Dear Reader, You have almost made it to the end! It is hard for me to believe that in just four short days, Deerfield will lose the Class of 2016, the class that has shaped, inspired, and excited our community for the past nine months. I truly do not believe that anyone is ready to see them go. With them, they brought spirit, joy, and leadership. I can only hope the Class of 2017 will follow in their footsteps. Each and every member of the Class of 2016 is destined to change some aspect of our world. Here at , we want to celebrate these students and the places to which they are headed in the near future. This issue highlights the matriculation results for the Class of 2016. Last year, for reasons that are valid and well-intentioned, The Scoll’s Editor-In-Chief at the time, Bella Hutchins, chose not to report on where the senior class was headed to college. As the new Editorial Board, however, we have weighed both sides of the issue, and we have come to the conclusion that our community is simply curious. We are anxious to know where our peers are off to next fall — the places to which they will bring a piece of Deerfield — and that curiosity is not a bad thing. It is important, however, to note that the colleges and universities our peers choose to attend are not the sole or total measure of their successes or characters. As a community, let’s remember that. Let’s respect everything they have done for us and wish them well in their future endeavors, wherever those may take them. To the Deerfield community: 2015-2016 has been a year to remember. Congratulations on your hard work and persistent spirit. Let’s carry on the legacy the seniors are leaving behind. Finish up strong. To the Class of 2016: I wish every one of you endless luck in the future. Thank you for Br1n6ing It Back! All the best, Perry Hamm Editor-In-Chief

At the end of this academic school year, Mr. Chip Davis will be stepping down from his position as Athletic Director. Mr. Davis has held this position for ten years, and says that he feels “no regrets about the timing or the number of years I have been Athletic Director.” Doing what he thought best for Deerfield’s athletic program, Mr. Davis has both maintained crucial parts of the status quo and made significant changes within the department. One thing that he maintained in the interest of Deerfield athletics is the number of sports teams available for students and faculty. Mr. Davis explained that adding more teams would only create thinner rosters because of Deerfield’s limited population size. He also noticed the trend of student athletes taking off-seasons in order to specialize in only one or two sports, something that would also create smaller rosters. Mr. Davis has also taken charge in implementing change for Deerfield’s student athletes. One significant change was the increased school spirit pertaining to sub-varsity awards. He said that he takes particular pride “when sub-varsity athletes receive resounding applause at the athletic award school meetings.” He feels Deerfield athletics has created a more inclusive environment over the years for all athletes, not just Varsity players. The department has also recently created projects to construct new athletic facilities over the next two years. As Mr. Davis concludes his final year as Athletic Director, he will also be stepping up as the new Admissions Director. With the recent departure of former Director of Admission Ms. Stafford’s, Mr. Davis commented that “the timing of the offer came as a surprise to me, and everything has transpired in May.” Although he has already served several years on the admissions committee, he thinks that his new position “is far more comprehensive” than he is used to. However, he does feel quite ready for the challenge; Mr Davis said that “I’m looking forward to working with the great team of colleagues in the office and am confident I can be a quick study in learning the operation in order to lead it.” Unlike his former position as Athletic Director, his new position will be a full time job. Thus, he will no longer be teaching economics. “I am sad about [leaving economics],” Mr Davis commented. “I’ve taught the course for 22 years. However, the new opportunity affords me a healthy challenge, so I can justify the loss of the economics classes.” He will also give up coaching football, but will remain as the lacrosse coach for future years. Next fall, Mr. Bob Howe, current Athletic Director of Loomis Chaffee, will be in charge of athletic department. Unlike Mr. Davis, Mr. Howe will be a full time Athletic Director. Mr. Davis believes this to be an exciting move for the department because “the expectations and responsibilities [of the athletic director] have broadened.” Mr. Davis has provided 10 years of leadership for Deerfield Athletics; he is confident in Mr. Howe’s abilities to pick up where he left off, and is ready to take on his new position in the Admissions office.

Last spring, the seniors launched the “Bring It Back” campaign in an attempt to revitalize school spirit and the sense of community at Deerfield. Class Dean Kevin Kelly said, “In the spring of 2015, the rising seniors met on the stairs of the Main School Building. The cheerleaders led the Class of 2016 through the typical cheers we hear year after year. Suddenly, Charlie Carpenter silenced the crowd: ‘We’re going to make next year special, we’re going to bring it back, and the only way to bring it back is for all of us to buy in!’ The crowd went wild!” Charlie Carpenter ’16, holds the position of Captain Deerfield; a position generally associated with representing school spirit. Carpenter said, “‘Bring It Back’ means bringing back the sense of school pride that was standard in the Boyden era. In my opinion, the measures of school pride are the tightness of the community and the amount of support for others within the community.” Serena Ainslie ’16, another major contributor to the “Bring It Back” campaign, explained the origins of the movement: “My dedication to the ‘Bring It Back’ campaign really began when I toured Deerfield in 8th grade. I still remember how unbelievably excited I was when my tour guide told me about Choate Day, the cheerleaders and how Deerfield’s school spirit brought the community together. This was one of the main reasons I chose to come to Deerfield…That spirit permeated all aspects of campus life.” Ainslie explained that after her freshman year, there seemed to be a newfound “attitude of listlessness and even resentment…The loss of school spirit was a campus wide topic of conversation, yet no one seemed to be doing much about it.” At the end of her junior year, she heard sophomores saying that the Class of 2016 was going to be a bad senior class. This moment was Ainslie’s call to action. She stated, “When I heard this, I was infuriated… On the night of the stepping-up bonfire, Bella [Hutchins ’16], Charlie and I… vowed to respect the legacy of 2013 and try to be to the rest of the school what 2013 was to us our freshman year. So, at the stepping- up bonfire… ‘Bring It Back’ was born.” Mr. Kelly commented on the Class of 2016’s success in this endeavor: “Since day one of this school year, the Class of 2016 has… questioned, challenged, and changed some long-standing traditions at the Academy. They embraced gender equality issues, invited the girls to join the boys at hockey games, shaped how the student body should conduct themselves at sporting events, supported theater, dance, and music performances throughout the year, all while being positive role models to our younger students.” Jiwon Shin ’17, the Deerfield orchestra concertmistress, agreed: “I think that the seniors did bring it back this year.” Shin noted the increased attendance at orchestra concerts this year, saying “We appreciate the support at our concerts from the seniors and others in the community.” Mr. Kelly explained what he thinks truly made the campaign a success: “You have been very much aware and committed to developing the ‘collective you.’ Without the ‘collective you,’ the school fails. It is, and will always be, the small, consistent, daily acts of kindness, respect, and caring that show your collective personality. The ‘collective you’ has demonstrated just how much you love each other and love DA.” Ainslie further explained, “As graduation approaches, I… feel so proud to be a part of [the Class of 2016]. I’ve been thinking a lot about the legacy I’m going to leave, and how long that legacy will last. I think back to 2013 and realize that their legacy is still here. Their attitude inspired 2016 to bring it back, which hopefully [will] continue to inspire this community to show their love for Deerfield. That’s what I think it means to be worthy of your heritage. School spirit is the connection that all of us have to every class that came before us. It’s the common thread that makes Deerfield a place that we all love, that we all call home.” In a message addressed to the senior class, Dean of Students Amie Creagh remarked, “You…have yet again raised the bar on what senior leadership means. True to form, you have demonstrated a willingness to adhere to some basic expectations without losing sight of all the fun senior spring should entail. Our younger students are lucky to have had you as the new standard bearers.” Thomas Song ’19 agreed: “I’m a freshman, so I can’t compare how school spirit was this year compared to last year, I think that the seniors have really fostered a sense of school spirit and have been excellent role models.” Student Body President Claire Petrus ’16 summarized the lasting significance of the campaign: “The ‘Bring it Back’ campaign has been successful in reviving the Deerfield tradition of school spirit… [It] has shown that, as a student body, we are capable of uniting behind one cause. This same passion and energy should be used not only to embrace the heritage that makes Deerfield unique, but also to resolve issues, like the gender culture, that negatively impact our school.” Looking towards the future, Petrus also urged, “Although this emphasis on tradition has been beneficial, it’s also important to know that as a school we are not only defined by our history. We shouldn’t be afraid to modernize certain aspects of the school’s culture just because they are ‘tradition.’” To the Class of 2016, Mr. Kelly said, “As your dean, I will never forget any of you. You are a very special group, and Deerfield will always be your home. Selfishly, I hate to see you go, but the timing to move on and leave Deerfield is appropriate. Good luck in your future and be worthy of your heritage!”

On May 29, writer and comedian Colin Jost will come to Deerfield to speak at the 2016 Commencement ceremony. Each year, Deerfield invites a distinguished individual to address the graduating class. Previous speakers have included former U.S. President George Bush; Henry Rodgin Cohen ’61, President of the Deerfield Board of Trustees and Senior Chairman of the law firm Sullivan and Cromwell; Martha Minnow, Dean of Harvard Law School; and Captain James A. Lovell, Jr. G’03, Commander of Apollo 13. Mr. Jost has been on the cast of since 2005 and is currently a co-anchor, along with Michael Che of , the SNL sketch that parodies current events. Jost graduated from Harvard University in 2004; during his time there, he served as president of the a comedy publication. He has been nominated for five Emmy awards and has won a Peabody award and three Writers Guild awards. Jost, who grew up on Staten Island, wrote the screenplay for and acted in the comedy film, . Ms. Jenny Hammond, Director of Alumni and Parent Engagement, explained that the process of finding a commencement speaker “[is] complex because it involves the Head of School, school administrators, and sometimes even the Board of Trustees.” She also mentioned the importance of getting “input from the graduating class… sometimes a year in advance.” Since last spring, Student Council Chair Claire Petrus ’16 has led the search for this year’s commencement speaker with guidance from Head of School, Dr. Margarita Curtis. Petrus explained that she “wanted someone to capture the essence” of the graduating seniors; she looked for a “fun and lighthearted” speaker because “[2016 is] a fun class.” Due to his experience speaking in front of live audiences, Petrus felt he was an excellent choice for Commencement. “[Jost] knows what he needs to do to please an audience and make a memorable speech,” Petrus added.­ Many seniors are looking forward to hearing Mr. Jost speak. Anne Trapp ’16 is excited to hear “someone who is both funny [and] able to make a point that will hopefully stay with the graduates.” Camille Moeckel ’16 hopes Jost will capture “what a graduation really is: the sadness of leaving your Deerfield home behind and the happiness of moving on to a new experience.” She pointed out that Jost is a “very accomplished writer at just 33 years of age… [and] we will all be able to learn from him and his success.” Dr. Curtis said, “I generally look for someone who can inspire young people in two ways–by how they have chosen to lead their lives… and by the kind of message they choose to emphasize on this important occasion… my hope is that every Commencement speaker encourages [the graduates] to lead worthy lives.”

At the age of five, Quentin Jeyaretnam ’16 learned to play the piano. His passion for music, however, did not ignite until his thirteen-year-old self came into contact with a drum set. Using those drums, Jeyaretnam played in a band, and since then he hasn’t “been able to get enough.” At Deerfield, he has continued playing the drums, while also learning how to play the bass guitar, the guitar, the keyboard, and various percussion and string instruments. He specializes in jazz, blues, rock, and funk, but is also well acquainted with classical, reggae, and samba styles. “DA’s music programs have greatly increased my technical musical ability and my understanding of music in general,” said Jeyaretnam. “Having the opportunity to work with all these great musicians has allowed me to elevate my playing to an even more professional level.” Jeyaretnam also credits group practice as an important factor in his skill development. He owes his ability to play the drums to practicing and performing with his childhood band. Here at DA, he frequently plays in the band room with Nate Steele ’17 and Gavin Kennedy ’15. He expressed, “I love long jam sessions where everyone listens to one another and complements each other’s playing, quite literally creating something out of nothing without much thought or premeditation, bar establishing a key to play in.” In addition to Steele and his DA teachers, many other people inspire Jeyaretnam musically. His idols include “rock and jazz legends like John Bonham, Dave Grohl, Jaco Pastrorius, and Paul Chambers.” Though he is incredibly fond of their styles and careers, Jeyaretnam aims to enter the music industry with his own unique musical style. His musical abilities reach beyond playing a variety of instruments. “I’m fairly experienced in studio production, and have helped some other Deerfield musicians produce their tracks (such as Aaron Bronfman ’15), while also providing creative input for other producers on campus like Clay Wadman ’16, Tarek Deida ’15, and Tai Thongthai ’17,” he stated. Jeyaretnam’s wide range of skills will serve him well in his  future musical career. After Deerfield, he plans to minor in music production in college, and then, during his two years in the Singapore Army, engulf himself in the country’s rich music scene. In Singapore, he hopes to “work with local musicians in as many different genres as [he] can.” Jeyaretnam said, “Music will stay with me forever. To me it is a very spiritual experience, and I find myself transported into a new world when I listen to or play good music. To be able to feel the emotion and passion in a song, that’s what music is all about.”

“Beg, Steal or Borrow: It’s Nature that Takes the Blame,” a unique and vibrant exhibit, opened last weekend over Deerfield Parents Weekend and is on display until early June.  The exhibit was curated by Adrienne Conzelman, owner of A.R.C Fine Art LLC and the mother of Nicky ’16 and Carolina ’18 Conzelman. The works were created by Jason Middlebrook, a contemporary artist who focuses on various forms of art, including sculptures and installation art. Adrienne Conzelman specializes in contemporary art in a variety of media, and has worked in the field for two decades. She was also an advisor to curators before opening her own private gallery. In terms of how Conzelman decided to bring Middlebrook’s art to Deerfield, she said, “When I first saw the spaces and thought of his work, the soaring verticality of his planks seemed as though they could be shown to their fullest advantage in this space.” Conzelman views the combination of painting and sculpture in Middlebrook’s work as a very unique interplay of the two disciplines. Conzelman collaborated with Lydia Hemphill, Deerfield’s Director of Studies, in bringing Middlebrook’s exhibit to Deerfield. Conzelman said, “Lydia was very gracious to welcome Jason Middlebrook’s exhibit, and hopefully his artwork will be the first of a great partnership between A.R.C and Deerfield Academy.” Middlebrook’s show, titled “Beg, Steal or Borrow: It’s Nature that Takes the Blame,” hopes to emphasize that humans are to blame for nature’s suffering. This plays into the purpose of the Von Auersperg Gallery, which, according to Ms. Taylor, is “to bring different voices to the community, open a conversation, and to break down stereotypes.”  Middlebrook’s art represents the irony of the ethical view humans grant themselves of their destruction of nature. Nature is accentuated through Middlebrook’s use of wood and its natural shapes as a canvas for his artwork. Middlebrook noted: “The trees I use have lived a significant life, being between 100 and 200 years old. Therefore, painting on top of their wood pays homage to the time these trees spent improving lives throughout our planet.” The wood used in the exhibit comes from a mill in Sheffield, MA. Middlebrook said that the wood speaks to him, and he envisions his paintings as he chooses the wood. He has been creating these forms of wood paintings for close to 25 years, and the process has evolved naturally. Many students have attended and thoroughly enjoyed Middlebrook’s exhibit.  Tommy Whiteley, ‘18, said, “Middlebrook’s work is a beautifully evocative combination of natural and man-made beauty. Speaking to Middlebrook about his artistic process while surrounded by his works was an incredibly unique experience.” Hatty Wang ‘16 added, “Jason Middlebrook’s works are so elegant in their simplicity. His designs accentuate the original patterns on the wood, and skilfully present human and nature in unison.” The exhibit of wood paintings and drawings presents an opportunity for Deerfield students as individuals and as a community to respect nature and contemplate how it can be restored to its original beauty.  It has also highlighted how engaging art forms can send a meaningful message to our community and stimulate important conversations.

Lauren Ilsley ’16 has notably represented the green and white in both cross country and track and field for all four years of her Deerfield career, and will be finishing her last season this spring. Ilsley excels in long distance events such as the 1,500 meter  race and is actively involved in the development of running at DA. As a graduating senior and a captain of this year’s team, Ilsley is focused on “trying to make sure the younger students appreciate the sport and take it seriously,” while also enjoying her final spring in the process. Her sister Annie Ilsley ’18, who also runs track this year, said, “[Lauren’s] work ethic has led her to success in many ways, but what I admire even more is her positivity in any type of situation and her ability to put others before herself… her concern for others shows in her role as a leader on the team. Lauren is not just a role model for the younger runners, but a captain who values the success of her teammates as much as her own.” Ilsley ’16 reflected back on her time here at Deerfield, saying, “It’s bittersweet to have finished my eighth season, but at the same time, it’s an accomplishment to have run for four years, and I feel like I am leaving the team in good hands.” She credits her success at Deerfield to Dr. Cullinane, a powerful influence in her running development. She explained that, “He could take the most inexperienced freshman girl and turn her into a track and field star.” As she looks back at her running career, she recalls one of her most memorable moments: this year’s Hunt Relays. She also remembers going to the Vermont River every Thursday, one of her favorite running traditions. She admitted that she’ll miss running along the scenic river, and enjoying the snacks Dr. Cullinane brings for the end of  each of these “river runs.” Ilsley ’18 explained, “One of the biggest struggles I have seen Lauren face in her running career has been a combination of difficulties with breathing and anemia… although these two issues are especially hard for a runner to face, Lauren has continued to run through them with a strong will to achieve her best despite the obstacles.” As Ilsley moves on to the  University of Richmond next year, she is considering walking on to the Division I track and cross country teams or at least running recreationally or at the club level. As she spends her final few weeks at Deerfield, Ilsley remarked that she feels “sad to leave as a proctor and to leave [her] sister, the kids are on the team, and everyone at Deerfield.” She will miss representing Deerfield on the cross country course and on the track, but her strong, positive spirit will continue to influence the team in the future.

On the Original Costume (In 1995): “It was a very bare bones operation – just myself in a very mediocre homemade (or I guess dorm-made) outfit that consisted of a green ski hat, green towel as a cape, a big ‘D’ drawn on a white T-shirt, two birthday hats colored over in green marker, which I used as shoulder spikes, and a green eye mask that in retrospect kind of made me look like the Hamburglar.” On the Early Stages of Captain Deerfield: “It came about from being frustrated that the school crowd during sporting events just didn’t seem into it as much as I was, aside from the occasional school cheer, which at times was pretty half-hearted… I started doing things to try to pump up the crowd like sprinting around the rink ‘Ultimate Warrior style’ after we scored a goal and it kind of took on a life of its own.” On How Captain Deerfield Joined Forces with the Cheerleaders: “In my senior year (‘96), the cheerleaders/cheer squad kind of begged me to be on the squad; I wasn’t enamored with the idea of possibly being considered a male cheerleader, but they didn’t make me try out, so I gave in.” On His Favorite Memory of Being Captain Deerfield: “[Of] course every now and then I’d get in trouble; I distinctly remember throwing a rubber chicken on the ice after an opposing team’s player took a cheap shot. (I carried a chicken every now and then to taunt the opposing team). Our hockey coach was livid about the chicken and totally wanted to kill whoever threw it; lucky for me I was in disguise and the crowd didn’t give me up, because I’m pretty sure Captain Deerfield would have ended right there.”

The position of Captain Deerfield was created with the initial purpose of increasing school spirit at athletic events. By “getting rowdy” throughout the school year during cheers, pep rallies, Choate Weekend, and the games of popular sports such as football, hockey, and lacrosse, Captain Deerfield serves as a representative of Deerfield’s school spirit. However, in recent years many people have expressed the sentiment that declining school spirit has caused Captain Deerfield’s presence to fade into obscurity by the end of the fall term. Charlie Carpenter ’16, the current Captain Deerfield, reflected on this sentiment. “As a senior and as Captain Deerfield,” he said, “I felt like it was my responsibility as well as the Class of 2016’s responsibility to bring back the school spirit and the school pride that makes Deerfield so unique.” Carpenter strove to reignite school spirit by supporting the student body in innovative ways. For example, he pushed for greater energy and inclusivity at athletic events by going to games year-round and by instating new measures like welcoming girls into the upper rows of the bleachers at hockey games. Many students, such as Katherine von Weise ’17, a current nominee for next year’s Captain Deerfield, welcomed Carpenter’s revitalization of the position of Captain Deerfield. “Charlie was a really good Captain Deerfield this year. When Captain Deerfield went to games, more fans tended to come with him, so when you saw him there with more people, you got more riled up and excited for the game,” she said. Carpenter made a deliberate effort to increase the attendance at girls’ games and the community’s support of female athletes. Jenna Greenbaum ’17 and Felicia Renelus ’17 appreciated this gesture. “I definitely think Charlie as Captain Deerfield made a difference in attendance at female games,” said Renelus. “I remember sophomore year especially, the girl’s basketball team really didn’t get fans, and if we did, a lot of the time the fans were parents from other teams. However, I noticed this year that some Wednesday home games had a great turnout, which really helped the team play well.” Greenbaum added, “One memorable way that Charlie encouraged others to support girls’ games was at our hockey home opener, when the stands were filled and we had a gauntlet in between the periods, something I had never experienced during my three years on the team. It’s always a great feeling to step out on the ice and have a crowd of your classmates and teachers cheering you on.” Another innovative approach by Carpenter and the cheerleaders was attending arts performances in full uniform, a notable first in the history of Captain Deerfield. To actor and stage manager Kaycie Sweeney ’17, this new initiative both surprised and pleased her. “Captain Deerfield and the cheerleaders exceeded my expectations during the opening night of the fall play, , when I walked on stage to find the whole first row inhabited by cheerleaders in uniform. It’s a great feeling to know that all the hard work that you put in is appreciated by people of all walks of life at Deerfield,” she said. The most notable change to the position of Captain Deerfield this year has been the new selection process. In the past, the current Captain Deerfield has chosen his successor with some influence from the cheerleaders and faculty. This year, the selection process has become more democratic, having been opened up to the entire school. “The selection process may be changed in the sense that it takes the pulse of the school in an official form,” Carpenter said, “but the selection process still maintains its tradition of having the current Captain Deerfield having a large influence on who the next successor will be.” The new Captain Deerfield will be  announced on Friday, May 27, at school meeting. Some students, like Cameron Thrasher ’17, thought the changes were unnecessary. “I do not believe a student survey input should apply to Captain Deerfield because it is not a position you run for in the school.” Other students like Jan Menafee ’16 welcomed the changes. “The changes acknowledge that a position as important as Captain Deerfield to the energy of the school year requires student input,” Menafee said. Sweeney agreed, stating, “How well Captain Deerfield does is measured by how much the community is impacted by his or her actions,” Sweeney said, “and having those same members of the community put in their say about who Captain Deerfield should be would definitely make the decision more sincere and true to form.” Other students say they are excited about the new selection process because they hope that it will bring more inclusivity to the position of Captain Deerfield. Zakiya Newman ’17, another nominee for the 2016-2017 spot of Captain Deerfield, stated that by “allowing the whole student body to have a role in selecting the next Captain Deerfield, the school becomes more inclusive, which creates more room for diversity and greater anticipation around the position of Captain Deerfield.” Brandon Scott ’17, another nominee, added, “I feel if a female or non-white person or both were voted Captain Deerfield, it would show that anybody can become Captain Deerfield, that Deerfield welcomes everyone no matter their skin color or sex.” The role of Captain Deerfield has been one both occupied by and associated with white males throughout its history. As a result, many people worry that there will be resistance to a non-white or female Captain Deerfield because of the strong exclusive tradition surrounding the role of Captain Deerfield and the implicit gender and racial hierarchies that still persist within the student body. Imani Goodridge ’17 explained, “I feel that Deerfield has two kinds of hierarchies: racial hierarchies and gender hierarchies. White students at the top, then everyone else. White males at the top, and then everyone else.” Newman added that because of these racial stigmas, “Deerfield puts minorities… at the bottom end of the popularity scale,” making them unable to acquire popularity-based positions such as Captain Deerfield. Discriminatory stigmas against females also have barred them from attaining the position of Captain Deerfield. Von Weise explained that “there is a stigma that girls are less rowdy than guys, and the majority of the school believes that to be true. So sometimes when girls try to be as rowdy as guys, guys will sort of not laugh at them but be like ‘What are you doing?’” Newman attributes this attitude to the conservative mindset of the community with respect to how girls are supposed to act. “Deerfield culture sometimes promotes boys to be very spirited and ‘pumped’ while encouraging girls to be quiet, prim, and proper. If girls continue to live up to this expectation, then they can’t expect to represent Captain Deerfield, a position for a very spirited, eager, and bold person,” she said. In spite of all of this, Carpenter hopes the school will look past these mindsets during the new selection process. “One stigma that has surrounded Captain Deerfield is that it has always been a white male. However, I don’t necessarily think it’s the superficial things or the face value of Captain Deerfield that matter, but rather the spirit within the individual that is Captain Deerfield,” he said. However, Carpenter highlighted a need for change in the attitude of the school first. He stated, “I don’t see [Captain Deerfield] being a female in the upcoming years because of the current… male-dominated [Deerfield] culture. Ideally, our culture would be more equal. However, I do not believe that is the case [right now].” As the school year draws to a close, many have acknowledged the impact that Carpenter has had on the community this year in his role as Captain Deerfield. Assistant Dean of Students Mr. Kevin Kelly stated, “Charlie tapped into what many students were feeling deep down—a pride and love for their school—and it worked. He has now set the bar for any future Captain Deerfield to be much more than just a cheerleader and has demonstrated how one person can impact and lead others to make a difference.” The community is hopeful that the next Captain Deerfield will both continue and expand on the new legacy of Captain Deerfield by exemplifying pride and love for all aspects of the school. In order to do this, students hope the next Captain Deerfield will continue to strive to promote school spirit and inclusivity within the community. Scott said, “We have to make sure that the new Captain Deerfield is someone who is not afraid to get loud.” Sweeney added, “In order to embody true school spirit, all activities should continue to be celebrated. This means next year the new Captain Deerfield and the cheerleaders should show up to orchestra events, student art gallery openings or student debates, in uniform, to show the support of things other than just sports next year.” And Greenbaum believes that the next Captain Deerfield should reach out to freshmen to increase inclusivity: “If we have a leader who is open to helping the younger kids to show up to games and not be too timid to get rowdy, school spirit will be stronger than it has ever been before.” Many students, like Menafee, just want the next Captain Deerfield “to be someone that loves Deerfield and is brave enough to show it all of the time.” As Carpenter’s time as Captain Deerfield approaches its end, he reflects on his experience, saying, “Some of my best memories at Deerfield have been being Captain Deerfield in the bleachers. There is a symbol that Captain Deerfield represents by being in charge of the school spirit. So hopefully, the next Captain Deerfield will continue to take the role very seriously and continue to raise the school spirit at Deerfield.”

On April 25, spoken-word poet Sarah Kay visited Deerfield Academy and performed some of her poetry to a full audience in the concert hall. Kay, who is from New York City, said that she has been writing all her life and began performing her poetry at age 14. She attended Brown University, earning a Master of Arts in Teaching degree. In 2004, Kay formed Project Voice, a group of poets who use slam poetry to inspire and educate students. As the program’s website states, Project Voice is “dedicated to promoting empowerment, improving literacy, and encouraging empathy and creative collaboration in classrooms and communities around the world.” Kay’s poems cover a wide range of topics, from gender to childhood to family. Through her writing, she likes to not only celebrate women, but also, she notes, to highlight “different lifestyles and choices, and people make [her] happy when others find [her] work empowering.” Kay was one of the inspirations for Deerfield’s spoken-word poetry club, Off Key. Founded by Maddie Blake ’17 this year, the club has met weekly since the winter term. Blake explained the purpose of the club: “Students bring original poems and share them as well as improvise poems as a group.” Kay’s performance at Deerfield consisted of poetry interspersed with personal anecdotes. Kay performed her acclaimed poem “If I Should Have a Daughter,” which she debuted in her TED Talk and has been viewed over nine million times, as well as many other poems such as “The Type” and “Mrs. Ribeiro.” Kay also hosted a Q&A session and book signing event the day after her performance, where students had another opportunity to interact with the famous poet. Many students found Kay’s performance to be interesting and heartfelt. Maddie Chai ’17 described Kay’s performance as “lively, super engaging, and connected with the whole audience the whole time.” Hatty Wang ’16 further added, “Her poetry is relatable [and] easy to understand…Sarah Kay even said during the performance that she wanted to bring poetry to everyone. She was really deliberate with the poems she read and how she read them based off of our reactions.” Kay’s poetry not only resonated with students but with some of Deerfield’s faculty as well. Dr. Delano Copprue, an English teacher, said, “Sarah Kay’s class visit was an opportunity for my students to have a conversation with one of the leading spoken-word poets today.” He continued, “it was an inspiring and inspired event, and it brings to light the great opportunities we have been afforded at Deerfield…moments like these underscore the importance of our writing program at DA.”

On Tuesday, January 19, Deerfield students had the opportunity to explore the legacy of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. through diverse workshops centered on themes of inclusion. One of many adults to share his knowledge and interpretation of inclusion was Hassan Awaisi ’07, who currently serves as DA’s Muslim Chaplain. Mr. Awaisi held a workshop focused on Islamophobia, and how this prejudice “fits into a longer American track record of demonizing minorities—Blacks, Italians, Irish, Jews, Chinese, Japanese, Latinos, etc.—as fundamentally Other.” Mr. Awaisi stated, “The workshop I facilitated at Deerfield sought to critically examine four of the most prevalent stereotypes that undergird the twisted logic of anti- Muslim racism: ‘Islam is a monolith,’ ‘Muslim women are oppressed,’ ‘Islam promotes terrorism,’ and ‘Muslims are un-American.’” Showing DA students “real-world examples of anti-Muslim bigotry in the media today,” he worked alongside several Muslim Deerfield students to explain and debunk the myths about Islam that are prevalent throughout the United States, from politics to media to everyday life. In response to those who often reject Islam due to the acts of groups such as ISIS, Mr. Awaisi hopes to clarify the vast difference between Islam itself and the actions that terrorist organizations promote. “In reality, I think religion does not play nearly as big a role as geopolitics,” he said. “The champions of ISIS are first and foremost fascists, intent on gobbling up as much territory and power as they can, whilst swiftly eliminating anyone they regard as sub-human. Their rise to power is the latest upshot of a long history of shortsighted destructive U.S. military policies in the broader region stretching back at least to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in the 1980s.” Mr. Awaisi also recognizes the dangers of spreading any Islamophobic sentiment. “Islamophobia itself fuels terrorism,” he said. “Sound bites like “Islam hates us”—courtesy of presidential candidate Donald Trump—only serve to bolster the recruitment narrative of Islamist extremists that the West is engaged in a fight to the death with the Muslim world.” In response to the negative rhetoric common in the media today, Mr. Awaisi hopes to clarify the true intentions of Islam as a whole. “ISIS has as much to do with Islam as does the KKK with Christianity, the Jewish Defense League with Judaism, Saffron Terror with Hinduism, and Ashin Wirathu with Buddhism,” he said. He explained that “the Islamic tradition is at its core irenic, decrying bloodlust as a disease of the heart. ‘Do not wish to meet the enemy in battle,’ the Prophet Muhammad instructed, ‘but if you meet them, then be steadfast.’ Fourteen centuries before the Geneva Conventions, [the Prophet Muhammed] laid out rules of warfare that forbade, for instance, the killing of children, women, and the elderly, the cutting down of fruit-bearing trees, and the harming of monks in monasteries.” Mr. Awaisi also suggested how dramatically U.S. attitudes about Muslims have changed over the decades, pointing out that “Ben Franklin once praised the founder of Islam for his humane treatment of prisoners of war and submitted that Native Americans would not have suffered the fate they did had they lived under a Muslim sovereign.” In the nine years since his graduation, Mr. Awaisi has maintained involvement at Deerfield specifically within efforts at DA to promote religious expression and curiosity. As Deerfield’s Muslim Chaplain, Mr. Awaisi visits campus “to give talks as well as work with student leaders on developing programming related to Islam and the Middle East.” He also helps with Mr. Flaska’s Islam and the Qur’an class by hosting students at the Hampshire Mosque in Amherst. During April, Mr. Awaisi “will be coming to [Mr. Flaska’s] class to lecture on the topic of ‘The Human Impact of the War on Terror.’” He attended DA’s Interfaith Dinner last month and compared the discussion at the event to the climate on campus when he was a student. “There were fewer opportunities at that time for community-wide discussion on faith and identity in the context of a private boarding school,” he said. “I think the Interfaith Dinner is a wonderful step toward encouraging much-needed candid dialogue and alliances between students and faculty of different religious backgrounds.”

Jihad. Bombs. Extremism. Hijab. These are just a few of the words three other Muslim students and I spoke — the air in the room heavy with tension — as we shared our stories in front of one hundred DA faculty members in January. We’d been invited to speak by Ms. Marjorie Young, Director of Inclusion and Community Life, who believed it was time “to share and have our faculty hear and understand what it is like to be a Muslim student on our campus.” When I first came to Deerfield, I remember expecting that, in a school like ours, everyone would be welcoming and open-minded. For the most part, they are. But ignorance about Islam is ubiquitous in our culture, both outside and inside Deerfield, and because of this, Muslims are bound to be misunderstood. As Ms. Young put it, most of us don’t realize that “not all… students are having the same experience at Deerfield.” Talha Tariq ’17, one of the nine Muslim students on campus, has been a victim of this ignorance. He recounted, “During my freshman year, a boy in my dorm used the term Jihad instead of my name for almost the entire year. Jihad is a term referring to a Muslim’s duty to protect and maintain our religion, though it has been skewed by the Taliban and like-minded militant groups to refer to a “holy war” on western civilization. When asked to stop, the student invoked his first amendment right to free speech.” However, “free speech” is not an excuse for insensitivity and bullying, especially at Deerfield. And it is certainly not an excuse for blatant unkindness. As Tariq pointed out, we all “signed away” the right to free speech by agreeing to become members of the Deerfield community. In essence, to become a member of this community, all of us made an unspoken pledge to live, work, and play together harmoniously, a commitment that sometimes entails “censoring” what we say and acknowledging that, although we may have the right to say something, it is not always right to say it. Like Tariq, I have experienced discomfort when encountering ignorance and misunderstanding by classmates. Once, on a normal school day in one of my classes, the discussion diverted to the topic of Islam. One student asked what the difference between Sunni and Shia Muslims was, and immediately another student responded by saying that he had taken a class before and, as he understood it, the Shias were “the weird ones.” I identify as a Shia Ismaili Muslim— united with other Ismailis in our allegiance to the Aga Khan, our spiritual leader and a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad — so, naturally, I felt uncomfortable and slightly offended. To me, it seemed his comment was born out of ignorance, not out of an intention to harm, but nonetheless, as the Aga Khan highlighted in a speech, “in a pluralistic world, the consequences of ignorance can be profoundly damaging.” Another Muslim student mentioned a time in class when the students were discussing their vacations. When one student mentioned that she was stopped at the airport for no reason, another replied, “Just because you don’t have a scarf doesn’t mean you don’t have a bomb in your bag.” These were both instances of ignorance and a lack of sensitivity, demonstrating that seemingly trivial comments and remarks unnoticed by the rest of the community can nevertheless be hurtful to individual students. Muslims all around the world are misunderstood due to the stereotypical lens through which the media depicts them. We fear what we do not understand, and there are many people who do not truly understand Islam yet make certain claims and assumptions about those who practice the religion. Saba Al-Qubailat ’17 knows what it is like to be severely misunderstood and, in turn, feared. When sharing her story with the faculty on January 21st, she narrated, “I took a cab to Greenfield by myself. The cab driver looked very unpleasant the moment he saw me… He kept turning and looking at me from head to toe. I was terrified.” In Greenfield, Al- Qubailat smiled at a woman with her daughter. “I said ‘Hi’ like some did before me,” she said. “The mom pulled her child away [from me].” In addressing the steps that the Deerfield community needs to take to learn to be more inclusive towards Muslims as well as other minorities, Ms. Young pointed out that “a way to make students feel more supported and included is to ensure that their history, traditions, and culture are represented in the curriculum, books, and classroom practices.” The whole community needs to be educated, students and teachers alike. Teachers need to be knowledgeable about Islam so that when discussions spring up in classes, they can help inform and guide them. As Tariq stressed, “the first step towards equality is education from many different sources.” Ultimately, it is up to Deerfield students and faculty to decide what kind of citizens they want to be; a large part of our character is determined by our actions and our words. We have to be responsible with the things we say and do every day, and we must remember that, as the Aga Khan stated, “freedom of expression is an incomplete value unless it is used honorably.” Most importantly, as Tariq noted, we must realize that “the main principle of any community is that when one member suffers, we all suffer. But when one member benefits, we all experience the positive effects.”