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We have completed our first two sessions in the inaugural year of the 11/12 program. The September corridor meetings focused on stress management. In October, the co-ed small group discussions on tolerance were successful; many groups brought up challenges with racial, socioeconomic and cultural differences. We have received much feedback: some positive, some negative. George Reich ’13 told me, “I enjoyed the sessions and they have brought our hall together.” Daniel Rivera ’13 said, “I think that the simple act of talking with others and creating a relationship with them outweighs the time commitment of twenty minutes. Connect4 is meant to create a similar experience between all upperclassman, which is meant to get people relating with each other.” While we have attempted not to make these sessions feel additive, asking that they account for the “feed” for that week, we understand the time it takes out of our busy schedules. The one criticism is that these are “forced” discussion. While the students say these discussions would/should just happen organically, we beg to differ. As critical learners, you are all entitled to your opinions, but we ask for your help in taking advantage of an opportunity (as faculty often encourage students to do, every period of the day, in fact, in “forced” discussions in the classroom). A senior girl immediately following an October session said, “I enjoyed that, I never would have had the opportunity to talk about these things with those boys if this had not been arranged.” Many more students stated that having these discussions was one way to foster respect and tolerance as well as an opportunity to hear opinions different from their own.

Drowned in irony from the very first line, “Whose house is this?” Home by Toni Morrison is a novel of identity, revolving around the inner battles of the protagonist, veteran Frank Money. Frank Money did not come from much money, and his life, even his decision to enlist in the army, consisted mostly of running away. A 24-year-old Korean War veteran, Frank Money returned from war in the 1950s with what we now call Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, a diagnosis that had no name or place in a still-racist America, and one that left him essentially homeless and alone. The only thing he felt truly belonged to him was his sister, Cee. So there was no doubt he would do anything – including returning to the home he didn’t consider his home – to save her life. Having been first forced out of their home in Texas by their resentful step-grandmother’s cruelty, and looked down upon by society, the Moneys were essentially homeless. After losing his home to hooded men, his parents to lung disease, and his own sanity to the war effort, Frank was not about to lose his sister as well. Shielded by her brother’s protection all her life, Cee had never felt the vulnerability of making her own choices. So it was no surprise that when Frank departed for the war Cee immediately fell in love and eloped with a visitor, Prince, who in reality was only marrying her to steal her grandfather’s car. It is through returning home to his sister, and saving her from the maniacal grip of an experimental doctor, that he forces himself to face where “home” is for him. Returning to the place where he grew up, he must face his memories, his realities and his identity – also his lies and pretenses. Morrison’s latest novel reflects the various themes of her earlier works, including race, memory, belonging and the differentiation between our fantastical dreams and reality. Poetic, suspenseful and poignantly revealing, Home leaves you questioning what our own purpose in this world is.

Sit-down dinners have the potential to be a space where students can take a break from the regular group of people that surround them and get to know a few new faces over a nice and somewhat quick meal. Lately, however, the issue of whether or not sit-down meals actually serve this purpose has sparked a great deal of controversy. Coming back from co-curriculars, I see frenzied first waiters going from sports to showers to the dining hall, slapping forks and knives on the tables and hustling to the waiting lines. The remaining students aren’t exactly exempted from this ordeal either. Those famous forty-five minutes between sports and food seem to be a brief window of all-reigning agitation on campus. After finally making it to the dinner table, the meal commences. We’ve all just finished co-curriculars and still have a considerable amount of work pending; talking about current affairs and getting to know each other isn’t exactly first priority. Alas, for the most part, sit-down dinners don’t quite get to fulfill their purpose. If Deerfield students didn’t have the day packed with errands to take care of and commitments to comply with, sit-down dinners would be a great idea. But the hectic pace that Deerfield upholds is defeating the point of having them. Instead of being a pause in the day where students can relax and get to know one another, sit-down meals have become one more item to check off on the already long to-do list of most Deerfield students. They are great in theory, but they come attached to too much stress. There are ways to detach some of this, like allowing all students, or even just first waiters to dress down.

Lejla Custo ’14, a new junior from Bosnia, is continuing her passion for the piano at Deerfield. She has already started a music appreciation club, in which she aims to strengthen students’ awareness towards music. She is also taking lessons with Dr. Warsaw and is a part of his chamber music class. “It’s the firmness in sound, the beauty, the mesmerizing melody that emerges from the keys, that draws me to the piano,” said Custo. Custo has been playing the piano for seven and a half years, ever since the age of nine. She began playing at the Primary Music School in her hometown of Mostar and then attended the Musical High School, in addition to the Liberal Arts High School. Custo said, “It was at the Musical High School that I gained broad musical knowledge before I developed a true passion for playing the piano.” “Lejla is one of the most exciting students I have taught in my career. She has an insatiable appetite for learning, and the perseverance, willpower, and confidence to stick with formidable challenges until she has overpowered them. Rarely have I seen a student progress as much she has this term,” said Mr. Warsaw. “The thing that I find most intriguing about the piano is that I can revive ideas of geniuses that passed maybe even 200 years ago,” said Custo. She has received several awards, including the Best Solo Performance at the Federal Level Competition in 2011. Two of her most memorable performances were her Sarajevo concert in 2010 and the Kosaca Spring Fest in 2011. “Sarajevo is not only the capital of Bosnia, but also the center for music in the country. The performance was special because I could share my emotions and understanding of Chopin with the audience,” she said. When asked what she enjoyed about playing piano, Custo responded, “I can always enhance my playing, and I can always improve my technique, my artistry, my thinking, myself. Piano continues to change me for the better.”

No matter how much we would like to believe that multi-sport athletes are the norm, sport specialization is becoming more and more common. Our co-curricular program has a duty to those who wish to specialize in a certain sport or activity as well as to those who wish to pursue a broader range of interests. The current program allows for both kinds of students to thrive because it encourages underclassmen to participate in multiple sports, and it allows upperclassmen to do recreational sports and activities with a less of a time commitment. Upperclassmen participating in these lower time commitment activities can use this extra time in order to pursue their interests. There is nothing wrong with pursuing an interest intensely. Students should not be discouraged from doing this, but at the same time they should also not be discouraged from trying new things or participating in multiple sports. The administration does a good job of having a system that does not allow coaches to pressure their players into training for their sport year-round, yet allows for students to pursue their passions.

A group of five students traveled around South Africa for a Round Square conference for ten days in October. Kelsey Gallagher ’13, Anna Pettee ’13, Cole Horton ’14, Caroline Ashford ’14 and Jared Armes ’15 were selected to attend through Round Square’s application and interview process. Health and anatomy teacher Kristen Loftus accompanied the students. They traveled to Johannesburg, where they stayed at the Oprah Windfrey Leadership Academy for girls with roommates from all around the world, and Nelspruit, where they attended the conference held at Penryn College. The theme of the conference was “No Existence without Co-Existence,” which focused mainly on what individuals could accomplish with the confidence to pursue their dreams, according to Gallagher. This theme was embodied throughout the students’ journey in South Africa. Pettee said, “I feel that my experience totally manifested that ideal. I met amazing kids my age, with whom I could relate, from countries all over the world that I dream of visiting,” Though the conference was the main reason for travelling sixteen hours to South Africa, there were many activities and excursions outside of the conference. The group visited the Apartheid museum, explored the city of Johannesburg and interacted with children at a primary school in a rural area of Nelspruit. “South Africa is a beautiful and profound country,” said Pettee. “You can see shadows of tall buildings casted over shantytowns.” While Pettee admired her surroundings, her fellow team member enjoyed meeting children at the primary school. “Visiting the primary school was the most touching experience I had on the trip,” said Gallagher, “I taught them how to play duck-duck-goose, and instead of chasing eachother around the circle, the children held hands and skipped together.” Pettee also agreed with Gallagher, “The children were so enthusiastic and excited to see all of us; it was like we were family.” The culture shock impacted the group as well. Gallagher said, “The whole experience certainly changed my perspective on life and showed me how privileged I am. I have always lived in the same town in New Jersey and never experienced such a different culture.” Horton stated, “the conference taught me a lot about how to analyze certain international issues from a variety of viewpoints.” Mrs. Loftus said, “I was very impressed with all the students who attended from all parts of the world. I can only imagine how different the world would be if conferences like this could have happened 100 years ago.” Gallagher and Pettee described the farewell to South Africa as “bittersweet.” However, each of the group members said that they walked away with valuable experiences and encourage others to apply for next year’s conference in Florida.

The annual tradition, Choate Day, is just around the corner. The rivalry between Deerfield and Choate dates back all the way to the 1930s. Ever since, it has been tradition to play the last game of every fall season sport against Choate. Every other year, the games are all played at Deerfield. On the odd years when the games are hosted by Choate, the entire Deerfield community makes the trip to Wallingford, CT to cheer on our teams. “The game against Choate is the most highly-anticipated among every team because it’s always a good feeling when we get to beat our rivals,” explained Conner Romeyn ’13. However, Choate Day is not just a day for athletes; it is a day for the entire student body. Jade Moon ’13, a member of the fall play stated, “Even though I don’t actually participate in a sport, I think it’s good that there is a day where we can go out and support our school.” But engaging in athletic activities is not the only activity students participate in during that week. The night before the games, Deerfield students take part in a series of events. Jay Morsman described the experience as “the most spirited weekend of the year,” adding, “Everyone really gets themselves involved.” On the Friday night before the event, the Deerfield cheerleaders host a pep rally in the Large Auditorium. “The pep rally gets students excited for their games,” Sloan Damon ’13 said. “Seeing all the students come together for one purpose creates a sense of unity among the Deerfield community. That’s why I like it so much.” After the pep rally, students go down to the lower fields and encircle a bonfire. “Personally, the bonfire is my favorite event of the weekend. I feel a great sense of camaraderie as we circle around the fire together,” Teddy Romeyn ’13 stated. One of the main events of the night is when Captain Deerfield gives a speech to the entire school. “Usually Captain Deerfield tells a story of the origins of the Choate and Deerfield rivalry,” Damon explained. “After his speech is done, the only other thing left to do is to beat Choate.”

Eighty-six percent of undocumented immigrants have been living in the U.S. for seven years or longer. This country is their home. “Illegal” immigration is misunderstood by many American citizens. Many people think that “illegal” immigrants come from only bordering countries when in fact there are technically illegal immigrants from all over the world. There are many reasons someone might be here without proper documentation. Undocumented residents aren’t necessarily illegal residents. They haven’t done anything criminal by living in the U.S. Being undocumented is a civil offense, not a criminal one. A telling example is people who have outstayed their visas. At one point they were welcomed into the U.S, but are now unwelcomed. There are so many different situations to examine; my point is that we can’t make blanket statements about why people are here without the right documents and, therefore, there is no blanket solution to immigration in the U.S. On August 1, 2001 the DREAM act was first proposed to Congress. DREAM stands for Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors. Under this act, people who are between 12 and 35 years of age are eligible for residence in the U.S if they arrived before the age of 16. There is also an education requirement: eligible persons have to graduate from an American high school and get a certain amount of higher education. Today the DREAM act is still a bill and has not received enough votes to become a law. This act has received substantial support from both parties. I think this act is one of the best things that could happen to the state of immigration in the U.S. I believe that there needs to be a better system for undocumented citizens to get American citizenship. Why are we rejecting citizenship to students who want to make contributions to our country? There is no process in place for current undocumented residents to get their citizenship. Many have been living in the U.S for a while. The statistic above from the Office of Immigration Statistics reveals this: the DREAM act could be a solution for many people. I don’t understand why we can’t give citizenship to an educated teenager who has lived in this country all his or her life, wanting nothing more than to be recognized as an American. According to http://dreamact.info/ , this is the home country of about 65,000 undocumented high school graduates each year. An article on the website of the Association of International Educations ( nafsa.org ) argues, “Opposition to the DREAM Act ignores the value to the U.S. economy of legalizing this group of motivated, hard-working young people.” Although some people argue that immigrants without the right papers take jobs away from Americans, undocumented residents play a large in role in our economy. Instead of punishing people who are looking for opportunity and better futures for their children, punish the American corporations who bring people here illegally for cheap labor. (A good example of a corporation who has done this is Tyson Foods.) These corporations promise prosperity to their new employees, but this promise ends up backfiring on the immigrants when they are sent back to their country of origin without any of the advertised benefits. I think that we, as educated Americans, should reconsider the role immigration plays in the American story. In the almost four years that Obama has been in office, there have been more people deported than during the eight years Bush was in office.The place people call the melting pot or salad (whatever metaphor you prefer) now has a lower percentage of immigrants than other nations. Whether or not you have a stance on immigration, I encourage you to think about what your citizenship means to you. There is no rule in place saying that everyone has to “earn” his or her citizenship. Lucky for me I was born in the U.S and so I don’t have to face this crisis. But another teenage girl who has lived in the U.S all her life, maybe longer than I have, is not recognized as an American. If someone was brought to the U.S at a young age, he or she should be recognized as American. If someone is the product of an American education and wants to contribute to American society, he or she should be allowed to stay. Anyone who can truly call the U.S. his or her home should be welcomed with open arms.

In less than a week, some Deerfield students will be active participants in deciding the nation’s next president. Students interviewed were evenly divided between the candidates and said they valued voting as a vital right. “I’m voting for President Obama because I’m a woman,” Charlotte Posever said. “For me, women’s rights are so important—the right to choose, equal pay, the list goes on. I’m a firm believer in equality and progress, and Obama has begun to bring that back to the country already and will continue to move us forward in the right direction.” Similarly, Hannah Insuik said, “Women should not have to fight for equal pay in a year like 2012. We have more women in science and other male-dominated professions than ever, and it is evident that they are just as good at their jobs as men.” She added, “Birth control isn’t a privilege, it’s a right. A woman has the right to decide what is best for her, for her family and for the potential child.” Adriana Lopez searched online to compare the candidates’ opinions on issues like immigration and taxes. “After some thorough research, I found that Obama’s opinions are similar to mine,” she said. “With the choice between Obama and Romney,” Cody Anderson-Salo ’14 said, “I’d go with Obama because I agree with him more socially, and I think the social is more important than the economic.” After some consideration, Thomas Shuman ‘13, responded, ”Probably Obama. Foreign policy and our place in the world is very important to me, and I feel like Romney’s foreign policy, especially in the Middle East and in his trips, has been characterized by mistakes and embarrassments. In times like these, we need friends and allies, and I believe that Obama will be a stronger diplomat than Romney in the coming years.” On the other hand, Maggie Morse ’13 will vote for Governor Mitt Romney. “Although I do not agree with his view on women’s rights, I think his economic plan is more beneficial to the country,” she said. “Obama’s plan would lead to fewer qualified doctors, since there would be no motive to be a doctor with a low salary. They would all be pharmacists, and I think having qualified health professionals is the most important issue right now.” Similarly, Tom Sherwood ’13 said he will vote for Mr. Romney because of his economic plans. “I support his drive to repeal Obama care and his opinions regarding the Middle East, Afghanistan and Pakistan,” he added. Tatum McInerney ’13 said, “I believe the economy is the most important issue in the 2012 elections. Romney is a businessman and he’s probably the best person to get us out of this crisis right now.” Robert Beit ’13 cited economic and social issues as the reasons he voted for Mr. Romney through advance polling. “I believe he will do a better job with the economy than Obama will, and I doubt Obama will follow through with his statement about being for gay marriage,” he said. Byers Kadow ’13, an Alaska native, said, “I know my vote is only one in millions, but being able to vote allows me to express my opinion on who I believe should run this country. I’m voting for Mitt Romney because I believe he has the necessary skill set to get the U.S. out of the trouble Obama has put us in.” Like Kadow, students said they valued their opportunity to vote this year. “Voting is one of the civil liberties that this country was founded upon,” Sherwood said. “Some challenge it and say that the electoral college takes away the individual voter’s importance. It is essential to remember, however, that voting is one the few true ways to express the freedom that we as a country have defended for almost 250 years, a process many citizens of other countries don’t get a chance to partake in.” Insuik said, “You can debate and defend your ideas all you want. You can argue and fight with people over what you think is right, but the point of democracy is to listen to the country, and use a majority to make decisions. “Whether you’re a part of what ends up being the majority or the minority, you are being heard and making a difference. I think voting is more about feeling a part of something and being proactive, than being one of the hundreds of millions of votes,” she said.

With the close proximity of the 2012 presidential election, the political fire on campus is growing, sparking debates and new interest in politics amongst students and faculty. As one of the most well-informed people on campus when it comes the subject of the election, Mr. Nilsson recently gave a presentation at school meeting outlining the basics of what it means to be involved in a campaign. For this, he drew on his experience working for the Obama campaign, but he did not share the entire story. Mr. Nilsson further explained that he “was dissatisfied but hadn’t done anything but vote,” and explained that “ since I had not contributed my time and had not participated and been proactive, I could not complain if the election did not turn out the way I wanted.” Having no previous political experience, Mr. Nilsson started volunteering on the Upper West Side of Manhattan at visibility events, and soon after was organizing similar events himself, some even written up in the New York Times. He became the Main Coordinator for the area of Manhattan west of Central Park for Primary Day, and began then to realize “how much impact an individual can have.” The summer of 2008 the Obama Organizing Fellowship sent volunteers to swing states, and Mr. Nilsson was hired as a field organizer for 65,000 inhabitants of two towns in lower Buck’s County, PA. There, Mr. Nilsson directed an office that managed 300-400 volunteers every week up to the day of the election itself. “The experience was life changing,” Nilsson said, “because it is empowering, and you realize that you have the opportunity as an individual to organize people who support a cause, help them further that cause, and help people who do not yet have political opinions develop them.” Just as Deerfield students continue to discover the empowering feeling that comes with the ability to vote in a national election, Mr. Nilsson, too, found that aspect of politics inspiring as well. “Some of the most vivid moments from my time working in New York City and Pennsylvania were moments when I was registering voters, young and old, having conversations with people who had not been part of the political process but were growing interested in it. There is something satisfying about participating in an election—even simply voting—and little was more rewarding than seeing that spark of empowerment in other people. They would recognize that there is a process, that they can be a part of it, and that they can lift their voices, too.” Obama was victorious in the 2008 election, and although there were many other factors that contributed to this, Mr. Nilsson following his passion and standing up for what he believed in was definitely one of them.

Some Deerfield students considered the morality of money used to further political views and interests. According to the Wall Street Journal, Super PACs, spending groups funded by corporations, labor unions, and individuals, have spent over 460 million dollars in the 2012 Elections. “If I had five million dollars, I would save some and donate the rest of it to climate change research,” Nina Sola ’13 said. “I’d keep some so that I could donate more money later on, ensuring that my views remain important to organizations after I had given initial funding.” Sola said she did not think it was immoral to fund self-interests, but funding groups that have “detrimental effects for the public” was an abuse of power. “One should have the freedom to pursue their own happiness in whatever way they choose, as long as it does not deprive others of their own freedom,” she said. “As long it does not harm anyone else, I think it is acceptable to use your money to support your views.” Nolan Bishop ’13 said the question of whether it is moral to promote self-interest and political agendas through political donations must be addressed on a case-by-case basis. He brought up the example of spending to misinform people about climate change. “Here, the immorality is obvious because it is a dishonest attempt to create uninformed consumers in order to benefit the select few who run the world’s fossil fuel industry,” he said. “The perpetrators of this campaign are indifferent to the effect of their campaign on society.” Bishop said he believed political donations must be used with right intentions. “I think that to advance one’s own cause politically even if it damages society is immoral for the same reason that stealing is immoral,” he said. “Political donations should be made with the intent of improving society, just as a politician’s true motive should be to improve society. If I had five million dollars, I would spend it to try and create real, tangible change through philanthropy—not gamble it all on a politician.” Lena Mazel ’13 said if she had five million dollars, she would donate a large part to Beck’s Day of Service, an organization that donates food and builds houses for the poor. “I think the greatest danger in this upcoming election is people that don’t think enough about who they are voting for,” she said. “Look into how Romney started Bain capital with funds from Salvadoran death squad leaders, but also look into how his taxes became low enough to see scrutiny from the Obama administration, that is, because he paid such a large percentage of his income to charity.” She said, “Remember that politicians are human beings with all the complexity the human experience entails, only their choices play out on a much larger scale.”

By Michael Park ’15, Staff Writer There has been a significant rise in the number of AHC cases over the past three years. According to Head of Peer Tutors Julie Schloat, one possible reason for the rise may be weak enforcement of the Honor Code. [quote]“I would define the honor code as being conscious and aware of your work and the expectations of your teachers in school,” Ms. Schloat said. “I think the honor code gets fuzzy for students when they are not aware of the individual expectations of their teachers.”[/quote] In the beginning of the school year, an orientation session devoted to academic honesty gave students the opportunity to read and contemplate the Plagiarism Statement. The Student Council and faculty are considering whether to expect students to sign an honor pledge before submitting graded work. “The honor pledge was instituted to encourage students to ask clarifying questions before submitting work,” Student Body President Cleo Siderides ’13 said. “I think we reside in a community where honor is upheld the majority of the time. Having an honor pledge will further instill within the community the ideals on which Deerfield was founded.” However, it is also true that students feel a lot of stress from pursuing success. Anxiety often puts students’ moral choices on the line, which may lead to academic dishonesty if the student does not balance pressure with sufficient moral awareness. “There were times, I admit, when I was very tempted to take a shortcut in order to finish my assignment on time,” confessed Taylor Yancey ’15. “The answers were online, and I could have easily taken them from the site. However, I remembered what my goal was in Deerfield. It was not to cheat, but to improve. I decided to turn in the work late.” Jade Moon ’13 agreed. “I think people are just pressured to do well at Deerfield, but don’t have the time. Most of the cheating isn’t “bad” either. It’s usually momentary lack of judgement on the cheater’s part.” “If I were a student, I might look at the outside world and not see how to be ethical.” said Academic Dean Peter Warsaw. “I understand if a student says he or she is receiving mixed messages from the external world, but students should be getting clear messages within Deerfield.”