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Last year, Ethics Teacher Mr. Grimm came to Deerfield as a Penn Teaching fellow and recent graduate of Harvard College. He currently teaches the course ‘Ethics’ to underclassmen and ‘Religion and American Politics’ to seniors. Mr. Grimm lives on Barton III with his beloved little dog, Rudy, a miniature Italian Greyhound, who he describes as “my little project.” “He’s the most timid, faun-like creature in the world; he’s just like interacting with a little forest sprite sometimes,” he said. Mr. Grimm makes his classes interactive and relevant to modern times. He said, “It’s too easy to study stuff and think that it has nothing to do with the present.” Hunter Keller ’20, a student in Mr. Grimm’s senior class, said, “I have class first period with him and I always am excited for it. I can always expect to be engaged… he makes it super fun, he just knows how to present the material so that it becomes really fascinating.” Recently, his students recreated the trial of Anne Hutchinson in the brick church just behind the Kendall building and made Instagram accounts for preachers who were trying to win over congregants during the First Great Awakening. In another example, the class discussed the use of the word ‘witch hunt’ by President Donald Trump and Justice Kavanagh after reading The Crucible – something “obviously very controversial but very contemporary.” Mr. Grimm’s self-proclaimed goal with these assignments is to “bring historical events into context with modern stuff.” Once the class day ends, Mr. Grimm is an active member of the theater department. This term, he is helping put together the fall production of Antigone. Coincidentally, before coming to Deerfield, Mr. Grimm was in a production of Antigone himself at Harvard. “Not only was it the weirdest production I’ve ever been in, but the Deerfield Classics Club at the time took a field trip to go see it.” Mr. Grimm was very impressed with Deerfield’s rendition of Antigone, which ran from October 29 to November 2nd. He describes Antigone as “a time-honored classic,” but adds that this version is a “different setting of it, in a sort of time out of time, like futuristic dystopia but with the glamour and the sheen of the 1930’s.” On top of helping put together the production, Mr. Grimm has been working with Valentina Saldarriaga ’20 to create the sound board which he describes as a kind of death techno, but with no melody. Kate Landino ’20 described him as “kind of an unofficial assistant director” who “brings in the flare and makes it fun and adds new flavors to scenes that nobody would think of except for Mr. Grimm. He’s just that innovative and creative when it comes to directing.” Landino continued, “Some days you walk in and he’ll be in heels teaching the girls how to walk in their heels. He’s across the room making them do squat jumps in heels so that they can walk for the show. Other times he’ll be running with actors through the Hess to get them motivated for the next scene.” It is this distinct energy that makes Mr. Grimm truly exceptional. During college, Mr. Grimm spent quite a bit of time as a freelance photographer. Through this job, he got the opportunity to meet Jeb Bush, Toni Morrison, and Solange Knowles, Beyonce’s little sister. At Deerfield, Mr. Grimm has been steadfast in continuing to develop his photography skills by photographing numerous theater productions and running the Experimentory’s Instagram account. Aside from taking photos, he also enjoys knitting and crocheting in his free time, baking cakes, or just hanging out with his dog, Rudy. Mr. Grimm is also a part of the Inclusion Committee, Gender and Sexuality Alliance, and Opening Days Committee. The common theme between these posts is acceptance and inclusion. Landino said, “Previously there wasn’t really someone like Mr. Grimm at Deerfield, someone so open and proud to be just purely himself.” Landino was happy “just to see him on stage at school meeting in drag, coming in on Halloween into school meeting in drag, or performing in all these different characters.” She added that, just by being himself, Mr. Grimm effectively sends “a message to the community that it’s okay to be to you.” Mr. Grimm does have one more message to share with the community, one that may not be as deep as the one Landino describes. Mr. Grimm shared, “I firmly believe that vegan brownies should not be warmed up. As one of the campus vegans, I think that they should absolutely be eaten room temperature, at most, and preferably cold.” He went on to describe the proper temperatures for different baked goods: “Cookies should be warm, cakes cold, brownies cold, shortbread room-temperature, and croissants room temperature.”

The roommate pairing process remains a source of mystery for many students at Deerfield Academy. Students are uninformed on the various factors that may influence roommate assignments beyond the pairing survey sent to all ninth-graders. This has led to speculation about whether a student’s race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status plays a role in this process. Before the school year starts, the Student Life Office, led by the Associate Dean of Students Rebecca Melvoin, sends out a 12 question form for incoming ninth-graders. It surveys factors such as average hours of sleep, lifestyle habits (gaming, previous rooming experience, noise machines), and personality (introvert/extrovert). In explaining the inspiration for the Deerfield roommate pairing form, Ms. Melvoin cited a Brown University study which found that roommate assignments are often most successful when paired students share some source of similarity. However, there is a question on the Deerfield roommate form that poses the question: Is it important to you to have a roommate who shares a similar identity marker? (i.e. religion, ethnicity, race, etc). For students that indicate it is very important to them, the DA administration takes special effort to accommodate these students. Some students have raised concerns, however, that this survey leads to a disproportionate amount of roommate pairings based on race. Ethan Chen ’20 said, “I definitely think there was a clear trend that minorities were paired together.” Indeed, an examination of the assignments shows that, out of a sample of about 35 minority students in the class of 2020, 24 were paired with another minority student. This pattern was similar but was slightly less pronounced for the Class of 2021’s assignments, in which amongst a sample of about 40 minority students, 24 were paired together. Currently in the Village, about 26 out of 40 minority students are paired each other. These statistics show a clear institutional pattern from the Student Life Office that students that request to have a roommate with similar identity markers are usually paired with other students from similar races. Many students shared that this is problematic to the cultural competency vision that Deerfield has for its students. Regarding this, Chen said, “People with similar upbringings may prefer certain environments. That preference can sometimes, although not always, emulate their own race’s culture, leading to the large number of same-race pairings.” Others pointed out that socioeconomic class would inevitably dictate the answer to the questionnaire’s answers. In another context, students spoke highly of diverse roommate pairings. Benny Yang ’21 said, “Obviously Teddy Rockefeller ’21 and I are very different people but it was an amazing experience with him as a roommate. He’s a great guy and we would eat cheeseballs together at 1:00am. Also, through him, I got to know many of his friends who I probably would have never talked to otherwise.” Oliveira added, “We need to pair kids with different backgrounds and ethnicities to break that invisible consider to be minorities and non-minorities. By forcing people out of their comfort zone, they will come out of that experience with new perspectives and legitimate expletives instead of false assumptions.” However, members of the administration and faculty have argued for minority pairings as a source of support and comfort for students, particularly those who are far from home. Philosophy and Religion Teacher Ben Grimm said, “No, I don’t think I’m surprised. It seems like there’s a good argument to be made for putting students of minority backgrounds with students that will understand that aspect of their experience.” Ms. Melvoin, while discussing what values Deerfield seeks to promote through the roommate system, stressed that “[a student’s] room should feel like a safe spot. ”Deerfield’s mission, in essence, is to support its students in feeling safe and comfortable in their respective dorm rooms. Saadhya Bahudodda ‘20, who was personally involved in a minority roommate pairing, added, “Often, people from similar backgrounds have an easier time relating to each other. Depending on the person, coming to Deerfield can already be a large culture shock in itself. In these situations, the pairings can be beneficial in providing some form of familiarity.” It is clear that students and teachers alike have diverging opinions on how Deerfield’s roommate pairing system should be structured, particularly whether or not a student’s race and socioeconomic class should be taken into consideration in the process. Looking forward, many urge Deerfield’s administration to look into more creative and advanced methods to establish roommate pairings for incoming freshmen. Tory Hansen ‘21 said, “Just because two people are completely the same on paper doesn’t necessarily mean they will be compatible as roommates.” Christina Li ‘20 added, “There’s no perfect roommate pair. It’s impossible to match people based off of checkboxes. But we have to admit that the administration is doing its best.” Indeed, the administration pairs students through a meticulous and individualized process, which sometimes is successful, sometimes not. The process involves making deliberate decisions according to each student’s personality and background. And, sometimes, as Yang shared about his roommate experience, “You find someone to eat cheese balls with.”

With the beginning of a new academic year in the valley, Deerfield welcomed new members Joseph L. Dowling III P’21, Joshua A.S. Greenhill ’96, Vanessa Allen Lavely ’00, Elizabeth H. Leist ’97, and Theodore W. Ullyot ’85 to the Board of Trustees. The induction of these trustees further contribute to the diversity of backgrounds on the board. For example, Mr. Greenhill works as a partner in the Public Investment Group of The Baupost Group LLC, a private investment partnership, while Ms. Lavely is a partner in Cravath’s Litigation Department, handling a variety of legal cases such as environmental and commercial and securities matters. Mr. Ullyot has previously served as Facebook’s General Counsel from 2008 to 2013 and is now a partner at Andreessen Horowitz, a venture capital firm, leading its policy and regulatory affairs group. While the trustees are not frequently seen around the campus, they play an important role in managing Deerfield’s general operations and future initiatives. According to the Alumni Association’s written constitution, one of the responsibilities of the Association is “to communicate relevant information about Deerfield Academy to the members of the Association; to communicate to the Academy, when appropriate, the views of the Association and its members.” Therefore, the alumni and the Academy have a relationship that emphasizes understanding between the two groups. President of the Board of Trustees Brian Simmons, when discussing the inner workings of the board, stated, “On an ongoing basis, the board oversees major strategic decisions, major resource allocation decisions, and provides feedback, advice, and counsel to the Head of School and senior staff on a whole variety of issues.” For the trustees to be selected by the board, all of them have to have shown deep interest in the wellbeing of the Academy and have a wide range of views that will help Deerfield become an even more inclusive and diverse community. “The board is always looking for people who care passionately about Deerfield and people who represent different constituencies and different perspectives. We want a balance of men and women, minority representation on the board, trustees from around the country and trustees with different professions, families, and life experiences, so that we can have the greatest number of opinions and insights,” said Mr. Simmons. Prior to their first Deerfield board meeting, Mr. Dowling and Ms. Leist shared their thoughts on their upcoming roles at the Academy. Both of the elected members have been acquainted with Deerfield in the past and present, with Mr. Dowling’s son Joe Dowling ‘21 being currently enrolled at the school and Ms. Leist having graduated in 1997. Their close ties with Deerfield ensure that they have great interest in and a tangible connection with the Academy’s goals, traditions, and most importantly, the students and faculty. Mr. Dowling has been serving as the vice president and chief investment officer of Brown University since 2013, and he believes his experience at Brown will complement his role as a trustee. In addition, Mr. Dowling has been an active member of Deerfield’s investment committee for the last two years, and he commented on his positive experience while serving on the committee. He shared, “The talent, experience, and high quality of the other investment committee members makes it my favorite investment board. I am not surprised that Deerfield is one of the best performing prep school endowments.” Mr. Dowling continued on his reason for accepting the role of a trustee, “I think it is important to support Deerfield and our educational institutions… [and] to give back.” Mr. Dowling aims to listen and learn from different members of the community by focusing on the benefit of students, faculty, alumni, and other trustees. During his five year term, Mr. Dowling hopes to maintain Deerfield’s legacy of academic excellence and leadership and keep the core values of Deerfield citizenship close to the Academy at all times. The board consists of many committees that each focus on different aspects of Deerfield such as Advancement & Communications or Admission, Financial Aid, and College Advising. These committees have meetings two days prior to the board meeting, and they report to the board on the day of the board meeting. The new trustees will be a part of this whole process, providing their unique perspectives to the entirety of the board. After graduating from Cornell in 2001, Ms. Leist has been heavily involved in news and journalism, having worked at NBC News as the Statement Department Producer and traveled with Hilary Clinton during her overseas trips as the Secretary of State. Having attended Deerfield herself, Ms. Leist cherished her time in the valley, and she has kept the experience close to her ever since. “I loved my time at Deerfield for all that it provided me – academic excellence, diverse viewpoints, and community. I want to help shape that same experience for future students,” wrote Ms. Leist. Furthermore, she wishes to actively engage in the Deerfield community and interact with every member. Ms. Leist continued, “I want to be an active member of the board who contributes my perspective as a former student. I look forward to returning to Deerfield to attend some classes, meet students and faculty, and connect with former alumni.” One of the projects that the board has constantly been working on is the “Financial sustainability and affordability” of a Deerfield education. Mr. Simmons added, “I think everyone understands that Deerfield education is very valuable, but also very expensive. The board realizes that over time, if we are not careful, many very qualified applicants will be priced out of considering the Deerfield education.” As the new trustees transition into their new roles as overseers of Deerfield, we believe their input will help the Academy propel further in this rapidly-changing world.

The “Deerfield” that we wear across our chests every Wednesday and Saturday does not just appear out of thin air. It takes countless hours of hard work, meticulous organization, and fierce dedication to be able to prepare nearly 440 student athletes for both practice and competition each season. Having to juggle uniforms, greens and grays, equipment, and so much else is not a job for the faint of heart. This year, the athletics stockroom welcomes Ms. Cathy Markowski as Stockroom coordinator. Ms. Markowski returns to the Valley from Windsor, Connecticut. She brings with her a wide variety of athletics experience, ranging from competing to coaching and everything in between. She started her athletic journey as a stand-out volleyball player at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Since her collegiate career, she has coached at various institutions including Elms College, Worcester Polytechnic Institutions, Turners Falls High School, and the Loomis Chaffee School. Prior to coaching the varsity volleyball team at Deerfield in 2008, Ms. Markowski was the Head Volleyball at College of Our Lady of the Elms in nearby Chicopee, Massachusetts. During her time at Elms, Ms. Markowski was awarded the 2007 North Atlantic Conference Coach of the Year after leading her team to an impressive 6-2 record in conference and a playoff berth. Following her first stint at Deerfield, Ms. Markowski coached the volleyball team at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Under her guidance, the Goats went over 0.500 in a very competitive conference. Before returning to Deerfield, Ms. Markowski led Loomis to a Class A New England Championship. Ms. Markowski worked closely with current Athletic Director Robertson Howe during her time in Windsor and he played a very large role in bringing her back to Deerfield. Leading up to the Choate Day, Ms. Markowski could not be more happy to be a Door saying: “I cannot wait, the school spirit here at Deerfield is awesome!”

The fitness center plays a crucial role in many DA athletes’ daily lives. Emma Theriault, Tom Reynolds, and the rest of the strength and conditioning team are a big part of why fitness has such a widespread effect on students at Deerfield. “As trainers, we recognize the importance of exercise. Physical activity impacts our physical well-being as well as our mental well-being,” said Ms. Emma Theriault, Strength & Conditioning coach and Fitness Center manager. Hundreds, if not thousands, of studies have shown the benefits of exercise and fitness. Medline Plus, a leading provider of trusted health information, has emphasized that “Regular exercise is one of the best things you can do for your health.” At the Academy, the fitness center is open 10+ hours most days of the week, making equipment and machines easily accessible to all members of the community, regardless of their schedules. The fitness center does a phenomenal job of incorporating exercise into students’ lives From tailored programs to team lifts, the Strength and Conditioning team constantly emphasize the benefits of regular exercise. Ms. Theriault notes that “the fitness center is always trying to figure out new ways to offer programs for students.” For the Deerfield Varsity football team, these team lifts are extremely impactful. The team lifts allow for better team chemistry and potential advantages on the field. These sport-specific programs are based on balancing out movements that apply to certain sports. “A cross country-runner and a football player are going to have very different workout plans,” said Ms. Theriault. Coach Brian Barbato constantly stresses the importance of “showing up and dialing in” during these team lifts. During the lifting period, Strength Coach Tom Reynolds ensures that athletes are using proper technique to maximize gains and make the overall lifting experience better. “By lifting during the season, athletes reduce their risk of getting injured, maintain their strength throughout the season, and translate that strength to the game itself,” said Ms. Theriault. She emphasizes that “sometimes athletes don’t train effectively enough”, detracting from the benefits of exercise. The fitness center strives towards a safer and more effective usage of the equipment during these team lifts. Moreover, the fitness center seeks to rid the image of lifting heavy weight that has been associated with strength training. The Strength and Conditioning Team makes programs for anyone and everyone, creating custom plans that make your fitness goals one step closer. Whether this is your first time touching a barbell or a regular part of your week, each program is flooded with the best exercises to target specific or multiple muscle groups. Max Kainamura ‘22 reflected upon his experience with a custom program, commenting, “It helped me learn the techniques of certain exercises and familiarized me with most of the equipment in the fitness center.” The Strength and Conditioning Team have taken steps to make lifting and physical activity an integral part of students’ lives on campus. “The more students we can help, the greater the impact of exercise upon the community,” said Ms. Theriault. “We are always seeking to improve the fitness center space and equipment to benefit all.” The advantages of regular exercise and fitness are endless. Reach out to any member of the wonderful Strength and Conditioning Team for your own custom workout plans and get after your fitness goals.

The fall lacrosse season is always stressful for first year athletes, but this fall former Girls Varsity Lacrosse captains Bailey Cheetham ’19 and Margaret Williams ’19 rose to the challenge. Competing at high-level Division I programs, both Cheetham and Williams used the skills they developed at Deerfield to achieve success at the college level. Below they reflect on Deerfield’s role in their college athletic experience. Bailey Cheetham Margaret Williams

Prepares yoga sessions for Mr. Hart and his yogis. Rolls up the mats, blocks, blankets, and bands. Refills water bottles during restorative yoga. Leads extraction of honey from beehives at Deerfield Academy. Maintains the integrity of the different hives and separates different kinds of bees. Organizes activities for the new DLC, such as inspecting color-changing leaves under microscopes. Keeps track of the vitals of every leaf on every tree. Worked for two weeks at the world-renowned Kale University in Heartford, Conn., with professors and reps of Fortune 500 companies, like FloorMart. Acquires foreign rectangular deep-fried potato pieces of various flavors such as kimchi or jalapeno vegemite for experimental consumption. Assesses supply and demand for chips. Compiles only the finest of musical pieces to play during interludes of hockey games. Hand-picked by a selection committee of the previous class. Expertly makes a wide and diverse array of drinks and frozen yogurt. A true beacon of joy to the whole Deerfield community. Free mentor for my younger brother and sister, who are both in middle school. Teaches them how to navigate through tough times in their lives. Dresses up as the Green Machine (the drink not the bus) for all Deerfield game days. Attends every game physically possible. Only consumes green foods and drinks. When cut, bleeds green (use food dye). Scroll Yells at associates and staff writers to write their articles on time. Says at least five times a day: “This is my whole life.”

Winter break is a great opportunity for students to make up for the various TV series, books, and songs that they missed out on during the tumultuous first term of the academic year. Here are a few crucial recommendations from fellow students regarding media you may have missed in the midst of exams, according to a few Deerfield artists. Khanh Nguyen ‘23, an avid reader of historical fiction, is currently reading the novel written by Amor Towles. She strongly recommends this book to anyone interested in the history of the Bolshevik revolution during the early 20th century Russian Empire. Though it was a required 10th grade summer read a few years ago, Nguyen also suggests by Anthony Doerr, especially for war novel enthusiasts who want to read about the crossing of two children from opposing countries during World War II. Helen Feng ‘20, a passionate lover of literature and music, is also a huge fan of poetry. Feng especially recommends the works of Anne Carson who is, according to Feng, “a really cool classicist [who] translated Sappho, the Greek poet.” As for the art of sound, Feng is known for her idiosyncratic musical taste; it is thus no surprise that her advice when beginning to discover new songs is to “try to broaden your horizons by listening to something you normally don’t listen to.” Her personal favorites are the blissfully melodic “Air for Violin” by Aaron J. Kernis and “Fire in My Mouth” by Julia Wolfe, which is “a very cool oratorio musical piece that is based on the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire.” Katrina Csaky ‘21, who is part of the chorus in the fall term’s theater production, , has been listening to a new album called by one of her favorite bands, AJR. “The songs are really powerful. They make really good music, and they’re such a humble group of guys. They’re insightful, they’re deep, they’re personal, they’re relatable. You build a connection with them,” said Csaky. She loves their music and thinks that AJR’s songs are suitable for any mood or activity a student can participate in, whether it be for a peaceful day to relax or for working out. As for TV shows, (available on Netflix and Amazon Prime) has been a personal favorite of Csaky. She said, “This TV show is basically about this guy, who’s not really good at a lot of things, but his dad taught him how to memorize things, so he pretends that he is a psychic and gets a job working for the police. I can’t do scary shows, but it’s just so funny. It’s not scary at all.” Even for those who are not a fan of watching hair-raising shows, give a try as it is a satisfyingly funny way to spend an evening. Madeline Lee ‘20, a graphic designer and an artist whose works are scattered around campus, strongly recommends (available on Netflix) because “it’s a little bit like , except [Sabrina] tries to stay tied to both her human and magic worlds instead of saying ‘My life sucks, I’m moving out.’ It features a strong independent woman, and there’s a lot of character development. There’s also some commentary on religion and how some traditions are meant to be broken. I think that’s a pretty important message for some Deerfield students.” Lee also recently began watching (also available on Netflix), and also recommends it for anyone who likes to watch animations or cartoons. Staying inside and entertaining the mind is an important process. So, make sure to get plenty of relaxation before taking on the upcoming cold and harsh winter months that lay ahead!

The National Collegiate Athletic Association reported over $1.1 billion in revenue during Fiscal Year 2017. However, the student-athletes that bring in this revenue will never see it in their own pockets. Collegiate athletes dedicate their lives to the sports they play, making sacrifices both on and off the field. At the Division I level, in-season, student athletes put in a total of 20 hours of regulated practice time per week. But these 20 hours do not include the countless more that dedicated athletes put in on their own time to be able to compete at the highest level. This hard work inevitably pays off, and colleges take advantage of their success using student-athletes as icons for the institutions’ own publicity. But, if left unpaid, these students will never reap the benefits of their hard work during their time at the institution. Personally, I believe that collegiate athletes’ success should be their own and not a mechanism to help colleges gain more publicity. Many high-level collegiate athletes only compete at the NCAA level because they are expected to. As NBA phenom and former Louisiana State University athlete Ben Simmons said: “I was in school to play basketball; I wasn’t trying to be a doctor. I was trying to reach my dreams, and that was to play in the NBA.” Simmons is one of the 32% of NCAA basketball players that end their college careers early in order to be able to make money at the professional level. In my opinion, there is no reason why athletes should not be able to compete at the collegiate level and earn a living. According to the reports by College Pulse, 60% of students who polled voted that salaries should be paid to all athletes, but 38% voted that salaries should only be paid to athletes playing sports which bring in revenue. Yet, when inspected closely, much of the money brought in from revenue is returned to member schools, who use it to fund their sports programs and coaches and administrators. The athletes themselves are compensated only in financial aid. Collegiate athletes across the country should be paid fairly for the tremendous amount of work put into their commitment to their respective sports. They should not just be used as publicity icons who make absolutely zero profit. Paying college athletes for their participation in sports eliminates the need for them to find outside employment to support themselves, allowing them to focus on academics alongside athletics and encouraging a healthier attitude and drive to work harder academically and athletically. It is this argument that has compelled the state of California and the NCAA to change. Starting in 2023, college athletes in California will be able to sign endorsement deals, hire agents, and receive compensation for the use of their likeness. Governor Newsom, the pioneer of this bill, stated: “[The entire concept of no pay] is a bankrupt model – one that puts institutions ahead of the students they are supposed to serve.” California’s “athlete-first” mentality is garnering the support of many collegiate and professional athletes alike and has pushed the NCAA to make a similar change. Starting as early as 2021, student athletes will be able to retain NCAA eligibility after accepting endorsement money. These changes emphasize the point that college athletes should be able to fiscally benefit from their athletic ability.

Immigration. We’ve seen this political issue everywhere. Whether on the news or in a discussion, the deportation of illegal “aliens” has been a heavily discussed topic in recent months. Everyone seems to have a different opinion on how to “solve” the problem of illegal immigration. But is it really a math problem? What are we trying to solve? Immigration has been a core aspect of America’s identity from its beginning. As America experienced new waves of immigration, the ethnicities facing hostility fluctuated. When the Italians arrived in the late 19th century, the referred to them as “utterly unfit – ragged, filthy, and verminous as they were – to be placed among the decent children of American mechanics.” Today public officials make disparaging remarks against Mexican and Central American immigrants and refugees. Such targeted hostility against certain groups is an example of ‘othering:’ an increasing problem in the 21st century. According to John A. Powell, the Director of the Haas Institute for a Fair and Inclusive Society at the University of California, Berkeley, “When societies experience big and rapid change, a frequent response is for people to narrowly define who qualifies as a full member of society,” a process he calls ‘othering.’ ‘Othering’ can target race, religion, ethnicity, and is heavily influenced by political culture and narrative. With new waves of immigrants in the past 200 years (Irish, Chinese, Eastern Europeans, etc.) the groups that receive hostility continue to change. Today, a lot of the hostile narrative targets Latin American immigrants and refugees. This varying focus can be defined by the changing political agenda on immigration. For example, though the most significant source of illegal immigration is overstayed visas, it is the Latin American immigrants and refugees that the current political narrative, and thus the media, tends to focus on, causing many Americans to associate illegal immigration with Latin American descent. Yet, even 100 years ago, the persecuted ethnic group would have been different. This issue has been tugging at me for a while now. I am a first generation American. I am proud of that. I take pride in my Hungarian identity, my mother’s journey, and my dual citizenship. I remember being taunted for my thick accent in elementary school, as I struggled to learn English as a second language. But accents fall away and today, walking on the Deerfield campus, speaking fluent English, I rarely get identified as the “immigrant.” In 2019, I blend in pretty easily with those who, going back to Powell’s definition of ‘othering,’ “qualify as full members of society.” That is the biggest issue I see with immigration today. ‘Othering’ has encouraged society to create an image of what Americans should look like or should be, creating divisions, fear and animosity based on race, ethnicity, and religion. And, despite the overwhelming evidence of the significant economic contribution immigrants make to the United States, the ‘othering’ has won. Now, back to the question at hand: how do we “solve” the issue of illegal immigration? The answer? Illegal immigration is too complex of a problem to simply “solve.” The most accessible issue to solve isn’t the process of accepting immigrants’ but rather how we treat and judge them in society. My intention in writing this article wasn’t to come up with a solution; it was to start a conversation on our campus about the power of political agendas over societal division and about how we can actively work against those societal divisions, despite any agendas. And this can start with anyone. It calls for changing the way we perceive those who look, sound, dress, or act differently than you. It calls for breaking down the impact that political narratives can have on our view of others. It calls for granting the opportunity to each individual to demonstrate their own qualifications as a member of society. It calls for practicing kindness, respect, empathy, and compassion, despite the hate around you.

John Chung ‘20 has always been a visual person. For Chung, art is a form of expression that has always come naturally to him because he feels it is easy to visualize and execute. Chung’s passion for art began in third grade. At a young age, he was taught basic artistic skills through art programs and classes. Ever since this early training, his observational artwork, especially in still life, remains amongst his strongest suits. Upon his arrival at Deerfield as a freshman, Chung immediately took advantage of the arts program. He worked with former art teacher David Dickinson for three years. The Deerfield Arts Program has pushed Chung out of his comfort zone and exposed him to a variety of new techniques and mediums. At Deerfield, he discovered and took an interest in a new form of visual arts: architecture. Architecture intrigued Chung because it bridged together his love of art and problem-solving. Visual Arts Teacher David Payne commended Chung’s skill within both mediums.“John has made a very smooth transition from drawing by hand to the computer. [He is] equally adept at both,” he said. In addition to architecture, Chung also expanded his artistic “toolbox” within the mediums of graphite and charcoal drawing. This pushed him out of his comfort zone and forced him to experiment with more creativity. Chung stated that one of the more memorable projects he worked on was to convert human faces into animal faces. Mr. Payne cited Chung’s meticulous attention to detail and work ethic as reasons for his artistic success. “I think he puts a lot of time and effort and care into each of his drawings. It’s not just about finishing the project. It’s about doing it to the best of his ability,” he said. Fellow artist Madeline Lee ‘20 also highlighted Chung’s skill. “His attention to detail which artists, in general, tend to not pay attention to too much differentiates John,” she said. Art has been a hobby and a passion for Chung since he was in elementary school. At Deerfield, he has achieved much regard and developed greatly as an artist. After Deerfield, he plans to continue his career in art.

It’s Monday. I rise from bed and check my phone: 9:32. For most, this might be a jarring sight. But for those with first and second period free, it is simply routine. I’ve been here for a couple years now, with various combinations of free periods in my schedule. Though the free period combinations are all essentially equal — let’s be honest — some are more equal than others. Somehow, this year, I’ve been blessed with 1 and 2 free, possibly due to karma. My first class usually doesn’t start until 10. On those days, I feel like my 9 year old self again, taking a sip of McDonald’s Sprite (McDonald’s Sprite hits different) in the back of my mom’s car after missing school for a doctor’s appointment. Some days, I stroll into class having easily hit 9 or 10 hours of sleep. Although the combination of first and second free is by far the best, I will also rank the lesser combinations of frees. Also, I just want to add that I came to the for the advertised Magpie dinner, but was mewed into writing an article, so this is it. This is the definitive ranking of free period combinations, according to my expert opinion: Top Tier: Pros: Allows for the longest period of consecutive free time. Shortens the entire academic day while not any two required obligations. Cons: Allows for a massive sleep-in on most days. Feels “too good” sometimes Upper Tier: Pros: Day ends 100 minutes earlier, with ample rest time before cocurricular. Wednesdays and Thursdays are back-to-back half-days Cons: No time in the academic day to work on procrastinated homework or study last-minute for a test before class. Pros: Sleep-in no matter the day. Never have more than 3 classes in a row. Cons: Getting no work done if you’re a fan of sleeping. Pros: Day begins later and ends earlier. Work can be done seventh if first is used for sleeping in. Cons: Two breaks of 45 minutes is less valuable than one of 100 minutes. Middle Tier: Pros: Fourth period includes the fifteen minutes before lunch, so you technically have an hour long free. Even though you don’t. Math. If combined with a parker room lunch assignment, it becomes upper tier frees for those who prefer a midday break. Bottom Tier: The Worst Possible Frees: Pros: absolutely nothing. Cons: Feeling like a clown waking up for an 8:30 class immediately followed by a break.And then having to wait around for 7th period class when the day is almost over. Knowing that literally any, and I really many any, other combination of frees would be better than what you currently endure.