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.”

Student Body President Cleo Siderides ’13 and Student Counsel Chair Teddy Romeyn ’13 continue to champion the honor and respect platforms established by predecessors Theo Lipsky ’12 and Charles Jones ’12. This year, the Student Council has created a school-wide honor pledge that may be written on every major assignment. Siderides posted a poll to the Daily Bulletin to gather student feedback on various options for the pledge. The results were split evenly. The intent behind the new honor pledge is to encourage students to reflect on their values and to take pride in their work. The Council has also made plans to host a second Respect Forum. Romeyn said, “The cornerstone of a Deerfield education is not learned from a textbook; rather, it is in the relationships we foster with those around us. We need to continue these conversations regarding respect, integrity, and concern for others.” The Class of 2012 Student Council founded this initiative on respect by hosting a 90-minute session involving group discussions and presentations from students, faculty, and staff members. Last year’s student leadership also established the Value Statement, which appears in the opening pages of this year’s rulebook.

In a string of announcements, clubs inform the dining hall when and where they will meet after sit-down, but then the microphone is passed down the line again as students realize the south bubble is triple booked, and the president of one club has to attend another club’s meeting at the same time. In her convocation address, Dr. Curtis encouraged us all to take a moment to absorb the serenity of the Deerfield campus during autumn, take a moment for ourselves. How are we supposed to hike to The Rock with that physics project or English paper looming over our heads? We should learn how to better cope with stress, right? We have counselors for support, so every day we can all take an hour to go tell her about what we aren’t doing while we are talking to them. Students are overbooked. The end goal of high school for most students is college, so they are taking on heavy course loads, and they aren’t going to tell their teachers that their homework exceeds 45 minutes. No student wants to be the first to admit they are overwhelmed, and many are so accustomed to demanding commitments and classes that they believe stress is inevitable. Faculty members are stressed as well, and, so far, Dr. Curtis’ speech about making time to relax and reflect seems like an impossible goal. Whether it means saving students and faculty 20 minutes of changing into class dress for sit-down dinner three times a week, or enforcing the 45 minutes of homework rule, the school needs to take steps to lighten the load.

Ten-time Grammy-winning a cappella group Take 6 will perform at an Academy Event on Thursday, Oct. 18. The six-man group performed for President George W. Bush in 2001 and has worked with artists Whitney Houston, Quincy Jones, Queen Latifah, and Stevie Wonder. “There are a number of big vocal close-harmony groups out there, but Take 6 is head-and shoulders above most of them,” said Daniel Roihl, director of music and member of the Academy Events Committee. “They are phenomenal, in terms of the sophisticated nature of their arrangements.” On Thursday afternoon, the group will lead a community sing and hold an open workshop for Chamber Singers and others who are interested during co-curricular time. When the group formed in 1980, they initially called themselves “Alliance.” Members performed in churches and all over the Oakwood College campus for some years with members leaving upon graduation. When the group signed with Warner Brothers in 1987, they changed their name to Take 6. Since then, they have won 10 Grammy Awards and garnered many other nominations. The group sings gospel music with a heavy jazz influence, but also incorporates other genres like R&B and pop. “All of their voices blend so well,” Sidney Hulburd ’14 said. “Since the group only has six people, each voice matters.” “We had a number of contenders that we were considering,” Mr. Roihl said. “But we felt that [Take 6] was really a group that the students could engage with.” Michael Park ’15 agreed. “They will help students appreciate gospel and jazz music more, and maybe start a growing interest of their own in music,” he said.

The campaign aspires to recycle or compost 80% of Deerfield’s waste and to put into landfills 20% of the waste. The Think 80/20 initiative encourages a more environmentally aware lifestyle through school meeting presentations, announcements, and signs labeling waste bins. “My job as an e-proctor is largely educational,” Sharpe said. “But as in any class, students will only learn as much as they want to. The Think 80/20 campaign hopes to facilitate that learning process by giving students more tools. With more signage and more bins, we’re trying to help everyone get to 80/20.” [pullquote_right]”My job as an e-proctor is largely educational,” Sharpe said. “But as in any class, students will only learn as much as they want to. The Think 80/20 campaign hopes to facilitate that learning process by giving students more tools. With more signage and more bins, we’re trying to help everyone get to 80/20.”[/pullquote_right] Poor habits of the past spurred the urgency to educate about and aid proper waste disposal. Sustainability Coordinator Jeffrey Jewett, said that waste collectors have threatened several times to fine Deerfield for including trash in recycling receptacles. “People didn’t know what to do, and people weren’t usually doing the right thing,” Mr. Jewett said. Recycling on campus has widened to include collections of items that can be recycled but were previously being sent to the landfill. “Styrofoam can be recycled, through we usually just throw it away. We have put collection bins in the dorms so it can be recycled,” Jhovae Irving ’13, an e-proctor, said. In addition to styrofoam, the Think 80/20 initiative strives to separate shopping bags, E&R hangers, and electronics to reuse and recycle. Think 80/20 addresses discrepancies between environmentally sustainable aspiration and current practices. The disproportionate size of the trash container in dorm rooms has been altered to a model being tested in the New Dorm, where the trash bin is a sidecar hanging from the recycling receptacle.

Grant Louis ’14 is the man with the plan. When it comes to competitive crew, the coxswain is in charge of memorizing the race plan, motivating the rowers, navigating the course, and monitoring the positions of the other boats. “What really makes a great coxswain is the persistence to gain the trust and understanding of every rower in the boat, and to have an awareness of everything around them. A great coxswain should be able to draw on a map of the river where all the relevant boats and hazards are while navigating the chaos and keeping their cool,” said boys’ first boat coxswain and (Youth Club Nationals champion) Louis. On top of this, girls’ first boat coxswain Casey Butler ’13 said, “It is important that coxswains be organized and alert, as it is their job to keep track of four rowers, a mutli-thousand dollar boat, four oars, four oar locks, a cox box, and more. They need to keep track of the time, run the work out or warm up, be sure that every rower is warmed up and has everything they need. It can be overwhelming if you aren’t aware of what you’re doing.” It would seem, however, that the Deerfield coxswains are aware of what they’re doing, thanks to several top finishes at the New England championships in recent years. At the same time, every coxswain is different. “I like to send out an email to the rowers in my boat before every race. It is a pump up “let’s do it!” kind of thing, but I also remind people of what we need to focus on the next day, be it focus, togetherness or sitting up straight. I also like to give my rowers treats after each race,” said Butler. Louis takes a different approach. “Personally, I recite the race plan word for word every night before I go to bed, so I can recite without thinking on race day. I try to call each race exactly as planned. However, that doesn’t always work out.” And Louis has experienced this first hand. “In the last 150 meters of the finals at Nationals, I accidentally dropped one of the small screens in the water trying to fix it. It took all of my concentration to keep on the race plan and help my boys bring the boat across the line first,” said Louis. Both coxswains felt frustrated by the fact that most people think they are along for a joyride. “I wish people knew that we aren’t just along for the ride! During a race, we are executing a race plan, telling the rowers where they are in the race time and distance-wise, letting them know the moves of other teams, and motivating them. It is complicated and people seem to think we serve no purpose other than to slow the boat down!” said Butler. Regardless, both Butler and Louis are passionate about the sport, and shared hopes and advice for any future rowers. “I would tell novice coxswains to ask questions! That’s the best way to learn how to cox. Also, try rowing. That is the only way to really understand the movements of the boat. It also makes rowers respect you more,” advises Butler. As for Louis? “I wish that the rowers know that the coxswain is on their side, even though sometimes it seems like we are little Napoleons, a terrible and inaccurate analogy for coxswains.”

A 17-member cast will take on 65 different roles to in The Laramie Project. The fall play shares the story of Matthew Shepard, a 21-year-old University of Wyoming student who was murdered for being gay. On October 6, 1998, Russell Henderson and Aaron Mckinney whipped, robbed, and beat Shepard before they tied him to a fence. Then they left him to die. Cyclist Aaron Kreifels found Shepard. He was in a coma for six days before he passed away. A month after the homicide, the Tectonic Theater Project traveled to Laramie, Wyoming to conduct interviews with locals. From these interviews, the Tectonic Theater created The Laramie Project. “The fact that the play is about a real story and is a compilation of interviews of real people makes it very present and unavoidable for both the actors and the audience,” cast member Stefani Kuo ’13 said. She added, “This is a play that really has a message to get across, not only about homosexuality and acceptance, but also identity in general. I think that is a very strong message that strikes people.” Theatre Director Catriona Hynds said, “The play is a great catalyst for opening up dialogue.” The issues highlighted in the play are very current with young adult culture today. On campus, organizations such as the GSA and Connect4 will hold forums addressing homosexuality, bullying and tolerance. Post-show discussions among cast and audience members are scheduled during two of the performances. When asked about the content’s impact, senior actor Thomas Shuman ’13 said, “It is not so much the play, but the activities that we are doing with other groups on campus.” Stage manager Hailey Nuthals ’14 said, “ The Laramie Project is a deep and moving play and I think it will force people to think about their values and opinions regarding the tough issues addressed.” Michael Beit ’15, cast member and assistant director said, “I’m really excited for the play, and I think that it is going to have a big difference in the Deerfield community.

French teacher Andrea Moorhead has three new books being published in the coming months; Terres de mémoire, Éditions de l’Atlantique, coming in 2012 and Dark Menagerie, Élise Turcotte, forthcoming, Guernica Editions, Toronto, Canada, and géocide, poèmes, à paraître, Éditions du Noroît, both coming in 2013. Scroll: What inspired you to write your first text? Moorhead: When I feel a certain vein has been exhausted, I gather the texts, edit them, and prepare a manuscript. I do not sit down to “write a book”; books happen and are not a starting point for me. It is the publication of a book that liberates the text, ends my intimate association with it. It becomes part of the world and makes it own way, so to speak. Scroll: Would you say you have a specific writing style? Moorhead: My style changes over time. I do not write now the way I did when I was 20 or 30 or even 60. I can say that narratives do not appeal to me. Scroll: What books/poets/writers have influenced your writing most? (inspired you?) Moorhead: I don’t believe in inspiration. I read every book of poetry I could get my hands on when I was your age–in English, in French, in Greek and Latin also. I also read many poets in translation, and have continued to do so. I tend to read a writer or a group of writers to saturation. Scroll: What are your future projects/plans? Moorhead: I am not doing any translation for a while. I did two long books in a row, and I don’t want that kind of intense involvement with someone else’s world right now. I am continuing my exploration of insanity, both in my English work and in French. The fragmentation of consciousness and the intrusion of multiple layers of perception in a person’s intimate psychological space fascinate me. I have been working with photos, interweaving text and image. For me, the next year or so is a time of exploration and experimentation. I’ll see what turn things take.

Since 2008, Wendy Ke ’14 and her family have been helping out at an orphanage in Beijing called Sun Village. The unique aspect of this orphanage is that most of the children who live there have parents in jail. The kids range in age from two months to 17 years old. Every year Wendy and her family send warm blankets and quilts to Sun Village because it does not have heaters, and this past summer, Ke and her mother held a charity party in Beijing that helped raise money that enabled over 300 children visit their parents. Four years ago when Ke first went to the orphanage, she could feel the “unhappiness” and said that the kids pushed her away. She described – her voice wavering – how hard it is for the children there because, unlike those in other orphanages, they “feel pressure knowing their parents are still in the world and cannot see them.” But things have changed since that visit. Ke grinned as she explained how the kids “have more smiles on their faces.” And although the older ones still talk about their parents, “they accept us completely.” When asked why she likes to help others, Ke offered her favorite saying: “If you share your happiness; it doubles; and if you share your sadness, it gets halved.” In June, 2012, the Deerfield China trip visited Sun Village and stayed there for a few days. They witnessed the way these children live: going to school during the day, doing housework and homework and playing games at night, and working on the orphanage farm on weekends. The 21 students on the trip learned to play the shuttlecock, a traditional Chinese toy, and participated in the charity party as well to help raise money. They even sang the Deerfield songs and had a fashion show for the kids. DA student, Daisy Fornengo ’14, said “I had an amazing couple of days at Sun Village. Spending time with the kids and seeing how much they laugh and enjoy the little that they have made us all realize life isn’t about the material things.”

The Disciplinary Committee has added a new punishment in response to an ambiguous off-campus drinking incident that occurred last year. Called “warning,” it will serve as a middle step between a letter for reprimand and suspension. “A warning is a letter of reprimand, but if you commit the same violation twice, you will be expelled,” said DC member Justin Schlacks ’13. “It’s a great way of bridging the gap between a letter of reprimand and suspension,” agreed fellow committee member Dean Citrino ’14. Unlike probation, warning is only applicable if you repeat the same offense, which results in dismissal for any category of school rule violation. “We have had cases where one [punishment] felt too heavy and [the other] felt too light,” Dean of Students Amie Creagh said. Ms. Creagh hopes a warning will clarify some of the more ambiguous cases. “I think that warning will be used for cases that would have been a letter of reprimand,” said Schlacks, “making it a harsher punishment.” Fellow committee member Jon Victor ‘14 said, “The warning system provides some flexibility for us to evaluate each case individually and select punishments according to the unique circumstances of each case.” Ms. Creagh said the change will not affect how the committee evaluates school rule violations. The deans and student committee members hope that warning will serve as a fairer punishment in cases that would have been suspensions. “I hope [warning] allows us to respond to nuances in some cases,” Ms. Creagh said. “If it feels like a one-size-fits-all-response, you’re less likely to learn from it as a student.”