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- Student Council Housing Proposal
The following is a Student Council housing proposal. Responses to the proposal can be emailed to The Scroll . Our housing philosophy is very similar to our philosophy regarding community meals. At Deerfield, we value our sit-down meals because we think it is good for our students to mingle, meet new people, and engage in conversation with a variety of teachers. When housing our students, we also hope to offer them diversity and the chance to meet teachers and students whom they might not have sought out on their own. During the spring term, the students and the deans will meet for a housing lottery. There will be no pre-draft priority to students who had lower picks in the draft from the previous year. Students who wish to sign up in doubles or triples will not have priority over other students and will participate in the same draft as other students. However, the Dean of Students’ Office may deem a student an appropriate candidate for extra picks if he or she receives zero Accountability Points, rooms in a double or a triple room the previous year, etc. This means that if a student is allotted “extra picks,” that student may draw again in the lottery. Rising underclassmen will be allowed to sign up with a partner in the draft. In the selection process, underclassmen will select the hall they wish to be in, rather than the room that they prefer. Deerfield wants to promote balanced halls and encourage returning students to meet new students. Upperclassmen will also be allowed to sign up with a partner. Based on their priority in the lottery, they can select what room they desire to be in. Each spring, the Dean of Students’ Office assigns students to their rooms for the following fall. Once assignments are announced, the committee will not make any changes to the fall housing roster beyond those minor modifications that become necessary on the rare occasion when a student withdraws over the summer. Students are encouraged to discuss issues of incompatibility with their proctors, faculty residents, and their deans, and should be aware that no housing changes will be made before Thanksgiving. While we often consider student preferences as expressed in housing applications, the Academy reserves the right to reject all preferences and to assign students to rooms considered to be best suited to their needs.
- Seasons of Art
This summer, creative Deerfield students nurtured their artistic talents in a variety of ways, painting all night in art studios, assisting a professional photographer, and dancing in the halls of Lincoln Center. Lizzy Gregory ’11 attended Pratt Institute’s summer college-level program in New York City where she majored in painting and drawing, studied art history, and visited the city’s most widely-acclaimed museums. She also took a class dedicated to developing a college art portfolio. The program involved eight-to-ten hours a day in the studio and about four hours of art homework. “I’ve gotten used to the feeling of a five-hour figure class by now,” Gregory said, and later expressed her desire to attend an art school in the future. Similarly, Sonja Holmberg ’11 received a full scholarship to attend Rhode Island School of Design’s summer precollege program. For six weeks, Holmberg majored in drawing and also studied design and art history. Akshaya Avril-Tucker ’11 and Emlyn Van Eps ’12 attended Apple Hill Summer Chamber Music Workshop for ten days in Keene, NH. Musicians were responsible for playing in several ensembles and practicing individually. With Apple Hill’s unique branch organization, “Playing for Peace,” Avril-Tucker and Van Eps met musicians from all over the world, especially from areas beleaguered by conflict, such as Palestine and Israel. “I learned a lot about modern music, and world music in general,” commented Van Eps. Curtis Oh ’11, a saxophonist, and Katie Yoon ’11, a violist, both compiled CDs for colleges this summer. “My obvious reason was to send a sample of my work as part of my arts supplement,” explained Oh. “But it’s nice to keep a record of my music experiences so I can look back and reflect on how I used to play.” Nina Shevzov-Zebrun ’12 danced at Juilliard’s Summer Dance Intensive program for three weeks in New York City, where she took classes in ballet and modern dance. Shevzov-Zebrun danced nine hours daily and had the opportunity to be accompanied by current Juilliard dancers. To hone their skills with the camera, Hannah Dancer ’11 interned for a photographer in New York City for two weeks, while Thomas Earle ’12 attended a young digital photographers’ class in the Maine Multi-Media Workshop Program. Actor Jem Wilner ’11 attended Northwestern University’s five-week intensive theater program. “It was almost like a conservatory for drama,” he declared. He acted from 8:00 a.m. to 10 p.m., with lunch and dinner breaks in between, and his core classes included acting, voice, movement, and, surprisingly, many hours of yoga by the lake. In his afternoon classes, Wilner practiced dialects, accents, comedy, improvisation, choreography, and dance. Groups of sixteen engaged in four hours of rehearsal each day, and Wilner performed Big Love .
- Magpie Restaurant Review
It seems like the place to be when one enters the restaurant at 7:30 on a Thursday night. Every table is filled with casually-dressed groups, and overflow patrons sit on the dark wood pews at the entrance. Beyond this, the brick-walled bar attracts the more youthful adults with its large wooden counter and antiques adorning the wall. Magpie Woodfired Pizzeria, situated at 21 Bank Row in Greenfield, is a cozy pizzeria just a ten-minute cab ride away, right on the town’s main village green. Industrial design meets rustic décor in the busy dining room. Exposed pipes and ventilation are superimposed over creamy, yellow walls. The dark, checkered linoleum floor lies under tables seating up to eight people, although it seems as if the tables could be easily moved to accommodate more. On the walls, old-fashioned printers’ trays hang alongside flower-printed trays. The eatery prides itself on the wood-burning oven. Diners can see the oven in the open kitchen at the back of the pizzeria. While the lights are dim, it is still easy to make out the chalkboard Specials menu hanging above the dough throwing counter. Once seated, each person receives a copy of the laminated menu. For drinks, there is a selection of local sodas, iced and hot tea, and various alcoholic beverages for those of age. There are an impressive seven choices for starters, ranging from $4.00 for a bread plate to $8.50 for the more substantial meatballs. The standout appetizer is the warm, herbed goat cheese ($6.00). The light foccacia bread balances the hearty goat cheese topped with honey and roasted almonds. This savory option is easy to split with others. The four salads range from the field greens and herb house ($6.00) to the more flavorful orange, almond, and goat cheese salad ($9.50). For entrees, there are four pastas available, ranging from $14.00 to $16.50. There is also a pasta of the day listed on the menu with subtext that cleverly reads, “It changes….” These portions are rather large, so don’t forget to bring your appetite or someone with whom to share the dish. There are ten different pizzas to choose from, all between $9.00 and $14.00. Magpie offers a traditional margarita pizza and a classic cheese pie, along with more innovative items such as artichoke and pesto or potato and garlic pizzas. If none of these catch your fancy, you can also “build your own.” Regardless of what decadent toppings you put on, the crunchy yet chewy crust will keep you wanting more. The kitchen also tries to accommodate those with food allergies or special dietary needs. For dessert, save room for some fudge bottom pie or tiramisu, both of which cost $5.00. Cap off the meal with rich, warm coffee before heading out into the cold. Overall, the dining experience at Magpie is excellent and earns five Deerfield doors from the Scroll staff. Mon, Wed, Thurs, Sun: 4pm -10pm Fri, Sat: 4pm-11pm Tues: Closed (413) 475-3750
- Deerfield Gets Physical: New Fitness Center
The new 5,500-square-foot fitness center is the latest edition to campus. It caters to every member of the community by providing many different types of equipment for all individuals. Fitness Center Director Emma Mitchell, who works collaboratively with the athletic trainers, can create a personalized workout to meet any individual’s needs, including physical therapy and rehabilitation. Ms. Mitchell emphasized that the fitness center is not only for athletes. “Whether you are interested in overall fitness or working towards a specific goal, the fitness center is designed to meet individual needs as well, not just the needs of teams,” said Ms. Mitchell. Fitness center staff member Edward Wozniakewicz ’06 said, “I have never seen a gym that has as many options. It is nicer than any collegiate fitness center I’ve seen, as it has a lot more user-friendly equipment to offer.” As Mr. Wozniakewicz stated, there is something for everyone in the fitness center. Cardiovascular equipment is located over the entire second floor while the lower level consists of two rooms for weight training and a 65-foot track. Teams are able to incorporate the equipment into their weekly practice schedule, something they were never able to do in the old facilities. “I would love for coaches to embrace strength and conditioning as a key element to their team’s workout and take advantage of the facility and staffing that we have,” said Head Athletic Trainer Robert Graves. “The better conditioned you are as a team, the less likely you are to be injured.” The fitness center also offers additional possibilities for the athletic trainers. “Our goal has always been to provide the best standard of care to athletes and non-athletes, alike. The fitness center will help us do this, as we can now offer more training opportunities for those injured and working in rehabilitation,” explained Mr. Graves Ms. Mitchell added, “I think, in terms of fitness, people always talk about coming and being fit. I would love to see everybody in here at some point or another.” Mr. Wozniakewicz explained, “A facility is only as good as people maintain it. Students should take pride in the facilities Deerfield has to offer and use them wisely.”
- Mr. Roihl Sees New Horizons for the Music Department
Daniel Roihl joins Deerfield Academy this year as the director of the music department. Zatio Kone ’12 praised Mr. Roihl and said, “He’s passionate about his work and wants to see us succeed. I think he will do great things for the music program here.” Alice Lu ’12 concurred, adding, “Mr. Roihl does a great job demonstrating for us. He is always focused and very interested in what we are working on.” After only a few weeks, Mr. Roihl has been able to catch glimpses of the music program, and he is already impressed by what students have to offer. “Deerfield has a great program that includes a lot of bright and enthusiastic students. They pick things up very quickly, and I think I will have a lot of fun with the students here. Most of them already have a pretty solid foundation,” he said. Mr. Roihl hopes to develop the choral program at Deerfield more extensively. “In my time here, I hope to make choral singing available to every student in Deerfield that is interested in it,” he said. He also has specific plans to turn his vision into a reality. He explained, “I want to move one of the choral programs into the evening, although I do understand the busy schedule that Deerfield students are involved with on a daily basis.” Mr. Roihl has taught at the University of Northern California and World Mission University, and has also gained vast experience in conducting, singing, and composing. His singing was also included in the movie soundtrack for I Am Legend . As an alumnus of Phillips Andover Academy, Mr. Roihl is familiar with the boarding school environment. He was drawn to Deerfield because it felt like “going back home,” as he grew up in the New England area, and returning from California was a long-awaited family reunion. He has high hopes for Deerfield and plans to discover the hidden talents of other students who wish to pursue chorus. Said Frederica Rockwood ’11, “Mr. Roihl pushes us to sound mature when we sing, and I’m sure his enthusiasm and passion will attract many new singers.”
- Deerfield Community Says Goodbye to Izzy Marley ’11
Students and faculty gathered on September 16 to pay tribute to Vittoria Isabelle (Izzy) Marley ’11, who sustained a fatal head injury from an accidental fall off a golf cart on September 3 in Jamaica, her home country. Coming just a week before the new school year began, the news devastated students and faculty alike. Izzy was about to return to campus as a four-year senior. She was a phenomenal golfer and led both the Deerfield golf team and the Jamaican junior team to numerous championships. Izzy’s two close friends Rachel Gibson ’11 and Becky Levy ’11 arranged this special farewell. Dean of Students Toby Emerson, along with other deans, IT, and staff members, also worked to organize the event. The memorial service began with greetings from Mr. Emerson and Head of School Margarita Curtis. Short speeches from Izzy’s friends, teachers, and teammates followed; they reminded the audience of her unique spirit. “Izzy wouldn’t have wanted this [service] to be about sadness and mourning, so we wanted to emphasize all the amazing things she had done,” said Gibson. Many members of the community later thanked Gibson and Levy for the commemoration. “Izzy Marley was such a unique person…like a legend that will never die,” said Levy. “So thanks for the memories, Iz, and I know that your spirit will live on here at DA in all our days of glory, and here in our hearts forever.”
- Letter from the Editor
According to William Zinsser, one of the most important rules of writing, and journalism in particular, is to “get it right.” With each news article, The Scroll strives to be accurate, objective, and informative. I believe that we have met with success in this aspect. However, we have been subject to criticism regarding recent articles in the Opinion/Editorial section, causing us to consider how much freedom of speech high school students can and should have. I think teenagers are completely entitled to have their own opinions on politics, religion, social issues, and other supposedly “adult” matters. And just because a student writes a particularly liberal or conservative piece doesn’t mean that the entire community shares that student’s belief. The word “opinion” derives from the Latin opinari , “to think.” In suggesting that students should not possess opinions or share their unique perspectives with the community, are not such critics saying that students should not think or expand the horizons of others? Deerfield prides itself on the rigorous education its students receive. We engage in philosophical discussions, explore the relevancy of classic texts, and compose analytical essays on political and socio-economical themes. In a way, Deerfield’s mission is to teach us to think for ourselves. I hope our readers recognize that students’ opinion articles are a testament to the success of that mission. As always, if you have your own opinion on something you read in The Scroll , never hesitate to share it. Please send any thoughts – or potential Opinion/Editorial pieces – to scroll@deerfield.edu or estrayer@deerfield.edu . – Elisabeth Strayer, Editor-in-Chief
- The Death of Books
Imagine you want to read a book. But what if you do not have time to go to the bookstore? What if all the copies are sold out, or you live nowhere near a bookstore? If you own a Kindle, an iPad, or any other kind of electronic book, this will not be a problem. As long as you have your e-reader and an internet connection, you can buy a book with one click. Its great convenience is one of many factors that contribute to e-books’ massive success since the unveiling of the Kindle in 2007. According to the New York Times , in 2010, sales of e-books quadrupled, and on July 19, Amazon announced that for the past three months, 143 Kindle books had been sold for every 100 hardcover books. Meanwhile, the iTunes store sold over 300,000 books on the first day of the iPad’s release. Travelers with e-readers will never violate weight limits or carry stuffed backpacks again; in the newest version of the Kindle, the 10.2-ounce device can hold up to 3,500 books, a massive library in one’s pocket. E-readers could usher in a new era of students with good posture-no more slumping from heavy textbooks or SAT preparation books. These can be downloaded onto the Kindle, too, and you can still annotate, highlight, or underline to your heart’s desire. Will e-books’ advantages cause a total shift in reading as we know it, just as iPods and mp3 players forced CDs into total disappearance? Fellow boarding school Cushing Academy seemed to think so when it swapped its library books for 65 Kindles, an electronic database for research, and several wide-screen TVs. As with any device that instigates change, e-books receive much criticism. One complaint regards the typos that abound in Kindle books, and page breaks have completely escaped e-publishers. The electronic light strains the eyes, and furthermore, Kindles and iPads are delicate creatures that will break if shoved into a crammed a backpack. Finally, there is the classic book-lover’s complaint, and the one heard most often from e-reader critics and fans alike, which Sarah Woolf ’12 put so succinctly: “There is absolutely no way to recreate the feeling of leafing through the pages of a book. It’s an incredible feeling to have the weight of the paper and its ink in your hands, to think about who may have had it before you and who will have it after you, to feel the breeze and smell that ‘new-book-paper’ smell…. Books aren’t just about the words in them. They’re about the experience of the object that is a book.”
- Performing Arts Showcase on Friday
After only a month of preparation, musicians, singers, actors, and dancers will take the stage to share their artistic talents with the audience. This Friday, Parents’ Weekend, the Deerfield community will gather in the large auditorium to experience the world of the performing arts. Short arrangements by the chorus, band, chamber groups, and orchestra will start the showcase. Rachel Fletcher-Slater ’12, pianist and xylophonist for the wind ensemble, commented on the short preparation time: “Everyone in the ensemble sight reads very well, so learning the music came fairly easy to us. It also helps when you play fun pieces like ‘Crazy’ by Gnarls Barkley.” Next to perform are the actors from advanced acting tutorial. Some actors will be at speech or debating events, or in Thailand for a Round Square trip, but Director of Theater John Reese said, “Since we have an amazing group of actors, I’m confident they will thoroughly entertain our audience.” The class has prepared several short comedic scenes, including a monologue by Mia Fowler ’11. “I’m super excited! This will be the first time my parents will see me perform a monologue,” Fowler exclaimed. The material is as good as the presentation, and Fowler found her monologue to be “so funny and cute that I was able to memorize it all on my own in less than week.” To close the night, dancers will display the wide range of styles offered by Deerfield’s dance program. “We will present five dances created by four professional choreographers and one student, Nina Shevzov-Zebrun ’12,” commented Jennifer Whitcomb, director of dance and department chair of the Visual and Performing Arts. Similar to the music department headed under Mr. Roihl, the dance department is on the brink of a new era with two new talented teachers, Crystal Nilsson and Stephanie Shumway. Ms. Whitcomb is pleased to showcase Deerfield’s “talented dancers at one of the first major events of the year.” The Fall Performing Arts Showcase will begin at 7:15 p.m. on October 15. Come enjoy an amazing night of music, theatre and dance!
- Seven Minutes in Heaven
Everybody experiences the extreme discomfort of being fourteen-years-old. This fall’s play, Seven Minutes in Heaven by Steven Levenson, perfectly captures the stereotypes young teenagers try so desperately to adopt. With limited plotline, the play focuses in depth on its characters: three boys and three girls at a basement party in the mid-1990s, “After Kurt, before Monica,” according to Levenson’s stage directions. They cover all recognizable teenage stereotypes: “the dorky social misfit who is the object of everyone’s ridicule, the girl who uses acerbic humor to mask her insecurities and the bullying jock who revels in the details of his workout regimen.” As the play continues, though, they shed their facades and the audience glimpses their inner vulnerabilities, fears, and affections. Half the cast is new to the co-curricular theater program. Rhys Louis ’12, for example, has focused primarily on musical theater. He explained, “In musicals, you have multiple outlets for the character’s passion: the dancing, the singing, the acting. But in straight theatre, two of those are cut out-you have less to work with, which makes it much more difficult.” Director of Theater John Reese chose the script because “it embodies many of the issues that teenagers encounter at that particular age.” Says Becca Cooley ’12 of the script, “half the lines you know you’ve said before. Working in a play where everything is so real is such an experience.” The experience has been rewarding for Cooley: “As an actor, finding the motivation behind the actions reveals so much about our age group, those younger, and even those older.” Seven Minutes in Heaven will be showing in the Reid Black Box Theatre at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 2, through Saturday, November 6.
- And a Hearty Welcome
Born in the Philippines, Gina Apostol joins the English department this year . She has won the Philippine National Book Award for Fiction and was a runner-up for the Prairie Schooner Fiction Prize. She taught English at the Master’s School for the past twelve years. Wayne Berger ’84 is joining the college advising office and varsity crew coaches. He has taught at both Hotchkiss and Groton and is the head coach of the Boston Rowing Club in Cambridge. A new language department teaching fellow of Spanish, Sam Bicknell has had years of experience working with youth. He has been awarded for his involvement in community service and for his outstanding participation and leadership in intramural sports. Michael Cary , after 14 years away, has returned to Deerfield to teach English. Since he left in the ’90s, he has served Lawrenceville as a head of school, was the executive director of the Yellowstone Park Foundation, and was the director of major gifts at the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown. This year’s new Associate Director of Admissions Alison DiNardo just received her master’s in education from Harvard University. She will also be coaching varsity lacrosse. Brian Fry is a Teaching Fellow in the science department this year. He just graduated from Bowdoin College where he played on the ice hockey team and worked with outreach groups against sexual violence and assault. Working in admissions, teaching photography, and directing multicultural affairs, Tarah Greenidge joins Deerfield after working as Director of the New Jersey SEEDS College Preparatory Program, which prepares motivated, financially challenged students for admission to competitive colleges. After living in Morocco for a year, Heather Liske joins Deerfield’s English department. She has past experience with living in dorms and coaching various sports at Western Reserve Academy and Groton School. Deerfield’s new Director of Music Daniel Roihl has studied music at both Harvard University and Yale School of Music. He has composed many choral works and is featured as a soloist on the soundtrack of the film I Am Legend. Jennifer Marino , a member of the Bates Class of 2009, has joined this year’s science department. Ms. Marino has earned All-American honors in track and holds records at Bates for the triple jump, long jump, and 4×400 meter relay. Trevor McKinlay , a native of New Zealand and graduate of Otago University, is joining the English department as this year’s Wilson Fellow. He brings with him considerable experience in education having been headmaster at the Wanguanui Collegiate School in New Zealand and Markham College in Lima, Peru. Julia Rivellino-Lyons joins the history department this year to replace Conrad Pitcher, who is away on sabbatical. Mrs. Rivellino Lyons has taught at several peer schools, including Phillips Exeter and Milton Academies. Another Teaching Fellow in the science department, Lauren Veit just graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute as a biomedical engineering major. She has spent recent summers in medical research programs. Information courtesy of the Dean of Faculty’s Office.
- Struggle for the LEED
When the Koch Center opened in 2007, the Deerfield community took pride in this beautiful facility. It boasted a café, a planetarium, state-of-the-art classrooms, and a shiny gold plaque directly ahead of the front doors. In the three years since its dedication, the Koch Center has undergone a few minimal changes-the doors are easier to open, the quartz that lined the walkway is gone-but one change some may not have noticed is the disappearance of the gold plaque in which many Deerfield community members took great pride. That plaque, reading “United States Green Building Council LEED Gold,” certified that the Koch Center was one of the most innovative and environmentally-friendly buildings in the country. In order to achieve certification, according to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) website, buildings are surveyed and awarded points for five different categories: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality. Within these five areas (and two bonus categories of innovation in design and regional priority), the points are tallied up to 100 total (plus 10 for the bonus). The number of points received determines the building’s level of certification. The Koch Center received a Gold level LEED certification upon its completion for earning between 60 and 80 points. So why does this plaque no longer hang in the Koch Center? The answer to this seemingly simple question has proved difficult to obtain. In fact, none of the five faculty members asked about the loss of the LEED plaque seemed to know anything about it. Chief Financial Officer Joseph Manory declined to speak about the issue. Whether or not the Koch Center will be getting its plaque back remains to be seen. Based on faculty speculation, this seems to be a possibility. Whether or not the controversy over the LEED certification has something to do with the four-year lawsuit with the architects of the Koch Center, Skidmore, Owens, and Merrill, is still unknown; the lawsuit was settled in 2009. The USGBC has declared that decertification is a possibility if the building in question fails to adhere to the five main principles. The council states that the project “must be a complete, permanent building, utilize a reasonable site boundary, comply with environmental laws, comply with minimum occupancy rates, and share energy and water usage data with the council.” It seems that the lack of the LEED plaque in the Koch Center will remain a mystery until further notice.
