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After 18 days of protests, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak stepped down on February 11 after 30 years of ruling the most populous country in the Middle East. The protest movement, mostly centered in Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt’s capital, began after the January uprising in Tunisia, one of Egypt’s closest neighbors. The protests, originally consisting of a small number of people, grew to include thousands of protestors by the first week of February. Although the protests were mostly peaceful, Egypt’s police force used tear gas and other crowd control methods in an attempt to disperse the protestors. Mubarak’s supporters often became violent, throwing stones and firebombs and injuring anti-government protestors. Egypt’s military refused to break up or use violence against the protestors, and after Mubarak stepped down, they took control of the government. The military will continue to control the government until elections are held in six months. Because of the volatile conditions of the protests, many Egyptians tried to leave in search of a safer location. Arabic teacher Samar Moushabeck’s sister and her family, who live in Cairo, left the country for the US shortly before Mubarak stepped down. “The demonstrators’ numbers increased along with efforts to control them. The internet was shut down and I was no longer able to reach my sister; not by phone or email,” said Mrs. Moushabeck. “I turned to Twitter and the internet media from here to see what was going on there.” Mrs. Moushabeck says that her sister and her family have every intention of returning to Egypt. “They left with a suitcase of clothes and their important papers thinking that they will be back soon,” she said. Like many people around the world, she hopes that the Egypt to which her sister returns will be a democracy. “At this point I am hoping that Egypt will end up a free nation with a democratic government that is run by its people,” she said. Sources: www.nytimes.com/2011/02/12/world/middleeast/12egypt.html?ref=hosnimubarak topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/egypt/index.html?scp=1-spot&sq=egypt&st=cse www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/11/AR2011021104392.html

Between debating controversial current events in group editorial meetings, cursing at the computer when InDesign proves overwhelming, blasting music in “the fun room,” and deciphering the handwriting on edited articles, I have found these past eight issues of Volume LXXXV to be hectic yet fun, and a consistent group effort. I’m proud of each issue and of the growth I’ve seen in our team along the way. We covered a number of controversial topics, ranging from responses to the Arizona gun control debate to the appearance of speaker Paul Loeb. Our pages boasted several recurring features, including DA Cribz and Artist of the Issue, in order to highlight interesting and accomplished individuals on campus. Additionally, we have worked to expand both our writer base and the Scroll Online , featuring a wide range of “Online Exclusive” articles on our website. I’d like to extend my thanks to all of our hardworking writers and photographers who scout for ideas and bring their enthusiasm to each article. Thank you also to the extraordinary efforts of the editorial board: your good spirits and leadership have make layout something to which I genuinely look forward. And, of course, we couldn’t have done this without our faculty advisors, Ms. Hannay and Mr. Palmer, who encourage us to be thorough, accurate, and inquisitive. Finally, thanks to everyone who has helped make working on the Scroll enjoyable and rewarding: our readers (of both print and online), Deerfield students, faculty, and staff, and parents who send in homemade baked goods. Finally, I’d like to congratulate the next editor-in-chief, Anna Gonzales ’12, and her staff: best of luck, and enjoy your year! Shtuclear . – Elisabeth Strayer, Editor-in-Chief

I didn’t plan on crying at graduation last year. And flipping back through red-faced, bleary-eyed photos, I kind of wish I hadn’t. At the time, I chalked up the uncharacteristic weepiness to be some kind of delayed reaction to senior cry, or symptom of sleep deprivation. But now, sitting at a long rectangular table in my college dorm’s dining hall “burning the midnight oil,” I know exactly why I cried last May. Piece by piece over the summer, tangible evidence of Deerfield dissolved into memory. Email accounts were de-activated, DAinfo access blocked, and crisp DA-Door-stamped letters stopped arriving. Then I plunged into college, and green face paint became orange, a cinderblock double room replaced my spacious high-ceilinged single, and Cinnamon Mini-Wheats replaced Cracklin’ Oat Bran in the dining hall cereal dispensers. Now Deerfield is a memory, an abstract fantasyland of iridescent green and perfect brick-lain paths. And that’s what I was crying about. Graduation day for me seemed to be the last time that Deerfield would be a tangible, real place. And it’s been partly true; as I scuff my Uggs across a new campus past different faces, Deerfield exists in an alternate reality. My three years in the Valley seem like an extremely elaborate, trippy hallucination. It’s as if Deerfield has receded into the dream world. Now as my first college exam week looms and procrastination becomes an art, I end up perusing old photos often. But looking through disco pictures of neon-clad sophomores posing in the halls of Poc and autumn shots of cleated athletes, Deerfield still doesn’t seem real. So, here’s my advice: don’t rely on your camera’s photos and friends’ Facebook albums for preserving Deerfield. Instead, every once in a while, in true Robert Frost fashion, pause for a moment and take your own mental picture. Maybe just before you open the dining hall door to sit-down’s chaos, and the quad behind you is perfectly silent. Or when the first snow gives Main Street untouched perfection you’ve only seen in a snow globe. Or while you’re walking down Albany Road with an entourage of friends and feel like you own the world. That way after you graduate and wherever you end up, you can close your eyes and at least for a second, be back home at Deerfield. * Lucy Cobbs, former Editor-in-Chief, is a freshman at Princeton.

When one sees Linda Kengne ’14 sitting in the crowded dining hall, it is immediately evident that she has a lot of confidence. She is chatting with a group of seniors and post-graduates, seemingly unaware that there is a four- or five-year age difference between her and most of her peers. But besides her obvious poise and maturity, who is Linda Kengne? Kengne was born in Cameroon and raised in France where she spent most of her childhood. She moved to New York City three years ago. Kengne said the hardest thing about moving to America was learning English. “I didn’t even know how to say, ‘My name is Linda.’ I have been here three years and I still haven’t completely learned English,” added Kengne. Kengne has five siblings, including a sixteen-year-old brother who attends Cornell as a junior. She has many fond memories of growing up with her siblings in France. She detailed one hilarious anecdote, in which a monkey chased her and her siblings around the house. “My dad introduced us to a lot of exotic animals growing up, so I am used to them,” she explained. This winter, Kengne is a member of the cast of the winter play, Voices in Conflict. Kengne said, “My interest in acting started when I was performing one of my poems called ‘I Dream of Becoming’ in Scholastic Poetry on Broadway.” Her love of writing and reading is evident. She has many favorite books and admitted, “I enormously enjoyed reading The Awakening by Kate Chopin because it exposes women’s sexuality. It also shows how the perception of women has changed over time.” Her favorite book in French is Don Juan by Moliere. Kengne has big plans for the future. She has always wanted to be a lawyer and “make a difference.” One of her idols is Nelson Mandela, and she hopes to visit South Africa one day. Kengne also admires the French singer Yelle. She said of the artist, “Her lyrics can be kind of gross, but the songs are extremely funny and entertaining. I like her because she keeps it real and doesn’t care what anyone thinks.” Kengne strives to not let herself be defined by others’ perceptions and live freely. At first, some might assume that Linda would be quiet and reserved, especially because she is a freshman, but, in truth, she is vivacious, determined, talented, and confident. Gabriela Espinosa ’12, her cast-mate, said, “It is hard for me to express the effervescent joy Linda’s free spirit, grounded moral principles, zest for life, and passion have blessed me with this winter. She shines.”

Now that the faculty band has increased its presence on campus by performing more often during school meetings, students have discovered their teachers’ talent outside the classroom. The current band includes faculty members and teachers from various academic departments, including Darnel Barnes, John Burke, Dennis Cullinane, David Dickinson, Brent Hale, Andrew Harcourt, Cheri Karbon, Rebecca Melvoin, Peter Nilsson, Samuel Savage, and John Van Eps. Mr. Harcourt, the band’s guitarist, explained, “Though none of us are trained musicians, we enjoy playing rock and roll for fun.”With this easygoing attitude, anyone can join the band, and over the years, “Several headmasters, deans, and teachers from every academic department have performed on stage with us,” Mr. Harcourt recalled. Beginning in 1980, the faculty band consisted of teachers who got together for a talent show and formed the “Punkadelics.” “I joined the band the following year… when a couple of the faculty members wanted to play rock and roll on a more regular basis,” Mr. Harcourt said. However, the band’s audience is not limited to school meetings. They also played at Stoneleigh-Burnham dances, where Mr. Dickinson worked at the time. The band has performed on campus, at local concert halls, and at and restaurants such as The Yellow Sofa in Northampton, and at benefit concerts such as the Woodstock Revival and the Relay for Life last spring. They have stood the test of time. Dr. Cullinane, a lead singer in the band, praises his fellow band members:“They’re very special to me because when we get together, we let it all hang out and nobody judges.” “I look forward all week to singing with the band on Thursday night!” said Mr. Barnes. Mr. Harcourt agreed: “That’s pretty much how we all feel.” Their current repertoire consists of about fifty songs, and the Deerfield community hopes they will continue to rock on for a long time to come.

It is impossible to be at Deerfield and miss the Green Cup Challenge. We hear about it at school meeting and lunch and are reminded of it constantly when stumbling around pitch-black dorms. For the month of the challenge, Green Cup is life. But is the challenge truly effective in meeting its goals? Undoubtedly, the challenge has produced positive results every year Deerfield has participated. The success of each school is measured in kilowatt hours of electricity reduced from last year per person, based on the total energy used on campus. Last year we came in 18th place out of more than 50 schools, and saved more than $6,000 in energy costs. In recent years, increased competition, such as last year’s challenge with NMH and Choate has spurred higher success levels in the challenge at Deerfield. The main goal of Deerfield’s continual participation in the competition is to get students committed and excited about saving energy. However, the picture painted by this one month contest might not be the best way to get students involved. According to environmental proctor Charlotte McLaughry ’11, the Green Cup Challenge takes only electricity consumption into consideration. This means that other factors such as oil and natural gas consumption, water use and recycling efforts, which contribute enormously to overall carbon consumption, are disregarded in the challenge. Although, according to science teacher and environmental leader Brian Fry, Deerfield has the capabilities to measure some of these factors, some of the other schools in the competition do not, and thus only electricity reduction is widely promoted during the challenge. Additionally, the Green Cup Challenge only lasts a month, from January 21 to February 24. It is the most widely-known environmental initiative on campus, and yet it represents only about one eighth of the school year. Despite the hard work of the environmental proctors, many students simply don’t place a high priority on living sustainably outside of the Green Cup Challenge. This is something many proponents of sustainability on campus struggle with. “I wish that there were ways to encourage people to live sustainably all the time as well as during the Green Cup Challenge,” McLaughry said. According to Mr. Fry, “It’s easy to forget that something as simple as turning off a switch can save energy and money. If every student of our 634 does something, that is definitely going to make a difference.” Clearly, the Green Cup Challenge is effective in reducing energy consumption, but some fear that when the challenge is over, many students will reassume their old habits of leaving lights and music on or computer and cell phone chargers plugged in out of convenience. Hopefully this year, however, the Green Cup Challenge will have a lasting effect upon the Deerfield community after February 24 has passed.

During Long Winter Weekend, some students on a school trip to Quebec consumed alcohol. Though the legal drinking age in Canada is 18 and some students were 18, all were expected to follow the stated drug and alcohol policies of abstinence. This group of otherwise exemplary students received disciplinary consequences upon their return. Students are held to high standards, but sometimes, we will fall short. Clarifying and reiterating rules before and during the trip will benefit both the students and the faculty advisors of the trip. This clear communication about expectations and consequences has to be ongoing, not tucked away in an online handbook. We hope the community remembers that students try hard to live up to Deerfield’s high expectations, but mistakes will be inevitable. ES, AG, SW, GM, YN, EK, LW

Akshaya Avril-Tucker ’11 “wears her many gifts lightly,” according to Peter Warsaw, who coaches her in Chamber Music. One of Deerfield’s highly talented cellists, “She gracefully balances a gentle, unassuming spirit with a fierce focus on the task at hand in a relentless pursuit of excellence,” Dr. Warsaw continued. This past November, Avril-Tucker was accepted to Bard Conservatory of Music, one of the most prestigious music schools in the country. On top of their outstanding music program, “there are some great teachers and a great academic program” at Bard, explained Avril-Tucker. Still, she is waiting to hear from other schools before deciding where she will attend. Having played the cello since age six, Avril-Tucker’s cello career now totals an impressive twelve years. She joked, “The first year or two were not that intense… but now I think I’m a bit more serious!” Avril-Tucker prefers playing in groups for the most part: “It helps to play with other people; when you have friends in chamber groups and orchestras everyone can have fun with music together.” Then when it comes to independent practice, “The reward for solitary practice is huge,” she said. Currently, her favorite piece is Brahms Quintet in F minor for piano and strings, which she is playing with Elisabeth Strayer ’11, Katie Yoon ’11, Emlyn Van Eps ’12, and Sha Li ’12. A dedicated musician, she considers playing the cello to be her primary activity both in and out of school, for she is in Deerfield’s chamber music program and is exempt from other co-curricular activities to play cello most seasons. Akshaya’s dedication is evident to all. Van Eps , who has been playing with Akshaya for nearly eight years, said, “Akshaya plays wonderfully. She uses much emotion and movement. When she practices a solo part, she often plays just the first note five or six times, to get the sound just right. She has a sound that many cellists aspire to have, very rich and clear.” Van Eps continued, “Akshaya is very serious while playing, and is disappointed if she or anyone in her group makes a mistake, but she is always ready to laugh and joke over a problem.” Avril-Tucker’s favorite part of playing the cello is working with other musicians because she finds solo performances nerve-racking. She has come to realize that “the process of preparing a piece of chamber music is all about laughing, arguing and enjoying the split second when everyone comes together.” Her musical talent seems to run in her family, for both her older brother and grandfather play instruments. For her, learning the cello has been family-oriented, and she admitted, “It was mostly my mom encouraging me to practice, which she still does sometimes.” A dedicated musician, she considers playing the cello to be her primary activity both in and out of school, for she is a member of Deerfield’s chamber music program and is exempt from other co-curricular activities to play cello most seasons. Avril-Tucker praised the music department, noting that it “isn’t that big, and I guess that’s what makes it stronger. There is so much individual attention, so many close friendships… I’ve learned so much about music here.”

The boys’ and girls’ varsity ski teams both took the New England titles at Pat’s Peak in New Hampshire on Wednesday the 16 th . In the girls’ events, Lauren Stobierski ’14 was crowned the New England champion in slalom, as Annika Trapness ’13 took 3 rd place and Marly Morgus ’12 finished in 14 th . Beth Lawless ’12 powered into 2 nd place in the giant slalom, with Stobierski in 7 th and Trapness hot on her heels in 8 th . Jack Stobierski ’12 dominated both boys’ events, winning the slalom by 2 seconds and the G.S. by 4. In the G.S, Captain Keo Brown ’11 cruised into 4 th , while Oliver Hopkinson ’12 rounded out the scoring in 15 th . Finally in the slalom, Hopkinson raced to 8 th and Peter Stobierski ’14 grabbed 10 th . Both the boys and girls won their slalom and giant slalom races, the boys beating out 16 teams and the girls crushing 11 other schools to become New England champions.

During the spring term, Miles Griffis ’11 will attempt what few students have ever attempted in the history of Deerfield: rapping. When his Creative Writing class drops for the spring, Griffis will replace it with a directed study in rap. He will work on writing lyrics with English teacher Peter Nilsson and music teacher John Van Eps. “I became interested in hip hop two summers ago after hearing a friend play the song ‘Be’ by Common,” said Griffis. The type of rap Griffis wants to learn is not the mainstream genre that many people listen to, but rather the works of underground rappers. He doesn’t consider the works of popular artists like Flo Rida and 50 cent meaningful hip hop. To him these songs just seem like, “standard lyrics mixed with a good beat.” Griffis wants to learn how to rap like underground peformers Blu and Lupe Fiasco. He believes that many underground rappers are able to make their music meaninful through poetic lyrics. Griffis wants to write lyrics and possibly compose a mixed tape at the end of the spring term. By using books like Anthology of Rap and Decoded by Jay Z, Griffis plans to study the history of rap from the 1970s up until present day, in addition to writing his own raps. “I believe studying the history of hip hop will help me gain a better understanding of the culture. I would like to see if I can produce good lyrics and find my style through the various forms of hip hop and slam poetry,” he said. Griffis also wanted to encourage the Deerfield community to pursue their passions. “Take advantage of directed studies in the spring,” encouraged Griffis. “Find something interesting, something that you know you want to study.”

Among the great traditions of Deerfield sports- Choate Day, honoring graduating seniors, and wearing class dress to away games- are the annual spring break preseason trips. Three boys’ teams and two girlss teams will make the trip to various locations this March. The boys’ baseball team will travel to Clearwater, Florida, while both crew teams are moving from their previous location, Sarasota, Florida, to Boston. In addition, the boys’ lacrosse team will relocate from Orlando to Clearwater. Spring preseason is an important time for the varsity teams, as most of the team bonds and camaraderie are created over the week of the trip. “Every year the team changes with graduations, PGs, and the new sophomores/freshmen. Preseason is the time the team really comes together and builds team chemistry,” said boys’ varsity lacrosse co-captain Will Swindell ’11. Teams often go through two to three practices daily, which takes an extreme mental and physical toll on the athletes, especially under the heat of the Florida sun. “We all are going through the same thing and that keeps the team together through the entire season,” explained Bobby Osgood ’11, another boys’ varsity lacrosse co-captain. Meanwhile, for the girls’ crew team, “preseason is an important time for the boats to gain a kind of congruency and gain a mutual respect for each other,” said Coach Wayne Berger. Another important aspect of the preseason trips is ensuring the captains emerge as the team leaders on and off the field. “I think the biggest thing I can do as captain is to make sure everybody feels included,” said varsity baseball captain Mat Denunzio ’11. “It is important for the older members to set an example not only in work ethic, but how they carry themselves on and off the field.” But preseason isn’t only about getting to know each other on and off the field. Conditioning and forging a team identity are equally important goals of these preseason trips. Fortunately the team gets some off time from the intense practices and hard work. The coaches and captains ensure that the entire team enjoys themselves. “Last year we went to Universal Studios for a day, but this year we moved to a new place near the beach, so I’m really looking forward to spending some time hanging out,” said Swindell. The lacrosse team is also looking forward to spending time with the girls’ lacrosse team, which will be staying at the same hotel as the boys in Florida. Each year, players look forward to the preseason trips not only to spend time with friends and teammates in Florida, but also to challenge themselves physically and mentally in practices. Denunzio summed it up, saying, “I love the preseason trips because when we all get through it the team emerges closer and more prepared for the season ahead.”

After the last exam, buses will be rolling in on Main Street, and everyone will be heading out. Louisa Schieffelin ’12 is thrilled for spring break. “The first week I will be going down to the Dominican Republic with my family. It’s a tradition to go there and we also have a lot of friends there,” she said. A previously popular destination for many students was Nassau in the Bahamas. Though sunbathing on the beach and splashing in the ocean waters are all fun and games, many unfortunate and in fact dangerous incidents do happen. The school sends a message for students to avoid situations like these and to act responsibly while on vacation. “Every year, the school sends out a letter to parents and seniors to advise us against going on the trip to Nassau and losing control,” said student council chair Ellie Parker ’11. Day student Brandon Coulombe ’13 will be spending spring break learning new technology and experimenting with up-and-coming electronic games. “I will be going to a gaming convention in Boston called PAXeast. There will be tons of demonstrations of new games, information panels, and even concerts.” Science teacher Jennifer Marino is also excited to take a few weeks off from school. “I am going to visit family and friends in the greater Boston area. Also, I might go skiing in Vermont.” Another day student, Trevor Anderson-Salo ’12, is traveling to the United Kingdom. “I am going to London for two weeks to visit my old babysitter. We are going to various theaters, to see many different musicals and plays. We’re definitely going to see Wicked, and a ballet.” Even though many students are going all around the world, some love to just relax back at home after a stressful winter term. “I am going to stay in Maine and ski,” revealed Devon Stockmayer ’14.