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It is not often that teachers allow their students to lick the material they’re studying. But pupils in geology teacher Richard Little’s 5th and 6th period classes have done just that. Mr. Little joins the Deerfield faculty this year from Greenfield Community College where he worked for 40 years before temporarily retiring in January of 2004. His hiatus was short lived. His friend and fellow Deerfield science teacher, Andrew Harcourt, told him about a need for a geology teacher at Deerfield. At Greenfield Community College Mr. Little taught three-hour classes that met twice a week. He acknowledged that the different class structure was difficult to adapt to at Deerfield. “I could lecture and get them prepared for a lab,” he said. “It provided more time to interact with the students in a more serious and academic way. Forty-five minutes flies by.” In addition to teaching, Mr. Little has been kept busy with Earth View, the company he started 30 years ago. The program takes groups of 16-20 people all around the world on geology-centered tours. His previous trips include visits to Alaska, California, Hawaii, Yellowstone National Park, and recently, Iceland. His first exploration in 1980 brought 35 people to see Mt. Saint Helens volcano in Washington just months after its eruption. It was Mr. Little’s own interest in the volcano that planted the seed for Earth View. “I was in my early thirties, with two kids, and I wanted to see Mt. Saint Helens,” he recalled. “I realized others probably wanted to as well, and who better to show them than someone who specializes in that field.” And so Earth View formed. “[My travels have] given me experiences to bring back to the classroom,” he said. Indeed, his experience with Earth View only adds to the knowledge he brings with his master’s degree from the University of Southern California. He is also an inductee into the Massachusetts Science Educator Hall of Fame in 2004 and the author of Dinosaurs, Dunes, and Drifting Continents: the Geohistory of the Connecticut Valley . Before his career took shape, Mr. Little was a freshman at Clark University needing a class to fill a free slot. His advisor suggested he take a course in something he knew nothing about and he chose geology. After a field trip to Pennsylvania to view rock layers he was hooked. “I knew I had to go on to grad school in this subject… . I decided that this was the field I would specialize in,” explained Mr. Little. The simple catalyst for his love of geology was “the recognition that there is great meaning in rocks and landscapes.” So as for his rumored rock licking? “It’s not recommended,” he assured me. “It’s just to test for minerals, specifically salt.” While perhaps a little unorthodox, it’s the unique experiments and experiences that make Mr. Little a great resource for students looking to get a taste of geology. Sources: earthview.pair.com

Boys’ basketball co-captain Kyle Kager ’11 did not pick up a basketball until he was ten years old, but through hard work and lots of practice he has become one of the leaders and best players on the Deerfield boys’ basketball team, and one of the top talents in New England. On November 10 th , 2010, Kager officially signed to attend and play Division I basketball at American University. The signing took place in the new conference room located next to the Greer Store, and in attendance were his father, Robert Kager, a couple of Kager’s close friends, his advisor David Howell and wife Sigrid Howell, Mr. Pitcher, and Athletic Director Charles Davis. “Kyle is a unique talent. He has the size of a forward or center, but has the speed, shot, and ball handling skills of a guard,” said head coach Conrad Pitcher. For Kager, basketball was not always something he excelled at, and he was not always such a skilled player. But through hard work, sometimes ten hours of it a day, he has transformed himself. Kager not only plays competitive basketball at Deerfield, but he also plays in the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Summer League. AAU basketball is the most competitive high school summer league, and Kager was heavily recruited after playing in the AAU league.“My coach, Coach Houston, really believed in me and played me in a lot in games,” said Kager. “After having a great AAU season, I was starting to be heavily recruited.” Mr. Pitcher agreed, saying that the AAU league “gave [Kager] much exposure with college coaches.” This season, Kager has big ambitions for Deerfield’s team and is very excited for it to get underway. He and fellow captains Jimmy Bitter ’11 and Andrew Sutphin ’11, are hoping to build off of last year’s 11-11 record. “To start with, we have a lot of chemistry from last year,” said Kager. “There is also great new talent, so I can’t wait to get this season started.” Mr. Pitcher is equally excited for the basketball season. “We will be small, with the exception of Kyle, but I think we are going to be fast, tough and smart. There is no doubt that we will compete hard in a very challenging league.”

While Trevor McKinlay, this year’s Wilson Fellow, may not be a household name, nearly all at Deerfield would recognize the visiting teacher’s animated expressions and thick Kiwi accent. Though he only joined the faculty this fall, Mr. McKinlay has been in contact with teachers and students from Deerfield for the last several years in a very special way. As the headmaster of the Wanganui Collegiate School in New Zealand, Mr. McKinlay left a tremendous legacy by making the school co-educational after 137 years as an all-boys’ school. Mr. McKinlay explained that he broke tradition in 1990 (a year after Deerfield returned to co-education) because “it was a co-ed world, and the ideas of gender equality had become too persistent to be ignored.” He strongly believes that new experiences are essential tools for learning. Even as an adolescent, he was curious about the world, joining New Zealand’s version of the Peace Corps for a year straight out of high school. Continuing with his theme of exploration, Mr. McKinlay left his homeland in 2001 and took the post of head of school of Markhan College in Peru. A high school for over 2,000 day students, Markhan had recently turned co-educational, and fittingly sought Mr. McKinlay. In 2007, however, a devastating earthquake struck Peru and greatly damaged Markhan. Representing Markhan at a Round Square conference in India, Mr. McKinlay asked the seventy schools for assistance. Eleven schools, most notably Deerfield, sent teachers and students to Peru. Mr. McKinlay stated, “I had big respect for Deerfield, and I still do, even more now!” After Mr. McKinlay returned to New Zealand to see his grandchildren and to spend time with his family, his good friend Associate Head of School John Taylor finally convinced him to accept a fellowship at Deerfield Academy. Mr. McKinlay, along with his wife Jackie, resides in the Little Brown House. He teaches sophomore and senior English classes, and serves as faculty advisor to six underclassmen boys. On coming to campus, Mr. McKinlay said, “I have been warmly received, and I hope I have returned the feelings.” On his first impression, he said, “Students at Deerfield have great pride in their school,” as he adjusted his new Deerfield tie. His advisees in Scaife are all astounded by how frequently he attends their sporting events. Kevin Fleishman ’14 proudly remembers soccer games in which his advisor was the only fan on the sidelines. Another advisee, Quinn Morris ’14, joked that while on duty as a hall associate Mr. McKinlay “can be pretty tough on parietals rules.” The two freshmen love their advisor for his “always light-hearted and humorous nature,” as Morris put it. Fleishman added, “He’s very down-to-earth and easy to talk to. He understands kids, so he can have intelligent conversations while still being quite funny.” Mr. McKinlay suggests that students and faculty alike travel, learn different cultures and languages, and experience the world from different perspectives. He believes that having a global mind is key to being a successful leader. “Why is this such a big thing for me? Because it’s what I did,” said Mr. McKinlay.

Dear Editor, Having read The Scroll article “Loeb Speaks Service….” in the November 10, 2010 issue, I feel compelled to respond. The fact that an Academy Event speaker used his time with our students and faculty to disparage a Deerfield alumnus is disrespectful at best. Regardless of one’s political leanings, it is undeniable that David Koch has supported Deerfield with great generosity, loyal service and deep affection for our institution. Mr. Koch, like everyone in our community, deserves more respect. Having known Mr. Koch for over 25 years, I can vouch for the intentions behind his generosity and support of Deerfield. David Koch loves our school. He believes his Deerfield experience has served him well, and wants to ensure that future generations get the same opportunity. He believes that those who are fortunate have a responsibility to be generous. Mr. Koch has never requested or suggested that his support result in a quid pro quo of any kind from Deerfield. Lively debate has an honored place at every educational institution and in every worthy society. So does common courtesy. A guest of the Academy should know better than to insult an alumnus on our own campus. Sincerely, Philip Greer President, Board of Trustees Deerfield Academy

As frost covers the campus each morning and students don UGGs and Bean Boots, the grounds and maintenance crews remains hard at work. As soon as the first flakes fall upon the icy walkways, workers shovel snow and spread salt on the paths. Winter is tough on Deerfield Academy, and we are never more thankful for the efforts of the physical plant than when we slog through the snow and slush to get to class and sports practices. We also greatly appreciate the rapid responses to any heating troubles in the dormitories and those who work in the kitchens to prepare such favorites as the famous Christmas dinner. We at The Scroll encourage you to thank everyone who works every day to make our campus a better place.

“You don’t get to 500 Million friends without making a few enemies,” according to the recent popular movie The Social Network , which tells the story of Mark Zuckerberg and the founding of Facebook. Although not widely known, the movie is based on Ben Mezrich’s book The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook A Tale of Sex, Money, Genius and Betrayal . The Accidental Billionaires captures your attention on page one and refuses to let go. At a “prepunch party,” Harvard student Eduardo Saverin hopes to join a Final Club, or secret society. He is uncomfortable and awkward, but not nearly as much as the curly-haired boy standing in the corner alone. Saverin comes to the conclusion that the boy in the corner simply does not understand social networking necessary to win acceptance into such the prestigious club. This boy seemingly socially clueless boy is Mark Zuckerberg, ironically the genius behind Facebook and online social networking. Zuckerberg’s girlfriend recently dumped him, and so angry and intoxicated, Zuckerberg decides to do something to embarrass his “ex” and others who humiliated him. He hacks into the school’s files and obtains pictures of nearly every girl on campus. He easily creates a site that will randomly post two girls’ pictures to chose the hotter one. The site is an instant phenomenon on campus but earns Zuckerberg a less than glowing reputation with most of the girls on campus. When brought before the Harvard’s disciplinary committee, Zuckerberg apologizes but said the school was at fault for revealing flaws in their security system. Presented in a less-than-flattering light, Zuckerberg appears selfish, rude, self-satisfied, and socially awkward. He wears Adidas and a hoodie sweatshirt to meetings, and will never looks others in the eye. Money, he constantly says, means nothing to him. He is uninterested Facebook’s financial potential, which creates tension amongst friends. He forgets promises or goes back on them. Zuckerberg called the original Facebook “Facemash,” and as it gained popularity, the Winklevoss twins, also Harvard students, approached the creator with an idea. They want to see Facemash used to facililtate romantic relationships like a dating site, and their idea is set apart by the concept of privacy, open only to Harvard students. The twins have limited technical abilities, and so Mark agrees to indulge them by helping them build the site for a few months. However, when he drops out of the project, he leaves them with no site, only to launch Facebook himself. The conflict has lead to multiple widely publicized lawsuits filed against Mark and Facebook. The Winklevosses believe Mark stole their idea and impeded them from creating any competition by pretending to help them. Saverin, who helped Zuckerberg, responds with a lawsuit against the twins. Facebook has transformed socializing for today’s youth and for people of all generations worldwide, yet so few people know about the site we visit multiple times a day. Weather you love Mark Zuckerberg or hate him, weather you have a Facebook account or not, there is no denying that he has created a social revolution. As he himself wrote on his business cards, “I’m CEO… B**ch.”

The Big Green girls’ ski racing team is poised to become a powerhouse this year as it adds a host of experienced newcomers to an already talented squad. Annika Trapness ’13, Kate French ’14, and Lauren Stobierski ’14 will join captains Annie Eldred ’11 and Charlotte McLaughry ’11, along with Beth Lawless ’12, Marly Morgus ’12, and Rachel Gibson ’11 on the Berkshire East slopes this season. Before coming to Deerfield, Trapness split her time between Hong Kong and Vail, Colorado, where she attended the Vail Ski and Snowboard Academy. In Colorado, Trapness trained each morning during the week from 7:00-1:30, and for the entire day during the weekend if she was not competing. “We were practically away every weekend between January 1and March 31,” she said. Trapness also competed in International Ski Federation (FIS) and United Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) races in Colorado, which she plans on continuing this winter in Vermont and Maine. In addition, this summer, Trapness trained and raced for two weeks in Valle Nevado, Chile. “I just want to go out and ski the best I can and give every run and every race everything I’ve got,” Trapness said, explaining her goals for the season. French, from Chappaqua, New York, trained at a ski academy as well, the Killington Mountain School in Vermont. There, she trained each weekday from 1 to 3:30 and all day on the weekends, competing every Sunday and during some weekdays. For the past two summers, French spent sixteen days skiing with her KMS team in the French Alps. Here at Deerfield, French looks to race USSA and FIS during weekends. The Deerfield team will be “the first time I will be racing as a team and not as an individual, which sounds really fun,” French said. “My main goal for the season is to have fun and create close relationships with everyone on the team, and of course to win!” Stobierski, hailing from South Deerfield, has skied in the Mountain Institute Ski League for three years . But Stobierski competed in the boys’ section of this league, as she went to Eaglebrook and raced for its ski team. Last year she helped the team to a third-place finish in the league, directly behind the Deerfield boys’ varsity squad. Male racers usually clock results significantly faster than girls, so while skiing with the boys, Stobierski was often hot on the heels of the top girls’ finishers. “At first when I started, I was intimidated by the boys but then I realized if I worked hard I could beat them,” Stobierski explained. “Racing with boys for three years really helped me improve my skiing. They pushed me every day to be better. I truly credit my aggressive and fast style to the boys who taught me.” Stobierski has spent five summers skiing in Mt. Hood, Oregon, and will join French and Trapness racing USSA and FIS this winter. “Since I’m a freshman and new to the ski team, I just want to have fun and ski fast,” Stobierski said. The team can also rely on its hardworking members from last year, who captured the MISL title and notched an impressive collection of individual victories. Lawless won all six league races, going undefeated to win the league’s Amy Spenser cup, and she placed 6 th in both the slalom and giant slalom events at the New England Championships. Lawless also competes in USSA races, and attended a weeklong ski camp over Thanksgiving break in Vail. Morgus, who proudly calls Sun Valley home, found success last season as well, taking 3 rd in the league and 13 th in the championships. Lawless and Morgus also traveled together to Mt. Hood this summer for a ski camp, and both achieved all-New England status their freshman year. Meanwhile, Eldred, McLaughry, and Gibson scored valuable team points in each race and took 9 th , 10 th , and 12 th in the league respectively. Captain McLaughry summed up the optimism and high hopes for the Deerfield team. “Our girls’ team is really deep this year. Based on our past results and based on the talent of a lot of the new skiers I think we have a great shot at New Englands this year. I love the team already—it just rocks!” The team plans to aim high at the New England championships in February, which will be jointly hosted by St. Paul’s School and Belmont Hill School.

During Thanksgiving break, I was flipping through the recent issue of The New Yorker . I encountered a personal yet relatable article called “Magical Dinners: An Immigrant Thanksgiving” by Chang-rae Lee, a renowned Korean-American novelist. After having read one of his works, A Gesture Life , just this past summer, I was thrilled to see his name spread out across the Recollections page of The New Yorker . His personal reflections on Thanksgiving touched me. Lines such as “…my mother, who is fretting over the turkey” and “…aprons stained with grease and kimchi juice” were especially pertinent to me, for I have shared similar experiences as a Korean immigrant. Absorbing Lee’s lines, I pictured myself back at my old house in Michigan. It was Thanksgiving, and my mother had invited her new Korean friends to the house. Thanksgiving was a strange custom for the Korean families who had just begun to settle in the area, and my mother believed that it would serve as a great opportunity for everyone to become better acquainted. My mother, as the host of the grand feast, had assumed the job of preparing the turkey and was now reading off directions from a page in her cooking magazine called “How to Cook a Turkey.” After checking to see the relative time it would take to cook the big bird, she began frantically running about the kitchen, looking for various utensils and yapping about the lack of time she had to prepare the meal. While my mother concentrated on the turkey, swinging the oven door open now and then, I welcomed the guests who held in their hands plates of stuffing, pie, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce. Aside from the American Thanksgiving dishes, however, various Korean delicacies—jab-chae, bulgogi, pa-jun, and kimchi —gave variety to the table. So there I was, sitting at the table quietly devouring the food. I watched my mother as she conversed with the guests, complimenting them on their dishes and exchanging recipes. It was then I finally understood what my mother had desired to attain through this mock Thanksgiving feast: a family. Observing my mother’s face brighten, I stepped into her shoes for a moment, wondering how difficult it must have been for her to take care of me on her own in a foreign land while my father was working in Korea. But now, she had family: fellow Korean mothers who were struggling, experiencing the same adversities as she was. For them, even the partially uncooked turkey was something to laugh about. Thanksgiving wasn’t about the food, but about the atmosphere it created. This year, unlike my first Korean Thanksgiving, I had the joy of spending the occasion with a true American family. Although it was quite different from my first Thanksgiving in many aspects—including the perfectly roasted turkey—it provided me with some of the same sensations that I had felt then, such as the love of a family. So, no matter if you’re an immigrant, like me, or someone who has no background in Thanksgiving, I believe it holds one universal message for everyone who celebrates it: the notion of a family and the joy you find in sharing it with others. Everyone loves to be loved and thanked. With Christmas at our doorstep, we are once again reminded of the joy of holidays. I look forward to this upcoming winter break when I will go to Korea to finally join my family whom I haven’t seen in what it seems like ages—like many others here. The magic of holidays, whether it is Thanksgiving or Christmas, is that they enable families to come together, even ones who have been separated for a long time.

English teacher and novelist Gina Apostol received the 2010 Philippine National Book Award for Fiction last month for her work, The Revolution According to Raymundo Mata . The novel, largely based on various Filipino generals’ memoirs and other primary sources, discusses the unsuccessful Philippine Revolution through the eyes of a partially-blind general, Raymundo Mata, who proves more concerned with reading and writing than with war. According to Ms. Apostol, the fictional memoir centers on a “shadow version of a real Filipino national hero…a poet and writer killed by Spaniards.” The novel intertwines fictional historical analysis with the general’s memoir. Copious footnotes by “two editors gone crazy,” explained Ms. Apostol, help shed light on the true history behind the story Mata conveys. In writing the novel, Ms. Apostol thought about “[her] country from a distance.” “Every story can be told in so many ways,” said Ms. Apostol, remarking that the best known versions of war stories are usually those told by the victors. She looked to share the story of “all the other people”: the Filipinos who lost the war as Spain sold the country to America. Indeed, according to the Philippine National Book Development Board, Ms. Apostol’s novel is “a firecracker of words,” and “affirms, if it still needs to be affirmed, the power of fiction to shape and reshape the gaps in the narratives of our history as a nation.” Luis Francia of the Philippine Global Nation Inquirer praised the work as a “construction of the past that is still there.” Faced with the challenge of writing on Philippine history while in America, Ms. Apostol intended for the novel “to be read back at home.” She sought to reconnect with the people living in the Philippines, “bringing back the stories of [real] generals and heroes to Filipinos who don’t read them.” Receiving the Philippine National Book Award for Fiction, a prestigious prize not awarded last year, helped inform Ms. Apostol that she achieved her goal of writing about Philippine history for the Philippine population. “It feels good to know people at home are reading and valuing the novel,” said Ms. Apostol.

The exhibition On Line , now open at New York City’s Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), delves into drawing in all its forms, including sketching in notebooks, tracing with pen and ink, outlining with crayon or charcoal, and even winding with wire and strips of cloth. On Line includes three hundred works related to the line, ranging from paintings to films of dancers to photographs. According to critics from Art Daily , On Line “follows artists’ exploration of line as the basic element of drawing over a century and, consequently, argues for an extended field of the medium.” The exhibit includes art from a variety of artists, most notably Eva Hesse, Anna Maria Maiolino, Richard Tuttle and Mona Hatoum. Each have a unique interpretation of the line, and use lines to achieve remarkably different effects. Who knew there was so much to a simple line? Another popular exhibition also at The MoMA, Abstract Expressionism , has attracted many. Artists such as Jackson Pollock, Barnett Newman, and Willem de Kooning use abstract art to convey strong subconscious emotional content, as abstract artists usually are alienated from society and thus art is becomes their mode of expression. With paintings, sculptures and photographs, the exhibit gives a sense of depth and complexity during the mid-1900s era of abstract expressionism. The exhibit is not only informative, but also truly inspirational. One critic from National Public Radio , “Newman, a wonderful and inspirational artist, turned the busy gallery at MoMA into a chapel, a place for spiritual discovery.” Sources: http://www.moma.org/visit/calendar/exhibitions/971 http://www.columbiaspectator.com/2010/12/03/line-drawing-through-twentieth-century-exhibit-outlines-forgotten-art http://www.artnet.com/magazineus/features/finch/on-line-at-moma11-18-10.asp http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/02/arts/design/02online.html http://sagharboronline.com/sagharborexpress/xtras/three-cheers-for-moma-10338

Shumway III is a cozy hall housing just six girls living in two triples. In one of these rooms, seniors Hannah Broadhurst, Olivia Koufakis, and Rosemary Straut have made themselves a home away from home. Upon entering the room, one immediately notices that its occupants are well-organized and cleanly. Shoes are parked at the door, to preserve the expansive white rug. Inside, Broadhurst vacuums the floor and Koufakis puts away some stray books. The room is pristine. In leftmost corner, Straut’s white and blue bed lies alongside a large window framed by thin white curtains. A framed photo of Lil’ Wayne hangs proudly at the foot of her bed. The picture has a turquoise border. In fact, everything in the room has turquoise accents. In decorating the room, Broadhurst said, “We only had one requirement: there had to be turquoise.” Koufakis corrected her saying she preferred to call the color “blue crush.” Koufakis’ bed is in the opposite corner. She has a different bedspread but the same signature blue accents. Most notably, her initials are spelled out in bold, blue, wooden blocks on the wall. The bed next to hers belongs to Broadhurst, who adds to the theme with her light blue and white bedspread. Along one wall, there are two desks (Broadhurst likes to work on the floor), each with one closed laptop atop the otherwise uncluttered surface. On the shelves above the desks there are many framed pictures of friends and family. But these aren’t the only pictures. There are fourteen white frames in the room, all containing photographs. Hung alongside the pictures is a white wicker framed mirror, adding to the relaxed, vacation feel. Also on the wall is a Christmas wreath. The roommates have been extravagant in preparing for the holiday season. In one corner of the room, a five-foot, fully decorated Christmas tree stands proudly. While this may seem to be a dorm room straight out of PB Teen, Koufakis admitted, “When we first found out we would be in a triple, we were skeptical. But it actually works really well!” Broadhurst added, “We all have noise-canceling headphones, which helps.” The roommates also acknowledged that Victoria Hollo ’11, who lives downstairs, has become like a fourth roommate. Koufakis said, “After curfew, a lot of people come up here to hang out.” It is easy to see why room 302 is the popular place to be—a stylish oasis from the cold days of winter.

Coming to Deerfield as a new junior has been both rewarding and difficult. I attended a small school in Montreal for the past five years where class sizes reached a maximum of thirty students, and joining this community has been quite a drastic change. Attending a small school had its limitations; the smaller student body did not allow for the diversity that Deerfield offers. Not only did all of the students come from Montreal, but most of the students had also attended the same school for up to ten years. This made for a homogeneous student body and few unique life experiences. Size was not the only limitation; historically, in my hometown, a major source of division has been language. The Francophone and Anglophone communities have literally divided the city in half, the western half being largely Anglophone and the eastern half being largely Francophone. Having grown up speaking French at home, I felt as though language was always a barrier, an obstacle to feeling completely comfortable in school. Deerfield’s diversity has certainly eliminated this obstacle. Here I am, one of many students whose first language is not English. For me, sharing my experiences with people from a similar background has not only been helpful but also comforting in this new and unfamiliar environment. But might I be benefiting more from interacting with people who have different stories than mine? The community has so many resources in terms of student diversity. In my short time at the school, I have met students from countless cultural backgrounds, with varying interests and perspectives. I have seen committed musicians, athletes, and actors, all of whom have something unique to offer. However, despite the school’s mosaic of students, I believe that the Deerfield community could benefit so much more from their asset. I have noticed that many students, myself included, tend to associate with people who have similar interests, and who share the same perspectives. While natural, never reaching out does not necessarily allow us to take advantage of the tremendous diversity here. By never knowing people who are truly different from us, we lose opportunities to form links that enrich our lives. While people who share experiences similar to ours may be a source of comfort, they do not necessarily allow for growth and development. However, forming relationships with everyone on campus is simply an impossible task. Moreover, there is no harm in associating with people who share similar experiences; this, in fact, can be the ground for long-lasting and influential relationships. Nevertheless, people who come from different backgrounds or who offer unique perspectives are opportunities we must learn to take advantage of. They are an asset that the Deerfield community offers. What, I believe, will allow for every student to get the most out of the Deerfield experience is balancing the comfort of similarity and the growth that only comes from exposure to diversity.