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The calculator traces a path of educational integration that AI can follow. In essence, AI is an advanced and more powerful version of the calculator that can be applied to a wider range of fields. The power of AI is strikingly clear in the “real world,” proving its worth of integration into education. Admittedly, the dangers of AI, especially in regards to critical thinking, are far more sophisticated. Compared to the calculator, curricula would need significantly more adaptation to integrate into curricula. Yet the promise is there. Dean of the Stanford Graduate School of Education Dan Schwartz said that the “technology is a game-changer for education… and it fundamentally creates new ways of learning.” Instead, Deerfield has chosen the opposite path to integrating AI into education, embarking on an institution-wide crusade against its use. The updated student handbook now outlines the following policy regarding AI: “Students are prohibited from using AI-generative tools for student work (including AI editing services) unless under direct instruction from faculty to do so. If a teacher explicitly allows students to use AI, students must cite this and include all prompts they used in their process or submitted product.” In practice, this policy has driven teachers to discuss the existence of AI when planning their curriculum. As a result, Deerfield exists as a quarantined bubble, falling behind in a world where AI use is increasingly prevalent. The greatest problem this quarantine poses is that education at Deerfield operates as if AI doesn’t exist. In a world where AI is increasingly omnipresent, applied to varying degrees in practically every industry or profession, a rift between the education we receive at Deerfield and our future beyond our four years here begins to emerge. Going back to Dr. Houston’s analogy, instead of learning how to use an electric drill to install nails, the Deerfield administration and curriculum acts as if the tool was never invented, disallowing students from using it because of its possible danger of doing the critical thinking students are meant to do. AI doesn’t need to be implemented everywhere, especially less so in subjects such as English and History where writing and critical thinking are developed, which AI might interfere with. But there are definitely areas where it can be applied. Take the example of “Physics 2,” an investigation-based class where basic coding is used to model physical phenomena. Reflecting the practices employed in academia or companies, the course could implement an AI-based component and in larger-scale data analysis, an area where computer intelligence far exceeds human capabilities. In addition to this philosophy course, “Ethics of Artificial Intelligence,” which approaches the topic of AI from a rather distant, analytical perspective, the Deerfield Computer Science Department could implement an introductory course that discusses the science and math that powers generative models. AI could also be implemented in certain history courses to aid in research and source collection; JSTOR introduced a new beta feature that provides AI-generated summaries and further recommendations to streamline the often tedious research process. While the use of AI isn’t necessary in any of the examples mentioned above, such an implementation would ensure that our Deerfield education adequately prepares us for the world we will graduate into, teaching us when and how to harness the power of AI. Using AI doesn’t only refer to asking ChatGPT for an essay draft, which, although possible, shouldn’t be the reason that the school takes such a reactionary approach. The Deerfield website advertises that “the Academy prepares students for leadership in a rapidly changing world that requires global understanding.” But through restrictive policies against AI, our education moves further and further away from achieving a global understanding. Justin Ahn ’24, our beloved late Co-managing Editor, in his last Scroll article argued that Deerfield should strive to be the shining city on the hill. But if Deerfield wishes to be that city, it cannot afford to wall itself in with LED lights?

Dear Readers, The initial Scroll meeting finally concluded, every writer leaving with the concept of an article in mind and five or so minutes to race to study hall. In the Kendall basement, the Scroll XCIX board remained for a process called rundown. It’s chaotic, the air full of the sounds of crinkling wrappers, frantic typing, and shouted newspaper jargon. During rundown, every page editor goes through all the articles that they hope to publish on their page. Sometimes, when an idea seems vague, incomplete, or unsubstantial, the first question I ask is, “What’s the angle?” All articles, whether they’re in News or Opinion or Buzz—or in the broader world in the politics, business, or climate sections—make an argument. An author of a news article is required not to assert their opinion in words or even by implication, yet she will use the structure of an article, the quotes the author chooses to include or exclude, the specific word choices and even the grammar to assert her argument. The act of writing it in of itself is an opinion: an author or a news article is fundamentally making the claim that a.) the issue they are covering deserves to be covered and b.) that same issue is important enough to be read about by anyone who has the time and resources. Take this article from my freshman spring, “Deerfield GSA Tackles Issues On and Off Campus.” I never used any first person pronouns, I never used adjectives with inherently positive or negative connotations, and I even included counter perspectives from students and faculty. My article approached the issues of a Gender and Sexuality Alliance rally outside of the dining hall before a sit-down dinner, the possibility of Simmons being a gender neutral dorm, and the state of legislation surrounding transgender healthcare in America from a goldenly objective viewpoint. My article could fairly be classified as news. However, that does not mean the article has no biases. Take for instance, how I structured the opposing viewpoints in my article. Likely subconsciously, I put the paragraphs containing opinions that I agreed with before the paragraphs containing the counterarguments. Take into consideration the people I chose to interview, the many of whom were directly affiliated with the GSA. When you read this article, notice how I end it with a quote from Former GSA Alliance Leader Will Sussbauer ’23, who said, “We really care, and we are a beautiful community.” Think about who I am—as a person, not a writer—someone who went to the occasional GSA meeting and who later wrote an opinion article about being queer at Deerfield. I wrote my news article hoping the casual reader would walk away with kind, empathetic thoughts towards my community. That was my angle, my argument. In retrospect, this was a massive conflict of interest, and I should not have written that article. However, conflicts of interest in more professional settings can be much more subtle. Should no queer people be allowed to write about queer issues? I believe a reasonable person would not agree with that claim. If we prohibited every person with even the smallest conflict of interest from writing for the press, every journalist would need to find a new profession. The devil has always loved to reside in the details, so be careful when examining them. What nomenclature is the author using (example: incarcerated individuals vs. criminals behind bars), and what does the author want to convey through her word choice? Why might an author choose to say, “a decision was made by a member of the Scroll leadership” as opposed to “Anna Guerrini decided?” A skilled writer chooses every word with carefully calculated intention. Deerfield, I hate to give you more homework than you are already inundated with, but I beg of you, look up the Ad Fontes Interactive Media Bias Chart. Learn which newspapers and online media sources skew left and right. Try to incorporate a healthy balance of both into your regular news consumption. If you ever find yourself consistently reading the work of one particular author, research whether they are involved in any political causes outside of their career or if they regularly donate to campaigns (opensecrets.org is an excellent resource for this). Writing is at its heart, a human endeavor, and even purely factual articles are full of human emotions, desires, and preferences. Reading is a human endeavor, through which we can interpret information through the lens of our own lived experiences, knowledge and feelings. Acknowledge this humanity, but don’t remove it from the process of journalism. During this election, the finest journalists in our nation will be publishing on the daily, striving to inform the voting and nonvoting masses, hoping that the nation they love will submit their ballot as a well-informed citizen. They are writing for you, the same way I am writing for you. So, above anything else, Deerfield, read. Yours faithfully in writing, Anna Jo Guerrini

Just like the famous Pokémon trainer Ash Ketchum said, you gotta catch ‘em all. Culture around leadership at Deerfield is no different. Schools, internships, even friend groups glorify a student’s ability to be a rallying point in their community. You’ve probably seen leadership as the top skill listed on your friend’s LinkedIn page, and nothing sells better than a vaunted title that designates your importance to the rest of the world. Being a Deerfield student can feel like a constant social obligation; days begin at a breakfast table loud with the voices of peers and end in a crowded bathroom as eight different people fight for a spot to brush their teeth and wash their faces. Classes in the humanities invariably rely on the Harkness Table model for facilitating discussion, and STEM curricula are laden with group projects and cooperative labs. On top of that, you have to charm, politic and brown-nose your way into positions such as Executive Head, Secretary General, Editor in Chief, and President for the sake of padding the activities section of your common app. Oftentimes, it feels like success at Deerfield is measured in the titles that you can collect, with an emphasis on single top dog positions. But is this necessarily true? We typically see titled leadership positions are akin to Pikachu: highly visible, unanimous with the Deerfield brand, and well equipped. However, Deerfield’s primary strength is its vast system of unrecognized leaders. While only those well acquainted with certain communities may know and appreciate them, these individuals are invaluable to Deerfield’s culture and student life. Upperclassmen who volunteer to lead their teams’ warmups, dormmates who take charge during biweekly clean-ups, and even senior members of friend groups count as examples of untitled leaders. These people are arguably just as or even more important than the club leaders, peer counselors, and proctors on our campus. They set the standard for new students as to what a Deerfield student should strive to be: kind, enthusiastic, helpful, and willing to step up to help others when they aren’t asked to. These less visible leaders set the culture, and oftentimes have greater social weight than any position one could put on a resume. There’s a perception that leadership is only occupied by social butterflies that never stop talking until their throat runs dry—that is only part of the truth. Introverted students can easily fill these roles, seeing as there is no requirement to involve themselves in the highly social and often stressful environment of clubs and teams. While these less recognized roles aren’t appreciated on college applications or during sit-down announcements, they are still important for our community. Extroverted students are naturally advantaged by the structure of Deerfield titled leadership, but introverted students can succeed in whatever area they wish to. While the Scroll is full of titled leadership positions, (nearly all of them being some variation of editor), we also rely on the leadership of the staff and contributing writers who put all of their time and effort into creating the best articles they are capable of. In our experiences, some of the best articles we have read, the articles that inspired us to dedicate a large portion of our own lives to this paper, were written by such writers. See Jazz Baker ’22’s article “My Grievances with the Girls Meeting” or Charlotte Halpin ’23’s “From Dance to Dump: Fashion Consumerism at Deerfield.” As we begin the year, we encourage our readership to think about what leadership means in a school setting so focused on official titles, statistics, and school-sponsored initiatives. Leadership isn’t an ornament, it’s a responsibility, and oftentimes that responsibility manifests in ways that don’t have titles attached to them, but are equally important. It’s a door to higher opportunities, but also requires you to be a steward for the next person that comes through.

The Von Auersperg gallery has a new exhibit titled limn·inal , authored by visiting artist Donnabelle Casis. The exhibit is on display from August 24th to November 2, and features brightly colored and abstract pieces that make use of various textures, colors, and depths. The gallery is primarily a learning gallery where students can learn about different styles of visual art and how artists further their statement through visual elements. According to the gallery’s website, it is “intentionally designed to create a dynamic interaction between the works of art exhibited and themes in [the Deerfield Academy] curriculum.” Casis’s work encompasses a wide range of medias including dyed fiber art, metal sculptures, and gouache paint, an opaque watercolor, on canvas. As a Filipina-American artist living in Western Massachusetts, she draws inspiration from the symbols and patterns of Filipino tribal imagery and storytelling. She also has a special interest in metaphysics, and tries to channel her experiences as a medium into her artwork. In addition to her career as an artist, she helps multiple nonprofit organizations aimed at helping artists gain recognition, including ArtSalon, Avaliable Potential Experiences Gallery, Ltd., and the arts festival Florence Night Out. One of her most notable works is a kinetic sculpture installation titled “Airy Luminary” for the exhibition Art in the Orchard 2023, and is displayed outside at Park Hill Orchard in East Hampton, MA. Art in the Orchard is a biennial event that celebrates sculptures. Casis’s sculptures were made from laser cut aluminum sheets, rods, and bearings which were all powder coated and spray painted to inspire colors onto the metallic pieces. The colors chosen are not arbitrary, specifically selected to blend in with the natural environment. In addition to Art in the Orchard, Casis has been featured at the Museum of History and Industry, Albany International Airport, TurnPark Artspace, PULP, Tacoma Art Museum, Newport Art Museum, among others. The exhibits title is a combination of two words, limn and liminal, with limn meaning “to depict or portray” and liminal meaning “occupying a position at, or on both sides of, a boundary or a threshold.” The concept of liminal space, which connects to the namesake theme of the exhibition, is present throughout the displays. The art attempts to capture a balance between the trinity of reality and imagination, space, and earth, the three concepts that capture the essence of liminality. Ryan Bai ’26, Head Layout Editor of the Scroll and visual art student, said “Liminal can also mean exposure to a new universe. [The exhibit] speaks to a theme of something so unfamiliar… exposure to the stars, geometric shapes bring forth emotions not felt in daily life.” Bai noted his appreciation for Casis’s use of various geometric forms rather than identifiable figures to convey her broader message. Dean of Studies Lydia Hempill explained the reason behind Casis’ selection: “We chose [Casis’ art] for a fall show because I thought it would be…fun, dynamic, intriguing to students… as they start the school year. ” Ms. Hemphill further elaborated that the main objectives of the gallery were threefold: to give students a place to feel inspired, surround themselves with art, and take some time for themselves. Ms. Hemphill added that her personal favorite part of the exhibit was the mobiles. Reminiscent of the toys that dangle above baby cots, mobiles are the abstract, organic pieces of art that hang from a string attached to the ceiling. Khloe Peña ’28, a student who visited the gallery said that the paintings, “reminded me of a black hole. It sucked me in.” Referencing the four largest paintings in the exhibit, Peña shared, “I thought pieces of them looked like mushrooms and funguses from the earth…but the vibrant colors made it look otherworldly. Also, [there were] other pieces with black with white dots that reminded me of stars in the night sky.” Regarding the exhibition, Bai said, “I think it is fantastic for art students who want to learn about contemporary forms of art. However, I wish the Academy could introduce pieces that speak to broader audiences.” In the future, he hopes that the gallery exhibits art pieces that relate more concretely to individual identities of world views so they “can be more relatable [to students],” Bai remarked. Students have referenced the profound impact the artworks have had on their thinking. Peña remarked, “I remember [this particular piece of artwork] because every night, before I go to bed, I think about it because it’s one of those paintings that gets stuck in the back of your mind.”

With the 2024 presidential election around the corner, looming economic issues of the housing crisis, unemployment, high inflation, and a large federal budget deficit are top voting issues for many US voters. For Americans, as well as citizens of other countries, the outcomes of the 2024 election will have enormous ramifications on international relations and the health of a global economy. As Deerfield students, we must pay attention to the health of the American economy; it will invariably affect us and our institution in some form or another. In Today’s highly trade-reliant global economy, every major nation’s economy is intricately and inseparably connected. As the largest economy by gross domestic product (GDP), America accounts for 25.32% of the world’s GDP. A declining economy can put people out of job’s, unable to pay mortgages, and sink more families into poverty. But not all problems are found internally. Many economic problems that American families struggle with have much more international roots. China, the world’s second largest economy by nominal GDP and its largest by purchasing power parity (adjusting for differences in the price of a basket of goods at varying locations) is currently experiencing a flurry of economic challenges. A prolonged real estate crisis and massive overproduction are serving causing turmoil within the Chinese economy. By understanding the root of China’s declining economy, we can see that all of China’s current problems can be sourced back to its fiscal and monetary policy. To incite economic growth and uphold the health of both Americans. and Chinese economies, China’s President Xi Jinping must discard his anti-capitalist and nationalist robe and change his policies immediately. To talk about China’s rapid ascent to become one of the largest economies in the world is to attribute a large portion of that growth to the country’s housing sector, Bipartisanship Destroyed Democracy JOHN LIU Associate Editor which emerged as a global leader after the 2008 financial recession. Since its housing reforms in the 1980s, China has poured copious large amounts of investments into its real estate market, stimulating economic growth and boosting its overall economy. Although this created a financial bubble, the real estate sector was thriving until Xi Jinping enacted policies that burst the bubble. As part of his efforts to counterdenounce Western philosophies surrounding real estate economies and capitalism, President Xi shifted the dynamic in the housing market from housing being an asset to a focus on purchasing houses to live in. In 2020, the Chinese government passed the “Three Red Lines” policy. Although it was intended as a healthy check on speculative behavior, in actuality it heavily regulated Chinese property conglomerates by setting a limiting ratio of debt to cash, equity, and assets. Companies could no longer take on certain amounts of debt and were restricted access to financing based on their existing financial health. Thus, many companies defaulted on bonds and went insolvent, with the highest profile case being Ever- grande, one of the largest real estate developers in China. The “Three Red Lines” policy killed investor and consumer confidence in the market. People feared buying new property as debt-related issues halted many construction projects. Housing prices declined, and then perpetuated a negative feedback loop where prices have continually dropped, which has continued and worsened in 2024. Like a bank run that liquidates a mostly healthy bank, Xi’s policies directed toward eliminating key traces of capitalism within the economy rather induced financial turmoil into a sector that was once the backbone of the Chinese economy. Another facet of China’s declining economy is due to Xi Jinping’s stance on production. China is the world’s largest manufacturing economy. Xi Jinping wants to limit Chinese dependence on Western suppliers for everything from advanced technology to basic essential goods. On top of this, he wants China to establish a commanding position in future growth sectors such as semiconductors and artificial intelligence. In short, he wants China to achieve self-sufficiency and produce everything that they need, limiting imports to as little as possible while exporting anything that the country doesn’t use. Xi is essentially a mercantilist but the modern economy offers no success for this strategy. He doesn’t recognize specialization for international trade, which is abiding by the principles of comparative advantage. In short, his policies create huge inefficiencies within China’s production capacity, constraining economic growth. This strategy has even more gaping holes when you consider China’s weak domestic demand. Their overcapacity creates a need to export goods, which thus forces China into competition with other countries such as South Korea. This competition however, only incites a trading war, which would serve to hurt China the most given that they are the ones sitting upon the largest supply of unused goods. In addition, it would disrupt global supply chains and hurt exports, affecting all major economies. A larger quantity of excess supply would result in prices falling precipitously, which would further slow down economic growth. Classical economics states that when prices fall, quantity supplied would also drop to force prices to rise, but Xi Jinping artificially keeps the quantity supplied the same. Thus, manufacturers would be producing at a huge loss, perhaps even below their average variable cost (variable cost incurred per unit by a business), where they would be losing money by supplying goods but would have to do so anyway. Here Xi Jinping is working towards cutting off Chinese dependence on the Western world as a way of consolidating more political power. But his economic policy derived from his political ambitions is destroying his own economy, which will have ramifications beyond China and untold consequences on a global economy. Most metrics that measure China’s economic health predict a bleak future and top experts from Bank of America, Citigroup, and others have also lowered their forecast of China’s economic growth for 2024 to be below 5%. Data reveals that China’s retail sales, industrial production, and urban investment have all fallen short of predictions in August, urban joblessness is at a six month high, and home prices fell at their fastest pace for nine years due to lack of demand. Driven by his desire to portray capitalists (by extension the Western world) as terrible beings, Xi’s fiscal and monetary policies so far have only hurt the Chinese people and will soon spread to hurt the rest of the world. In order to rejuvenate the economy, Xi Jinping must enact policies such as expansionary fiscal policy by increasing government spending on social programs, private sectors, and towards innovation and technology. This would increase spending power, boost consumer confidence, and specialize the economy to make itself more efficient and profitable for the parties involved. By seeking to censure Western economic policies, Xi Jinping is only condemning his own people to a future of financial insecurity. Xi Jinping must adopt policies to promote entrepreneurship, innovation, and expansion. In an increasing global economy, countries are becoming more interdependent upon each other, but isolating a country’s economy will only hurt it. By liberalizing the economy, Xi Jinping will also foster new trade relationships and develop dominant Chinese markets for the future. Xi’s current actions don’t only affect Chinese people, but for the whole world. As Americans, our economy is deeply interconnected with China’s. A drop of 1% for their GDP results in a loss of 0.3% of our own. From the recent presidential debate, we saw how the economy was a major source of division between Republicans and Democrats in an already torn political system. China’s declining economy from Xi Jinping’s anti-western fiscal and monetary policies will not only serve to drag down our economy and threaten the roots of our democracy itself. A declining United States economy will have ramifications upon all The Deerfield Scroll Opinion and Editorial Thursday, October 10th, 2024 | 3 classes of American society. Politicians will be at each other’s throats assigning blame and any semblance of a cohesive society will cease to exist. Thus, it is paramount for President Xi to resuscitate his own economy by separating his political ideology from influencing economic policy. It is his duty to enact policies with his country and the world in mind. If he continues on the path blurring economic decisions with political ones, his own political ambitions will destroy his economy and reduce his political power. A reduced economy could even incite Chinese commoners or the bourgeoisie to overthrow his regime, two possible rebellions that could have drastically different but equally detrimental outcomes on China and the other major powers for the decades to come. Equally, it is our responsibility to help, or at the very least, care. The recent trade war between China and America is exacerbating economic issues for both countries. Retaliatory policies are entrapping both the Chinese and American economies into a perpetual negative feedback loop that are only hurting consumers, driving climbing prices for consumer staples even higher as producers in both countries deal with moreless competition. Change would start with both countries both withdrawing their harshest tariffs hurting the other country; if only one country withdraws their tariffs, they would be at a major disadvantage so by prisoners’ dilemma there will not be unilateral change. Better US-China relations could help stabilize trade, introduce profitable investment opportunities as well as broader market access, and support geopolitical stability. All of this would lead to a more resilient and more successful economy for both countries involved. We can’t wait for China to change if we are unwilling to adapt ourselves.

On Sunday, July 21, 2024, a few months before perhaps one of the most crucial elections in U.S. history, presumptive Democratic nominee and current President Joe Biden made a shocking announcement. He would abdicate his spot for the upcoming election and endorse Vice President Kamala Harris for the Democratic nomination. The Washington Post argue that Biden made a hard but necessary decision and other publications were still lost in the fantasy for an- other Biden-Harris candidacy, but I think most would agree that Biden is not the most inspiring, galvanizing leader to run for the Democrats. Most would also agree Donald Trump is not the most beloved politician to run under the tent of the Republican party. It was an election where the choice lay between a withered old man with probable dementia and another old man, this one an arrogant, convicted felon, for the title of the leader of the free world. What has happened to the United States of America, the nation that for decades was internationally regarded as the greatest power in the world? To dissect this tangled mess, one must refer to the foundations of this country, the immutable constitution. This constitution brought forth an inflexible democracy susceptible to manipulation in numerous ways. One of problem that’s seldom addressed but core to the problem: bipartisanship. The United States’ democratic procedures and systems heavily favor a bipartisan system through single choice voting. Given only one choice, if voters vote for a minority third party, it’s effectively a vote for the majority party they least support. The result of this faulty system is a false dichotomy. More and more voters proclaim a third party is needed in the election, rising from 40% in 2003 to 63% in 2023, according Gallup, a multinational analytics and advisory company. The elections become a decision of the lesser of the two evils, bringing politics from constructive to destructive. Destructive politics emphasizes the scandals of a candidate instead of focusing on constructive visions. Presidential debates and campaigns are now oriented towards overarching attacks against the dispositions and histories of candidates. If a third party is present, weak candidacy will be answered by more desirable ones. Trumps’ mediocre policies and controversial ideas should not overshadow strong and unrelenting liberal presence years before. Conservatives then turned to Trump because they see him as an authoritarian figure, someone politically poignant in a desperate time, as argued by Vox. Meanwhile, if a third party was present which offered compromises and moderate solutions, voters would turn to them for more agreeable takes on politics. There simply would be no space for either party. Enacting a multi-party system requires some quick references to European counterparts. Europe has seen relative success in the applications of multi-partisan systems. Germany’s parliament is dominated mostly by five different political parties across the ideological spectrum, allowing for the possibility of different coalitions between these parties. France recently just saw a combined effort between the left and centrist parties to push down the extremist rightwing party. Multi-partisan politics in Europe is proof that a pluarity of parties is possible in functioning democracies. Multi-partisanship in Europe relies on the system of checks and balances between the head executive power and the parliamentary legislative branch. A common theme surrounding these countries is proportional representation, where a share of votes earns a proportional share of seats in the parliament, as opposed to the U.S- based spoils system. The president or head executive power is then chosen from either the majority party or a separate election system. This system ensures a party’s liability to their beliefs. In the U.S., party ideologies conform to individual leaderships, often shifting with each new candidate, but in Europe, with parties representing distinct philosophies, parties have an obligation to work towards the continual pursuit of their policies. Society can simply choose the combination of parties that will work in the given moment in time through democratic election. When the founding fathers had set the corner stones for this nation, there was a lot they had not known about democracy, much of which wouldn’t arise until after democratic governments and evolved across the world. Our democracy is much too inflexible to withstand modern problems, and until the day the two parties come into coalition, each sacrificing a bit of their own to make the necessary changes, this democracy will only face more challenges. They would have to amend the constitution, a feat almost impossible; if they do so successfully, the United States will have passed the litmus test of democracy, if not, people will remember a brief time of equality, justice, democracy, and freedom, much like the way they remember the Athenians. As president Biden said in his stepping-down speech, “Nothing, nothing can come in the way of saving our democracy, and that includes personal ambitions.” Let’s make sure this quote ages well.

A chilly night out stargazing. A walk with friends on the Small Loop. A sunrise hike to The Rock. For years, Deerfield students have been wandering off to the outskirts of a loosely defined campus after dark and usually without signing out. The administration changed that arrangement over the summer by redefining campus into two sections, Upper and Lower Campus, and requiring students to sign out when crossing those boundaries. The Student Life Office met in June of 2024 to revise these protocols. Previously, the handbook considered The Rock, Richardson’s, Bittersweet Bakery Café, and the Williams Sugar House as places “on campus.” But as Dean of Students Samuel Bicknell said, “In reality, that’s not Deerfield Academy property.” The updated handbook now lists these locations as off-campus. This year, the administration introduced two new terms, Upper and Lower Campus, to help describe what areas encompass campus. The perimeter around all Academy buildings defines Upper Campus, while the area encompassing the Lower Fields and Wells Cross Road loop is included in Lower Campus. Mr. Bicknell said, “The goal there was to offer clarity on where students are expected to be at certain hours of the day…we want students up in the academic and residential realms after dark.” Stressing the importance of locating students during emergencies, the SLO demarcated campus with safety as their priority. Mr. Bicknell said, “By creating those bounds and asking for all students to sign out if they are off-campus, we have a good pulse as to where students are.” The handbook changes also address concerns voiced by members in the greater Deerfield community about crossing the busy 5 & 10. “We wanted to add a layer of safety,” Mr. Bicknell said. He also added that Deerfield Academy has “received complaints…about students walking across, biking, or scootering on 5 & 10.” Restrictions on night travel further safeguard against encounters with wildlife such as coyotes and bears. Many students acknowledged the need for the new precautions. Skye Georgiadis ’25 said, “Deerfield really does try its best to keep every student and every faculty member safe. So I understand why Deerfield has an inclination to create extra precautions, especially since we are teenagers and our frontal lobes are not developed.” Jeanne Mei Mangan Larouche ’26 added, “They’re just trying to be very cautious. They’re the parental guardians for any borders on campus.” Yet at the same time, such handbook changes have deterred students from traveling off-campus and enjoying nature. “Before, I knew students who would go to the restricted areas of campus around three times a week,” Georgiadis said. “Now, students traveling to those parts of Deerfield have definitely decreased. It feels more discouraging to travel.” Larouche echoed this sentiment, saying, “signing out is a whole other step that people have to take, and a lot of people…just don’t want to deal with it.” Austin Zhang ’25, a layout editor for the Scroll, viewed the changes as “just kind of an inconvenience a technicality that is unnecessary and also just annoying for students.” For Daphne Huang ’25, areas now defined as outside of campus were once secluded spaces to socialize with friends away from the overbearing environment of the Academy. “Some of my best memories are made through times when it’s gotten darker…But I want to go stargazing in a field, not next to all my buildings,” Huang said. “I’m sad that that opportunity to make memories has gone away.” She recounted a time when security stopped her and some friends from walking on the Small Loop after the Blackout dance. “That felt really bad because we just wanted to talk,” she said. Another pushback against the new change has revolved around the perception that these rules reflect a broader distrust between the administration and students. Huang said, “It fosters distrust between the student body and the administration, as if they think, ‘Oh, you must sign out.’” Many recognized how handbook changes must strike a delicate balance between ensuring student safety and granting them freedom and liberty. “In the grand scheme of things, safety is the most important thing,” Mr. Bicknell said. “We want students to be learning and living in a safe environment.” In a different vein, Georgiadis said, “Teenagers want to have fun, and part of the teenager’s experience is exploring your surroundings…Limiting those areas [and] the parameters where you’re able to explore is just not the best way to approach how a teenager can learn who they are through their environment.”

As the nation and the Academy prepare for an intense presidential election, the Academy is introducing initiatives to engage students in political discourse outside the classroom. While civic education is already an interwoven theme throughout the Academy’s social sciences curriculum, the Center for Service and Global Citizenship looks to ready the community for earnest democratic discussion. The CSGC’s “24 For 24” election education program will host 24 meetings across the eight weeks leading up to this year’s upcoming US presidential election on November 5. Through engagement with civic education, the CSGC’s team of faculty and students intend to promote expressive freedom and intellectual diversity, both important educational ideals outlined in Head of School John Austin’s A Framework for Schools. This program invites students to converse on American political polarization, encourages the holding of partisan views, and creates a space for these student-led discussions facilitated by the neutrality of Deerfield employees. Director of Educational Initiatives David Miller, one of the leaders of the 24 For 24 program, hopes to foster “expressive freedom,” he said, through conversations in the CSGC by offering possible paths of engagement. “We have some small spaces and some big spaces [for students to engage],” he said. “We have ways for students to engage from a LibGuide… we also hold conversations in the CSGC about elections around the world.” Mr. Miller also shared information about upcoming opportunities for student engagement, which aim to create a space for students to express their own partisan ideas. The first upcoming event, named “Political Parties in Polarized Times: A Conversation with the Chairs of the Massachusetts Democratic and Republican Parties,” was a facilitated discussion between the chairs of the Massachusetts Democratic and Republican parties. History and Social Science Department Chair Brian Hamilton will moderate this discussion, scheduled to take place after sit-down dinner on October 1. This event was the first time the two political leaders were asked to share a stage; they mostly present for partisan events. Additionally, this year’s Deerfield Forum will occur during a school meeting on October 23, as opposed to after sit-down during Spring Term. The Forum will be centered around the question “How does the press shape American elections?” Ultimately, Mr. Miller wants to encourage students to have political conversations outside of the controlled environments offered by the 24 For 24 program. “The best conversations should happen outside of these 24 opportunities,” he explained. “We want to let students test out ideas, and listen to people who are very different from them.” Mr. Hamilton emphasized this idea of creating a partisan yet civil space. “We try to increase dialogue among students about matters they care deeply about,” he said. “The broader work is to help move toward a place where people can speak their minds.” Mr. Hamilton sees his role in the 24 For 24 program as an opportunity to “help students gain a better understanding of some of the basic architecture of American democracy.” He said that his goal for the program is to better inform students “about how it [the election] affects all of our lives,” he said, Mr. Hamilton will also hold discussions on the Electoral College and media in the election, and present a general overview of political parties. Josh Freedman ’26 described one of these discussions that occurred earlier this month; he led a debrief in the Parker room the Wednesday following the ABC News Presidential Debate. “The main stimulus of the conversation was how both of the candidates acted and portrayed not only themselves but also their policies and stances throughout the debate,” Freedman said. Acknowledging a bigger picture of the election, Freedman said, “This election goes beyond just federal elections; there are also state elections happening, and state legislation that’s happening. As someone who personally worked in the Massachusetts Legislature… there’s a wide range of different legislative processes throughout the United States that all have different effects,” he elaborated. Freedman hopes the 24 For 24 program will help the community better understand Dr. Austin’s framework. “He [Dr. Austin] wants students to either question their views, or feel more ingrained in them,” Freedman said. He also hopes that the program will encourage further student participation in political conversations. “Deerfield students have been slightly reluctant about politics,” Freedman said; “we want students to be more willing to opt themselves into general conversation about the legislature, and what this means for America, politics, and people. We want students to be able to understand and engage themselves with that conversation, both inside Deerfield, and out.” Mr. Hamilton reiterated that the program’s purpose is to empower students in politics, not just to educate. “We want to create space and support those who are part of young political advocacy groups; this is a campus for them,” he emphasized.

Wednesday, September 11, 2024, marked the 23rd anniversary of 9/1l. Given the significance of this event in the United States, many students noted the absence of recognition, such as a moment of silence or an acknowledgment of this event at school meeting. For many students, 9/11 was regularly recognized in previous years at Deerfield; the lack of recognition was a shock. To further understand the complexity behind recognizing these serious events at school wide gatherings, Associate Head of School for Student Life Amie Creagh shared an insight to the thought process behind the decisions. Ms. Creagh immediately noted the unique situation where 9/11 fell on the same day as school meeting. When she looked back at her records, 9/11 had not fallen on the same day as school meeting for the past few years. For many years, it was usually commemorated at a sitdown meal on the exact date of 9/11. Since it fell on the unprecedented day of school meeting, Ms. Creagh stated that the Student Life Office “considered the following questions: what is the right venue? How will different members connect with the event? When has it been too long since the event? What are we asking of the community in commemorating this event in a certain way? How do you adapt to the larger time gap between the event and the present?” she said. Ms. Creagh brought up that as the amount of time between 9/11 and the present grows, the ways that we commemorate in regard to the time gap shifts. She mentioned the events such as the attack on the United States at Pearl Harbor in 1941 and D-Day in 1944 and how their commemoration and way of remembrance has changed over the years as well. Ms. Creagh also noted that commemorating days such as 9/11 at a school-wide event requires many people of different backgrounds and experiences associated with this event, to observe and recognize it in the same way creating complexity for Deerfield as a school of 17% international students. Using all of this information about the difference in experience between students and faculty, as criteria for making the decision, it felt appropriate to post on Instagram and acknowledge the occasion on the school’s website. The commemoration is less of a conversation about commemoration at all, but more about the context of the observance and those present. Ms. Creagh also remarked that 9/11 is a sensitive and serious topic that they put lots of thought into how to honor it. Later that day, the Deerfield instagram account posted a video of the American flag outside of the Hess with the caption #neverforget, which was the only formal acknowledgement this year.

Dear reader, What do we do when we, as individuals, disagree with an opinion? We respond with counter arguments. We reflect on them and consider whether they have merit and just might justify shifting our own opinions. We refuse to endorse them entirely. What do we do when we, as a journalistic institution, are presented […]

Ever since the first air strikes on Taliban and Al-Qaeda terrorist forces during Operation Enduring Freedom, the United States has involved itself in regional conflicts in one of the most unstable geopolitical regions in the world. Through its so-called “Global War on Terror,” which has killed at least 4.5 million people and displaced 38 million […]

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