Wyatt Sharpe ’13 is currently carving an abstract 3-D piece from wood and preparing for an exhibition at the end of the term with Topics Tutorial classmates Marina Hansen and Tatum McInerney ’13. Although this is his first sculpture at Deerfield, he has previous experience in woodcarving. His favorite work so far is a table he made. “There’s a famous artist, George Nakishima,” he said. “I’m a really big fan of his furniture. The beauty of his furniture is the wood–the cracks, the contour of the perimeter, the grain. I did something of his style.” Although Deerfield was the first place he studied art formally, Sharpe enjoyed sketching in his free time in middle school. “I always liked to tinker and make things with my hands,” he said. Studio Art Teacher David Dickinson described Sharpe as an “energetic, thoughtful and independent” artist. “He does a lot of thinking about the imagery he is trying to produce,” Dickinson said. “He is willing to push the envelope on his imagery. He is willing to take some visual risks. As a result, his work is often unique and creative.” “The most challenging thing about art is being patient with it and knowing when to stop and not overwork a piece,” Sharpe said. He explained that spending too much time on a piece of work can often lead to negative effects on the quality of the work. Though Sharpe hopes to pursue a career in biology or engineering, he says that science and visual art have a lot in common, especially problem-solving. “Art is a good meditative exercise,” he said. “You can go into the art studio and work for as long as you want. You can also see the results really quickly. You can see your progress visually.”

In the past two years, professional Squash player Osama Khalifa ’14, has won over 60 times in not only Egyptian tournaments, but also the German, British, Swiss, Australia and World Squash Opens. He also won the Dutch Open when he was 16 years old, the youngest player to win this tournament in the history of squash. Hailing from Cairo (Egypt), Khalifa first found out about Deerfield when he met a squash coach at a tournament who introduced him to the school. “After thinking about my future, I decided to come to Deerfield, so I could balance out my academics and squash,” Khalifa said. His said his ultimate goal is to win the gold medal in the 2020 Olympic Games, but he does not want to overlook his education. According to Khalifa, it is very hard to both study and practice the game every day. However, he tries his best to balance the two activities. “Whatever the future holds for me,” he said, “I want to graduate from college before deciding what I really want to do.” Although Khalifa is now a globally acclaimed player, success didn’t come easy. He started playing squash when he was four years old. “My dad loved squash and first taught my older brother, then me,” he said. “It is a sport that has been passed down from generation to generation in my family.” Throughout his childhood, Khalifa spent more time in the squash courts than he spent with his friends. Khalifa said, “I would wake up at 6 a.m. and go practice in the squash courts. After practice would be school, fitness, then squash again.” Also, because the British Open is held on January 2nd every year, Khalifa has spent both Christmas and New Year’s alone in the squash courts for the past couple years. Although he has had to make this sacrifice, along with many others, he said, “[Squash is] my best friend, my family and my love. Although I don’t get to do what others do, I get to spend the holidays doing the thing I love most.” Even at Deerfield, Khalifa has kept up with this routine that he has followed for years. Since the start of the school year, Khalifa said that he believes he has learned a lot about the value of teammates and family. “By practicing together with other players, I am not only able to hone my own skills, but also teach and learn from them,” he said. “My older brother is in New York so he comes up here often and coaches me.” He also believes that his decision to attend Deerfield was the right one. “It was definitely one of the hardest decisions I have ever made in my life. Leaving Egypt, my family, and my squash was the last thing I had ever thought about. However, it clearly is a life-changing opportunity. I have had the chance at an incredible education and amazing worldwide friendships, as I gain a whole new global perspective along the way.” He especially notes, “One faculty member who I am especially grateful to is my hall resident, Mr. McVaugh. He has made me feel at home during this transition and I cannot thank him enough for all that he has done for me.”

This season, he Girls Varsity Squash team has outscored opponents 35-1 during its first five matches, which have included competitions against accomplished teams such as Hotchkiss, Milton, Groton and Choate. Pleased with the effort so far, Coach Karinne Heise attributes the squad’s success to “skilled, talented players who work hard and are driven to be the best they can be.” However, the team has many challenges ahead, notably the National High School and New England Championships. At these competitions, the group will face Greenwich Academy, “our long-standing rival,” according to Heise, and seek to avenge its second-place finishes at both events last year. “We really hope to win high school nationals this year,” Captain Emily Jones ’13 said. “It has been a goal of mine since I was a freshman and it’d be such a great way to finish. We have great talent and have worked very hard this season. I really think we can do it.” Sophomore Sam Chai is also eagerly anticipating the tournaments. “The teams are of a different caliber from our league matches,” she said. Chai, along with freshman Annie Blasberg ’17, demonstrates the team’s depth, as the roster also includes four juniors and four seniors. Jones is the group’s number-one player, who committed to play squash at Harvard next year. “I admire her energy and love for the game—it encourages us,” Blasberg said. “Playing with Emily inspires us to work towards her level.” Despite the high level of commitment, which includes year-round individual efforts, the teammates “always have so much fun together and laugh even during the hardest workouts,” Chai said. Jones added, “The team is unique because we all get along so well. I see these girls all the time, on and off the squash court and in and out of season. We’re an incredibly close team.” Although each individual competes with her team members on the ladder, Coach Heise said the group maintains a sense of camaraderie. “Pushing and competing with each other improves the girls’ individual skills and contributes to boosting the team,” she said.

Professional photographer Jeff Brown is the man behind the camera, photographing sports games, dances, and school portraits for Deerfield since 2005. He started taking photos for the Communications Department, as well as freelancing in weddings, portraits, and other local work. “Every shoot has its own challenges,” Mr. Brown said. “You can photograph the same sport many times, but each time it is going to be a little different. I also get to meet many different people in a variety of walks of life.” While Mr. Brown likes to meet a range of people, he also likes to take pictures in a range of sports. “There is something great about just every sport or team I get to photograph,” he said. “With that said, usually the more action and faster the game or event moves, the more I like it.” He added, “I find it can be even more fun if you personally know the athletes or have some sort of a connection to the team you are covering, which is why covering the Deerfield teams is so enjoyable.” Just as Mr. Brown likes his job, he likes most of his photographs. But some photos are particularly memorable. The two that come to mind were both taken at Deerfield. “One was during basketball season when during a game I captured the exact moment that a player dislocated his kneecap while driving to the basket,” he said. “His knee was obviously dislocated in the shot. The other that stands out is a shot of a soccer player doing a header. The image shows the multiple ripples that distorted his face as he headed the ball.” And along with favorite shots come favorite memories as well. “I have many memories that I look back on fondly,” Brown said. “One that comes to mind was when I was on an assignment at Purdue. Purdue was playing Minnesota and the Purdue quarterback threw a record five touchdown passes in that game. The quarterback’s name was Drew Brees (now a member of the NFL team, the New Orleans Saints). You never know when you are photographing someone who he or she will become. Through the years I have taken images of many athletes who have gone on to become professional and even Olympic competitors.”

Very few athletes at Deerfield hold the title of tri-varsity captain, and Hannah Insuik ’13 is one of them. In addition to excelling at her fall and spring sports of volleyball and softball, Insuik is also known for tearing up the ice on the Girls Varsity Hockey team. First stepping onto a rink at the age of five, Insuik has been playing goalie since she was 9. She said that she “only waited so long because my parents refused to allow me to be a goalie,” adding, “I always knew I would be a goalie, the tricky part was getting my parents to admit it as well.” Insuik has committed to play hockey next year at Colby College. “When I started my college search,” she said, “I subconsciously knew that I wanted to play hockey in college, even though I looked at some schools that didn’t have hockey. I even made up excuses to my mom when we visited schools like UVA, that it “smelled funny” or “was too southern.” I think I really just knew I needed to be near a rink. I am so relieved, and excited to be playing at Colby next year, because I honestly can’t imagine my life without hockey.” Hockey is more than a sport for Insuik, and she described how “I don’t think I could pinpoint my favorite thing about hockey. There is just something about the feel of the ice under my skates that I can’t even describe. I feel more comfortable, more at home, in front of that net than I do anywhere else. Of the 10 plus sports I have tried in my childhood, hockey is the one that has stuck with me, and really touched me. I play because I love it.” Insuik described how, “hockey players are notorious for being extra superstitious, and I in particular cannot play unless I do things in a certain way. While getting dressed, I must put my left skate and leg pad on before my right. I must listen to the same three songs before every game.” With triumphs such as winning “the state tournament once, the annual Waterville tournament once, and [being] the top goalie at the college exhibition camp [she] attended this summer,” Insuik is clearly a rising star in the hockey world.

Emily Yue ’16 has achieved notable success in her hockey career at Deerfield and beyond, including a spot on the Chinese Olympic team competing in 2014. Yue, who has played competitive hockey for eight years, is excited about this wonderful opportunity and the challenges her team will need to overcome in order to qualify for the Games. “We’ve been knocked out of the qualification rounds this year, so we have to win the preliminary rounds in February in order to make the Olympics. In preparation for these obstacles, Yue plans to play during the offseason to keep her skills sharp. “During the summer, the [Olympic] team usually comes to Canada or the States, and I practice with them while they’re here. I also play field hockey during the fall and am going to be competing at nationals with a club team in the spring.” Yue plans to continue to play hockey for the Big Green, as she hopes to play hockey at a collegiate level. However, the road to even competing for China in the next Winter Olympics won’t be easy. Since Yue doesn’t speak Chinese, it’s harder to communicate with her teammates both on and off the ice. As of now, Yue has not gained Chinese citizenship but will most likely do so before 2014.

Dave Keith ’13, head of the Current Events Club, has taken on the job of keeping the school up to date by creating Deerfield’s first news blog, The Dispatch . Keith compiles the week’s hottest global news stories and arranges them in an easy-to-read format, available to the entire student body 24/7. “[The students] could use a site that takes news from across the internet and distills it down into the central stories,” Keith said. “Every other night I look through all the news websites and find important stories that are interesting and that people should read about.” Keith acknowledges that one of the reasons DA students are unable to stay informed about current events is due to busy schedules and little free downtime. “[ The Dispatch ] is valuable when the community is strained for time, and they are looking for something a little easier to access,” said Keith. He is also interested in feedback from his readers. “I have been talking to students about writing opinion pieces. There are also crossword puzzles and games that you can play weekly on the site,” he added. Through The Dispatch , Keith hopes to keep Deerfield students connected to the world beyond our campus. “It’s extremely important to be aware about what’s going around us and outside the community,” noted Keith. “If people read about what’s going on in the world, they can realize how much it can sometimes affect them, and why it’s important to make sure you’re informed.” Be sure to check out deerfielddispatch.com to get your daily dose of news.

Scattered among Deerfield Academy’s student body is only a handful of vegetarians and vegans. Despite all the accommodations that the dining hall makes, eating enough can sometimes be difficult for vegans and vegetarians. “For me, being a vegetarian is harder at school than it is at home, because at home I have more access to food that meets my needs. The dining hall definitely gives you options, but at home it is much easier,” Allie Roberts ’16 said. The size of the vegetarian portion at sit-down meals also appears to be an issue. Six-year pescatarian (only eats fish not meat) Tabata Viso ’14 said, “ Sit-down meals are the meals where I normally don’t get enough to eat, especially sit-down dinners, where there is not salad bar. When I choose to eat the vegetarian option, it is bothersome to go up to get seconds, because I’m not at the leisure to take some before my second waiter begins. Most times, I cannot get seconds.” Former vegan Tora Hallstrom ’13 said, “Being a vegan at Deerfield is definitely possible, but you need to keep a bunch of snacks in your room, because the vegetarian portions are so small. I’m way too hungry to just have one piece of eggplant at dinner! Though, I definitely think the dining hall has done an amazing job of providing delicious alternatives for vegans which makes it easier to make smart food choices.” Former vegetarian Nolan Bishop ’13 believes that it is fairly easy to be a vegetarian at Deerfield. He said, “The salad bar downstairs has a lot of good options and I was also very impressed with the choice to serve a vegetarian meal to the whole school. The more Deerfield can do this, the better.” And it does appear that Deerfield has increased the number of vegetarian and vegan options available. Place Wilson ’14 said, “I’ve definitely noticed an increased effort in availability of options, especially since my freshman year. The vegetarian options keep getting interesting, and I really love the salad bar.” The quality of the salad bar has gotten high marks from all the vegetarians and vegans. Hannah Antonellis said, “The salad bar has gotten really good this year. It’s great!” Long time vegan Mr. Thomas-Adams said, “Mr. McCarthy has been more than supportive; he’s been tremendously creative, and while vegans find things to be hit-or-miss, there is usually something to eat, and often times something delicious. But we need to move from ‘accommodating’ people with particular preferences to recognizing food as a community, ethical, and, yes, educational issue.”

Changes to the dining hall program and menus, including all-vegetarian meals, vegan desserts and more toppings and salad dressing options, are based on feedback and the dining hall staff’s desire to learn more and have variety in their daily work, according to Michael McCarthy. “I believe our goal as educators is to help students make healthy choices by providing plenty of options and by occasionally offering meals that might take them out of their comfort zone and try something new,” Mr. McCarthy said. Over the past five years, the dining hall has offered a salad bar, diversified vegetarian options, fresh and local vegetables, and organic fair trade coffee. “The dining hall has always strived to produce healthy, delicious meals for the community,” said Mr. Michael McCarthy, Director of Food Services. “We have adapted menus over time to stay contemporary with our offerings and to meet the ever-changing needs of the community.” Shanisha Coram ’13 enjoyed the recent vegetarian meals, however, she believes that it would be a wise decision to integrate these new meals slowly; ““I like the fact that the dining hall is trying to make healthier meals, but they should try to get feedback on the dishes that people liked versus those that didn’t go over so well.” Tasnim Elboute ’13, a vegetarian student, appreciates the new healthy options. “All of the regular vegetarian options start to get old, because they are just the meat options with tofu or meat substitute… I’m a vegetarian to eat vegetables, not meat substitutes!” she said. Some students, however, are unhappy with the newer, greener dining hall. An anonymous student ’13 added, “I enjoy vegetarian food, but I would not want to always have a vegetarian meal. I would feel as though we aren’t getting the right balance of foods.” Another anonymous boy ’15 said “I always eat meat and I don’t like the fact that I am having another lifestyle forced upon me.” More students also feel that this program is an excellent idea. “I think it’s good for kids to have a chance to try new vegetarian foods during lunch, and to see that a meal can be just as good without any meat,” enthused Michelle Kelly ’15. Head of the M.E.A.T. Club, Ben Turner ’13 said “the M.E.A.T. Club celebrates the joys of the grill and the satisfaction that comes out of a more carnivorous orientation.” This came after a lunch announcement in which he stated that those who were left unsatisfied by the dining hall’s offered vegetarian meal should look for emails from the M.E.A.T. Club. The program is a work in progress, slowly adding new meals and learning new recipes. Mr McCarthy said, “Who knows what [students] might try and if they might like something new, vegetarian or not.”

The Scroll conducted open forums on socioeconomic class for students, faculty and staff in early December. Thirty students, 12 faculty and 13 staff participated. To engage staff members, we contacted specific departments and met with those who responded. We also interviewed the counselors and some staff members separately. Though the student forum was open to all students, attendees wished the turnout had been more diverse. Some students said the topic of class differences, a reality beyond campus, was an important conversation to have. “I definitely agree that socioeconomic standing should be a discussion at Deerfield,” Michael Beit ’15 said. If we’re going to represent a larger community, we should talk about it. But I know some people may feel uncomfortable talking about it. We’ve been taught never to talk about money.” Other students discussed whether or not socioeconomic class differences were an issue. Garam Noh ’15 said class was a part of everyday life. “If someone tries not to talk about it, he or she is trying to ignore the fact that the differences are there,” she said. “Sometimes people do feel very big differences in socioeconomic class here. It’s important to be conscious of that.” “Is this something that we want to change?” Wyatt Sharpe ’13 asked. “Having differences is something I find really valuable. One of the most important things we learn is how to talk to people who are different.” While Jade Moon ’13 said students “don’t see the full effect” of class differences, Daniel Hirsch ’13 argued it was easy to tell. Others said conformity and wanting to fit in played a part in how class differences appear on campus. “I can’t buy a pair of Jack Rogers without being accused, ‘You’re giving in,’” Noh said. “In a way, we all conform just by looking at other people and other groups and saying they’re only friends because they’re conforming to each other,” Anna Pettee ’13 said. “We’re conforming just by saying they’re a group and giving them a label.” “I don’t think it’s necessarily a Deerfield thing to stick with people in your comfort zone,” Claire Collins ’15 said. “It’s a natural human tendency to be with people you’re comfortable with, especially in a new place.” “I think it’s a very individual experience,” Kuo responded. “Last year on my hall, there were people I didn’t speak more than 20 words to the entire year. And do you think it’s taboo to talk about class? Is it awkward to talk about it?” “I think there are plenty of instances when people assume stuff, because they don’t understand the whole story,” Allison Gruneich ’13 said. She recalled when she wore an expensive dress to Semi, but paid a twentieth of the price by renting it online. Many students said the people who came to the forum did not adequately represent those in the “dominant culture.” “Look at this group— coming here was an option for everyone in the school, yet we only get a small number of people that doesn’t represent a certain class very well. Why do you think that is?” Jade Moon asked. Miranda McEvoy ’13 said, “We are here and some of us want this change, but in order for this change to happen, it has to happen with the people outside of this circle.” After the forum, Hirsch said he wished The Scroll would schedule another forum on socioeconomic class. “I talked to some kids who wished they had gone, and I think the discussion would move in a different direction next time,” Hirsch said. The Scroll invites signed letters to the editor or opinion pieces in response to this article and transcripts. We hope to organize a panel and interview more students, faculty and staff to publish the thoughts and experiences of people across the entire socioeconomic spectrum.

I think it’s woven into every facet of school culture, how much money kids come from or don’t come from. I think we need to be careful about not thinking that wealthy kids have it so easy, because everyone has issues and everyone has things that they’re struggling with. But in terms of financial considerations, I think it can be difficult to be a Deerfield student and wanting to keep up… There’s a very different reality for kids who don’t come from a lot of money. I really do think we need to be careful about how we frame the conversation. -Amie Creagh, Dean of Students One student said, “I don’t even get why we’re talking about this because it’s not a problem. Why are we making a problem out of it?” There’s nothing I can do for someone to make him see it’s a problem that doesn’t exist for him… It’s true that socioeconomic class is a part of life–it’s not an issue because it’s a fact. Deerfield tries to be a microcosm of a regular community. There are people from all different backgrounds, and there’s not much you can do about that. – Sarah Sutphin ’13 Talk to kids when college acceptance letters come and you will likely see–and I don’t know if that’s how some students truly feel–but if their acceptance is based on their sports performance or family connections, it’s fine, but if it’s based on socioeconomic status, that changes everything… I think Deerfield could improve tremendously if we had more middle-class students. Students have one view of the wealthy and one view of people without a lot of money, and almost no one is talking to or about the middle class. -Darnell Barnes, Math Teacher Over time, I’ve noticed kids who are working class make more of an effort to get to know the kitchen staff. I remember one girl who knew the entire staff by name. Maybe they have more of an appreciation for what a workman does. I don’t know. -Bruce MacConnell, Dining Hall Staff Part of me thinks…the more talk there is, the worse the problem [there is]. So when you talk about socioeconomic divide, the more talk there is about it, the more apparent it becomes. One thing that I’ve noticed over the years by having advisees is that as I’ve talked to them I’ve said, “So what’s the hardest thing for you about Deerfield?” and the answer has been, “Saying where you’re from.” -Mimi Morsman, Director of Alumni Relations There’s pressure to spend whether it’s on clothing, money for The Greer, going to a restaurant on a weekend, ordering food, or signing up for a school trip. It’s a strain for many families to be able to keep up and it inevitably means that you’re going to have challenges bridging the gap. -John Taylor, Dean of Faculty We have all made assumptions about a person’s socioeconomic class based on his or her persona. We reason that because somebody likes to do this or that he must have a lot of money, or because somebody speaks in a certain way, she probably comes from a humble background. This leads us to hide aspects of who we are so as not to be labeled by those around us. This is an issue that is present in greater society— not just Deerfield. -Gabby Gauthier ’13 There’s no question that our student body demographic does not reflect the national demographic. At a wealthy independent school there is sometimes this aspirational language of bringing in the best from everywhere. -Steven Taft, Language Teacher Schools like Deerfield, colleges too, end up having the “barbell effect,” where we have very wealthy people who can attend here without financial aid and then we have people who get a lot of financial aid. The middle class gets squeezed out because they can’t afford it and the formula for financial aid often doesn’t make it possible for them to come… -Elizabeth Bishop, College Advisor and Self-Study Coordinator Living only within our socioeconomic class, we might start thinking negatively or stereotypically about people outside our class. We might have preconceived connotations and feel uncomfortable crossing supposed barriers. But after being exposed to different socioeconomic classes at Deerfield, I don’t think class is something I think about every day. It’s there and, for me, it doesn’t merit attention or change how I perceive someone as a person. -Morgan Macey ’14 Yes, I believe Deerfield experiences issues related to socioeconomic class. After all, Deerfield is simply a microcosm of the world and our environment is vulnerable to the impacts of socioeconomic class the same as the rest of the world. If I were to simplify the issue, I’d say the problem at Deerfield is a lack of awareness coupled with a lack of sharing of experiences. Those who come from a privileged background lack awareness of what it is like for those who don’t. – Sheila Fritz, Counselor

I feel like the term “dominant culture” doesn’t necessarily mean the people who embody it are more numerous than the people who don’t. I think it’s preexisting expectations and a lot of the traditions here. -Garam Noh ’15 It’s much more than socioeconomic class that will affect relationships; it’s not like everyone is going in and saying they’re richer or poorer than me. I don’t think there’s as strong of a divide than what I’ve heard in the conversation here, but that might just be personal experience. -Anna Lu ’13 I come from outside the boarding school culture, and I have many colleagues in ministry who express wonder that I’m teaching at a “rich school.” So the question of socioeconomic diversity is a live one for me. The reality, though, is complex, and a direct approach can appear judgmental and raise defenses. So I think you have to be subversive in how you address the issue. You just have to be prophetic and call it like you see it. -Chad Smith, Dean of Spritual and Ethical Life It’s very clear that the faculty have more opportunities based on their education and role here. It’s very segregated in that. But I’m learning more that you really can’t push the envelope in terms of expecting equal pay, equal anything, because you’re not entitled to the benefits the faculty have. We [the staff] talk about how it affects us as folks who want to be here, give our lives to be working at Deerfield. -Susie Driver, Athletic Stockroom Assistant I felt uncomfortable bringing a nice gift from my parents to school, because I would be judged. If I come with a really nice bag, will I be judged by my friends who don’t have that? I don’t want to make someone uncomfortable by having nice stuff in my room, but should I feel that way because my parents gave it to me? -Sarah Sutphin’13 I don’t know where some of the kids come from. They’re probably richer than God, but they’re just down-to-earth kids. I feel like we’re all on the same level, whatever socioeconomic class we come from. Over the years, I’ve never met a kid I didn’t like. -Bruce Dion, Custodian