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9:43pm in the newsroom. I plug the final Wednesday score into InDesign and shut off the computer monitor. Josh flicks the lights off and yells back at me to close the door. I turn back and take one last look at the dark room before closing the door behind me. 7:30pm on the lower fields. The sun is beginning to set and the sky is painted with deep strokes of purple and orange. Nat King Cole’s “L-O-V-E” blares out of the JBL speaker set on the bench as my friends’ silhouettes dance across the soccer field. 6:27am in the Field House because 5 minutes early is on time and on time is late. I greet Ronnie before taking my seat on the stationary bike set aside from the turf. Everyone lines up along the edge of the field and begins to stretch as the sun rises through the windows in front of us. Deerfield, for me, is a collection of moments like these. It is not the grade on DAinfo or the record in a stat book. It took me nearly three years to realize this, and it takes many students until the last term of their career, but what I have come to learn is that Deerfield is more than a prep school. Prep School— a private school that prepares students for college. Deerfield by its very nature is a prep school, but what gets misconstrued is what preparing students for college really means. Preparing us for college does not mean making us identical robots and slaves to the College Board. Preparing us for college does not even mean getting us into college. In my opinion, preparing students for college means giving us the tools that we will use to be successful after Deerfield. When I think about the most important tools Deerfield has given to me to succeed, to be “prepared for college”. I think about the relationships I have made and the lessons I have learned. These are lessons that I was mainly blind to before the weight of college was taken off my shoulders, but these are also lessons that have had a far greater impact than any college commitment ever could. Failure is inevitable, and I have certainly experienced my fair share during my Deerfield career, but failure is also formative. It is at my lowest points at Deerfield that I have grown the most because it is at my lowest points that I have developed resilience. My failure is not going to stop after Deerfield, and my advisor never fails to remind me of this. He also reminds me that my failures at Deerfield are going to be more valuable than any single one of my successes. Everyone at Deerfield works hard. But what gets lost in the grueling hours of hard work is what we are actually working for. When we are mindlessly cramming for AP exams or finishing a research paper at 3:00 in the morning, we are not working hard for ourselves, we are working hard for a result and not with the passion and genuineness that we could otherwise have. It is the passion I have seen others put into their work when they are not working towards the idolized goal of college that has taught me to work, not only hard, but genuinely. I’ve also learned about the little things. It is easy to get caught up in your own life at such a fast-paced school like Deerfield, and trust me, I have. But when things slow down and I take time to appreciate the little things, they are no longer little things. Kindness and authenticity from others has far more impact in my life than any accolade or award. I have seen firsthand the impact of the little things in my own life, so I try everyday to make the same impact in others. Because, at the end of the day, the connections that I foster here will far outweigh any individual achievement. Now, it would be hypocritical of me to say that I have not used Deerfield to get into the college of my choice, and I believe that every student should use the Academy for this purpose. However, I do not believe that it should be what dominates the Deerfield experience. When college is taken out of the picture and students spend their time doing things they feel passionate about, not only will they be happier, they will also leave Deerfield more prepared to face the world outside of the “Deerfield Bubble.”

As I contemplated whether or not to attend a boarding school my freshman year, I was constantly told that here at Deerfield, everyone is unique. Deerfield prepares you to present your individual talents to others. I was told that, at a school like Deerfield, we could strive to reach beyond the norm. Yet, as soon as I began signing up for my courses, I found myself lost in guidelines and requirements. I had the choice between two sciences courses, and had no flexibility in my English classes. Red error signs told me that I was not allowed to take my band class as a graded course. “Example” schedules gently reminded me that I had to get to a third-level language course, take two different history classes and four English classes, get through one term of philosophy and two of the arts— all within my four years at this school. Students here at Deerfield are posed a dilemma as soon as they enter its doors: to stand out or fit in. They do not have the time to continue developing their passions, their talents that truly made them unique and stand out amongst other applicants. However, with Deerfield’s culture pushing them to juggle rigorous academics, athletics, and extracurriculars all at once, many find themselves unable to find the time and flexibility to pursue their fields of interest. With burdens from their families, peers, and social media, it’s clear that students find themselves under more pressure than ever before to attend top universities. Along with applicant pools skyrocketing in recent years, media and social stigmas have exacerbated the desire of an Ivy League diploma, forcing students to strive for competition and merit to an unhealthy extent. By extension, these students are pressured to achieve that perfect 1600, all the while maintaining their GPAs, artistic and athletic endeavors, and leadership roles. Moreover, students are pressured into pursuing a narrow path of opportunities, pushed to put a halt on their academic and extracurricular passions to reach this singular goal. As stories made front headlines across the nation, the recent college admissions scandal has highlighted the issues and adversities students face today. With parents allegedly pouring hundreds of thousands of dollars to gain advantages for their children on standardized tests and admissions processes. For many of us, these recent scandals struck on a personal level. These students were experiencing the same adversities, the same pressures, that many of us find ourselves under here at Deerfield. They, too, were trying to fit into the rigid ideal of a perfect candidate, though in a misguided way. With the attempted adherence to this ideal comes an inability to express interest and to find the understanding and appreciation for education that is critical in discerning a good student from a great one. So how can we ensure that we, as a community, provide students with the opportunity to find this passion not for an ideal, but for learning? It is critical to acknowledge the lack of time and individuality students currently face at Deerfield. By implementing a more flexible course system, in which students can choose to pursue more specific areas of study, students can obtain greater opportunities to expand their interests in a diverse range of fields. In providing this platform to all students, regardless of previous academic experience or grade level, students can begin to pursue the steps necessary to “stand out” in the community. Rather than forcing them into a strict box where their academic and extracurricular careers are predetermined when they apply to Deerfield, we need to push students to express their individuality as a student. Deerfield is built upon its diverse range of students and talents, and it is our responsibility to present that to the greater community.

This is not the opinion piece that I had originally written for this issue. It has been a great privilege over the last four years to be able to share my views with the community through opinion pieces in the , and I had planned to use this final opportunity to do something non-controversial. In that opinion piece, entitled “Hey, Board of Trustees, Let’s Be Friends,” I encouraged Deerfield students and trustees to forge closer relationships as we work toward common goals. But all of my thoughts changed when the Board announced the new dress code, which exacerbates the very problems it claims to fix. We strive for professionalism at the , but I’m sorry — it’s a gold mine for criticisms that would take far more words than I have actually been allotted. I’ll just mention the low-hanging fruit — the very low-hanging fruit. First, rather than listen to the approximately 90% of faculty who voiced support for an all-gender dress code earlier this year, the Board doubled-down on its requirement that boys wear a tie, thus ensuring that the gendered framework of the current dress code would live on. Consider the implications for gender non-conforming students: A teacher may find themselves in a position of having to decide whether a student they believe identifies as male is simply out of dress code because they lack a tie or, rather, is actually gender non-conforming. Establishing a connection between dress and gender ignores the fact that gender expression is fluid. Second, it’s not dignifying for all genders to have to wear a piece of clothing that is traditionally considered “masculine.” Such a framework insinuates that the “male standard” for dress is what should be most respected, and that girls should aspire to meet that stereotypical, inherently sexist standard. When Deerfield first became co-ed, Deerfield faculty consciously decided that girls should not have to wear blazers because girls are not here to emulate the boys but rather to assert their own identities as Deerfield students in their own right. How is it possible that this community was more progressive in 1989 than it is today? Third, this dress code further disadvantages lower-income students. The new dress code presents a financial barrier that is not easily fixed by the school’s apparent willingness to provide funds for blazers next year. While most male suit jackets are relatively identical regardless of price, the fit and style of women’s clothing are far more dependent on price. Additionally, in our society, the expected variety in a girl’s wardrobe will likewise demand a variety (in fit and color) of blazers. Unless the Deerfield trustees intend to send a check for $1,000 to every family on financial aid, families will need to self-identify as needing additional support on top of their financial aid award. This is awkward and embarrassing and only serves to make lower-income students feel unwelcome. Finally, when a school chooses to move toward greater formality in a world that is increasingly less formal, we have to ask what type of student we will attract and what type of student will run in the other direction. The only students we will attract are those that are already comfortable with wealth and formality. Why choose a dress code that forces conformity and distances anyone who might bring a unique perspective to our community? At a time when most of the world, including the colleges that Deerfield students aspire to, is increasingly honoring individuality, Deerfield appears tone-deaf as it leans even further in the direction of collective uniformity. I’ve been debating the nuances of a formal dress code here, but this really begs the question of why we need a formal dress code in the first place. Many will say that it’s our “tradition,” but why do we need to adhere to tradition? Tradition is ever-changing and should not constrain Deerfield’s potential to finally enter the 21st century. Coeducation used to be counter to Deerfield’s “tradition,” but I hope we all agree that it was the right call. Times are changing, and formal dress codes no longer make sense in the context of a society where acceptable dress is more nuanced and fluid than ever before. The standard argument is that Deerfield’s dress code prepares students for the “real world,” but the truth is that it doesn’t teach me how to dress to be a surgeon or a Silicon Valley CEO (hello Mark Zuckerberg’s T-shirt collection). Plus, if there were even a kernel of truth to this argument, colleges would have dress codes and our female faculty members would be expected to wear a blazer as well. Other schools are keeping up with the 21st century and changing their dress codes to reflect more fluid trends in clothing styles. You either keep up with the times or get left in the dust, and Deerfield is getting left in the dust in its stubborn adherence to outdated traditions that are illogical in the context of modern society. We can debate dress code and tradition all day and come up with no good solution. But more importantly, why is the Board even involved in a discussion about dress code? Why can’t we rely on our highly educated and experienced faculty and administration (who in many cases have been associated with Deerfield for longer than the trustees have been) to make decisions that affect a community they are intimately involved with on a day-to-day basis? Why do the trustees feel the need to insert themselves into issues far more reasonably entrusted to the faculty? To Dr. Austin: I have immense respect you. I gave you your first tour of Deerfield’s campus last summer. I was rooting for you to be chosen as Deerfield’s new Head of School. You are perfect for Deerfield, and I wish you every success in your new role. But my hope is that Deerfield girls won’t make this easy on you because the Board is sending Deerfield in the wrong direction. Had this been the dress code when I applied, I’m not sure I ever would have felt welcome on this campus. To Deerfield Girls: As Dylan Thomas wrote, “Do not go gentle into that good night.”

Throughout her time at Deerfield, Kimberly Stafford ’19 has always been an outstandingly progressive team leader on campus. As a four-year varsity golf and basketball member, Stafford has been an ample part of Deerfield Athletics’ program. She is now a female captain on a mostly male team during her final season. Stafford’s entire family plays golf, but it was initially her father that introduced her to the game she has grown to love. Briefly after she first learned to walk, she held her first golf club. Stafford played golf for fun during her elementary years but began to focus on the sport during middle school. Stafford first joined the Deerfield varsity golf team her freshman year. She said, “It was initially scary joining a team with eight other boys, many of whom were upperclassmen, but it didn’t take too long before we all got comfortable with each other.” During her freshman year, Stafford enjoyed that her team never put pressure on her, and she just worked her hardest to win. With this work ethic, she grew into the player that she is today. Head Coach Brendan Creagh believes that Stafford’s presence on the golf team has been steadfast throughout her years. “She was an impact player for us in her 9th-grade year, and she has improved to become a competitor who is quite literally feared by her opponents.” Creagh said, “In one of our opening matches last year, I overheard a group of young men on two different teams debating who would have to face off against Kimberly. I had a good chuckle listening to a chorus of high school boys saying, “No, you have to play her…I don’t want to play her.” Stafford’s mind set and hard work throughout her Deerfield golf career has inspired younger players as well as her own peers to strive for their greatest potential. Deerfield junior varsity golf member Gabriella Hu ’21 affirmed, “Seeing her at a high level on a largely male team motivates me to play my best every single day I come to practice.” Close friends Harbour Woodard ’19 and Katie Parker ’19 are nothing short of inspired by Stafford in all aspects of her life. Woodward said, “From tirelessly practicing at the simulator throughout the fall and winter to fearlessly leading her team this spring as the only female and co-captain, she is truly committed to the sport and to achieving excellence. Moreover, her resilience and ability to persevere through whatever comes her way are qualities that I strive to emulate and constantly admire,” Parker added, “I’ve always appreciated how Kimberly acts as a great role model for female Deerfield athletes. She has often been one of few girls in a heavily male golf program and has performed with inspiring grace and natural talent.” Although she may be the only female on a mostly male team, Stafford has always felt integrated amongst the team. She said, “It feels pretty normal to me. Some of my closest friends have been people on the golf team, and some of my best memories have been with them.” Perhaps Stafford’s favorite part about Deerfield Golf is in fact the amazing people and teammates. “One thing that Deerfield Golf has really taught me is that even though golf is an individual sport, at the end of the day, what matters the most is how you can contribute to the larger team. On bad days, your team can have your back. On good days, you have theirs,” Stafford confirmed. After a harsh second place finish at New England’s last season, Stafford’s goal is to push her team and herself as far as they can go during her final season with Deerfield Golf.

Henry Lowe ’19 is an excellent athlete who has left a lasting impact on the Boys’ Water Polo and Crew teams. His hard work has not gone unnoticed, earning him captain of the two varsity sports. Crew co-captain Owen Louis ’19 said Lowe is “able to see past unnecessary distractions and work hard, even when nobody is watching.” Lowe said he “started rowing in the summer of 2015 because [his] older brother rowed and, after playing only water polo from 4th-8th grade, [he] was looking for something new.” Crew is a demanding sport that requires a unique combination of strength and endurance. Although coming in as a new sophomore, Lowe embraced these challenges. Due to his familiarity with the sport and his hard work, Lowe earned himself a spot on the Second Boat, and rowed his way to a successful first season at DA. Jimmy Patton ’20, a fellow rower in the Second Boat, explained just how much of an impact he had when he likened him to the “engine of that boat.” When the First Boat headed to Nationals that year, Lowe was called up and placed in the boat due to post-graduates not being able to compete. Despite the last minute change in lineup, Lowe and his teammates won the National Championship. Going into his junior season, Lowe was prepared for the hard work and dedication that his coaches demanded from him. He earned a spot in the First Boat and improved with each stroke, leading to an undefeated season and a New England Championship. With Nationals around the corner yet again, Lowe was determined to win gold. It was a very competitive race, but Lowe’s hard-work paid off; he became two-time rowing National Champion. When asked what the greatest highlights of his Deerfield rowing career are, Lowe replied that they “have been our two victories at Nationals. In both circumstances, the boat had to make lineup changes in the last 12 days before Nationals but my teammates and I were still able to rise above that uncertainty. I think it really shows the faith we have in each other and to our coach that we were able to get those wins.” Lowe believes his success is not only due to his hard work and passion for rowing, but also to the dedication his coaches and teammates have put into crew. He commented, “Rowing is a sport that rewards hard work but, without the right coaching and training environment, it is very difficult to achieve anything of significance. I’ve been blessed at DA to be surrounded by knowledgeable coaches and committed teammates.” Lowe has high hopes for the races yet to come. He said, “This season we have a lot of guys who have worked really hard preparing themselves to have good seasons and I’m really looking forward to seeing the fruits of their labors. I’m also just looking forward to testing some speed against some other fast crews and seeing how far we can go this year.” Having led the rowing team for two years, Lowe has inspired countless numbers of rowers on the team with his work ethic and passion. Next year, Lowe will be rowing on the Dartmouth Heavyweight Rowing Team.

Deerfield’s dress code has been a long contested and controversial issue. In reaction to this tension, having gone through an exhaustive process, the Board has decided to put forth a Board resolution, revising the existing requirements. The vote, according to the Head of the Board of Trustees Brian Simmons, was unanimous. The new dress code will require all students, regardless of gender identity, to wear a blazer as their second layer. It also entails casual dress from January to March, non-specific requirements on skirt length, and enforcement of the dress code through DAinfo. This process began in the spring of 2018 when Maguire Associates Inc., an educational consulting firm, surveyed students, parents, faculty, alumni, and trustees to determine whether change was necessary for the dress code. These surveys yielded a wide array of opinions. As Dr. Curtis added, “No constituency spoke with a single voice; opinions varied widely.” With the initial feedback, the Board determined two main objectives: maintaining the formality of the dress code while still providing room for students to make conscious decisions. The consensus was that the “second layer option” for the female students was too ambiguous and did not meet the formality of the boys’ dress code, while the boys’ dress code was both defined and flexible. During this process, Dr. Curtis believed that it would be crucial for members of the Board to understand the perspectives of the Deerfield faculty. On Jan. 2019, five members of the Board returned to campus and met with the Committee for Professional Life, senior staff members, and faculty members from the 2017 Dress Code Task Force. An overwhelming majority of the faculty advocated for the adoption of a fully gender neutral dress code. This push was acknowledged by the Board with the requirement of the blazer for both genders as well as the fully gender neutral dress code from January to March. With opinions both from the faculty and the student body, the Board looked for a piece of attire that could unify the student body. After months, the Board decided that, as Dr. Curtis said, “The blazer was the only garment that could cut across all genders and still express the same formality.” The updated resolution from the Board, as published on May 5th, 2019, detailed: “Deerfield shall maintain the highest standards for Academic Dress, requiring a sport coat or blazer for students of all genders. In addition, boys shall wear neckties.” “The Board wanted to ensure that women at Deerfield benefit from the same level of formality — and wanted to find a way to express the same formality as simply as possible,” said Head of School Margarita Curtis. The dress code, however, still remains divided along gender-binary lines, given the requirement of the tie for boys. “While we made the decision that Deerfield would retain a gendered dress code, we also made it completely clear that students of all genders will be accommodated… Our decision to retain a gendered dress code seems pretty consistent with what students will face as they leave Deerfield,” said Mr. Simmons. In order to accommodate this change, the Board has decided to assist families that may face a financial burden purchasing a blazer for the first year. Another change that will be added to the dress code is casual dress from January to March. “In the winter months, we have athletic schedules that are on a rotating basis and do not have Tuesday and Thursday sit-down meals,” said Dr. Curtis. said Mr. Simmons. In order to accommodate this change, the Board has decided to assist families that may face a financial burden purchasing a blazer for the first year. Another change that will be added to the dress code is casual dress from January to March. “In the winter months, we have athletic schedules that are on a rotating basis and do not have Tuesday and Thursday sit-down meals,” said Dr. Curtis. Dr. Curtis added, “It is a time when the weather certainly in New England dictates a certain type of clothing.” The casual dress during this period prohibits leggings, sweatpants, ripped jeans, and other athletic wear.” New measures will also be implemented in order to remedy the lack of enforcement that has been traditionally associated with the girls dress code. Starting next year, teachers will be marking students on dress as well as attendance. Not complying with dress code – lacking a blazer, tie, etc. – will result in an accountability point. Students will have to report to new Dean of Students, Samuel Bicknell. “We don’t insist on a conversation when a student misses a class, so we can adopt that same system for dress code as well. Dress code reporting can be observational rather than confrontational,” said Dr. Curtis. The changes put forth by the Board resolution have evoked mixed reactions from both students and faculty members at Deerfield. History Department Chair Julia Rivellino-Lyons said, “To keep the coat and tie requirement for boys and to require a blazer for girls, is likely to only slightly alter the status quo: boys will have a clear standard (coat/tie/button-down shirt and shorts/pants), and girls (because of the variety of shirts they’ll wear, along with dresses/pants/skirts/shorts), will still have a big range of attire, while perhaps feeling that the blazer requirement asks them to dress more like boys and align with the old all-male standard.” Valentina Ochoa Saldarriaga ’20 added, “I think that [by] having the blazer, trustees are trying to place masculinity as a norm for all students.” Some have also criticized the inconsistency between faculty and student dress codes. “Why don’t female teachers have to abide by the dress code if male teachers do? It seems a bit hypocritical. If our own teachers don’t believe in it, how are we expected to follow it?” questioned Charlotte Molinari ’21. In contrast, Lilly Shuhda ’19 said, “I think it is beneficial because the dress code has never been equal between males and females. It still isn’t equal — given the tie — but I think it is the most equity we can get without breaking tradition.” With polarizing opinions on either side, the Board took on the difficult task of forging a compromise. “We tried to respect everyone’s opinion, even if they didn’t get what they wanted, and to incorporate everyone’s priorities into our process,” said Mr. Simmons. He stressed the variety of options that the Board considered as well as their ultimate stance as “stewards of Deerfield culture.” Looking ahead, a revised dress code, in accordance to the guiding principles set forth by the Board, will be published by the Student Life Office. Additional meetings will be held to further define the guidelines of the new dress code.

“In the classroom, something that stands out about Lucy is definitely her enthusiasm. She is always buoyant and her sense of humor, as quirky as it is, was a highlight when I taught her in AP Studio Art. Her concentration, which is a part of the AP portfolio, is centered around imagery which basically augments her sense of humor. She brings fun to the studio every class,” said Visual and Performing Arts Teacher David Dickinson. Surprisingly, before coming to Deerfield, art had not played a large role in the life of Lucy Blake ’19. It was only after she joined Deerfield’s art program that Blake discovered her true passion for studio art. Her journey began when she completed Intro to Studio Art freshman year. Blake decided to take her love for art a step further by taking AP Studio Art. Although it was a challenging class at first, her passion for art grew with Mr. Dickinson’s support. Mr. Dickinson has been an influential role model in Blake’s art journey. He has been her teacher for the past three years. Following the AP Studio Art course in her sophomore year, Blake proceeded to take the next two levels of art offered at Deerfield, ending up in Topics Tutorial for her senior year. “Art was what made me the most happy over my time at Deerfield,” Blake said. “The things I can not describe in words, I describe through my art.” Blake has attended two summer art programs over the past few years: one at Rhode Island School of Design, where she will be attending this fall, and the other at the Pratt Institute. These programs introduced her to the larger world of art, preparing Blake for her art career beyond Deerfield. Mr. Dickinson added, “What is really gratifying to see is how Lucy can be proud of her technical skill without losing her creative edge and sense of humor. In combining her technical skill, creative edge, and sense of humor, Lucy’s artwork takes on a sophisticated look.” John Chung ’20, a fellow member of her Topics Tutorial Art class, said, “Lucy is an influential member of our class. Her artwork is of high standards, as is her dedication to art.” Blake’s dedication and exceptional creativity are part of what makes her an accomplished artist. From the hallways of the art classrooms to the Von Auersperg Gallery, Blake’s artwork is showcased throughout the Hess. With her one-of-a-kind personality and quirky sense of humor, Blake makes an impact on Deerfield both in the art studio and around campus. Although Blake will be leaving the place where her love for studio art began, she will be venturing forth into a broader world of art. Blake will be studying Industrial Design at RISD, one of the most prestigious art schools in the world. In her journey beyond high school, both peers and teachers agree that Blake will make as big of an impact in the greater world of art as she did during her time at Deerfield Academy.

Deerfield’s Mission cites, “Pursuit of mastery built on a foundation of breadth and versatility,” as one of the Academy’s core values. As Deerfield students we pursue mastery in the classroom, on stage, on the field, on the water and in every other facet of our lives. Anna Scott ‘18 and Bubba Fairman ‘17 pursue mastery of their respective sports at the highest level. Scott joined the Yale Women’s Crew team this year after leading Deerfield to a run at Nationals in her senior year. Yale, just as Deerfield, also had a great year in 2018: qualifying for the Grand Final at the NCAA Championships and finishing in the top 6 in multiple races. It’s hard to imagine that an athlete who started a sport in high school could rise to compete for one of the top ten teams in the nation, but that is exactly what Scott did. Never having touched an oar before coming to Deerfield, Scott’s unwavering work ethic and dedication to the sport brought her to national prowess. Maryland Lacrosse: synonymous to Duke Basketball or Alabama Football. There is no higher level of the sport than when you step on Citi Field in a Terrapin uniform. Fairman exemplified this high level of lacrosse during his one year at Deerfield and continues to excel during his college career. Fairman started for Maryland as a freshman, an impressive feat even for a player of Fairman’s caliber. As a sophomore, Fairman leads a young Terps squad in the midfield and continues to espouse all the leadership skills he refined during his time at Deerfield. Fairman and Scott reflect about the impact their time at Deerfield has had on their college experiences.

Every five years, each academic department chooses a new Department Chair. This year, in the English Department, Michael Schloat will be handing over the position to Christian Austin. The Chair is responsible for both the administrative side of running the department as well as observing and supporting other teachers within the department. Austin is most looking forward to the latter aspect. “Since I have started working at Deerfield, colleagues of mine have become role models for me. I am looking forward to having part of my day carved out because I am meant to be supporting my colleagues,” said Mr. Austin. “I just feel so lucky.” Austin has been teaching at Deerfield for the last four years. While his primary role on campus is as an English teacher, he also coaches girls’ Varsity Tennis and girls’ Thirds Squash and is a hall resident on Louis-Marx. He had been a hall resident on Doubleday Three, up until last year. He says that some of his favorite memories at Deerfield were those made on that hall during his first year. “The kids who started out in the Freshman Village with me have been here for four years, and I am glad to have entered Deerfield at the same time as them,” Mr. Austin reflected. When asked why he decided to teach English, he responded that he “just loves books,” and could not teach anything if he was not as passionate as he is about the subject matter. “I don’t think I could sell high schoolers on something I was less enthusiastic about,” Mr. Austin said. “It’s all based on my enthusiasm and love for literature.” His philosophy is that if he is enjoying what he is teaching, he finds that students also seem to be more excited about the class, he explained. “If I am having fun working with the material,” he said, “student interest seems to take care of itself.” Many of his students seem to agree. One student, Ellie Shilling ‘21, said, “I have loved having Mr. Austin as my English teacher this year. He approaches English in a way that is interesting and engaging to us, and keeps the content relevant to our lives.” Kareena Bhakta ’20 added, “He is a great teacher because of his embracement of diversity of thought in discussions, as well as his dedication to creating an encouraging classroom environment for students to feel comfortable to explore and take risks with their writing.” While Mr. Austin says that he loves teaching everything, he mentioned that, even though he no longer gets to, he will always love teaching Harper Lee’s , especially to kids who have never read it. “There is nothing more incredible than watching a student discover how beautiful literature can be,” he said. Mr. Austin is looking forward to undertaking everything that comes with his new position as English Department Chair. He will be teaching and coaching less in order to make room for his new role, but he explained, “Even though it is a little less teaching, it will be worth it.”

In the coming spring, security cameras will be installed on the exterior of certain buildings across campus in response to the intruders and trespassers last year that have disturbed the Deerfield community. The current plan is to have them up and running by commencement, May 26, 2019. The idea for installing cameras across campus was first proposed back in 2011; however, the administration and Board of Trustees did not act upon it because they were, as Chief Financial Officer Keith Finan put it, “reluctant because of the community and sensitive about our culture.” This reluctance soon faded as instances of robbery, intrusions, and other inappropriate activities by individuals outside the Deerfield community became more prevalent. Just last spring, an unknown man walked onto campus and began taking photos of students without permission. Additionally, during the summer of 2018, several faculty members’ bikes were stolen and unauthorized individuals were trying to go to the river by cutting through Deerfield Academy’s property. In response, the Board of Trustees asked the administration to perform a security assessment of Deerfield’s campus. The administration hired two security experts to come into Deerfield and assess the school’s security procedures. At the conclusion of the assessment, they proposed the installation of security cameras. As Mr. Finan explained, “The idea is that our campus is wide open. … We’re split by Old Main Street and Albany Road, so we don’t control [what happens in the area]. [The security experts] recommended that we have cameras installed so that we can, need be, know who was coming onto campus.” The main goal of the security cameras is, as Mr. Finan elaborated, “to provide a deterrent and give us the ability to figure out what happened [if something were to occur]. The idea is to have cameras there so that when something does happen, we can go back and see like ‘Hey, so what was going on’… The purpose of these cameras is for security and safety reasons… We’re not going to monitor them and actively watch what people are doing.” In total, there will be twenty-five different cameras on the exterior of buildings where they can monitor the access points onto campus and into buildings. Some locations include the main school building looking onto Old Main Street, the greenhouse, and on the athletic complex looking down onto the parking lot and lower fields, according to Mr. Finan. No cameras are planned to be installed inside student dormitories. The idea of having security cameras across campus has garnered mixed reactions amongst students. For some students, the cameras do not incite any strong opinions on the issue. As Jean Jin ‘22 shared, “I don’t think this will affect me that much, honestly.” With a similar sentiment, Madeline Carey ‘20 expressed, ”So long as it’s in a reasonable amount in reasonable places, I don’t think it really matters… Nobody is going to change what they’re doing.” For others, the prospect of having cameras is undesirable and unwanted. Some students believe the cameras will not benefit the school in any way. When discussing the incidents of intruders in the previous year, Marwan Gideon Achi ‘21 asked, “What’s a surveillance camera going to do about that?” With a similar opinion Anna Mishchenko ‘19 voiced, “I just think they’re unnecessary.” Similarly, David Chen ’20 expressed, “The money [we’re] spending on those security cameras could be spent on something more important.” Other students are worried about what could follow after these cameras are installed. With a similar opinion, Chen expressed, “I just think it sets a bad precedent for what could happen in the future.” As a whole, many students believe the cameras will, as Peter Sanford ‘20 stated, “cause more trouble than good.” However, there are also many other students who support the idea of having security cameras across campus. As Mason Zhao ‘20 shared, “Personally I’m a big fan of this initiative. At its most basic foundation, we as students have to realize that our campus is vast and open… It’s still very possible for anyone to access our campus without anyone noticing.” For Zhao, the incidents of non-Deerfield community members entering campus made him “very uncomfortable”. The security cameras, in Zhao’s opinion, “would address incidents such as this.” Nonetheless, the presence of these cameras is inevitable, no matter the students’ opinions towards them. Whether or not they will benefit the safety of the community or not, only time will tell.

If you could trade lives with someone for a day who would it be? If you weren’t a teacher, what job would you have? What is your go-to breakfast? What is your favorite sport to play? If you won the lottery what would you do first? What are three things you would bring to a deserted island? What decade had the best students? If you could go one place in the world where would it be? What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given? What is your most embarrassing childhood memory? Did you have a high school nickname? What is your favorite memory at Deerfield?

There is no way to quantify the legacy that Karinne Heise will leave on Deerfield and the Girl’s Squash Program. While she has won 215 matches and 3 New England Championships and bred countless Division I athletes, the most important impact she has had stretches far beyond the squash courts. During Ms. Heise’s 30 years at Deerfield, she has seen no less than incredible success in the athletic realm. In addition to coaching Girls Varsity Squash for 22 years, she has also coached Girls Soccer and Field Hockey. She totals over 300 career wins across all sports, an impressive feat even for the most talented of coaches. Ms. Heise brings poise, expertise, and organization to every coaching role she takes on. Captain of Girls Varsity Squash Harbour Woodward ‘19 commented on Ms. Heise’s outstanding coaching abilities saying, “Your organization is something else that was essential for the team – you came to practice everyday with a clear plan of what we were going to focus on.” It is these leadership qualities that have led Ms. Heise to multiple New England Championship Titles and Runner-Up finishes. While Woodward is grateful for all of the accolades Ms. Heise has brought to the squash team during her four years, she cited, “the smaller moments” as what truly makes Ms. Heise stand out as a coach. These include, “fun Friday practices and belting out our favorite song in the van.” Co-Captain Ashley Manning ‘19 said her favorite memory with Ms. Heise was, “After I won the semi finals of New England’s my sophomore year and she gave me the biggest hug after my match and we both started crying because there had never been a moment for either of us that was more perfect than that.” It is moments like these that make Ms. Heise not only a valuable coach, but an indispensable part of the Deerfield community. Ms. Heise used squash as a vehicle for so much more than just trophies and wins. Woodward noted this saying, “Your sense of humor in instances like that served as a humbling reminder to all of us that at the end of the day, despite the seriousness and intensity, squash is just a game consisting of a black ball in a white box.” Ms. Heise has brought these same qualities to the classroom where she teaches sophomore and junior year english. A graduate of Bowdoin College, Ms. Heise’s demonstrated knowledge and passion for the subject of english will be greatly missed next year. Student of Ms. Heise, Izzy Hamlen ‘21, said that, “Ms. Heise lets students lead the conversation, but directs it in a way where we are able to maximize our learning” Ms. Heise truly is a boarding school faculty “triple threat.” As if being a fantastic coach and teacher wasn’t enough, she has also left a lasting impact on students in the dorm. Serving as a hall resident in a number of dorms during her tenure and currently serving as an associate in MacAlister, Ms. Heise has truly influenced every facet of life at Deerfield. Whenever on duty, Ms. Heise brings a smiling face and is ready for whatever conversation comes her way. Dealing with pubescent teenagers in not easy, but Ms. Heise handles it with grace and ease. It is hard to imagine a Deerfield without Ms. Heise. We have been lucky enough to benefit from her expertise, kindness, and generosity of spirit for the last 30 years, but no amount of time will ever be enough. Thank you, Ms. Heise, for enriching countless student’s Deerfield experiences and lives. You will be greatly missed.