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Question Response (Translation for Humans) What’s your favorite part of the day? Woof bark. bow-wow, woof. (At around noon every day, I go play fetch in the backyard. It’s a lot of fun, but I’m also really lazy so I get tired and come in after 5 minutes to take a nap) Do you get jealous when I pet someone else’s dog? Bark! Woof, woof (Yes! Those hugs are for me only.) Why do you always sniff other dogs’ butts when you see them? Ruff-ruff? (Why do you always grab other humans’ paws when you see them?) Why do you hate the vacuum cleaner so much? Woof, bark bark. (Well excuse me for trying to protect the family from that horrid monster) Why do you always stick your head out the window when we go for drives? Woof, woof. (It’s just a good time.) Are you happy that the family is always at home now? Woof, woof woof, bark ruff bow-wow. (It’s exciting to be able to play with the family, but it does give me less time to sleep. As I said, I am very lazy.) Why do you always tear up your toys as soon as we get them for you? Woof, bark? (They’re called chew toys, aren’t they?) Why do you always scratch up your bed and walk in circles before you fall asleep? Arf-arf (It makes it more comfortable.) Pretty sure it doesn’t. Woof (pretty sure it does) Do you realize you have completely destroyed my sofa? Woof. Bark bark. Bow-wow (I didn’t destroy it. I improved it. Plus it looked tasty.) Do you only love me because I feed you? Woof, woof woof, bark. (Well not completely, but it is a major factor.) What do you do when I’m not around? Arf-arf. (Wait for you to come back.) Why did you crap all over my floor on my fourteenth birthday? Bow-wow. arf bark? (It was my birthday present. Didn’t you like it?) Are you hungry? Bark. (Almost always.) Who’s a good boy? Woof? (Is it me?)

During quarantine, my family and I began watching Kim’s Convenience , a satire that focuses on a family of Korean immigrants who own a convenience store in Canada. The show documents the struggles of first-generation children living between two standards, while also showing the adversities of immigrant parents navigating through a new culture. In one of the episodes, the Kims’ children, Jung and Janet, receive a visit from their cousin. Arriving with a big bow headband and a high pitched voice, their cousin appears to be a conglomerate of not just Korean, but multiple broadly Asian stereotypes.  At first, we found this episode quite amusing, laughing at the depiction of the mainstream Korean cousin and the exaggerated stereotypes she represented. But as I watched this episode, I began to question, why was I laughing? Was it because my friends who identify as Korean taught me about these stereotypical depictions, or was I engaging with the ignorant representation of Asian people in the media?   As a white male, it is important that I respect and continue to recognize the limitations of laughing at a show like Kim’s Convenience . After this moment, I began to establish my own “line,” the barrier that constitutes my limitations of perspective. This self-reflection narrowed me down to one question: what level of cultural familiarity do I need to recognize certain aspects of Asian culture?  With the global spread of COVID-19, my family and I have been watching news reports to educate ourselves about the current global community.  During these reports, I have seen consistent moments where newscasters and reporters have found themselves out of bounds.   As COVID-19 has spread across the nation, racist sentiments towards Asian peoples have grown increasingly hostile. One of the targets for these racist comments has been the wet markets across Asia. Newscasters engaged in many on-air debates about their necessity, and how their worker’s lack of attention towards hygiene is a crucial reason as to why they should be shut down; but these markets offer an important role in local areas by offering fresh produce, helping to solve urban food insecurity, and providing a place for many social interactions.  The misleading knowledge from these newscasters has fueled inaccurate conversations about wet markets in Asia. But while we must discern prejudice and stereotypes from this discussion, we should also acknowledge how a basic understanding of one’s subject can change matters.  Rather than surfacing videos that were created three years ago, newscasters should focus on providing unbiased and verified statistics before they comment on some truths about wet markets. If newscasters had based their evidence in statistics, these conversations would foster an intellectual understanding of these issues.  When arguments stray away from their factual backgrounds, they fall into the traps of stereotypes and narrow-sighted ignorance. It is important to recognize when comments cross the line.  Have those difficult and awkward conversations. If we wish to see change in Deerfield, we must step out of our comfort zone. As teenagers, we are all determining the way that we move in the world and the impacts we hope to have. By writing this article, I hope to develop a greater understanding of how I see the world and the stereotypes within it.

The coronavirus is shaping the landscape of our current world, impacting every aspect of our lives in one way or another. Athletic recruiting is no exception.  This global pandemic has halted or delayed every aspect of recruiting at such an important time in the process. The NCAA, at Division I and II levels, instituted a “dead period” across all sports and member schools until May 31st. During a dead period, there can be no in-person recruiting of any form, including camps, visits, contacts, and evaluations. This is a huge setback for athletes across all recruiting classes, especially those in the class of 2022 who are set to begin their official communications this coming fall.  This dead period is likely to be extended through at least the end of June, and with the nature of the pandemic changing every day, that date could be far later. Until this dead period is lifted, athletes have no opportunities to do the two most important steps in recruiting: getting evaluated and expressing interest to coaches. Rising seniors who are deliberating over multiple schools are also not being given a chance to make a truly informed decision without the value of an official visit. But many members of the class of 2022 may not even be given the opportunity to make a decision, informed or not, because of the lack of exposure they will receive on the recruiting trail this summer. The summer before the fall of your junior year is the most crucial period of evaluation for athletes across many sports, as coaches are allowed to offer athletes come September 1st. But while in-person evaluations are out of the question, many athletes are using this time to enhance other recruiting material for coaches to evaluate, including highlight videos and resumes.  Rising senior athletes in “race sports” such as track and swimming also anxiously await this fall as their offers are expected to roll in. These sports traditionally recruit on a later timeline because of their objectivity. But one race sport, crew, has historically offered athletes officially during the fall of their senior year tried out a new recruiting timeline this year that sped up the process. Claire Cummings ’21, a prospective college rower, spoke to this new system saying: “This year was a sort of test for the new timeline, but with the interference of corona this already complicated year became even less uniform.” This crisis is impacting all of us in different ways, but it is also making all of us stronger in different ways. Aspiring college athletes should not be deterred from pursuing their dreams and should instead heed this pandemic as a call to work harder and smarter to make their dream of taking their game to the next level a reality.

The U.S. now has both the most cases of COVID-19 (over a million) and the most deaths caused by the virus (over 60,000), according to the CDC. Masks for first responders and testing kits are still in woefully short supply. Unemployment is at its highest level since the Great Depression and the virus has killed more people this month than the flu kills in a year, on average, as cited by the New York Times.  And through it all, our current administration’s response to the rapidly escalating pandemic has been slow, confusing and, at times, even detrimental.  There are actions the U.S. administration could have taken to prevent some of these deaths. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared a public health emergency on January 30, shortly after the first case arrived in the United States, but our President minimized the dangers of the virus, contrary to experts’ warnings.  Just ten days before the WHO’s statement, President Trump said, “We have it totally under control. It’s one person coming in from China, and we have it under control.” But he was wrong.  The often contradictory and medically-dubious statements the federal government releases now fail to provide consistent and accurate information to the public. President Trump frequently ignored the guidelines by the CDC and WHO, even spreading misinformation about citizens’ protection. Despite the CDC encouraging Americans to avoid public places and stay at home as much as possible, Trump said that the economy could reopen by Easter (which it, fortunately, didn’t) and tweeted to “liberate” Minnesota, Michigan, and Virginia, inciting citizens protesting the stay-at-home orders. He touted the benefits of the malaria medicine hydroxychloroquine, despite the Food and Drug Administration issuing a warning against the drug. He suggested injecting disinfectant into our veins or using ultraviolet lights could kill the virus in a recent White House briefing. While he later said these comments were sarcastic, he brushed over the fact that his “sarcasm” could have led desperate citizens to do rash and even fatal things.  Now, as states are considering reopening, the administration needs to take decisive action to help those whose lives have been torn apart by the virus and focus on alleviating the economic hardship state lockdowns have caused. Fortune reported that 26.5 million people have filed for unemployment insurance, and that the unemployment rate is more than 25 percent.  Economist Paul Krugman explained, “The immediate mission, beyond an all-out effort to contain the pandemic itself, should instead be disaster relief: generous aid to those suffering a sudden loss of income as a result of the economy’s lockdown.” President Trump ought to leave the medical theorizing (see: disinfectant injection) to the experts and focus on passing policies to ameliorate unemployment and providing more regular food stamps and stimulus checks. While the CARES Act—an emergency relief program that gave 2 trillion dollars to citizens, businesses, and state and local governments—has provided some economic relief to small businesses and the unemployed, it is not enough. The stimulus check allocated to many Americans may not reach them for weeks or even months. The same goes for unemployment benefits, as many state offices are delayed by the large influx of unemployment claims in recent weeks. The Act also fails to provide enough help to state governments, many of whom are struggling to manage their funds while having to provide essential services for their residents. Many governors have said that they are finding it difficult to obtain testing kits on their own, with some states even having to bid against each other for them. The federal government needs to either provide these tests themselves or back states financially as they figure out how to get the tests. While the administration needs to do other things to ensure robust social protection, more accessible stimulus checks and more money or tests provided to the states would be a start.  The administration should stop spreading misinformation and work comprehensively to ameliorate this pandemic as much as possible for all of its citizens going forward. While this quarantine continues, it is more important than ever to come together as a country and get past it together. But it is also important to remember that it did not need to be nearly this bad.

There is no denying that in light of a global economic recession, the collapse of healthcare systems, and the untimely deaths of thousands of people amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, it is difficult to stay optimistic. However, there is something to be said about the perseverance that has emerged within society in response to the outbreak, and how important it is to keep this perseverance thriving long after the pandemic has passed. Looking towards a brighter future on the horizon, the end of the pandemic will mark the beginning of a new day in healthcare, technology, environmental recovery, and personal growth; the signs of which are already emerging.  COVID-19 will revolutionize the medical landscape because every medical advancement present today has been developed in response to a health issue in the past. One of the most notorious parallels to our current situation is World War 1 and the Influenza pandemic of 1918. Each of these historical conflicts required national and even universal collaboration to overcome the influx of medical dilemmas that arose during this time.  Some of the greatest medical advancements arose out of the national suffering pervading the nation.. In response to infection from injury, doctors revolutionized the medical environment, creating ambulances, antiseptic, and anesthesia, three staples of modern medicine.  After the war, female doctor Mary Merritt Crawford from the American Hospital noted that “A war benefits medicine more than it benefits anybody else. It’s terrible, of course, but it does.” In a similar way, frontline doctors and medical researchers are using this pandemic as an opportunity to develop better strategies for coping with illness in the future The COVID-19 outbreak is bringing to light previously neglected opportunities of all kinds; we are seeing the emergence of a contemporary service mindset with the use of remote working, social networking, telehealth and telemedicine, predictive analytics, cross-industry collaboration, and a joint workforce between countries. With social distancing in place, we have been forced to explore different avenues for staying connected, learning, and running an essential business. While for many of us this might just mean watching more Netflix, it also means that the older generations are forced to get more practice with modern resources. Schools turned to online education. Doctors turned to telemedicine and developed better intervention delivery methods when they cannot be readily available. Each of these efforts serve to improve interoperability between generations, organizations, and countries. In addition to improvements in medicine and technology, the shutdown of public transportation and limit of human interference with the environment because of the outbreak has produced surprising benefits for the earth. Air pollution has diminished to all-time lows, animals are reinhabiting their natural habitats, and the overall climate is improving.  NASA released satellite images showing a decrease in nitrogen dioxide emissions over China since the beginning of the year. A similar effect was present over Italy, another country immensely impacted by COVID-19. The canals of Venice are clear, revealing the fish that now swim underneath their still surfaces. Statistical comparisons are revealing surprising chemical changes in the atmosphere, opening the door to various hypotheses about the effects that these changes might have on global health. One such scientist from Stanford University, Marshall Burke, used new statistics of reduced nitrogen dioxide (a cancer and respiratory issue causing greenhouse gas) presence in the atmosphere over China to run calculations on how these changes affect the health of the population. His calculations tentatively point toward the idea that because of the reduction in air pollution, the Covid-19 outbreak may actually save more lives than it kills in the long run. Perhaps the most prevalent benefit of the COVID-19 outbreak is time. With schools and offices closed, social obligations canceled, and orders to stay home, we have found ourselves faced with an opportunity to take advantage of. From picking up a new hobby to studying for AP exams to volunteering for organizations against the pandemic, the virus has given us the perfect opportunity to build our mindsets in response to uncertainty.  Of course, to categorize the COVID-19 outbreak as a blessing is far from accurate. Any benefits discussed here are no match for the short- and long-term social and economic disruptions that arise from a global pandemic. However, it is important to acknowledge that every conflict comes opportunities to grow and develop into a stronger society than we were before. Therefore, if we are successful, things won’t turn back to normal. Hopefully, we can continue to work and function better as a society, using the things we have learned from this crisis long after it has passed; we have been dealt a tragic card, but also a meaningful opportunity. If we play it right and attack our misfortune with a balance of urgency and optimism, we can come back even stronger than before.

While we are mourning an unorthodox end to the year, it’s important to remember everything that we can hold onto. It is important to hold onto the memories and moments that make Deerfield as special as it is. From the Scroll Board to our readers, we hope to inspire you to appreciate every second you have at Deerfield. Never underestimate the little moments, for they are what make Deerfield home.  Cherish your days of glory.  Lily Faucett –   Every morning this year, I woke up to meet my friends and walk to the Dining Hall. I would make tea and oatmeal. I would offer to read my friends’ English papers and ask them to explain math to me. We would swap stories of the little happenings in our life that had occurred in the few hours since we’d said good night the previous evening. It was something to get me out of bed in the morning, something to start my day off on the right foot. Every afternoon this year, my friends’ group chat would confirm what I already knew: ‘dinner at 5?” Walk-through dinner doesn’t open until 5:30, but I loved the ritual of carving an extra thirty minutes out of an otherwise busy day to catch up with my friends. We would talk about how our classes had been and what absurd things may have happened during the day. It was a break from stress and exhaustion and studying. Don’t get me wrong, I have been that person who couldn’t show up to breakfast because I had to meet a teacher, and I have definitely sped through dinner in order to return to a paper I hadn’t started until the day it was due. But now, when meals with my friends are unattainable and the eating in the dining hall seems like a distant memory, the brief time I spent twice a day at table 18 seems infinitely more valuable than I could have imagined. I took for granted that I would spend the rest of this year starting and ending each day in the dining hall with my friends. Maggie Tydings –  “Just the ice for you today, Margaret?” “You know what George, just because it’s my last Exam Week, I’ll get a Grilled CC too.”  Saying good morning to George was just as much a part of my daily routine as brushing my teeth. At 8am every morning I walked down the stairs of the Koch with my wet hair and coffee in hand. I brewed my own two shots of espresso in my room and George supplied the ice. Every morning he greeted me with the biggest smile and filled my white tumbler with the perfect amount of ice. I then topped it off with 2% milk and some simple syrup and told George to have a great day before heading over to sit in the Starfield. I could always count on great company during these 8am breakfasts, company that was complimented by my New York Times Morning Briefing. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that the headline of this very Morning Briefing, COVID-19, would stop the breakfasts all together.  Anna Fu –  On February 2, 2020, the weekend before we were about to leave for Long Winter Weekend, Kikka and I decided to move in together, putting our beds into my room and our desks, a TV, and a couch into hers. We called it “The Hubb” and with all of our friends, we’d just hang out in that room, day and night. Whether it be watching The Notebook for the first time and subsequently balling my eyes out in front of everyone or blasting music and dancing, I spent a significant amount of my senior winter term in that room. And I, obviously, had to spend an incredible amount of time with Kikka, as we quite literally lived in the same rooms together. Some nights I’d pass out on the couch while watching a show (which was many many nights) and I’d wake up to find my phone charged and a blanket wrapped around me. Other nights we’d lay in our beds and just talk until 2am no matter how tired or busy we were. Making a friend you see once a day, maybe even less is quite different from the friends you make at Deerfield. When you’re sitting at a walk-through dinner talking with your friends for two hours unknowingly, when you’re living with them and they’ve been with you at your highest and your lowest, and when you voluntarily become roommates with them, you become family. And that’s what I realized about Deerfield. Over the years, I’ve found a family, one that will always be there for me even if we aren’t sitting in the same dorm room at night or at the same table at dinner. I’m forever grateful for every moment, every laugh, every tear, and every memory. I would do anything to spend just one more night with my family back in The Hubb, even if it means having to watch The Notebook again. Maddie Lee –  Whenever I have some free time, I like to walk the small loop. You can start from behind Barton or from the Main School Building and you can come right back to campus without getting lost. Also, I love the way it changes. Right before the start of fall term, the loop is a cornfield, and in the winter it turns into a blanket of thick snow, and in the spring it’s a nice, sunny walk through a field. Yet, even as it changes, it stays the same. There are the two ponds on either side of the road that are serene through all four seasons. I know exactly where to stand to get a grand view of the Deerfield River. I’ve also run into Mrs. Taylor on the loop more times than I can count. Most importantly, whenever I need to remind myself that the world exists, whenever I need some headspace, or whenever I want to escape campus with a group of friends, I can always count on the loop to remind me that Deerfield isn’t always a place to escape from, it’s a home I can return to. It puts a smile on my face when I come around the corner and see that I’m coming back to Deerfield. Claire Quan –   In the winter of my junior year, I was placed on restrictions. To this day, I cannot recall why or how this came to be — most likely one too many skipped dance classes or tardies in Chem. Either way, on a cold Saturday morning, I found myself trudging through the snow towards Koch, prepared to serve my first term of restrictions. It lasted for three hours. Yes, three hours. From 8:30 to 11:30 AM, I sat inside the Garonzik, papers spread across those uncomfortable wooden tables, under the agonizing scrutiny of Dr. Mary Ellen Friends. For three hours, I thought about how comfortable I had been in my bed. I would’ve done anything to get out of restrictions.  When I finally escaped to lunch and told my friends about this, the unexpected happened. Saadhya Bahuddoda looked up at me and asked, in that gentle and selfless way she often does, “Do you want me to come with you?” It was the start of something beautiful. On those following Saturday mornings, Saadhya’s Facetime call woke me at 8 AM. Our footprints marked the snow between Poc and the Koch. It became our ritual — no matter how tired or stressed we were, we would spend those three hours together, sharing quiet smiles when a phone rang or someone ran in an hour late. Looking back now, while I hesitate to say that I actually miss restrictions, I know I will always be grateful for Saadhya and for the many others like her, friends who have done so much for me, who have never hesitated to suffer if it meant they could help me, who have somehow, miraculously, made restrictions a beautiful part of my Deerfield experience.  Seth Thayumanavan –  For most people, the second floor of the Boyden Library is a place to go on weeknights to finish their homework, and little more. But to me, the walls of bookshelves and study areas mean so much more. The top floor of the library holds some of my best (and worst) memories of the Academy. Whenever David Chen fell asleep on the blue rotating chairs that overlook the quad, which he often did after a long Sunday of Econ homework, I would take the opportunity to hide his air pods and pencil case from him. On nights when the floor was relatively empty and Oscar Depp and I didn’t have any work, we would race backwards in chairs from one end of the hall to the other. Oscar beat me every time. Junior year, on Head of School Day, we connected my computer to the projector in one of the group study rooms, and we spent the day just chatting and watching How I Met Your Mother. And of course, how could I forget that one Saturday Senior fall? I was working on my college essays right before early applications were due, when a few alumni walked in and stared at me for a few seconds, before one said “I don’t remember students ever working on weekends when we went here,” to which the other replied “Of course they did. We were just never here because we weren’t nerds.” They probably didn’t realize I was listening, but still, words can hurt. Whether it was wasting time I should have spent studying, or getting absolutely roasted by Deerfield Alums, the second floor of the Boyden library has become one of my favorite places on campus, and I will cherish the memories I made there for life. Angélique Alexos –  I think exam week conjures up some of the funniest and most bizarre memories that I have at Deerfield. Though in previous years going to the library during exam week has always frightened me because I get anxious when I see other people stressing out, I decided to take the plunge and go to the library for a change as I hoped the change of scenery and the ability to study with others would help me focus. Luckily, my friend and I were quickly able to find an open study room, and, after a few minutes of procrastinating, we were able to settle into our work.  A few hours went by, and we soon looked wearily at each other with the same thought: it was time to take a break. Though it was a chilly, cloudy November day, we went outside to stretch our legs and walk around for a few minutes. At first, we weren’t sure where to go, but suddenly our eyes turned towards the Dome. In all honesty, I don’t know if it was the delerium from studying the same textbook for two hours or the stressful realization that we were entering exam week, but as we walked inside and around the Dome we couldn’t help from bursting into laughter. It was one of those moments where there is nothing particularly funny about the situation, yet everything just seems hilarious. Laughter is honestly one of the best remedies for stress.  Emma Earls –   I’m not sure what it is about Albany Road at night, but it’s always made me feel at peace. Whether I was walking back from the library or extra help or a meeting, the walk back to Mac was always my favorite part of the night. The 9:45 trek along that road, backpack hanging low on one shoulder and music blasting, became a staple of my senior year. Even in the dark, the rain, or the cold, I took my time. The yellow streetlights, the suddenly-dark buildings, the smattering of people making the same walk as I was — all of it came together to make the Deerfield I love. The five minutes it took to get back to the dorm gave me time to appreciate it. Even when I’m far from campus, I still know that 9:45 trek will always remind me of home.  Annie Kane – My first Choate Day at Deerfield felt like one of those epic sports stories that makes it onto a 30 for 30, the definition of an underdog classic. The girls’ soccer team that season had won only a singular game, and we were entering the day against an undefeated Choate team. I remember the upperclassmen on the team saying to not let the records rattle us, because everything about Choate day is unique, all bets off. Well, the rest is history. But the memory of that day to me is not the win itself, or any details of the game for that matter; when I imagine that day, the whistle is blowing and I am suddenly surrounded by my teammates and the entire student body in a rush onto the field, feeling this energy beating around me that I had truly never felt before. Still not knowing that many people, I was in awe of the cheers, the crying, the singing. It was at that moment that I realized that there is something truly special about the spirit of the valley, something irreplaceable about all of these people coming together to celebrate each other. I wanted that afternoon to never end. Flash forward to November senior year, my last time wearing the green and white, where I was hoping to replicate the moment that defined Deerfield for me. Turns out that we lost. Horribly. I was completely disappointed, sad to be saying goodbye to a team that had given me so much. But only a couple hours later, I found myself by the end zone of the football field, my heart racing as the seconds ticked down to zero. And just like that, I was sprinting into the crowd, looking around at the people I had grown to call my family, and we were all cheering, crying, singing. I knew then that Deerfield sports are bigger than any one person, team, or game. They are in fact far bigger than sports at all. They say play every game like it is your last. We know now, more than ever before, that endings never go as we plan; so, if you are ever lucky enough to beat Choate, in whatever form that may take, pause in that moment. Feel the spirit of the people around you, of the place you all get to call home, because that energy will course through you for the rest of your life.  In these uncertain times, it is hard to see the bright side. It is hard to go to classes, attend meetings, or maintain a community in a global pandemic. It is hard to remember what the sun setting over the Dining Hall looks like when we haven’t been on campus since March. But the sun is still setting, and it is still beautiful. Deerfield is still home, no matter how far away — hold onto that.

“People don’t come to see the tigers; they come to see me.”  -Joe Exotic, former Oklahoma zookeeper turned felon turned internet sensation.   Hey, cool cats and kittens. It’s Carole Baskin. Just kidding, it’s Caroline Mahony, Deerfield student, and resident Tiger King enthusiast. Netflix’s Tiger King has become quite a cultural phenomenon. As many people watch and talk about it, social media trends have increasingly focused on the cool cat, Exotic, and his cool cast of characters, including his five husbands, and the infamous Carole Baskin. So it’s time we address the hype.  Tiger King is an American true crime documentary that brims with drama, intrigue, and absurdity. The audience is first introduced to the series’ namesake, Joe Exotic, who likes to be called by the moniker “Tiger King.” Exotic founded the G.W. Zoo in Oklahoma in 1999. It was home to around 230 tigers and other big cats, but by 2019 Exotic was arrested for charges of animal abuse.  The show revolves around Exotic’s rivalry with his arch-nemesis, Baskin. Baskin is a big-cat animal rights activist, and the owner of Big Cat Rescue Zoo near Tampa, Florida.  Exotic and Baskin’s feud began as an internet slander war, where each denounced the actions, character, and operations of the other, but this comedic animosity turned sinister as a murder plot came to life later in the show. One of the more absurd episodes of Tiger King focuses on the suspicious disappearance of Baskin’s former husband Don Lewis and rumors that she “fed him to the tigers.” Naturally, Exotic jumped at the opportunity to rehash this rumor at every chance he got, and many viewers sided with Exotic on this speculation.  Citing the fact that Baskin is continually shown in a negative light throughout the show, while Exotic is often portrayed as an innocent victim, critics have frowned upon the producer’s portrayal of the disappearance of Lewis.   In a survey that sampled the Deerfield community, 95% of respondents believed that Carole Baskin was indeed responsible for the disappearance of her husband. Viewers in the Deerfield community recognized the value of this show, which is perfect for light viewing during quarantine.  Anne Duong ’22 said, “ Tiger King is the entertainment that we all need during this time. It’s filled to the brim with unnecessary drama, irony, and just plain chaos. I love it!”  Angela Cui ’21 perfectly observed, “It’s unexpected and outrageous, just like how 2020 has been going so far.”

With spring revisit days canceled due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Deerfield Admissions Office has been forced to develop new and creative ways to offer admitted students a taste of life on campus.  Incoming families were invited to participate in a series of virtual panels during which Deerfield students, teachers, and parents provided their perspectives on life at Deerfield. Admitted students could also connect with teachers to ask specific questions. “It was all about how everyone loved Deerfield, which really stuck out to me,” said Maddie Benello ’22, an incoming junior. “Even though it was virtual, they managed to spread that message quite clearly.” In addition to the panels, Deerfield also hosted an event titled “Saturday Night Lights,” during which there were virtual meeting rooms for all of its extracurricular programs, including co-curriculars and student-run clubs. Students could come and go as they pleased, similar to the format of the meet and greet events held after all revisit days in the Spring. “My revisit day at Deerfield was a deciding factor in me choosing the school, so I was happy to answer questions and provide some excitement around the prospect of Deerfield for potential incoming students,” said Kareena Bhakta ’20, a club leader who attended the event.  The virtual events started on March 21, earlier than revisit days would have originally been held. Chip Davis, Dean of Admissions, believed that families would make their decisions a little sooner in a virtual space. The events went so well that Mr. Davis said they will continue to run them in the future as a resource for admitted students that are unable to attend revisit days.  “What we realized through all this is that these are things that we should be doing even when things go back to normal,” Mr. Davis said.  In the simulation of Deerfield’s life, the classroom experience was notably left out. Admitted students did not visit online classes, and their academic questions were handed off to individual teachers instead.  “That was the only thing that we didn’t recreate. We recreated every other part of the day except for a sit-down meal,” Mr. Davis said. He noted that it was difficult to gauge how the community would respond to showcasing online classes as an emulation of a physical Deerfield class.  “Obviously it wasn’t the same… but I think given the situation it was quite well-handled,” Benello said.  Social media also played an increasingly important role in showcasing Deerfield to admitted students. On Instagram, the Communications Office opted to increase the amount of dynamic short-term content, allowing students and alumni to contribute through interactive Instagram stories.  While no revisit days were hosted this spring, several families were still able to drive around to look at the campus. Though school was not in session and no students were there, families who decided to visit were able to get a glimpse of what life at Deerfield could be like. One of the challenges the Admissions Office faced this spring was the uncertainty surrounding the fall term. Benello, who lives in London, explained that the uncertainty of whether she would be able to travel to the U.S. for school factored into her family’s decision to commit to Deerfield.  International students who do not have dual citizenship cannot obtain a student visa until the consulates reopen, according to Mr. Davis.  As a result, the Admissions Office gave incoming families a full refund on their deposit and pushed the first tuition payment deadline back to July 1st.  “We want you to say yes to Deerfield but we’re going to build in some safeguards for you, in the event that either you choose not to be here because of something around health or you can’t physically get here even though you want to,” Mr. Davis said. On March 10th, Deerfield admitted 319 students, 204 of which accepted the offer of admission. This year’s yield of 64% is an increase from last year, which Mr. Davis called “ironic.” Looking forward to next year, it is unclear whether the Admissions Office will be able to travel to recruit students and what an on-campus visit will look like for prospective families. Mr. Davis said he thinks it will be much harder to attract as many applicants as in previous years.  There were more than twenty families that decided to stay home for the next year instead of commiting to boarding school because of the uncertainty about the coronavirus pandemic. Mr. Davis said the students would likely reapply in the future. Despite the complications the COVID-19 pandemic has caused for Deerfield admissions and prospective students, the admissions office has designed a creative, interactive way to experience Deerfield even halfway across the world.

Every Sunday morning without fail, IOS users get a notification from their phone alerting them of how many hours they spent on their device over the course of a week. This tracking function is not-so-adoringly referred to as “Screen Time.” As Deerfield students are left cooped up in their homes with no river to swim in, rock to climb, or small loop to run, many have seen an exponential rise in their screen time, especially on certain apps. So use this as a sort of horoscope, but trust me—it is much more accurate than a horoscope.  30 minutes per day: If you are only on your phone for 30 minutes each day, you are probably an android user. You hate all forms of social media and any social interaction in general. You are finishing up your seventh 1000 piece puzzle of quarantine, and you have yet to watch a single TikTok. You boast a high honors average, but my advice to you in the coming weeks is to put down the books and pick up the phone. FaceTime (or Zoom) a close friend or two, maybe even Snapchat too! Staying close with those you care about is so much more important than that “P” on your DAinfo page (just make sure you don’t fail). 1-2 hours per day: Enigmas. If you are only spending just over an hour on your phone per day, I really do not know what else you are doing. I mean we are in quarantine, what else is there to do? You definitely have not downloaded TikTok or any games and only check your phone to respond to snaps and texts. I admire you, but you are impossible to read. But you definitely wear class dress to Zoom classes—that much I know.  3 hours per day: I applaud those at the three-hour mark. I really think this is the sweet spot. You probably spend over an hour on FaceTime with your best friends every day, maintain a healthy SnapScore, and have a great taste in music. Your kryptonite is the Instagram explore page, which I have really never understood, but you can spend hours on it. 4-6 hours per day: I would have to say this is where about 85% of my readers will fall. Over half of your screen time is spent on TikTok with the other half being split between Instagram and Snapchat. You are mainstream but chill nonetheless. You have definitely picked up a couple of dances over these past few weeks and binged Tiger King in one day. Keep doing what you are doing, and you’ll get through this quarantine with a healthy dose of humor. 7 hours per day: Why 7? Go big or go home at that point guys, come on.  8-9 hours per day: If you are spending this much time on your phone, you are probably TikTok famous. You spend more time on your phone than you do sleeping, but still stay in your pajamas all day. Your snap score definitely exceeds 1,000,000, and you struggle to put your phone down even when you’re working out or eating. I fully support your phone usage, but I would recommend some healthy separation with your device to ensure that when you return to school in the fall, you do not experience severe withdrawal symptoms. 10+ hours per day: I would recommend seeking professional help.

Shanghai, China Tony He After enforcing a strict, nationwide lockdown policy paired with immediate, swift construction of temporary hospitals, life in China has changed drastically in the past few months due to the outbreak of COVID-19. However, normalcy is on the horizon for many Chinese citizens, who are now returning to school and work.  In order to facilitate a smooth and safe transition back from quarantine, the Chinese government has implemented certain safety measures with the help of technology to prevent a potential second wave of infections. Across the country, Chinese people are now using the “Health Code” system. If the code turns green, one is free to move about and enter public spaces. If the code appears amber or red, one has to self-quarantine. Currently, the system has been implemented through popular apps created by tech companies Alipay and Tencent. Using voluntary information on symptoms and contact history with other infected persons, the “Health Code” will either turn green, amber or red. At checkpoints around the city, the system is now enabling workers to return to offices and schools to reopen by ensuring that those in public spaces are healthy.  As people return to work via the “Health Code” system, the government has also taken security precautions for international travel to China. All those arriving from international territories are brought through a system of testing and quarantine, which ensures every arriving passenger is healthy and safe before officially entering the country and going home. At the airport, passengers have their temperatures taken before they are sent to a testing centre, where passengers are then tested for Coronavirus and instructed to wait for their test results, which takes 7 hours to develop. After being discharged from the testing center, passengers can then choose to either be quarantined with their family or to be self-quarantined in a hotel.  Through the implementation of measures, such as the Health Code and the travel screening system, life in China for the average citizen is now gradually returning back to normal as shops, schools, and offices continue to reopen and resume business.  Hong Kong Kikka Giudici In Hong Kong, there have been little to no new local coronavirus cases reported. Therefore, the city has somewhat returned to a state of normalcy, with restaurants and places of work opening again. Because the city has been shut down since January, people are happy to start moving around again. Hong Kong has been able to beat this virus for three main reasons: widespread use of masks, easy access to necessary resources, like medical equipment and face masks, and government rules for international travelers. Firstly, in Asia, it is common to wear masks when sick, so masks are a common household item. Although masks do not protect someone from contracting the virus, when someone contagious wears one, it reduces their droplet transmission, therefore protecting others.  Secondly, the fact that everyone in Hong Kong has had continuous access to disinfectants, hand sanitizers, masks, and even toilet paper without any price hikes enabled everyone to remain clean. Finally, the government has done a great job preventing new cases from entering the city. Anyone entering Hong Kong must be tested for the virus, and is not allowed to leave the airport premises until results come back. If the result is positive, the person and any family members they have been in contact with must undergo government quarantine. Even if the result is negative, the person must self-quarantine for two weeks and receive two more tests to ensure they have not had a later onset. Although there was a second-wave of cases in early March when boarding school and college students returned from overseas, the increase in cases was ultimately minimal and contained. The city has endured a trying twelve months since last May when rumblings of potential civil unrest began to grow serious. Schools were first closed in November when protests made commuting potentially dangerous, and then in January when COVID-19 began to threaten Asia. Now, at last, many eagerly await a return to normalcy. Hopefully, Hong Kong can serve as an example to show that despite these dark and difficult times, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. South Korea Yongjin Park In late February and early March, there were various words and phrases that people around the world associated South Korea with, such as “heightening,” “hot spot,” and “fear.” However, now emerging as a leader in this struggle against the COVID-19 pandemic, South Korea has been fighting COVID-19 comparatively well. With its strict employment of “trace, test, treat” methodology, South Korea serves as a successful example of overcoming the novel coronavirus. One of the first actions that the South Korean government took was extensive testing of its citizens. The United States and South Korea reported its first case of COVID-19 on the same day. The difference between the two countries was the large number of tests the Korean government took compared to the number of tests the U.S. government took. By March 8th, South Korea had tested 189,236 people while the U.S. only tested 1,707. Testing in South Korea did not apply only to South Korean citizens. Since late March, South Korea has required testing for all visitors from foreign countries. Whether or not the initial test was positive, people entering South Korea were subject to two weeks of quarantine by law. In addition, before leaving Incheon International Airport, the government officials required everyone to download a “quarantine app” on their phone. Using the new app, foreign enterers had to report their symptoms every day, and public workers tracked individuals’ locations to ensure they didn’t leave their residences. Unlike the majority of the countries in the world impacted by COVID-19, South Korea never declared an official lockdown. Although the government closed schools and some private owners temporarily halted their businesses, there was no legal curfew imposed on citizens.  While testing and isolating infected patients have helped flatten the curve, another important detail is the quick and widespread use of face masks. Face masks do not completely protect the users from contracting the COVID-19, but they significantly lower the risk. Wearing face masks restricts the air particles from your coughs from traveling long distances. In addition, the added protective layer helps filter the viral molecules from the air when breathing. To prevent a shortage of face masks, the South Korean government purchased 80% of the national production of KF-94 masks, the equivalent of American N95 by early March. With the government taking control over the majority of production and the distribution of face masks, South Korea was able to prevent significant mask shortages. The reason for South Korea’s quick flattening of the curve was its immediate response to the virus’ impacts. Prior to the COVID-19, South Korea had experienced other coronavirus outbreaks, most notably SARS and MERS. The prior knowledge on dealing with contagious outbreaks and strict protective measures helped South Korea become a model for other countries to learn from in this time of crisis. Ukraine Alice Hryhorovych On March 16th, the Ukrainian government ordered the shutdown of all the public places, including restaurants and movie theatres, allowing only supermarkets and pharmacies to continue opening shop. Despite these regulations, some restaurants continued to remain open, while others notified their regular customers about ways of getting in by providing a phone number to call in case they needed a place to hang out with friends. The instructions these restaurants gave to customers were as follows: call an hour before showing up, come in groups of no more than two at a time, and leave one-by-one with a “take out order” to not raise suspicion. On April 2nd, the government of Ukraine forbade people from going outside in groups of more than two. People are not allowed to visit parks or go to the beach unless they are walking a dog. Ads have circulated, calling for services like: “I’ll let you walk my dog for $5/hour”. On April 19th, Ukraine celebrated Easter, a very important religious holiday that brings millions of people to churches annually. Online live streams were set up to encourage people to stay home and not gather in large groups. Ukraine has only eight thousand confirmed cases among a population of 45 million people. The government shut down the borders when we had less than ten confirmed cases. Ukrainian citizens returning home had to sign an agreement to stay home for two weeks after returning and download an app tracking their location to ensure they don’t go outside.  Many communities in Ukraine have also come together to support each other in this complicated time. One delivery place put a stand in front of their office for those in need to take food and supplies and for others to donate. People on the streets dress up as superheroes and give out free facemasks. Volunteers help the elderly by delivering groceries. Citizens take care of each other. At times of such uncertainty and fear around the world, it’s important to put aside our differences and see that we are all in this together. No matter age, nationality, or religion, we all go through the same experience. Netherlands Sam Bronckers On February 27th, the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed, a 56-year-old from Loon op Zand. He had recently traveled from the Northern-Italian region Lombardia, just like the other cases that soon followed. On March 5th, the number of cases increased to 82, which our Minister of Medical Care attributed to a “catch-up” of people who only recently started to link their symptoms to the novel virus. Like many Western countries, the severity of the virus was severely understated on a political as well as civilian level in the initial stage. I was even stopped at the Dutch border for wearing a face mask at the beginning of Spring break. The following week, the number of cases rose dramatically in the southern province of Noord-Brabant. The intensive care units of the hospitals in that province were overloaded, leading to the transfer of various patients to other places in the country. The increase in cases again correlated to people returning from Northern-Italy and other parts of the Alps, as many people go skiing there at this time of the year. It was not until March 16th did our prime minister Mark Rutte hold a live stream to explain the government’s ‘intelligent lockdown’ to combat the virus. People were still free to do what they wanted; but were encouraged to stay at home, practice social distancing, and avoid any unnecessary activities away from home. The idea behind this ‘intelligent lockdown’ was to ultimately achieve ‘herd immunity’ against the virus. Over time, the intelligent – but relatively lax – lockdown would inevitably cause a majority of the population to get infected with the virus, just over a longer period of time. This would grant more time for our healthcare workers to deal with the waves of patients, as well as possibly have all Dutch people develop immunity against COVID-19 While the consequences were grave for restaurants and other non-essential businesses, the intelligent lock-down still allowed a significant number of companies to remain open, which helped limit the impact on our economy to some extent. In addition, many people quietly realized that we were quite lucky to still remain free for the most part. Especially when compared to Spain, Italy, and even our direct Southern neighbor Belgium, who all enforced a full lock-down, we could still enjoy a refreshing walk and exercise outside, for example.  Of course, there are also some flaws in the idea of an ‘intelligent lock-down.’ The government estimated that if 60% of the 17 million Dutch people have had the virus, the outbreak is contained. Today, we’re only at approximately 4%. Moreover, it is not scientifically proven that people that have been cured are immune to COVID-19 Differences in the Netherlands ’ approach have worsened the country’s relationship with Southern-European countries to the extent of putting the EU on the line. Since there are no border controls within the EU, the Belgian authorities were not happy with all the Dutch people still coming into their country. Countries like Spain and Italy were in desperate need of monetary aid from the EU as their countries were hit worst physically as well as economically. They had more cases while suddenly having no more tourism and less demand in agricultural output, both of which are the main pillars of their economies. However, because Northern-Europe has already helped Southern-Europe multiple times in the recent past, the Netherlands, as well as Germany, demanded that any monetary aid ought to be tied to economic reform, which was referred to as “Euro-bonds.” The North set these demands because countries like Italy still have enormous debts and have only increased government spending in recent years.  On the flip side, the South believes that there should be no ties to emergency aid in times of ‘war’ and that the North should show more solidarity to the South and the EU as a whole. Of course, this rhetoric goes back to WWI, after which we demanded so much money and reforms to Germany that it helped spark WWII. Eventually, the North submitted to the South and agreed to make €540 billion available with virtually no strings attached. Overall, as the cases drop, Dutch people have adhered even less to the intelligent lock-down rules, as countless people, especially college and high-school students, start to meet up again. However, no one truly knows when life will return completely to normal.

From performing on stage to creating their own choreographies, Deerfield’s senior dancers have made a great impact on the community. Throughout their time at Deerfield, they have taken advantage of various opportunities to develop their skills and share their passion with others. These dancers include Netanya Jimenez ‘20, Maya Laur ’20, and members of the advanced tutorial ensemble: Claire Quan ‘20, Gigi Deinard ‘20, Chloe Monty ‘20, Laura Akande ‘20, and Acy Cai ’20.  Dance holds a special meaning for each one of these senior dancers. Monty, for example, first started dancing when she was two and a half years old. She said, “When I was a kid, I always put on shows for my family, which may be why my mom put me in dance classes.”  At Deerfield, dance helped Monty escape from the stress of everyday life. “It’s a place where I can feel safe and be distracted from anything that is stressing me out,” she said. “I love being able to dance it out after a hectic day.”  For Jimenez, dance has also been a source of self-reflection. She said, “Dance was a way for me to find confidence, especially when I started going on stage and learning how to love a crowd. It taught me a lot about myself.” Laur believes that dance has encouraged her to push her limits and explore her creativity as an artist. “I tend to be more of a visual learner, and because dance is so kinetic and movement-based, it challenged me to think in a way that isn’t my strong suit,” Laur said. “It has really helped me grow as a thinker and use parts of my brain that I wouldn’t have otherwise.”   Each of the senior dancers have been engaged with the Dance Program at Deerfield in their own way, whether it be through showcases, academic classes, co-curricular activities, or, most prevalently, choreography. Cai began choreographing during the winter of her junior year; since then, she has used dance as a common language to convey meaningful messages and bring people together. One of her choreographies, “Game of Survival,” sheds light on the issue of mental health at Deerfield.  The meaningful message Cai sought to convey through this choreography is that “some days are worse than others, and it’s okay to have those bad days. There’s always people we can go to, and that was what the ending was about—defeating our inner demons and coming together as a group.”  Similarly to Cai, Akande began choreographing performances and was able to develop various leadership skills. “Whenever you’re holding a rehearsal, you have to practice being a leader and helping a group achieve a certain goal.”  While each choreographer’s process is different, for Deinard, it involves a balance of planning and improvisation. “I choose a song, think about what the cast would look like, divide the song into different parts, and weave them together,” she said. Other times, artists simply improvise. Often, choreography is a long process that requires tremendous time and effort; behind every performance on stage are countless hours of practice. “Many people don’t realize the dedication that goes into it,” Deinard said. “You can choreograph something for three hours that can be taught in 15 minutes.” While choreographing was an important part of her dance career, for Jimenez, through co-curricular classes, she was able to discover her passion for hip hop. Reflecting on these classes, she said, “I stepped into my comfort zone, and found what I love about dance, which is hip hop. I definitely gained a lot more confidence as a hiphop dancer.”  Dance has been an indispensable highlight of the dancers’ Deerfield experience. For Monty, her most memorable moments took place backstage, where they were “cheering each other on” during the showcases. Another is a moment of interaction with her Dance Lesson Instructor and Visual and Performing Arts Teacher, Carrie Towle.  “When I got to Deerfield, I felt as if I wasn’t as advanced as everyone else, since I had never done competitions before,” Monty said. “[Towle] asked me last fall if I would be interested in joining The Nutcracker, and that made me feel really included in the dance community,” Reflecting on her favorite memories, Akande recounted dancing beyond classes and rehearsals. “Sometimes, me and my friends would go to the studios on the weekends and dance for fun, and those are some of the best memories I have about dancing at Deerfield,” she said.   Though Deerfield is already a strong community, it was through this Dance Program that many seniors created even stronger bonds with one another and were able to make lasting friendships with other students in the program.   “I’ve never seen such a unified group of dancers,” Visual and Performing Arts Teacher Jennifer Whitcomb said. “It speaks to the work they’ve done pulling together as an ensemble and how much they care about one another.”  In addition to amazing performances, the seniors have also served as mentors and leaders in the dance community. “They are very strong leaders, and in many ways, co-directors in their role as choreographers,” Ms. Whitcomb said. “They also actively support the younger kids and set a model of citizenship.” Ms. Whitcomb specifically observed that the cohesiveness of this group and their leadership skills helped them to create a memorable Winter Dance Showcase: “It was one of the best things we’ve done in recent memory. The dance teachers also felt that it was one of the strongest shows that they have seen.” Ms. Whitcomb said. With the end of the year quickly approaching, many dancers expressed their disappointment at the cancellation of the Spring Dance Showcase as it is their last chance to leave their artistic mark on the school. Since the dancers began their Spring Projects during the winter term, many of the pieces were already underway.   Cai said, “I already had a connection to a song and parts of the choreography done, so it’s definitely sad to throw that away.”  Deinard added, “I am most sad about not being able to perform a duet with Claire Quan that we had been choreographing together.” As of now, there are plans for a virtual project as a cumulative end to their Deerfield experience, although the exact details still remain uncertain.  Despite the setbacks on the Deerfield art scene, the dancers remain positive in their artistic pursuits both in and outside of the Deerfield community. “I want to keep improving my technique and grow as a dancer.” Laur said. Cai also added that she is looking to join dance programs in college.  Each one of the senior dancers and their contributions have left a lasting legacy on the Deerfield dance program. Although dance is extremely competitive, they have fostered an environment of kindness and friendship.  “When you show up at the dance studio, it feels like a sanctuary,” Ms. Whitcomb said. “The seniors have really engendered a place of safety, a place where young artists can create knowing that they will be supported.”  Now, we thank the seniors for their contribution to the Deerfield Dance Program, and we look on with pride as they begin to share their passion with the world.

One of the dire repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic has been a worldwide economic crisis, which was ignited by the global stock market crash that began in late February. Inevitably, this crisis has taken its toll on Deerfield’s finances as well. “The pandemic does create stress because of the decline in the market value of [Deerfield’s] endowment,” said Chief Financial Officer Keith Finan. Fortunately, however, “[the] endowment has performed well relative to markets overall,” said President of the Board of Trustees Brian Simmons.   Amid the financial crisis, Deerfield still maintains a significant amount of cash and liquid investments. Because of this, “the endowment remains in a strong position to support our people, program, and facilities,” said Mr. Simmons. With the pandemic escalating in the United States during Deerfield’s spring break, the majority of the operations for the 2019-2020 school year were unaffected. When discussing the timing of the crisis, Mr. Finan said, “being this far into the school year, the impact is manageable.” On April 10, Deerfield announced to parents and guardians via email that it was offering “spring term rebates” of $2,700 and $1,100 to boarding student and day student families, respectively. According to the email, the exact amounts were calculated by considering the average cost of meals per day and the average cost to clean and maintain dormitory facilities. Support from the endowment typically covers one-third of the school’s operating expenses, with the rest funded by tuition and annual gifts. Addressing the impact of spring term rebates on the endowment, Mr. Finan said, “The rebate creates a slightly [greater] need for support from the endowment to cover operations fully.” In a further effort to alleviate the stress of the pandemic on the Deerfield community, Head of School John Austin announced during an employee meeting that, “unless circumstances dramatically change,” the Academy is committed to paying all employees through the summer as it prepares to open. In addition, Dr. Austin noted that Deerfield has neither made plans nor intends to make plans to furlough or cut jobs. In order to fulfill such objectives, the Academy has frozen non-essential hiring, minimized travel to only critical trips, and remodeled its budget with assumptions that reflect changes in revenue and expenses. Elaborating on Deerfield’s effort to mitigate the impact of the current and continuing economic tolls the pandemic has caused, Mr. Simmons said, “We have examined all areas for opportunities to reduce expenses without creating hardship for employees or detracting from our program in the long-term.” In regards to the remodeled budget for the 2020-2021 school year, Mr. Finan said, “We have identified savings from operations for the upcoming year, but these savings are ones that will not significantly affect any programs or departments.” While the COVID-19 pandemic has affected The Academy and its community in a number of ways, “the overall impact on Deerfield’s finances this fiscal year is very manageable,” said Mr. Simmons.