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Every week, posters around campus advertise the next movie that the Deerfield Motion Pictures Club will screen that weekend. In an attempt to introduce the Deerfield Community to classic movies, Alexzandria Chalmers ’13 and Andrew Bishop ’14 founded the Motion Pictures Club earlier this year. “We felt that a lot of Deerfield students weren’t exposed to classic movies or even modern classics,” Chalmers said. “We thought that if we started a club where people can watch movies we thought were great, we could maybe introduce another aspect of the American culture.” Chalmers believes that motion pictures hold a special place in our culture. “Film has been around for less than a century, but it has already redefined literature,” she said. “Learning to appreciate movies will do Deerfield students more good than they might initially think.” Some films that the group has screened so far include Pulp Fiction, Citizen Kane, Slumdog Millionaire, The Big Lebowski and Fight Club. “We take recommendations from parents and teachers that know movies better than we do. We try to stick to those that are widely considered great so that a larger audience can appreciate them,” Bishop explained. Other officers of the club include Cody Anderson-Salo ’14 and Tabata Viso ’14. “It would be nice to have a greater turnout in our future screenings,” Anderson-Salo ’14 said. Currently their screenings take place on Saturday nights at 8 p.m. in the Small Auditorium. The officers are still exploring possibilities to improve the Saturday night screenings. “We want to do a mix of modern classics and old classics. Maybe we also want to have more discussion after watching the films,” Bishop ’14 said.

The Deerfield arts program, especially dance and theater, has been lacking male participation in its classes and projects in the last few years. “Interestingly, when I started teaching at DA in 2000, I consistently had a boy or two in a class, now that’s a rarity,” explained Director of Co-Curricular Dance Carrie Towle. “A significant body of the technique at an advanced level of ballet involves partnering, and that is an area we never teach at all, as we don’t have enough of a critical mass of male partners.” On the other hand, Director of Theater Catriona Hynds sees the theater program as an exception. “The boys outnumber the girls three to one in Acting 1…I believe that theater has always attracted a wide variety of individuals, regardless of gender, social status and sexuality.” “The pace of life keeps a lot of people from pursuing arts, especially drawing,” said Advanced Visual Arts student Wyatt Sharpe ’13. “It’s a really time-demanding activity and the pace of life at Deerfield makes it unrealistic for a lot of boys and girls on campus to spend time drawing and painting during their schedules.” Connor Manson ’14, who will be one of next year’s Varsity Football captains and is in his second DA play this winter, feels low male participation has to do with image. “Some guys think that being in the arts is end up trying out for a sport instead of signing up for an art, because they think that’s a more masculine way to go. It’s a shame more guys don’t try the arts.” In response, the directors in DA’s arts program have been brainstorming ways to entice more male participants and change the image of male actors and dancers in our community. “It’s as simple as changing the conversation,” Director of Dance Crystal Nilsson said. “There are many cases of male athletes who cross-train with dance to achieve optimal coordination, agility and stamina…Talking about the rigors of dance training and opens a new perspective of dance.” Ms. Towle echoed similar sentiments. “The larger DA community can have a significant impact on how the arts are regarded. Do advisors encourage boys to try dance and arts as co-curriculars?” “What I am more interested in than attracting more males is not stereotyping the arts…Theater has never been the domain of just one gender and there is plenty of opportunity for both,” Hynds said. The lack of male participants in the arts program is what initially convinced Manson to join the play as a sophomore in 2011. He hopes to compel other boys to give the arts a shot. “The arts is a chance to become more well-rounded and push yourself out of your comfort zone,” he said. “It’s definitely been a beneficial decision for me.”

Sam Skillings has been responsible for the smooth running of every Academy Event, Dance Showcase, KFC and School Meeting since 1985. Skillings has served as Deerfield Academy’s audiovisual technician for 28 years, and it is fair to say that without him, our shows would not, and could not, go on. Skillings grew up in Amherst and began his career in the audiovisual field during high school. “I was one of the geeky kids in high school,” Skillings admitted. “[Audiovisual] was a niche that I fell into. It started with the Beatles and the Rolling Stones—everybody had to be in a band when they happened, and there were too many musicians but not enough techies.” Skillings was able to travel around the country as an audiovisual technician for a traveling entertainment troupe called the Ice Capades. “I didn’t get to go to Alaska, but I’ve hit 49 of the 50 states, and putting all the equipment in sea containers for Hawaii was an ugly affair,” Skillings recalled. Directly before coming to Deerfield, Skillings worked as an AV-tech at Amherst High School. Now at Deerfield he has witnessed a decline in the number of students interested in AV work. “There aren’t as many students interested in working on the tech crew as there used to be,” Skillings said. “My suspicion is that this is because technology is much more widespread. Nowadays when you say technology, people think of computers, but in the old days to get your hands on technology you had to be in the AV club.” One particularly fascinating, and occasionally aggravating, part of Skillings’ job is adapting to technological development and learning new techniques. “In the new Memorial Building they want to run all lighting and sound control systems over Ethernet,” Skillings said. “How many times have you seen Ethernet fail? It’s digital, and the way the system works right now is analog. For 28 years I have had a failure rate of zero using analog. Do you think I’ll have that rate using digital? I don’t expect that kind of durability from digital.” Although changes in technology can be challenging, Skillings still finds excitement and enjoyment in being an AV technician. “I like doing it. I like working with the students. I’m fascinated by it, and I’m still learning,” Skillings said. “The technology changes I’ve gotten to see are phenomenal, from lighting to sound to video.” Skillings remembers an Academy Event 15 years ago when 70 students helped set up. “Those kids walked away saying they would never look at a concert or performance the same way again, because they had seen the hidden side,” he said. For Skillings, the most rewarding aspect of being an AV technician is not the end result. “By the time you get the show ready to go, that’s the easy part,” he said. “But it’s nowhere near the energy or adrenaline drive that it takes to get there.”

Artist Tatum McInerney ’13 has been published multiple times in Albany Road, and her artwork is displayed in the hallways of the Memorial Building as well as in the Hilson Gallery. McInerney has always been interested in art. “My great grandmother was an artist,” she said. “I’ve always known that it’s what I want to do when I’m older.” She is currently enrolled in Topics Tutorial, an independent study studio arts class. “I really like the fact that you can do whatever you want,” she said. “We have a lot of freedom [in the class], and it makes drawing really relaxing.” Visual and Performing Arts Teacher David Dickinson has played a major role in McInerney’s development as an artist. “He lets us have freedom with our artwork, but he also disciplines and sets guidelines for us,” she explained. In the past, she has worked on a project of a face made out of boxes. “The face project took about two months to finish, maybe longer,” she said. “The time commitment may vary from piece to piece and really depends on the project itself.” McInerney has observed her personal growth and transformation as an artist. “I don’t think people realize how much thought goes into the composition of even something really simple.” she said. “You have to think about how you’re going to utilize the paper and space in general to make it something interesting—make it your own.” Despite the challenges, McInerney remains passionate about art and definitely plans to continue pursuing it in the future. “It’s amazing when you create something out of nothing and fill a blank page,” she said.

For most Deerfield students, afternoons are filled with athletics of some sort—and this often means running into Susie Driver, Norm Therien or Bernie Motyka, staff members in the athletic stockroom. They are responsible for much of the preparations and work that might not come to mind when one heads off to sports. “On an average day, I come in, check voice mails, emails, equipment and meet with vendors,” Bernie said. “It varies a lot day to day. Right now most of my time is taken up by swimming and setting up their equipment. It varies season to season.” Likewise, Susie and Norm spend their time at the windows of the stockroom collecting, cleaning and passing out laundry, uniforms and towels for sports practices. “I’m responsible for all of the girls’ laundry and getting their equipment and uniforms ready for the games,” Ms. Driver said. “I man the window and act as a visiting team ambassador.” With a combined total of over 40 years in the athletic stockroom, Bernie, Susie and Norm not only help athletics run smoothly, but also get to know much of the student body. “I’ve been here for 30 years, and I’ve watched the generations go. There are kids here whose parents I knew, and members of the faculty who I knew from when they went here,” Norm said. Although neither Bernie nor Susie has logged as much time working in the athletic stockroom as Norm, they said they love their jobs as much as if they had. “I love seeing the girls here every day and listening to their stories and talking,” Ms. Driver said. “I would do anything in my ability for them. That’s my favorite part of the job.” “I love the kids,” Bernie added. “I like the student energy from the athletes, even from the first day back on campus. Students are more themselves here than at other places.”

One sophomore girl blazed a new trail in campus sports this winter when she chose wrestling as her co-curricular. With the season now winding down and only a few practices left, Asu Bilirgen ’15 elaborated on her experience. “For me, this year was about building up my skills and getting used to the techniques that are associated with wrestling rather than winning, but I hope that next year will be a more fruitful year,” she said. She added that the team accepted her as a female athlete “right away.” “I wouldn’t expect any less from a Deerfield team,” she said. “I made sacrifices for the team and it made sacrifices for me. We are all working together to build up the wrestling program here at DA. As a team, we are all part of something bigger than ourselves. Although we might not be the best team yet, everyone is dedicated and working toward the future. If anything, this team has increased my school spirit, and I am proud to be a Deerfield wrestler.” When asked if she had any gender-related issues and how opponents treated her, Bilirgen said, “I think what people fail to realize is that when someone signs up for wrestling, he or she signs up for wrestling. So whether it is a girl or boy who appears in front of a challenger, the person will wrestle with the same rigor because they want to win. I have had no gender-related problems this season and do not anticipate any next season. My opponents have treated me the same way they treated everyone else, like a competitor.” Bilirgen would like to stress that the Deerfield wrestling program is in a stage of rebuilding. Bilirgen mentioned on a few occasions that the team is building a “foundation for the future.” She also said the amount of dedication and perseverance its members have shown is unlike anything she has ever seen. “The most difficult part of wrestling is going out onto the mat, especially if there is a good chance that you are going to lose,” she said. “Everyone on our team put their heart and soul onto the mat because they represented Deerfield and something bigger than themselves.” Bilirgen also described the personal growth she experienced this term. “As an individual, I am proud of the self-control I developed. Wrestling taught me how to push myself athletically and mentally—if I can push myself to sprint harder I can also push myself to complete one more homework assignment at night. I learned how to push myself to get my work done earlier and go to sleep earlier so I’d have energy for the matches or practice the next day,” she said. Bilirgen has an optimistic outlook about her future wrestling career. “I have really enjoyed this season in every way,” she said. “It has definitely been very difficult but worthwhile. I have no regrets in joining the team. I would also do it again—so watch out for me next winter.”

Three years ago, Boys Varsity Squash played in the fourth division out of seven at the U.S. High School Squash National Championships. Now recent success has propelled the squad into the top 10 teams in the nation. Its members have been playing exceptionally this year with a 13-3 record, earning them an invitation to the Division I National championships at Trinity College (CT). Unfortunately for the boys, this year’s Nationals was cancelled due to Super Storm Nemo. Four-year player and team captain Teddy Henderson ’13 said the team was disappointed in the missed opportunity to compete. “We were really looking forward to it; we all were really bummed when it was cancelled,” Teddy Henderson ’13 said. Despite the cancellation, the team has been successful, seeded 5-8 out of the top 16 teams in the country. This spell of success is largely attributed by some to the recent recruitment of talented players. “My freshmen year we weren’t as strong, and it was really last year when we got a couple new recruits in Connor Henderson ’15, Tad Huffard ’15 and Jamie Kjorlien ’15 that we really started to progress,” Thomas Cowan ’13 said. In addition to the three young recruits last year, the team’s current number one seed, Osama Khalifa ’14, has been a driving force in the squad’s accomplishments this season. “Having Khalifa at the top of the ladder helped a lot because it brought everyone down one spot,” Cowan said. Khalifa himself was quick not to take sole credit for their success this season, and stressed the fact that their achievements are the outcome of team efforts each match. “It has been such a privilege to be a part of this team, and I’m elated that this year we will play in Nationals as a Division I team,” Khalifa said. “Everyone on the team, from number nine to number one, has worked really hard.” There is a chance the National tournament will be rescheduled to a later date, but even if it isn’t, the boys squash team looks to have a bright future. “I think the team will definitely continue to improve over the next couple of years. We’ve got some great young players, and we are becoming a more attractive school for some of the top young players around the country and even the world,” Henderson said.

Should Deerfield bring in professional coaches? As of now, the Academy does not regularly bring in outsiders to coach sports who are not also faculty or administration. But professional coaching is something that is prevalent at the collegiate level, and could maybe find its way onto our campus sometime soon. One concern is that professional coaches wouldn’t be able to understand the lives of students off the playing field. This would harm the “Deerfield experience,” as it would cause the coach to place unfair demands on his or her athletes. “I think that for coaches to understand the obligations of students, they need to work here,” said John Burke, who teaches Latin and Greek and coaches boys’ varsity swimming. “I think coming in from the outside they have a tunnel vision on that particular student, to the exclusion of everything else that that student does here. I think that’s detrimental to the Deerfield experience.” “Coaches need to understand the place that athletics have in our lives here at Deerfield and that we have other things to do,” Elana Van Arnam ’13 said. I also want a coach to know me outside of the sport and care about me as more than just an athlete.” Still, some believe that students and teachers alike would benefit from professional coaches. “I think twe should bring in professional coaches because teachers have too much on their plates with having to teach classes and grade assignments. It would make us better at athletics and would get our players up to par with college level,” Shanya Hopkins ’14 said. In the end, the school would have to evaluate its priorities before it made a decision like this. “If our primary concern is winning games, then we should have professional coaches at the varsity level, but teachers should still be heavily involved to maintain a connection between faculty and students,” Reilly Simmons ’14 said. “You have to look at the purpose of sports at Deerfield,” Nina Sola ’13 said. “It historically has been to supplement education. In that way, it is better to have coaches be your teachers because it is easier to build relationships. But if the purpose of sports is just to win, then professionals are the way to go because they can put more time into coaching and would be more up to date on methods and techniques.”

As Miles Smachlo ’16 concludes his first season on the Varsity Boys’ Swim team, he has established himself as an important asset to the group, which has amassed a record of 5-1-1. A versatile swimmer, he has placed i n the top ranks for a variety of races. In each, Smachlo has been recording best times this season, which are also among the highest times for the entire team. His favorite races include the 100 Fly (53 seconds), 200 Individual Medley (2:00) and the 200 Freestyle (1:48). Head Coach John Burke said, “Smachlo is among the best swimmers in the New England regular season.” Aside from competitive achievement, Smachlo has earned a reputation on the squad for his endurance, as he doesn’t tire easily. His success can be attributed to years of experience in the pool. He has swum since age four and joined the Albany Starfish three years later. In addition to the Big Green, he continues to swim with the Starfish and has qualified for the 2013 Eastern Zone Select Camp, a three-day program created by the national swim team. When asked about his experience on the team this season, Smachlo acknowledged his fellow team members. “It has been very easy to assimilate into the swimming program with great captains including Oscar Miao ‘13, Ben Wood ‘13 and Taylor Clough ‘13,” he said. Mr. Burke appreciates Miles’s “endearing personality that has become more comfortable with the season’s progression.” Mr. Burke knows the older team members recognize Smachlo’s unique abilities and believes Smachlo feels increasingly relaxed after proving himself with stellar times. The group bonds during practices, in which they often swim 6500 meters, a little over four miles. When explaining why he chose Deerfield, Smachlo said, “I liked the size of this school, as well as the feeling when I was on campus. When I visited, it was a very friendly community where I felt like I fit in.” As his first year winds down, he said, “I hope to swim my best times at New Englands and Easterns, in order to contribute to the success of the entire team.” Mr. Burke believes he can, and that the team, with Smachlo’s participation, can bring home a New England titl

Our nation’s second-worst school shooting took place on December 14, 2012 when 20-year-old Adam Lanza broke into Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT. When the shots began at approximately 9:30 a.m., teachers and their students sought refuge in nearby bathrooms and closets. Nearly twenty minutes later, authorities arrived on the scene and immediately pronounced 20 students and six faculty dead. All 20 students killed were between the ages of six and seven. “My first reaction was disbelief,” Megan Retana ‘15 said. “It seemed so impossible and so distant from me. It hit me when I saw the pictures and names of everyone that was killed.” In the wake of the Sandy Hook massacre, schools around the country have begun reexamining their security procedures and policies. Deerfield Academy students reflected on the effects of this event on their lives. “I feel safe here, but everywhere is safe until it isn’t. I guess that is how the people in Newtown must have felt,” said Sarah Jinich ‘15. “I feel extremely safe at Deerfield,” said Matt Morrow, ‘15. “I do not think Deerfield should increase security. This security would just hurt the community at Deerfield by making students afraid or not as welcome.” While many students agreed that they feel safe at Deerfield, several mentioned areas in which security could be improved. “The dorms are locked only after curfew. Maybe we can make our dorms safer by having to use our Greer card in order to get in,” suggested Retana. In the event of a security announcement during the school day, Julie Harris ‘13 said, “I know we have the cell phone notification thing, but we are not supposed to see our phones during the day, and we could have no idea what’s going on.” At the beginning of the school year, Sandy Hook had installed a new security system in which visitors needed to be buzzed in. However, Lanza used artillery to break a lock, circumventing the system. “As far as I know, an armed lunatic would be able to do significant damage to the Deerfield community before they could be stopped. Otherwise we could always hire armed security guards, but beyond that I really have a hard time seeing what we could do should a heavily armed person come to our campus,” said William Montgomery ‘13. Although attempting to secure Deerfield’s wide-open campus might prove costly and ineffective, practicing evacuations and lockdowns could make the difference in an emergency. Mr. David Gendron, Director of Safety and Security presented new lock dorm procedures to the student body. Deerfield Chief of Police John Paciorek, formerly of the FBI, assured the community of town support. “We as a school haven’t practiced emergency evacuations that I think are really important in the case something happened. Every other school that I have been to has done this,” Retana said. “We’re planning some table top exercises with Senior Staff before the end of the year,” Mr. John Taylor, Dean of Faculty said. “With the help of experts, we were asked to respond to different high-risk scenarios in case we ever need to make difficult decisions in a life-threatening situation.” The shooting in Sandy Hook also reignited America’s debate surrounding gun control. “People cry out for gun control as if that’s the only issue as most massacres are committed with guns. But that is far too simplistic and naïve to presume that this alone will reduce the number of massacres around the country,” Montgomery said. Several teachers store weapons in campus housing. The school’s official policy on weapons is: “With the exception of those held by police and other authorized personnel with explicit permission from the Director of Safety and Security all weapons, including but not limited to, firearms and ammunition, BB guns and pellet guns, are prohibited on the Deerfield Academy campus. This prohibition extends to the school grounds and to all school-owned buildings, including faculty dormitory and non-dormitory housing.” “If they use the gun for the right reasons, they should be able to own a gun,” Camille Moeckel ‘16 said. “In fact I could see the beneficial effects of more teachers having guns on campus and even a few being armed at most times,” Montgomery said. PROCEDURES When there are Hostile Intruders… • Lock yourself in your dorm room or classroom. • If communication is available, call 911 —make sure to keep your phone on vibrate. • Do not sound the fire alarm. • Lock windows and close blinds or curtains and stay away from the windows . • Turn off lights and all audio equipment. • Keep everyone together. • If caught in open space, you must decide what you are going to do: You can try to hide , but make sure it is a well hidden space. If you decide to run , do not run in a straight line. Play dead if other victims are around you. Your last option is to fight back . If you are caught by the intruder and are not go-ing to fight back, obey all commands and don’t look the intruder in the eyes. Taken from the Emergency Procedures Manual, by David R. Gendron.

Environmental Science Teacher Jeffrey Jewett has created a plan to revitalize the sustainability program. Just recently, the Think 80/20 Campaign was introduced to Deerfield, beginning with the new trash and recycling bins in each room in the New Dorm, with the goal of recycling at least 80% of what is typically thrown out. Over winter break, these trash barrels were put in other dorms including Dewey, Herold Smith and Bewkes. “The physical environment should match the expectations.” Mr. Jewett. said, “I would like to see a lot more of the campus being an educational tool.” Mr. Jewett has created Sustainability Action Committees, bringing together students, faculty and groundkeepers to promote a mutual response to environmental problems. Dr. Thomas Hagamen, the Academy physician, proposed a more organic menu to reduce the amount of chemicals. In order to accomplish this, Mr. Jewett has raised the idea of creating a school farm that is entirely student run. The environmental proctors, a group of students who have taken their interests in environmental protection and acted on them to advance school-wide awareness, have been managing dormitory energy use. “The concern is that not enough action is happening. I am hoping that later in the year the e-proctors will have more of an activist bent, so that there are more student-initiated projects that make the campus a better place,” said Mr. Jewett. [pullquote_right]“I would like to see a lot more of the campus being an educational tool.” -Mr. Jewett [/pullquote_right] Mr. Jewett has negotiated for a small budget to sponsor mini-grants—from one hundred to one thousand dollars-—for students who are interested in researching and developing ways for the school to become less energy-dependent. Mr. Jewett plans to advocate for more discussion and learning about sustainability in academic classes, and to take energy conservation and sustainability measures to a more active level than ever before.

After 23 years of service to the Academy, Dean of Admissions Patricia Gimbel will retire this spring, beginning a momentous transition in the admissions office. Ms. Gimbel’s tenure leaves a transformative legacy in the department, boasting both impressive recruitment and retention records and an ever increasing applicant pool. Ms. Pamela Safford will assume the reins as Dean of Admission and Financial Aid this spring. Currently in her twelfth year as the Associate Head for Communications, Enrollment and Planning at Concord Academy, Ms. Safford will bring experience and professionalism with her. She also served as the Director of Admission at Northfield Mount Hermon from 1994 to 2000. Ms. Safford is a Founding Trustee and Chair of the Board for the Association of Independent School Admission Professionals (AISAP). Head of School Margarita Curtis said, “In addition to her expertise in enrollment management, Ms. Safford also brings experience in strategic planning, marketing and institutional research.” An alumna of Ethel Walker School, Ms. Safford is no stranger to boarding school life. She said, “I value being part of a strong community, and it’s my sense that Deerfield is distinguished as such.” Deerfield has intrigued Ms. Safford by offering a new opportunity to develop a school that has the capability and will to combat the global challenges of a 21st-century education. “The world around us is changing, and it presents schools like Deerfield Academy with both opportunity and, indeed, threat,” Ms. Safford added. “I expect that the admission staff and I will, in support of the school’s goals, review and even reconsider some of our practices so as to position the school to remain strong, which includes being relevant.” Ultimately, Safford has two objectives. Dr. Curtis entrusts Ms. Safford to cultivate students with a dedication to more than just academic and athletic pursuits. “I also felt that her educational philosophy aligns with Deerfield’s mission and our emphasis on educating young people with a strong moral compass and a commitment to lead consequential, service oriented, worthy lives,” Dr. Curtis said. Ms. Safford, who has spent most of her life at boarding schools, added, “I hope to bring to Deerfield a deep belief in, and understanding of, the value of the boarding school experience, even in this day and age.” While Ms. Safford acknowledges the need to respect and honor traditions of the past, she sees opportunity for refinement and improvements for the future. “As students prepare to prosper and make a difference in this next century, we have to demonstrate why going to a place like Deerfield matters now more than ever,” she said. The faculty search comTmittee, chaired by English teacher Michael Cary, advised Dr. Curtis on the matter. Mr. Cary noted the inevitable conflicts of technology and development. “She is wise in the ways of independent schools, thoughtful about the challenges that lie ahead, such as those of access and the effective use of technology, and she’s a warm, collegial educator who has a wonderful way both with colleagues and young people,” he said. “Ms. Safford will lead us in building on the success that we have achieved during Ms. Gimbel’s tenure.”