Jack Wood ’17. “Having a good tone set from the beginning by the senior class is huge during those trips. Coach Davis likes to say, ‘Culture eats strategy for breakfast.’” As the seasons begin to pick up steam, Deerfield teams can rely on the strong foundations established in Florida and the culture this year’s group of upperclassmen has established.

Recently, a student publication published anonymous responses to an online survey that it sent out to the student body, requesting comments on the topic of America. One of the responses that was published was an anti-Semitic joke, tragically likening Trump’s resigned National Security Advisor Michael Flynn to the millions of Jewish victims of the Holocaust. In response to the offense, the Academy emailed the entire Deerfield community outlining a plan of support for those who were hurt or threatened. In addition, the hateful comment was denounced during sit-down meals and School Meeting. In the ensuing conversation on campus, however, these critiques became inextricably rooted in our minds, while the solution to the crisis was barely discussed. With teachers in classrooms or among students in dorms, we generally demonstrated more interest in blaming those responsible than learning from their mistakes. Unaware of the author of the hateful comment at the time, we turned our heads toward the only visible culprit: the publication. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines hate speech as “speech that is intended to insult, offend, or intimidate a person because of some trait (as race, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, or disability),” with a particular emphasis on “intended.” Then why did we ignore the non-malicious intent of the offending publication? Perhaps, we should understand the role of “intent” in hate speech as not only referring to the messenger’s actual feelings, benign or harmful, that underlie his or her message, but also how the receiver of the message perceives these feelings. For the actual and the perceived intent to align, it is not enough to simply wish no harm. Apart from keeping our hearts in the right place, we should also strive to familiarize ourselves with the boundaries of our audience, especially if that audience includes members of a social group that our jokes target. After all, we all occasionally laugh at some traits we have in common, but as soon as “outsiders” start treating these traits as comedy material, friendly banter can quickly turn into a bitter exchange of insults. In America, multiple ethnic groups coexist, each with their own histories. But how do we exercise our constitutional freedom of speech in a society where our different cultures haven’t yet reached a consensus on what that freedom means? Where do we draw the line between black humor and anti-semitism? We may not be able to boast with any certainty that we know exactly where that line lies because of its tendency to change position, depending on who we are, what we or our ancestors have experienced, and who we’re speaking to. As the line shifts, however, we should try our best to move along with it by listening and opening up to each other in order to understand each other’s definitions of what is offensive. If, by accident, disaster strikes despite our efforts, we should treat the scandal as a learning opportunity to bring our Deerfield community one step closer to mutual understanding.

At the end of Albany Road, behind Mac and Field, lies the Old Albany Cemetery. The burial ground has carried a rich history since the village of Deerfield was established in the late 1600s after the destruction of the English settlement, Pocumtuck in King Philip’s War. The villagers also often clashed with the surrounding Native American tribes. Many of these people died of infectious diseases, others of natural causes, and 56 of them lost their lives during the Deerfield Massacre in 1704. While the dead are laid to rest there, some believe that their spirits live on, haunting the Deerfield campus. Justice Chukwuma ’18 became aware of the presence of ghosts on campus his freshman year when he was living in New Dorm. One night, he decided to go ghost hunting in his dorm to find real evidence of the supernatural creatures. Chukwuma narrated, “Alex Platt, Reid Shilling, Ollie Hollo, Bryce Khelm, Harrison Lane, and I went down into the basement. Reid was recording on his phone. [Once we were down in the basement], we asked the ghost to signal or make a sound if he or she was present.” “We heard a THUMP,” Chukwuma continued.“We ran upstairs and listened to the recording on the speaker. We heard a voice on the recording that wasn’t one of ours.” Similar to Chukwuma, Zakiya Newman ’17 had a supernatural encounter when she was also in the ninth grade. As a resident of Pocumtuck, she had heard about Violet, a ghost who spent her free time dying students’ sheets purple and randomly closing doors in the halls. About three years prior to Newman’s freshman year, Mr. Jan Flaska helped bring a spiritual advisor to campus to inform the students about the supernatural and cleanse the dormitory of any disturbing spirits, including Violet. However, after a terrifying discovery during the winter term, Newman was no longer fully convinced that the dormitory was ghost-free. One night after dinner, Newman was spending time with two of her friends on Poc II when she decided to raise the shades covering her windows. After lifting the shades, “one of [her friends] noticed that there was a huge handprint at the very top of the window.” She noted that “someone had speculated that it was a handprint of a guy friend of [hers], but [she] brushed off this theory, as he hadn’t been in [her] room since late November.” “The imprint would’ve evaporated,” she reasoned, “and even if it hadn’t, [my friend] wasn’t tall enough to reach the top of my window.” Whose handprint was it? Newman still doesn’t know. “The handprint was at the very top of the window and very clear and distinct, as if someone had repeatedly hit the window with his/her palm to intentionally leave a mark,” she recounted. On the other side of campus, two years after the incident in New Dorm, Alex Platt ’18 was working in the basement of Denunzio. It was dark and no other students or faculty members were present. He heard a sound and then watched as the blinds of his window rolled up. Similarly, Geraud Richards ’18 was working late one night in Gozzy Nwogbo ’18’ s room. According to Chukwuma, who recalled the story, Richards got up to to use the restroom. “As Geraud exited and looked left towards the end of the hall, he saw the end of a leg—as if a person had just walked past the door and he had only caught a glimpse,” Chukwuma said. “Geraud had seen dark pants and a heavy black boot. He ran back into Gozzy’s room and shut the door.” There were no further explanations for what he saw.