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Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice opens, “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.” Jeffrey Eugenides, in his new book The Marriage Plot, perhaps sets out to challenge this universal truth. He weaves a tale of three newly-graduated Brown students, each in the distinctly transitional stage from college to the “real world,” youth to adulthood—a coming-of-age theme that Eugenides explored in his previous two novels, The Virgin Suicides and Middlesex. This novel, however, is quite different from the Pulitzer Prize winner’s previous works, both of which explore the presence of the morbid and the mythic amidst the mundanities of suburban, household life—one with a series of suicides committed by teenage sisters, and the other with the life of a hermaphrodite. But The Marriage Plot diverges in setting and subject matter, chronicling life on Brown’s oh-so-hip, nonconformist, outspoken, early-eighties campus for Madeleine Hanna, a pretty WASP who is an avid Victorian literature fan. Madeleine’s English professor contends, “The novel had reached its apogee with the marriage plot and had never recovered from its disappearance. In the days when success in life had depended on marriage, and marriage had depended on money, novelists had had a subject to write about. The great epics sang of war, the novel of marriage. Sexual equality, good for women, had been bad for the novel. And divorce had undone it completely.” Eugenides creates a sort of modern-day marriage plot, differing from those of Jane Austen and the Brontë sisters which fill Madeleine’s bookshelf, and delves into her romantic relationships (or lack thereof) with Mitchell Grammaticus, a religion major from Grosse Pointe, and Leonard Bankhead, a bandana-wearing, tobacco-chewing scientist from Portland whom Madeleine meets making philosophical and literary musings in an edgy semiotics course. Eugenides fractures the story, alternating between the three characters’ perspectives, slowly—and often laboriously—piecing them together to give a clear portrait of Madeleine and her respective relationships with Mitchell and Leonard. Mitchell longs for Madeleine, who never seems to whole-heartedly return the favor, and Leonard and Madeleine develop a passionate but drawn-out relationship conflicted by his manic depressive disorder. Eugenides does well to characterize convincingly the emotions of human experience, most interestingly (yet also most briefly) those of Leonard’s manic depression. The three characters’ bouts of self-reflection are relatable and frank, and Eugenides is not afraid to shed some of the sentence acrobatics of his previous work in favor of a more vulnerable, conversational tone. Though reading the novel is not the mystical, breathless experience of reading The Virgin Suicides, and in no way is it as grandiose and expansive as the American epic Middlesex, The Marriage Plot does engage the reader from start to finish, and the dissatisfaction invoked by its realism perhaps mimics the main characters’ dissatisfaction towards life. And in a book that, in a way, is all about books—each character’s reading preferences are appraised, literary pretensions poked fun at, and “the marriage plot” echoes curiously in Madeleine’s own life—Eugenides causes the reader to wonder as the students in the semiotics course do: whether books can really be about anything, and if they can, whether they are about reality, or about other books—or, as in the case of this novel, both.

Most Deerfield students see a perfectly built stage without fully understanding the complex artistic and technical work that goes into the construction of a set. Technical Director Paul Yager has overseen the completion of over sixty sets of Deerfield plays since 1989. “Artistic research differs depending on which play we are doing. With Brighton Beach, I was very familiar with the play because we had done it ten years ago,” said Mr. Yager of Neil Simon’s Brighton Beach Memoirs, the most recent production. “I knew the time frame, I knew the layout, I knew the feel of the play. So, this time I did not have to do as much research,” Mr. Yager said. For those who had the opportunity to watch the fall play, it was evident that the set, built by Mr. Yager and a team of ten students, was quite complex and larger than the typical set in the Reid Black Box Theater. It had a substantial upstairs and enough detail to function as an actual house. “It was a lot of set treatment, a massive amount of work getting the structure up. All the detail ended up being an awful lot of work,” said Mr. Yager. Mr. Yager, who for two years worked as the technical director at the University of Massachusetts Residential Arts Program, went on to explain that “the details end up being the icing on the cake. That’s where you really put your stamp on it. When we finally got to the point [in Brighton Beach Memoirs] where we were hanging things on the wall, we were using props and furniture and décor to tell a further back story of the character.” Mr. Yager revealed that for Medea, the winter play, the floor will be filled with sand and there will be a sun piece suspended from the ceiling. Mr. Yager is currently researching the iconic carvings at Petra in Jordan for inspiration for wall design. With a bare minimum of props, the set for Medea will not be visually rich or luxurious. “I think it can be done with a bare stage. What we do will support that. It is certainly not going to have the impact that the Brighton Beach set had,” Mr. Yager said. Mr. Yager is looking forward to Medea, where he can work with some of the technical crew who gained experience from working in Brighton Beach Memoirs.

While enjoying the fall term and everything it entails, students also found ways to donate both their time and resources to others. No aspect of community service was left untouched, with students helping others in a variety of ways, from raising money for charities around the world to refurbishing computers to be donated to those in need. Over forty-five students participated in weekend projects, helping rake leaves or stack firewood for the elderly residents of Greenfield on Sundays. Community Service Board Member and Weekend Projects Coordinator Sarah Sutphin ’13 said, “Weekend projects are really special because they’re a chance to take a break from the stress of school and to go help others. The projects had not only an impact on the community members we assisted, but also the students who participated. Some students made such a connection with one elderly couple that they promised to come back and help again the next weekend.” Paired with local Franklin county youth, thirty-five seniors spent their Friday evenings participating in activities ranging from pool night, arts and crafts, and pick-up games on the quad. The Big Brothers Big Sisters program allows students to forge meaningful relationships that provide their Littles (children ages 8—13) with a positive role model and friend. Community Service Board Member and Big Brother Big Sisters Coordinator Bobby DeNunzio ’12 witnessed the impact of the program with Dakota, his Little Brother. “My favorite part of the Bigs program is watching Dakota grow older and more mature. He has a younger sister Jamie, who would steal Dakota’s seat at dinner. The first few times Dakota threw a tantrum, but I explained that Jamie wasn’t doing it to be mean. The next few times he handled it much more politely. When he saw that she stole his seat, he looked at me and smiled before sitting next to her without saying anything,” explained DeNunzio. The seniors were not the only ones helping the community. The entire school joined together, along with both Eaglebrook School and the Bement School, to collect goods for this year’s food drive. Community Service Board Head Grace Mermel ’12 reflected, “The students participated so greatly this year because we all knew our efforts, great or small, were far from futile. With the turbulent economy, some Franklin County families have become heavily dependent on soup kitchens for a meal. Deerfield’s service had a direct impact on its neighbors.” While thirty-one students participated in community service as a co-curricular, twenty-two teams and co-curricular groups volunteered at least once this fall. Varsity soccer hosted clinics for local youth while Elements helped the grounds crew with post-Irene clean up. In addition, Hi-Chew sales helped raise over $665 for the Greenfield Literacy Project. Students’ efforts were felt far beyond the Pioneer Valley, though, with Choate Day face paint sales benefiting an orphanage in Cambodia where for the second time Mac McDonald ’13 will volunteer this summer. Over $900 was raised this fall. Veronica Houk ’12 observed, that students not only gave to the community but took away experiences as well. One of the more than fifty students who volunteered at Second Helpings, a weekly program that provides Greenfield residents in need with a warm meal, Houk reflected, “Consumed by our own daily challenges, like taking three tests in one day or rushing to a game bus on Wednesday afternoons, we sometimes see the world beyond Deerfield as remote, but Second Helpings restores a sense of unity between the local community and us….As Greenfielders sit down to plates of hot food, many express their gratitude for the school’s generosity but our relationship is mutually beneficial. At one dinner, a man named Storm introduced himself to all of the participating Deerfield students and handed out flyers promoting a message of universal love and acceptance, and to me his actions summarize perfectly the fraternity upon which the Second Helpings spirit is founded.”

With the upcoming election, the need to identify our true political views is increasingly important. It seems as if we, as a country, limit our political opinions and perspectives to matters of red or blue. There are so many different levels of conservatism and liberalism that defining yourself as just a Democrat or just a Republican can misrepresent your core values. If you find yourself agreeing with the opinions of both parties, why generalize your individual beliefs? In fact, what is our need for political groups that just create bias? The main obstacle our government faces is that compromise between parties is nearly impossible. The parties are no longer working in cooperation. Instead, our government has become like a civil war. Any attempt to come to an agreement is foiled by the pride of the parties. During such a crucial time in our country, we have to set aside our party allegiances for the sake of finding a candidate capable of running our nation. A website in support of these same ideals called “Americans Elect” was created this year. On the website, you define your “true colors” by answering questions about your political views. The website recently added a feature where you can compare your “true colors” to those of the candidates running for president in 2012. This way, you can more accurately determine your vote. The main goal of the site is to provide the people’s choice on the ballot, or as they say, “America’s first direct presidential nomination.” This movement centers on the ideals of the independent vote and is a great step towards bipartisanship. The independents of the nation represent bipartisanship in its purest form. Free of any political constraints, each vote comes from individual thought. Unless you agree with all of the points and ideals that define a certain party, when you associate with either left or right or red or blue, you are contradicting yourself. Many people dismiss being independent from their party because they are unaware of any success from current independents. To all of those skeptics: the current mayor of New York City since 2002, Michael Bloomberg, has been independent since 2007. Bloomberg is considered one of the most successful mayors the city has ever had. Whether you are extremely liberal or extremely conservative, your open-mindedness is still key to our country’s growth and development. Though you may feel as if you could never agree with the opposing party, it is crucial that you remain objective when facing political ideas.

On account of three separate allegations of molestation against the basketball coach, Syracuse University Senior Vice President Kevin Quinn released a formal statement saying, “At the direction of Chancellor [Nancy] Cantor, Bernie Fine’s employment with Syracuse University has been terminated, effective immediately.” The similarities between the case of Bernie Fine, that of Jerry Sandusky, and the scandals of the Catholic Church in the 2000s are frightening. At that time, Bishop Wilton Gregory, then-president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and current archbishop of Atlanta, said, “We [U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops] are the ones who chose not to report the criminal actions of priests to the authorities, because the law did not require this.” An insidious, persistently increasing trend has begun to show its face to American society: a trend of misusing power. No football coach or archbishop should be above the law of the United States. This abuse of power and influence even stretches into the political realm, with “legal” behaviors like insider trading that allow politicians to beat the stock market by 12% each year. As a nation, we need to confront abuses of power, whether it is the molestation of young children or the manipulation of the stock market. When a nation’s leaders or any programs or institutions cease to obey the same laws as those of the people, that nation finds itself the birthplace of monarchy. To ensure our leaders and powerful persons refrain from considering themselves above the people’s laws, we must be vigilant and police those who disobey, manipulate, or “bend” the rules. The American societal system is based on mutual trust and obedience of the laws. Alexis de Tocqueville, visiting America in its earliest stages, is credited with saying, “America is great because she is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, she will cease to be great.” If these acts of superiority and disobedience of the law continue, America may reach a point where she ceases to be good. American people of all monetary stature and influence must adhere to its laws if she is to maintain her greatness. What’s more, if our elected and spiritual leaders, along with our glorified sports heroes, fail to obey the law, what keeps every American from following suit of those expected to “lead by example?”

After awakening from a restful 9.25 hours of sleep at 7:30, you head to the Dining Hall and eat a perfectly balanced breakfast before your first period class. Your morning, which consists of three classes and fourth period free, includes two tests that you did not cram for the night before due to your excellent study and organizational skills. After acing your second test, you sprint to your dorm room at the start of fourth period, so you can effectively use every last second of your forty-five minute free period to complete one of your five forty-five minute assignments. After diligently working for forty-five minutes you run to the Dining Hall, where you first wait your table in the fifteen-minute interval. After lunch, you go to your remaining two classes of the day before racing back to your room for your second free period, where you will again use every moment to complete another subject of homework. After your free, you get ready for your athletic practice and head to the gym. After stopping back at the Dining Hall for dinner, you arrive back at the dorm at 6:00. After changing out of your athletic clothes, you realize you have a meeting at 6:30 for a club. You, a dutiful club member, attend the meeting and go straight to your room at the conclusion of the meeting, at 7:30. As the perfect student that you are, you begin your work right away, without missing a beat. You transfer from one forty-five minute subject to the next like a verse from the “Evensong”—naturally and effortlessly. Finishing your homework at exactly 9:45, you head to the hall feed, but for no more than five minutes because you must be lying down in bed at 9:55, if you want to make sure that you are asleep at exactly 10:15 so you can get your full 9.25 hours of sleep (since you aren’t sleep deprived it should take you twenty minutes to fall asleep). And being the perfect Deerfield boy or girl you are, you do finish your perfect day on time. Sound familiar? Perhaps you don’t go to bed until 10:40 because each of your five teachers assigns fifty-minutes of homework, just a mere extra five minutes of homework. Well, that adds another twenty-five minutes each night. In addition, you may be unable to sprint from your classes to your dorm room to effectively use every minute of a free period for homework, so add a modest fifteen minutes to your day, ending your day at 10:55. But, you are also in an AP science class, take a sixth course or have a music lesson during a free period, so you lose an entire forty-five minute block. Well, you now go to bed at 11:40. And say you spend more than five minutes at your feed—more like fifteen or twenty. Well it is now 12:00 pm and you are looking at 7.5 hours of sleep. You haven’t even taken a break in your day or considered any other time commitments you may have—like needing to meet with a teacher, needing to study for a major test, or possibly wanting to spend twenty minutes catching up with a close friend. The blanket of stress that fills the Pocumtuck Valley this year is at a record high and, while propositions are being considered to reduce stress, a campus-wide conversation needs to begin if we want to reduce stress levels to a reasonable level. Faculty and students must talk to one another to hear their suggestions and other perspectives. Rumors floating around campus include possibly removing sit-down dinners during the week. Some students balk at the idea, stating that is one of the things that makes Deerfield, Deerfield. Other ideas like turning off the internet for underclassmen for one hour during study hall each evening lead to the question, “Will the junior and senior class be filled with students who are unable to monitor themselves and will be on Facebook until the internet shuts off at 1 AM?” Perhaps this is the perfect question to discuss at your five-minute hall feeds…

A few lucky runners and their coach spent five days during Thanksgiving break in Dublin, Ireland, running, touring and visiting with students from St. Columba’s school. “Ireland has a rich tradition of both academics and running,” said Dr. Dennis Cullinane, science teacher and girls’ varsity cross country coach. “We went to do a cultural exchange with students at St Columba’s, but also to explore Ireland and its history.” This was the second cross country trip to Ireland; the first was in 2009. The cross country team just ended a great season, including seven wins. The culmination of their work came at the New England Championships, where they came in second place. When asked, the girls attributed their success to how close the whole team is. Asu Bilirgen ’14 was one of the runners on the trip. When asked how the trip was beneficial to the cross country team, she said, “Team bonding. After a long day of exploring, we would get together in one of the hotel rooms and we would just talk and hang out. It was so awesome.” She added, “Cross country is a sport that is dependent on mental strength, so it is important to have a sense of teamwork and school spirit. I know that I would not have been able to get through the season without the support of my teammates.” Dashiell Schulte ’13 was also on the trip. “I decided to go because I love the cross country team and Dr. Cullinane. It was a good group and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity.” She said. “My favorite part was going to meet the boarding school students at St. Columba’s College and comparing what’s normal for us and them and what they were accustomed to. It was a wonky experience.” “It was a great athletic and social opportunity for the team. We learned a lot about Ireland, but also about each other,” said Wahi Diome ’12, who has been running cross country for three years. “It was a really great way to spend the break.” “I love meeting the students and faculty there,” said Dr. Cullinane. “The Irish have an incredible ability to make one feel welcome, and so they treated us like family.”

It’s that time of year to start thinking about creative gift ideas as well as the long-standing tradition of Secret Santa. Secret Santa is a fun and inventive tradition, on and off campus, where one person picks another person’s name (typically out of a hat) and secretly gives them present(s) as their Secret Santa. Zatio Kone ’12 shared a sweet story about how last year she forewent homework to cut out paper snowflakes and hang them in her Secret Santa’s room. Kone explained, “She liked them so much she kept them up for the rest of the school year!” Not an uncommon tradition at Deerfield, Maddie McGraw ’13 said, “Last year, my proctor/Secret Santa snowflaked her room. We also made gingerbread houses as a hall, and wrote a song about Christmas on Poc II, to the tune of White Christmas .” Maggie Savage ’15 shares another cute Christmas story: “One Christmas, my seven year old brother and I snuck downstairs on Christmas Eve, and in the middle of the night, he thought he heard Santa. We tried to break through the metal cover to the fireplace with scissors, and started crying when we couldn’t get in.” Savage added, “In the morning, we found the ‘secret footsteps’ made from ‘snow,’ which was actually powder, but we didn’t know at the time.” These special holiday memories are not easily forgotten, and this holiday season is the chance to create some incredible ones, which may or may not involve Secret Santa. Laura Quazzo ’13 added, “Personally, I love Secret Santa at Deerfield! I like the spirit and connection it brings to the hall, and I love anything secretive.”

This fall a residential curriculum entitled Connect4 was introduced through corridor conversations and a freshman class overnight at Camp Beckett in the Berkshires. The faculty spearheading Connect4 are English teacher Michael Schloat and history teacher Rebecca Melvoin, both members of the newly created Residential Program Committee. When planning the program, Ms. Melvoin said one of the biggest concerns was faculty and student participation. “One thing we were worried about was student and faculty buy in.” Assistant Dean of Students Amie Creagh added another factor: the tendency of such programs to be another item in students’ and faculty members’ already packed schedules. “It is meant to be integrated into the day,” she said, just like feeds or other weekly dorm activities of past years. Ms. Creagh believes that the program has been successful, especially with the help and support of the proctors. “A key component in the program’s success to this point has been proctor leadership,” she said. As Connect4 rolls on into winter and spring, “The faculty will take a bigger role,” said Ms. Melvoin. “The first couple months were really driven by faculty organizers,” affirmed Mr. Schloat. “Eventually, we want to give control to proctors and faculty residents.”

I have spent the past two weeks in a stressful frenzy, tirelessly searching for the perfect Christmas presents for my family and friends. Like me, most students are scrambling for gift ideas and many are counting down the days until winter break in anticipation of a vacation in the Caribbean or an extravagant holiday dinner with their family. Even though I have grown up in this world, it seems increasingly foreign to me after my celebration last year. In my family, the winter holidays are not huge events. We exchange gifts minimally and, as embarrassing as it is to say, eat fast food for dinner. However, by spending the holidays abroad last year, my family finally enjoyed the “holiday spirit” promoted in America today. It was not a memorable holiday because we finally began buying expensive presents for each other (we had not previously participated in that tradition at all). When my parents flew to Beijing, the city I was studying in for my school year abroad, to celebrate Christmas and New Year’s with me, I really felt like we were celebrating my survival. My friends and I were proud of weathering the first two months of almost incomprehensible communication with our host mothers, the twice-daily Chinese character quizzes, and the formation of relationships with new friends. I felt more accomplished merely because I had finally adapted to China’s pace and culture enough to enjoy my time there. I felt more accomplished than I have ever felt after completing a year of school at home. We were discouraged from returning home for the holidays (only one student out of forty-eight went back to the U.S.), but most of us were happier that our parents came to us. We wanted to show off what we had learned. I spent our three weeks of vacation almost entirely with my parents. Even though we were eating spicy green beans and dumplings, served to us by waiters dressed up as elves, we finally celebrated Christmas with a big dinner. I did not go abroad to China, a largely nonreligious (though very spiritual) country, to create my family’s American holiday spirit, but it was an added benefit. Especially during this hectic, test-crammed three-week sprint before break when life’s pace can seem overwhelming, I can look forward to the holidays with a greater appreciation of my family, school life, and even our inevitable fast food dinner.

Despite competing against some of the best teams in New England, such as Northfield Mount Hermon, which each year graduates multiple Division 1 collegiate athletes, the Deerfield boys’ varsity basketball team lacks neither confidence nor talent. This year the team is composed of five post graduates, four returners, and several players who have moved up from junior varsity. The captains of the team are post graduates Samuel Willson ’12 and Harry Glor ’12, a tri-varsity athlete. Willson, a basketball post-graduate who spent his past four years at Taft, expressed his confidence in the capabilities and potential of the team. Although making the playoffs is the team’s main focus, Willson stated, “Putting the team before my personal goals is my goal.” The 6’4” shooting guard plans to play at a Division 3 college. After a respectable, chemistry-testing effort in a scrimmage against perennial basketball powerhouse Hotchkiss, Alex Wagman ’12 said, “There is a lot to be excited about.” Head Coach Conrad Pitcher was also pleased, stating, “I think we have a better basketball IQ than previous years.” Other contributors to the scrimmage included Mark Glicini ’12, a lacrosse post graduate headed to Yale; another post graduate, Brian Pickup ’12, who will play lacrosse at Princeton next year; T.J. Randall ’13; and Patrick Ononibaku ’14. The team is working to improve its aggressiveness and discipline from previous seasons. As a tradition, Coach Pitcher addresses his team daily with “pearls of wisdom” to keep his athletes motivated to put all of their effort into practices. The team’s forté is charging on defense, which involves sacrificing a defensive player by allowing the opponent driving towards the hoop to collide with him, and drawing a foul. Other teams recognize Deerfield for its consistency with successful charges. Willson cited the work ethic and aggressiveness of the players who moved up from junior varsity (Niko Grupen ’12, William Hess ’12, and James Yang ’12) as a primary motivation for the varsity veterans to work harder and as a unit. Last year, the team graduated Kyle Kager ’11, a 6’7” forward who received a full scholarship to play basketball at American University, a Division 1 school. Deerfield also graduated Jimmy Bitter ’11, a major contributor to the team who currently plays lacrosse for the University of North Carolina Tar Heels. Despite the loss of these talented players, Coach Pitcher is very confident that his new team is overall better rounded than his teams in the past and possesses the discipline, responsibility and raw talent of a winning team.

In late November, day students were informed that they would have to wait tables during the upcoming meal rotation. Since day students are not required to attend Sunday dinner, “Sunday waiters,” boarders who both first and second wait the meal, were also assigned. Though many boarders felt that this was fair, many day students were surprised and frustrated with the change. Day students felt singled out by the first waiting line which consisted almost entirely of day students. The biggest complaint, however, had to do with the execution of this new waiting program. Many felt as though there was no discussion regarding the change, and that it was implemented suddenly and without warning. We hope that in the future such a change will be discussed in clear terms before execution. We think that this change is a step towards equalizing the experiences of boarders and day students, and what is expected of them. Everyone will have waited by the time they graduate, whether they are from Dubai, Darien, or South Deerfield.