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With campus-wide Internet access and the ubiquity of technology, students have unprecedented access to news. In the midst of a controversial political era and intensifying primary races, this twenty-four-hour news cycle has increasingly fueled both political discourse and ruptures among the students and faculty. Such discussions are prevalent between students. “I’ve always heard of political conversations happening at dinner. Students bring up some ideas in conversation, and they are discussed respectfully,” Young Democrats Vice President Harry Niles ’21 said. The Young Democrats and Young Republicans have joint meetings that facilitate across-the-aisle dialogue. Niles continued, “In club meetings also, both the Young Democrats and Young Republicans do a lot of free speaking about political issues. Our groups provide a safe space for like-minded people.” He added, “We don’t want all the democrats to join the Young Democrats and the Republicans to join the Young Republicans, and for there to be this separation between the two. We want students to together learn about what is happening in the impeachment process, the primaries, and the news in general.” Yet, political disjunction exists within the student body. Dylan Bane ’20 said, “Boys, who generally lean more conservative, let their opinions fly with their friends, especially in the dorm. Girls generally lean more to the left. There is definitely some political tension between boys and girls because they are afraid of offending someone.” Indeed, according to an online survey conducted by The Scroll in 2018, of the 154 students who identified as conservatives, 62% were male, while 63% of 110 self-reporting liberals were female. However, a 48% majority identified as “other or unsure” or as independents. “Guys are together all the time, and girls are together all the time, so Deerfield is a pretty separated campus,” Niles stated. “Those political collaborations between the genders do not happen all that often.” When students do express their opinions, they can trigger unsympathetic or even hostile responses. Teddy McCarthy ’20, President of the Young Republicans, said, “If I share those beliefs other students do not agree with, they will brush them off or laugh them off. Sometimes, their answer is to simply ignore my comments.” “Most of the time, though, they express a genuine understanding of my comments, and then we can have genuine political discussions. That’s why collaboration between the Young Republicans and Democrats can be so rewarding,” McCarthy continued. On the other hand, in humanities classes, where politics can affect the flow of the curriculum and discussion, teachers shape the curriculum and discussions, acting as political mediators. Philosophy and Religion teacher Ben Grimm teaches a fundamentally political class, “Religion and American Politics,” Regarding his role in political discourse at Deerfield, Mr. Grimm shared, “My role is to give students the permission and the resources to have elevated discussions about politics. I see myself as a provocateur. Anything that someone says, unless someone else in the class readily tries to undermine, it is my duty to challenge because that’s the crux of having an adult in the room.” Continuing, he admitted that “It is impossible, though I try, to completely conceal what I think [politically], mostly because there is an inherent bias in designing the curriculum as such. When I choose texts for my course, I inherently posit that there is a connection between them, and that alone is an imposition of my own political beliefs.” According to McCarthy, “There is a definite feeling among conservative students that they cannot express the totality of their views in class to predominantly liberal teachers for fear of discrimination in class and against their grades. Conservatives feel silenced because of the faculty and administration.” “There are cases in which teachers teach their politics. As a senior at Deerfield, I have learned to take things [from teachers] with a grain of salt. The problem lies in little comments they make, but it was painfully obvious to me after the 2016 election. A few teachers skipped class the next day because they were so upset, and there were no repercussions,” McCarthy continued, referencing Republican Donald Trump’s victory over Hillary Clinton in the most recent presidential election. Dylan Bane ’20 also acknowledged that self-imposed censorship and politically sensitive classroom environments preclude many conservative students from expressing their views. “They don’t want to risk their grades. For example, they might write papers, arguing for a more leftist or neutral position. Despite what teachers say and aim for, the overall tone of class is that if you have a conservative opinion, just keep it to yourself,” he said. According to the same data published by The Scroll, 86% of conservative students last had censored themselves as a result of their political views. However, Mr. Grimm contested the on-campus significance of the faculty’s political outlook, saying, “There’s a prevailing sentiment among students that there is a tyrannical liberal faction among the faculty. In some ways, it is inconsequential what the faculty’s politics are. It’s a red herring—a convenient excuse for not talking about politics—to say that there is too much tension in classes.” “I think students often express a feeling of being unable to discuss politics on campus without necessarily being able to identify the origins of that unwelcoming environment,” he continued. “It’s a snowball effect; if students, in general, begin to discuss politics more openly, other students will realize that they are allowed to. We need to be out there, seeking to understand one another. We are promoting a discourse that’s defined merely by it’s civility, we are really telling people to have superficial conversations,” Mr. Grimm added. Still, another Philosophy and Religion teacher Michael Cary emphasized that politics are not as relevant to Deerfield life as Deerfield student might think. Mr. Cary stated, “It would be unfortunate if we lived in this presidential politics terrarium for the next thirteen months [until the election]. In a twenty-four hour news cycle, we are constantly bombarded with this kind of news and much adieu about not very much. Life will go on, Deerfield.”

“When you were little, did you ever have friends your mom made you hang out with, even though you didn’t want to? Then those friends kept showing up, and you were confused and sick of them. Soon enough, those friends were around so much that you got used to them. Finally, those friends were always with you and never left, and you almost began to enjoy having them around. Until last year, this was my relationship with my mental illness. My depression took root in the beginning of my middle school years and will be with me for the rest of my life. Although I was mostly a happy child, I suffered bouts of deep sadness that felt like a heavy boulder on my chest. These bouts would come and go, but they did not outwardly affect me until I was a new sophomore at Deerfield. We all know that some people find winter at Deerfield lonely, dark, and long. I began isolating myself in my room, pulling away from my relationships, and giving up on schoolwork. During the last few weeks of spring term, my sadness surrounded me constantly. But that summer after my sophomore year, my friend depression rarely came around anymore, and I was thankful for her absence. Two weeks before my junior year began, however, my friend came back and planned to stay. My sense of well-being was already compromised, and I totally lost it after someone I knew and loved broke serious sexual boundaries with me. I did the worst thing a victim can do, and I pretended it hadn’t happened. This all became too much, and I attempted to take my own life. I returned to school for the fall of my junior year, but I realized that I could not handle the stresses Deerfield presented. I went to treatment for my depression and returned to the valley for my senior year. Coming back from medical leave was definitely not what I expected. I saw a stark contrast between my treatment facility—a place full of aware and accepting people—and my experience at Deerfield. Although my friends were extremely supportive, they seemed to be the only ones who knew what had been going on in my life for the past year. Dr. Josh Relin, Director of Counseling at Deerfield, has explained to me that federal laws designed to protect patient privacy constrain what information can be shared in workplaces and schools. “There is a strong firewall between what happens in the Health Center and the other adults in the community due to HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act),” he said. “This law determines how health information can and cannot be shared.” HIPAA was designed to protect patient privacy, yet in my experience, it left me feeling very much alone. I didn’t care that students thought that I had left because of an eating disorder, or that I had been bullied, but it concerned me that my teachers and advisors didn’t know what I had been going through. Even though it was helpful for me to discuss my struggles with all of those important people in my life, it was still uncomfortable, and it was hard for me to take the initiative. In the future, I hope that the Health Center reaches out to students before they return from medical leave in order to discuss how the school can make their adjustment back to Deerfield less difficult. If they had reached out to me, I would have let them know that I wanted my circumstances shared with my teachers and advisors before I returned to campus; this would have made my transition back a lot easier. Deerfield is one of the top educational institutions in the country, yet no one seems to know how to talk about mental illness. People talk about cancer freely; why is it so difficult to discuss the effects of depression, bi-polar, anxiety, or schizophrenic disorders? Just because the illness may not be outwardly visible doesn’t mean the person suffering from it isn’t struggling. I have experienced a lot of stigma surrounding mental health on Deerfield’s campus. As students, we have the power to end that immediately. Stigma places blame on the person suffering from the illness and makes them ashamed to talk openly about what they’re going through. Teachers and students on our campus can do their best to be more aware when discussing mental health issues. If someone says they’re feeling depressed, a good way to respond would be, “What are some other things you’re feeling? What do you think has brought this on?” If you don’t feel comfortable saying either of those, say, “I don’t understand what you’re going through, but I am here for support.” Too often, people speak before they think, and that can damage the trust in a relationship. If someone confides in you, try not to say, “It’s all in your mind,” or “lighten up,” or, my personal favorite, “Happiness is a choice.” No, it’s really not. When I’m in a really bad place, I do my best to surround myself with positive people and upbeat music, but too often it feels as if I’m drowning in my own thoughts, while everyone else seems to be breathing comfortably. Many people are suffering, but because many people feel uncomfortable talking about it, no one is aware of the sufferers. This leaves people feeling even more alone. Since I spoke about this issue at school meeting, I have had countless people approach me, telling me that they, too, are struggling and would love to be more open about it. I am calling all members of the Deerfield community to come forward and talk freely about mental health issues. We are all either struggling or know someone who is battling an illness; let’s come together to make our community more inclusive and comfortable.

The 2016 presidential election was the most controversial and polarizing election in recent history. To the Deerfield community, the election of President Donald Trump came as a shock., in part because the media portrayed the odds of Trump’s election as extremely low,But there was another, far greater influence at play in our Deerfield community. The isolated nature of the so-called “Deerfield bubble” allowed a select few to set the political atmosphere of the school community and, in particular, it was the faculty who set the liberal expectation. There is no question that Deerfield’s student body is bi-partisan and many students in 2016 supported Trump, just as many students supported Clinton. But the problem lies in the fact that this diversity of thought means nothing if we only associate with like-minded individuals. Many students who only saw one side, whichever side that may be, were led to believe that their own side would prevail, as that was all that they could see. But this had a far greater effect upon the faculty because, while the student body is fairly bi-partisan, the great majority of faculty were and remain firmly anti-Trump.  I believe that it is imperative for the Deerfield community to understand not only why President Trump was elected, but also why it was not a mistake, and why his support has only been growing. The first and arguably the most influential factor is that his election was a retaliatory response. Conservative Americans see the Democratic Party and Liberal America sliding down a slippery slope to extremism. Concerns over socialism, open borders, political sensitivity, the suppression of the freedoms granted in the Bill of Rights, and, most importantly, the inability to have a rational conversation with the Left leave conservative voters with little faith in the Democratic Party. They watch as a party once diverse in thought and opinion competes to be as “Alt-left” as possible These concerns have led to a “red wave” movement within the United States. Since its inception, President Trump has continued to change the definition of what it means to be “red” as he is far from a traditional conservative. It is also important to note that Hillary Clinton represented everything about the left that had traditionally repelled the right. Clinton was vilified among Conservative voters because she had become a personification of everything they hated about Liberalism and the political system as a whole. President Trump’s new ideology was a breath of fresh air to many Americans caught in the trap of middle class monotony. It is this same breath of fresh air that I firmly believe will guarantee President Trump re-election in 2020. Not only do I believe that Trump will be re-elected, but I predict that he will do so by a larger margin both in the electoral college and the popular vote. At the most basic level, his re-election is assisted simply by being an incumbent. History has shown us that is extremely difficult to beat an incumbent: there have been only nine one-term presidents. History has also shown us that it is extremely difficult to beat an incumbent when the economy is booming. This factor alone puts the Democratic party at an immediate disadvantage. The Democrats will also struggle with the media in this election because of the same reason it helped them in the last election. In 2016, mainstream media led much of America, as aforementioned, to believe that President Trump’s election was a long shot. This media portrayal led many voters that would have swung to Trump to instead support third party or independent candidates, some not voting at all, thinking that Trump was a waste of a vote. These voters now know, thanks to the 2016 election, that they are not a minority in this election and instead that they are in quite large company. Over the course of his tenure in office, President Trump has won over the large majority of these swing conservative voters. Because he is not a traditional right wing politician, he lost the support of many swingers but his record of service thus far has won over this constituency and will be yet another roadblock in the Democratic campaign. This election will also usher in four more years of the youngest generation, the now dubbed “Generation Z.” There has been a fair amount of research and writing done on our generation’s politics and it is certain that we are one of the most conservative generations in modern history. Studies show that the left wing politics of the millennial generation has not carried over. We are not the next millennials, and, in fact, we are considered quite the opposite  liberalism, and the political system as a whole. President Trump’s new ideology was a breath of fresh air to many Americans caught in the trap of middle class monotony. It is this same breath of fresh air that I firmly believe will guarantee President Trump’s re-election in 2020. Not only do I believe that Trump will be re-elected, but I predict that he will do so by a larger margin both in the electoral college and the popular vote. At the most basic level, his re-election is assisted simply by being an incumbent. History has shown us that is extremely difficult to beat an incumbent; there have been only nine one-term presidents. History has also shown us that it is extremely difficult to beat an incumbent when the economy is booming. This factor alone puts the Democratic party at an immediate disadvantage. The Democrats will also struggle with the media in this election for the same reason it helped them in the last election. In 2016, mainstream media led much of America, as aforementioned, to believe that President Trump’s election was a long shot. This media portrayal led many voters that would have swung to Trump to instead support third party or independent candidates, some not voting at all, thinking that Trump was a waste of a vote. These voters now know, thanks to the 2016 election, that they are not a minority in this election, and, instead, that they are in quite large company. Over the course of his tenure in office, President Trump has won over the large majority of these swing conservative voters. Because he is not a traditional right wing politician, he lost the support of many swingers but his record of service thus far has won over this constituency. This win will be yet another roadblock in the Democratic campaign. This election will also usher in four more years of the youngest generation, now dubbed “Generation Z.” There has been a fair amount of research and writing done on our generation’s politics and it is certain that we are one of the most conservative generations in modern history. Studies show that the left wing politics of the millennial generation has not carried over. We are not the next millennials. In fact, we are considered quite the opposite. This will undoubtedly influence the 2020 election, as Gen Z voters, according to research, have turned largely conservative and will undoubtedly vote in accordance. This will be yet another obstacle for the Democratic party. But what will ultimately lead to a Democratic loss is the utter lack of progress that has been made to foster a healthy relationship between the parties. The Democratic debates have revealed to conservative Republicans that they have continued with their ill-fated pattern of extremism. Their rhetoric does not represent an understanding of conservative ideology and the non-stop onslaught of accusations and attempts to invalidate the presidency only solidify the American people’s doubts about the credibility, rationality, and morality of the Democratic Party. Donald Trump’s election to the presidency in 2016 was a message. That message was not understood; his re-election in 2020 will send that message once more.

What comes to mind when you think of an “artist?” Perhaps composers holed up in the practice rooms of the Hess with sheet music that seems impossible to decipher or painters hiding behind an easel during daylight hours? These are stereotypes of what it means to be an artist, particularly at Deerfield. However, in recent years, a wave of creativity has washed over the Valley. From the dome built outside the Koch to the Deerfield Morale Volunteers (DMV), artists are encouraged to push the boundaries of traditional work and smudge the line between imagination and reality. Deerfield’s campus, without question, is populated with artists who produce incredible work both inside the classroom and outside. Helen Mak ’20, the leader of Deerfield’s Visual Arts Club, describes two types of unconventional artists: “One is someone who you typically would not think of doing art due to stereotypes that are still ingrained in Deerfield and beyond; the other is someone who focuses on unconventionality of products, someone who makes the product unique.” The Visual Arts Club strives to expose the community to the interplay of art in everyday life. The club highlights this intertwined nature of art through the construction of the dome, which Mak states is “incorporating math, science, and even economics.” This creative mix, combined with the helping hands of the community, highlights the Visual Arts Club’s goal to invite people from all walks of life to explore the beauty of art through unconventional means. Angie Osei-Ampadu ’21 adds to this concept by describing the role that the DMV plays as another musical program on campus: “Deerfield has an amazing orchestra and acapella groups but the DMV’s goal is to accept everyone regardless of musical ability. I believe this is where our unique motto comes from: .” With a motto that stands for “doing things your own way” and defying the odds, the DMV took their passion for the arts right onto the stage in a stellar school meeting performance. This organization takes pride in knowing that the athlete, the academic, the dancer, the singer, and the “none-of-the-above” all have a place in their commitment to raising morale in the Deerfield community through music. What about individuals? The section of Deerfield artist who, in Mak’s words, “plays with the rules of artistry to create their own nuanced pieces.” According to Piper Day ’21, “Unconventional artistry is work, when compared with the rest of the community, that stands out among the crowd.” Day has pursued individual artistic projects such as drawing Cyndi Lauper on her blazer as a creative interpretation of the recent changes in the dress code. Even faculty members such as John Downie, a carpenter at Deerfield and a member of the physical plant, are crafting artistic projects. Downie is about to receive a plaque in the new Health Center for painting the dowels on the blinds in mesmerizing shades of brown. Through this mix of interconnected work, combined with the originality that only the artist can provide, individuals all around this campus are making their unconventional marks on the Deerfield community.

It is every athlete’s dream to represent their country at the highest level of their sport. Varsity Boys’ Crew Captain Jimmy Patton ’20 made this dream a reality. This past summer, Patton was selected as one of 16 athletes to don the red, white, and blue while competing for the United States U19 National Crew Team. The selection process was incredibly rigorous and Patton distinguished himself as one of the nation’s premier rowers. 60 athletes were invited to the selection camp, a challenge in and of itself. Of those 60, 16 were added to the team’s roster. Head Boys’ Varsity Crew Coach Spencer Washburn spoke to the exhaustive selection process, saying: “Just making it to camp was a huge accomplishment, but then making the team really spoke to Patton’s ability as an oarsman as well as his competitiveness – he simply finds a way to win, regardless of the situation.” It is this competitiveness that distinguished Patton from the average incredibly high-achieving athlete. Teammate and Co-Captain Tommy Gilmore ’20 spoke to Patton’s competitive ability. He said, “He is the most dedicated and persistent rower I have ever been in a boat with. He always does the little things right and will do anything necessary to win races.” Patton brings a special combination of talent, work ethic, and competitiveness to both the Deerfield and American crews. But being selected for the team was just the beginning. All 16 American rowers spent their summers training at an Olympic style training camp in preparation to take the world stage. An average day at US training camp consisted of a 5:00am wake up, straight into 7 hours on the water, a 2 hour nap on a good day, another 4 hours on the water, then straight to bed before they did it all again. Makes you feel pretty bad about your summer, doesn’t it? After this intense training, the US team shipped off to Japan to compete against the top crews in the country. In a thrilling medal race, Patton’s 8v boat finished in second place edging out the Brits and coming in just behind the Germans who, according to Patton, looked like: “Grown a** men.” There is no question that Patton’s hard work paid off. He counts his work with the US national team among his greatest accomplishments, saying: “It was an absolute honor to be able to represent the US at that level.” We are all incredibly proud of Patton and anticipate his work with the US National Team this year.

“David Koch is a living example of Mr. Boyden’s aspiration,” former chair of the Board of Trustees Phillip Greer said in an interview with the Scroll in 2010. Over the summer of 2019, the Deerfield community lost an influential member of its community, Mr. David Koch. Born in Wichita, Kansas in 1940, Mr. Koch graduated from Deerfield Academy in 1958. In 1983, he became co-owner of Koch Industries, alongside Charles Koch, and later became an executive vice-president until his retirement in 2018 due to health issues. During his time at Deerfield, Mr. Koch was both a talented student and an athlete, serving as the captain for the track and field team, varsity basketball player, and the exchange editor for the Deerfield Scroll. His contributions to Deerfield did not stop after graduation, as Mr. Koch contributed to Deerfield through his service as a trustee and his financial support through his generous many donations. “I was told that he didn’t miss a meeting for basically the 20 years he was on the board, until he was no longer able to attend. That’s a great task and his commitment to the school — he just wanted to be here and felt that it was important,” Head of School Dr. John Austin said when discussing Mr. Koch’s continuous dedication to the school. Mr. Koch was given the highest honor as a trustee in 2010 when he was named a lifetime trustee. During his interview with the Scroll in 2014, Mr. Koch said, “I feel obligated to serve on the Board of Trustees and help Deerfield in many ways because they helped me so much.” Fellow member of the class of 1958 Brian Rosborough said, “[David Koch] had what I would call a philanthropic whimsy. I think the important aspects of his character shouldn’t be left out. He was a tremendously loyal friend, was quiet and very focused, and he was a huge patriot of the country.” John Damgard, a close friend of Mr. Koch and a member of the class of 1957, said, “I was with David the night before he died. He was just so tough that he wouldn’t give up. He had an incredible sense of strength… He is the strongest guy I’ve ever met.” The support from Mr. Koch’s contributions has propelled Deerfield to become the school that it is today. Mr. Koch funded ambitious projects such as the David H. Koch Natatorium in 1995, eco-friendly Koch Center in 2007, and Field House in 2018. With Mr. Koch’s support, the Academy has been able to provide incredible academic and athletic facilities for students to excel both in the classroom, on the field, or in the pool. Over his lifetime, Koch donated over $70 million to Deerfield Academy, helping Deerfield establish itself as a boarding school that provides state-of-the-art education. Discussing Mr. Koch’s continuous dedication to Deerfield Academy, former Head of School Dr. Margarita Curtis said, “I think he had a very soft spot for Deerfield. He said it was the most transformative stage of his life. It was here when he was exposed to excellent teaching and experiences. He always thought that Deerfield was the place that launched him. He always called Deerfield home.” However, Koch’s legacy is also marked with controversy, especially surrounding his stance on climate change. As Hunter Keller ‘20 said in a Scroll interview back in 2018, “David and Charles Koch have denied climate change and denounced it numerous times… At this point, in our current political era, people seem to feel like they are entitled to claim their own alternative facts… to things that are [scientifically] proven.” Many students and people have misinterpreted Mr. Koch’s view of climate change, believing that he was a complete denier of climate change. However, Mr. Rosborough clarified by saying, “He didn’t support government investment in climate change… He was a great reader of science and cared deeply about the Earth. He also contributed to the organization ‘Earth Watch’ that funds scientific research in over 120 countries.” Addressing this controversy, Dr. Austin said, “Regardless of where his political affiliations were, he helped fund a science center that is offering today’s students a cutting-edge education in science and many of those students are going to go on and have careers in environmental advocacy and sustainability…”Dr. Austin further said, “There’s a certain kind of beauty to that, and the school would never ever accept a gift if it were contingent any kind of programmatic requirements.” Similarly, Dr. Curtis, whose tenure as Head of School overlapped with Mr. Koch’s involvement on the Board of Trustees, shared, “I think a lot of people worried that he would have undue influence at this school. One thing I can vouch for is that he never once intervened in any way. Whether it was about the program or hiring, facilities — nothing.” “Unfortunately, David is no longer here to argue with us… but he was supportive of every community he [was a part of]. He was a full participant in what it means to be free and equal in America,” Mr. Rosborough said. With the passing of Mr. Koch, his contributions to the institution have created a unique legacy that will continue to impact the Deerfield community. Members of the Deerfield community will be reminded by Mr. Koch’s dedication to this academy through the facilities inaugurated under his name. As Dr. Austin expressed, “I would say to the students that he’s an example of someone who – thirty, forty, fifty years after Deerfield – believed so strongly in the institution that he wanted to give back to it. I hope that students, both now in the future, feel similarly. A school like Deerfield depends upon the philanthropic generosity of others.” No matter the opinions regarding Mr. Koch’s controversial political standings, his support and dedication to the enhancement of academic and athletic facilities for Deerfield Academy’s students will forever be remembered. Mr. Koch was an instrumental member of the Deerfield community, both during his time here as a student and as a trustee, and his contributions to Deerfield will affect thousands of students to come.

Seniors have the right to do things that inferior grades could only dream of doing. And the beauty of it all is that they bow down to no one. Now, in the rare cases that our privileges are disrespected by those who do not belong in the Class of 2020, serious consequences will occur. Let’s explore more deeply what these consequences might entail. The other day, some seniors were watching Wisconsin beat the most overrated football team in the country, Michigan State. Around the third quarter, a strange figure lurked near the ramp leading up to the Senior Table, where several members of the class of 2020 lay, reclined in luxury. The figure emerged from the vicinity of the ramp with a big smile, as though he knew what he was doing was ludicrous. This person, a non-senior, calmly sat down at the table, still smiling. Now for legal reasons, their name will be kept confidential, but the seniors at the table decided to be professional and give him a 30-minute lecture about the punishments of crossing seniors. This child was informed of stories from years ago, like that of an underclassman waking up in the middle of the river, with their mattress floating downstream on a very cold February morning. This victim had crossed members of the senior class multiple times but did not realize what this meant for his future. He is said to have had nightmares of that experience for the next four years until his graduation. Another tale is of a tenth-grade boy who stepped on senior grass because he was late to his class (as if that is an acceptable excuse). This boy was seen by multiple members of that year’s senior class and, as a result, ended up failing every single one of his courses for the trimester, even Intro to Dance and Studio Art. How does this relate to the boy stepping on senior grass? Well, let’s just say the seniors had some established connections with that boy’s teachers. To cap it off, seniors shared with this freshman one of the most terrifying tales heard in ages. Some say it is a myth, others recall it happening but can’t recall the details. It is said that a junior girl, some odd years ago, would never wait for seniors to “lead the way” at school meetings. She would just walk in front of them, disregarding their very existence, and getting to hear Mr. Toby Emerson yell out “ONE CHIP! ONE CHIP!” before everyone else. This disrespect left seniors infuriated but they didn’t know what to do. It is said that they consulted Dr. Margarita Curtis for advice, but she was also speechless about the situation. Frustrated and with nothing to do, the seniors simply left it to the hands of fate to take care of the matter. One night, after finishing her homework, she heard a strange sound. God himself had come down to her room in Mac III to have a word with her. “Thou shalt not disrespect seniors of Deerfield Academy,” he said. “It is one of the cardinal sins. Thou shalt have grave consequences if thou dost not obey thy Lord.” The 11th grader, close to fainting, nodded her head fervently. God later returned to heaven. It is said that the girl has never disrespected a senior, even in college, ever since. As the story came to a close, the underclassman at the senior table fell to his knees, weeping in compliance. “Please forgive me for my sins,” he cried. “I promise I will never cross a senior for as long as I live.” As he spoke, the glares of the seniors softened, pitying the fool. With his crimes forgiven, but not forgotten, the underclassman made the journey back to the Village in silence and solitude, fearing the consequences of making such a grave mistake. Let his story be a warning to all non-seniors: one day your time will come when you can bask in the warmth of seniorhood but until such a time, watch your step.

On Thursday, Sept. 26, 2019, Deerfield Academy welcomed renowned author Tim O’Brien to campus. O’Brien began the day by eating lunch with students before sharing personal anecdotes and insights about writing with several English classes. The evening culminated with O’Brien reading from his well-anticipated upcoming novel, . The morning after, he held two Question and Answer sessions. O’Brien has written many books, including . He has won a variety of honors including the 1979 National Book Award as well as the Pritzker Military Library Award. This summer, the Deerfield community read O’Brien’s magnum opus, . The collection of stories and chapters in the novel details the raw experiences and emotions of a soldier in the Vietnam War, stemming from O’Brien’s own background. The book itself is not strictly autobiographical (O’Brien defined it as “not a memoir”), but uses verisimilitude to weave together truth and fantasy. O’Brien began writing when he was a young boy. Later, during his time in Vietnam, he would write stories about his experiences and the things that he had seen and done. These stories, O’Brien said, enabled him to write “I think if I hadn’t begun in Vietnam… I wouldn’t have had a place to start.” English Teacher Mark Ott, a personal friend of O’Brien, brought him to campus. Having focused on the novel in class for the first few weeks, Dr. Ott shared that he hopes “the whole experience of reading his book and hearing his talk at Deerfield will deepen students’ connection with literature.” He added, “Hopefully, they will see him as a peace writer, not a war writer.” O’Brien himself expressed this sentiment in his reading and in the question-and-answer sessions. “Books are not war-specific or incident-specific… [I] hope that a book reaches into the nooks and crannies of all of you,” he said. For O’Brien, is nor a war story nor an argument about what occurred in Vietnam. Just as he used writing to find escape as a child, he wrote because he had to when he became a soldier. “I don’t write a story just to write one,” O’Brien said. “I do it because there is something bubbling in my stomach, in my heart, that has to find a way out of me.” This is echoed closely in the ending lines of , with the narrator, arguably O’Brien himself, saying, “It [the story] was Timmy trying to save Timmy’s life with a story.” The novel itself speaks to the cathartic and rehabilitative nature of storytelling. For some, the most impactful part of O’Brien’s visit was how real he was. “I think that his great strength is being true to who he is and being authentic in all of his interactions,” said Dr. Ott. “There was no faking it.” O’Brien’s authenticity is evident in his writing as well. O’Brien explained that he seeks to write conversational stories that are relatable to many: “I’m striving to appeal not only to the brain, but to the tear ducts, and whatever the laugh ducts are, and the stomach. I want your stomach to feel something,” he said. Students also spoke about the unique way that O’Brien captivated the audience. “He’s an impressive storyteller. The words he uses aren’t particularly complex but his diction enthralls,” said Elven Shum ’20. “For me, it made everything real; I didn’t really realize how beautifully one can turn trauma into art,” John Chung ’20 said. O’Brien shared a unique and touching perspective with the Deerfield community; we are deeply thankful.

The warm-up playlist is arguably the most important aspect of the athlete’s pre-game ritual. Whether you listen to “RapCaviar” or “Chillin’ On a Dirt Road,” everyone has a song that gets them pumped up and ready to perform at their very best. We have polled some of the most prominent athletes in the senior class to compile quite possibly the most hype warm up playlist ever made. Look out for the playlist on SoundCloud, seriously! Max Stevens: “How Far I’ll Go,” Auli’i Cravalho Hanna Deringer: “Neverland,” KSHMR Carter Weymouth: “Split,” Tiesto Christina Halloran: “Runaway,” Galantis Aidan Philie: “Skrilla,” Kodak Black Griffin Dewey: “All I Do is Win,” DJ Khaled feat. T-Pain Zach Davis: “Latch It Up,” Sam Smith x Passion Pit x Louis the Child x Wheathan Julia Placek: “Juice,” Lizzo Thacher Smith: “Headlines,” Drake Maddie Clough: “Body,” Loud Luxury Tommy Gilmore: “Dream and Nightmares,” Meek Mill Nikita Pelletier: “Legend,” The Score Izzy Hamlen: “Thunder/Young Dumb & Broke Remix,” Imagine Dragons feat. Khalid Netanya Jimenez: “Pretty Girl Rock,” Keri Hilson Jane Mallach: “I Think I’m OKAY,” Machine Gun Kelly Will Savage: “Millidelphia,” Meek Mill Liv Mikesell: “Jungle,” X Ambassadors feat. Jamie Commons Happy listening!

Since last March, Science Teacher Mark Teutsch and a handful of students have been busy establishing a new co-curricular called “Growing Green.” Growing Green provides the opportunity to spend their time after school in activities ranging from beekeeping to mushroom cultivation. Lorraine Peoples ’21, a member of Growing Green, was originally planning on doing community service in the fall, but when she heard of this new opportunity she felt compelled to join. “I was super excited to see the option of growing plants and learning about beekeeping,” Peoples said. Peoples and several other students have been spending their afternoons climbing to the roof of the Koch Center, where 80,000 bees live in 4 different hive stacks. The hives contain different breeds of bees as well; two hives accommodate Italian Carniolan honey bees while the other two house Siberian honey bees. Before handling or approaching bees, all participants must first put on a protective white bee suit, resembling an astronaut spacesuit. Once on the roof, Mr. Teutsch will light a smoker, a small contraption that emits smoke into the beehives and makes the bees more docile so that it is easier for the students to harvest the honey. After collecting the honey, the students are able to take some home to enjoy later on. When not at the Koch center, the students report to the greenhouse. Currently, the students are cultivating arugula, spinach, beets, peas, saffron, and even reishi mushrooms. Reishi mushrooms have been used for centuries to boost human immune systems. Recent research has shown that these properties can be extended to bees as well. Mr. Teutsch said, “The microbiome of the honeybees is more robust in the presence of exposure [to reishi mushrooms] … that’s an important part of the greenhouse complement.” Through Growing Green, students hope to introduce these mushrooms into the honeybees’ environment so that the bees can reap the antiviral benefits of reishi mushrooms. Cultivating different plants in the greenhouse and tending to the honeybees on the roof of the Koch is a unique way for students to learn outside the classroom. After her first visit to the honeybees on the roof of the Koch, Claire Cummings ’21 said: “I’m so happy to have this transformative experience right here in our backyard.” The Growing Green team is not the only one that has been reaping the benefits of having bees in such close quarters. Art Teacher Mercedes Taylor has also brought her Topics Tutorial class to the roof in order to observe the artistic nature of the bees. “It was fascinating to watch the natural movement of the bees. It definitely inspired some of the artwork that I am working on right now,” John Chung ’20 said. Recently, Mr. Teutsch also hosted a “Honeybee Biology” information session on Sunday night. He invited Apiarist Dan and Bonita Conlon, the owners of Warm Colors Apiary in South Deerfield, Mass. Through this lecture, students learned the different ways that apiarists manage the health of their bees. Mr. Teutsch said, “Education is a start, and it’s interesting because learning provides inspiration… when we start to learn something we get interested and we get curious and we want to learn more, we want more exposure… whether we are listening to a local expert, or reading [on the subject].” Events like the information session allow Deerfield students to get involved with and learn more about beekeeping, even if they are not venturing up to the roof of the Koch.

Hello, DA community, and welcome to Balanced Bites, a new monthly nutrition column where I will be addressing nutrition, eating topics, and questions from around campus and in the news. First, let me introduce myself. My name is Karyn Mancari, and I’m a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. I have a Bachelor’s in Biology through Springfield College and a Post-Baccalaureate degree and Master’s in Applied Nutrition through Russell Sage College. I’ve worked with all ages and in all areas of nutrition, but have done the most work in sports nutrition (thank you, Springfield College) disordered eating, and wellness. This is my second year on campus and I’m looking forward to spreading the word about how good nutrition can affect every part of your life. Let’s dive in. And since we’re just beginning, let’s start with the beginning of our day: breakfast. We’ve all heard about how it’s “the most important meal of the day” and has a ton of health benefits, but what’s the reality behind that? The point of breakfast is just that: breaking the fast. While we sleep, our bodies slow all of the non-vital functions like gut activity and metabolism, so it can conserve energy and enhance our sleep. “Breaking the fast” by eating something within the first hour of waking is a way to shift your body back into day-time mode and kick-start your metabolism. Some looking to cut calories for weight loss may see this as an easy time to do just that, but years of studies show that, even though habitual breakfast eaters may consume more daily calories, they are less likely to be overweight. There are a few theories behind this conclusion. First, that metabolism meets its regular rate sooner in the day so the body works more efficiently at burning energy. Another is that those who eat soon after waking have more energy to be more active throughout the day. In addition to being important for metabolism and energy, habitual breakfast eating was consistently positively associated with increased academic performance and ability to focus in adolescents in particular, according to 2015 study in The Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. If you’re not a morning eater, don’t fret just yet. If you’re trying to maintain an eating schedule, it generally takes 1-2 weeks to train our bodies when to expect food. This means that even if you generally don’t wake up hungry, consistently eating in the morning for 1-2 weeks, can teach your body to activate appetite hormones allowing you to wake up hungry. Once you’ve established a morning appetite, we should look at the content. The ideal breakfast contains some kind of carbohydrate (fruit, whole grains, and dairy) and some protein — think oatmeal with nuts or nut butter, Greek yogurt with granola and fruit, two hard-boiled eggs and cereal, or a low-sugar granola bar. A source of healthy fat and a fruit or vegetable are a healthy addition but not always feasible. Building a breakfast like this can help with sustained energy throughout the day and meeting your nutritional needs. Long story short, I personally encourage everyone to eat breakfast, but especially if you’re an active adolescent. If you’ve been interested in fasting or cutting calories, there are healthy ways to do it that can provide some health benefits but overall, anyone still growing (hello, DA students) need the additional nutrition. For any more questions about any nutrition-related topic or ideas/questions for the Scroll, e-mail me at kmancari@deerfield.edu and make sure to check out all of the offerings at our Dining Hall. Happy Fall! Karyn Mancari