group of students who have taken their interests in environmental protection and acted on them to advance school-wide awareness, have been managing dormitory energy use.

“The concern is that not enough action is happening. I am hoping that later in the year the e-proctors will have more of

an activist bent, so that there are more student-initiated projects that make the campus a better place,” said Mr. Jewett.

Mr. Jewett has negotiated for a small budget to sponsor mini-grants—from one hundred to one thousand dollars-—for students who are interested in researching and developing ways for the school to become less energy-dependent.

Mr. Jewett plans to advocate for more discussion and learning about sustainability in academic classes, and to take energy conservation and sustainability measures to a more active level than ever before.

“I would like to see a lot more of the campus

being an educational tool.”

-Mr. Jewett

Vol. LXXXVII, No. 8 DEERFIELD ACADEMY, DEERFIELD, MA 01342 February 6th, 2013

BY NICKY RAULTSenior Staff Writer

After 23 years of service to the Academy, Dean of Admissions Patricia Gimbel will retire this spring, beginning a momentous transition in the admissions office. Ms. Gimbel’s tenure leaves a transformative legacy in the department, boasting both impressive recruitment and retention records and an ever-increasing applicant pool.

Ms. Pamela Safford will assume the reins as Dean of Admission and Financial Aid this spring. Currently in her twelfth year as the Associate Head for Communications, Enrollment and Planning at Concord Academy, Ms. Safford will bring experience and professionalism with her. She also served as the Director of Admission at Northfield Mount Hermon from 1994 to 2000.

Ms. Safford is a Founding Trustee and Chair of the Board for the Association of Independent School Admission Professionals (AISAP). Head of School Margarita Curtis said, “In addition to her expertise in enrollment management, Ms. Safford also brings experience in strategic planning, marketing and institutional research.”

An alumna of Ethel Walker School, Ms. Safford is no stranger to boarding school life. She said, “I value being part of a strong

Environmental Science Teacher Jeffrey Jewett has created a plan to revitalize the sustainability program.

Just recently, the Think 80/20 Campaign was introduced to Deerfield, beginning with the new trash and recycling bins in each room in the New Dorm, with the goal of recycling at least 80% of what is typically thrown out. Over winter break, these trash barrels were put in other dorms including Dewey, Herold Smith and Bewkes.

“The physical environment should match the expectations.” Mr. Jewett. said, “I would like to see a lot more of the campus being an educational tool.”

Mr. Jewett has created Sustainability Action Committees, bringing together students, faculty and groundkeepers to promote a mutual response to environmental problems.

Dr. Thomas Hagamen, the Academy physician, proposed a more organic menu to reduce the amount of chemicals. In order to accomplish this, Mr. Jewett has raised the idea of creating a school farm that is entirely student run.

The environmental proctors, a

BY TARA MURTY AND HENRY COBBS

Editorial Associate and Staff Writer

Our nation’s second-worst school shooting took place on December 14, 2012 when 20-year-old Adam Lanza broke into Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT. When the shots began at approximately 9:30 a.m., teachers and their students sought refuge in nearby bathrooms and closets. Nearly twenty minutes later, authorities arrived on the scene and immediately pronounced 20 students and six faculty dead. All 20 students killed were between the ages of six and seven.

“My first reaction was disbelief,” Megan Retana ‘15 said. “It seemed so impossible and so distant from me. It hit me when I saw the pictures and names of everyone that was killed.”

In the wake of the Sandy Hook massacre, schools around the country have begun reexamining their security procedures and policies. Deerfield Academy students reflected on the effects of this event on their lives.

“I feel safe here, but everywhere is safe until it isn’t. I guess that is how the people in Newtown must have felt,” said Sarah Jinich ‘15.

“I feel extremely safe at Deerfield,” said Matt Morrow, ‘15. “I do not think Deerfield

should increase security. This security would just hurt the community at Deerfield by making students afraid or not as welcome.”

While many students agreed that they feel safe at Deerfield, several mentioned areas in which security could be improved. “The dorms are locked only after curfew. Maybe we can make our dorms safer by having to use our Greer card in order to get in,” suggested Retana.

In the event of a security announcement during the school day, Julie Harris ‘13 said, “I know we have the cell phone notification thing, but we are not supposed to see our phones during the day, and we could have no idea what’s going on.”

At the beginning of the school year, Sandy Hook had installed a new security system in which visitors needed to be buzzed in. However, Lanza used artillery to break a lock, circumventing the system.

“As far as I know, an armed lunatic would be able to do significant damage to the Deerfield community before they could be stopped. Otherwise we could always hire armed security guards, but beyond that I really have a hard time seeing what we could do should a heavily armed person come to our campus,” said William Montgomery ‘13.

Although attempting to secure Deerfield’s wide-open

campus might prove costly and ineffective, practicing evacuations and lockdowns could make the difference in an emergency.

Mr. David Gendron, Director of Safety and Security presented new lock dorm procedures to the student body. Deerfield Chief of Police John Paciorek, formerly of the FBI, assured the community of town support.

“We as a school haven’t practiced emergency evacuations that I think are really important in the case something happened. Every other school that I have been to has done this,” Retana said.

“We’re planning some table-top exercises with Senior Staff before the end of the year,” Mr. John Taylor, Dean of Faculty said. “With the help of experts, we were asked to respond to different high-risk scenarios in case we ever need to make difficult decisions in a life-threatening situation.”

The shooting in Sandy Hook also reignited America’s debate surrounding gun control. “People cry out for gun control as if that’s the only issue as most massacres are committed with guns. But that is far too simplistic and naïve to presume that this alone will reduce the number of massacres around the country,” Montgomery said.

Several teachers store weapons in campus housing. The school’s official policy on weapons is: “With the exception of those held by police and

other authorized personnel with explicit permission from the Director of Safety and Security all weapons, including but not limited to, firearms and ammunition, BB guns and pellet guns, are prohibited on the Deerfield Academy campus. This prohibition extends to the school grounds and to all school-owned buildings, including faculty

dormitory and non-dormitory housing.”

“If they use the gun for the right reasons, they should be able to own a gun,” Camille Moeckel ‘16 said.

“In fact I could see the beneficial effects of more teachers having guns on campus and even a few being armed at most times,” Montgomery said.

community, and it’s my sense that Deerfield is distinguished as such.” Deerfield has intrigued Ms. Safford by offering a new opportunity to develop a school that has the capability and will to combat the global challenges of a 21st-century education.

“The world around us is changing, and it presents schools like Deerfield Academy with both

opportunity and, indeed, threat,” Ms. Safford added. “I expect that the admission staff and I will, in support of the school’s goals, review and even reconsider some of our practices so as to position the school to remain strong, which includes being relevant.”

Ultimately, Safford has two objectives. Dr. Curtis entrusts Ms. Safford to cultivate students with a dedication to more than just academic and athletic pursuits.

“I also felt that her educational philosophy aligns with Deerfield’s mission and our emphasis on educating young

people with a strong moral compass and a commitment to lead consequential, service-oriented, worthy lives,” Dr. Curtis said.

Ms. Safford, who has spent most of her life at boarding schools, added, “I hope to bring to Deerfield a deep belief in, and understanding of, the value of the boarding school experience, even in this day and age.”

While Ms. Safford acknowledges the need to respect and honor traditions of the past, she sees opportunity for refinement and improvements for the future.

“As students prepare to prosper and make a difference in this next century, we have to demonstrate why going to a place like Deerfield matters now more than ever,” she said.

The faculty search comTmittee, chaired by English teacher Michael Cary, advised Dr. Curtis on the matter. Mr. Cary noted the inevitable conflicts of technology and development.

“She is wise in the ways of independent schools, thoughtful about the challenges that lie ahead, such as those of access and the effective use of technology, and she’s a warm, collegial educator who has a wonderful way both with colleagues and young people,” he said. “Ms. Safford will lead us in building on the success that we have achieved during Ms. Gimbel’s tenure.”

In the Wake of Tragedy: Could It Happen Here?

Jewett, E-Proctors Spread Sustainability

Dean Gimbel Passes Torch to Pamela Safford

PROCEDURESWhen there are Hostile Intruders…

• Lock yourself in your dorm room or classroom. • If communication is available, call 911—make sure to keep your phone on vibrate.• Do not sound the fire alarm. • Lock windows and close blinds or curtains and stay away from the windows. • Turn off lights and all audio equipment. • Keep everyone together. • If caught in open space, you must decide what you are going to do:

1) You can try to hide, but make sure it is a well-hidden space. 2) If you decide to run, do not run in a straight line. 3) Play dead if other victims are around you.4) Your last option is to fight back. 5) If you are caught by the intruder and are not go-ing to fight back, obey all commands and don’t look the intruder in the eyes.

Taken from the Emergency Procedures Manual, by David R. Gendron.

BY RYAN KOLAStaff Writer

what’sinside >>Page 5Taran Weeks ’13 pursues stained glass exemption

Page 4 Ayesha Kapur ’13 explores her acting career

Page 6 Sam Khalifa ’14 on squash and his transition to Deerfield

Advisors JULIANNE SCHLOAT & ADA FAN

The Deerfield Scroll, established in 1925, is the official student newspaper

of Deerfield Academy. The Scroll encourages informed discussion of pertinent

issues that concern the Academy and the world. Signed letters to the editor that

express legitimate opinions are welcomed. We hold the right to edit for brevity.

The Scroll is published eight times yearly. Advertising rates provided upon request.

Opinion articles with contributors’ names attached represent the views of the

respective writers. Opinion articles without names represent the consensus views of the

editorial staff.

VOL. LXXXVII, NO. 8 February 6, 2012

Editor-in-ChiefKRISTY HONG

Front PageCASEY BUTLER

Opinion/EditorialSAMMY HIRSHLAND

Arts & EntertainmentMIRANDA MCEVOY

FeaturesCAROLINE KJORLIEN

SportsSARAH SUTPHIN

PhotographyASHLEY SO

GraphicsTATUM MCINERNEY

OnlineJOHN LEE

Online Associate DAVE KIM

Editorial AssociatesCHARLOTTE ALLEN

COLE HORTONTARA MURTY

EMILY NGJON VICTOR

OPINION

2

Speculation, Rumors Defy Ideals of DCThe Disciplinary Committee exists to recommend punishments

for students who have violated school rules. This should be the end of it, but oftentimes people who were completely uninvolved in the issue seek to make it their business and spread rumors about the outcome. There is nothing to be gained from behavior such as this except further humiliating the students who are actually in circumstances.

Harmless speculation about DCs spreads like wildfire, and many people accept falsehoods as quickly as facts, which eventually turns to mere gossip. It’s the committee’s job to decide the truth, not the student body’s.

For privacy reasons, details of Disciplinary Committee hearings are kept confidential. We should recognize that, because most of us weren’t actually at the hearing or involved in what lead to the punishment, most of what we hear about DCs is rumor. Details can get blown out of proportion and even made up entirely.

As was said a couple of weeks ago in an announcement at school meeting, we should focus on learning from the incidents rather than pointing fingers and distributing blame. Those involved in DCs are still students here and, therefore, deserve our respect.

Corrections:Sarah Sutphin ‘13 would like to clarify that her quote in the

Januarry 18th Broadsheet was hypothetical and not meant to be based in personal experience.

The Scroll did not give Jade Moon ’13 or Jared Armes ’15 a chance to review their quotes for context before publication.

The Scroll regrets these errors.

Deerfield Is a Trusting CommunityIn light of Science Teacher Dr. James Laughner’s announcement

during Sunday sit-down on January 20th, we would also like to recognize the fact that Deerfield really is the kind of place where we can trust each other, a place where students and faculty leave material things out in the open, knowing that it is unlikely people will steal their phones or computers.

We would like to commend the members of our community for making our school this kind of place, as it takes the student body to shape such a place. The ability to trust one another is an important aspect of our school spirit. It’s reassuring to know that Deerfield students are honest when it comes to not taking other people’s valuable belongings without asking.

It is important to realize that every act of kindness and every honest deed helps create the community spirit we strive to have.

Long Weekend Causes Anxiety For SomeAlthough Long Winter Weekend is a nice opportunity to escape

the bitter cold and academic demands in the Pioneer Valley, it can also be a cause of stress for some. Students from faraway places can have difficulty finding a place to stay during the break—especially new students.

Though The Scroll Board recognizes that faculty and staff deserve time off as much as the students, we question why it is mandatory for all students to leave campus. We would like to remind the community to be sensitive about this issue: imagine how awkward it would be to invite yourself to a peer’s house who may have had plans to relax with his or her family. Not only does it create a possible strain on relationships, but it also causes anxiety for new students who may not feel comfortable enough with friends to ask.

Students are permitted to stay on campus during Parents’ Fall Weekend—though most students leave. We wonder why the same option is not offered in the winter. It is easy for students to fall through the cracks, which is why the community should show sensitivity and understanding that not everyone has the luxury of returning home at this time.

On Monday, October 29th, 2012, Superstorm Sandy struck, killing over 121 people and causing over $50 billion in damages to homes, property and the economy.

Responding to one of the most destructive natural disasters in U.S. history, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg issued warnings and said, “This was a devastating storm. Maybe the worst that we have ever experienced.” In addition to the loss of life, the mayor faced electric outages across the city and transportation challenges, allowing taxis to pick up multiple customers until the subway system was repaired.

During the last weeks of a highly contested presidential campaign, the democratic President Barack Obama,

in an unprecedented action, came together with Republican Governor Chris Christie and Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo to assess the damage. During that news conference President Obama said, “This is a federal, state and local effort.”

A few weeks later, I had the opportunity to travel with the Governor of New York when he assessed the damage and helped relieve the suffering of victims. It was one of the most moving days of my life, a day in which I witnessed not only the horrific impact of the storm but also the overwhelming resilience of the survivors. Days before Thanksgiving, we gave out turkeys to families whose houses were in high-damage zones. Our first stop was at Five Towns Community Center, where we joined army personnel delivering boxes of Thanksgiving dinners. The people we met there seemed ecstatic to meet the Governor.

We then went to Breezy Point, one of the hardest hit areas in New York, where homes were ripped from their foundations. We stopped at a lunch for the local firefighters who had been heroic in their efforts to help those in danger. The people we

applauded looked grateful but incredibly exhausted.

We went to Far Rockaway to visit apartments in an impoverished neighborhood that was devastated by flooding. In one apartment we visited, people had bags of clothes sitting in their living room. The stench of mildew was unbearable, and they were advised to throw out their belongings. They expressed despair, saying that they could not afford to lose so much.

Again, we met army personnel and helped distribute turkeys. In this neighborhood, people lined the street to pick up their food.

Three years ago, I travelled through Alabama to assess damage in the wake of the BP Oil Spill. One woman I met quoted the President, “Obama said the people of the Gulf Coast are resilient. We are resilient.” she continued, “We bounce back. We always bounce back. Bouncing hurts.”

In the wake of Superstorm Sandy, we must honor this resilience, not only by recognizing it, but by assuring that this time, with the help of others, bouncing back does not have to hurt so much.

BY MARIAH KENNEDY CUOMO

Senior Staff Writer

Eyewitness View of Sandy’s Remains

See Scroll online for more piecesabout the college process

Just having more minorities in college... will not create a professional

world that reflects the diversity we have in the

U.S.

By sophomore year, I felt a strong need to do everything in order to gain acceptance to an Ivy League school and feel like an active member of the Deerfield community. I tried out for the Rhapso-D’s, volunteered at an elementary school and started on the softball team. All of my activities were important to me—some more than others—until it came to Common App ID 910424.

I regret taking on so much more than I could have handled. I believe picking a few activities and probing deeply into them are a better use of time, energy and focus than just padding a resumé

Affirmative action: an action or policy favoring those who tend to suffer from discrimination; positive discrimination. Affirmative action policies confront the social imbalances that exist for minorities.

I am a proponent of socioeconomic class based affirmative action. I don’t think race should be completely eliminated from the college admissions process but I believe that students whose families are in the lower income brackets (where minority families are overrepresented) are the students who really need a leg up for admission to college. There are many other issues with U.S. education that need to be addressed.

And admitting more minority students to selective colleges won’t solve the problem. Just having more minorities in college, some of whom will probably be ill prepared for the schools they’re admitted to, will not create a professional world that reflects the diversity we have in the U.S.

The American Psychological Association released a report on Ethnic and Racial Minorities

& Socioeconomic Status, in this report, I found three statistics especially compelling: “African Americans and Latinos are more likely to attend high-poverty schools than Asian Americans and Caucasians; in 2005, the high school dropout rate of Latinos was highest, followed by those of African Americans and American Indians/Alaska Natives; and high-achieving African American

students may be exposed to less rigorous curriculums, attend schools with fewer resources, and have teachers who expect less of them academically than they expect of similarly situated Caucasian students.”

I see these statistics and see a problem with our educational system in general. I see systematic oppression. These are the problems I hope future educational policy can address.

In an NY times article, David Leonhardt wrote that in order to bridge social gaps, universities must consider “wealth, family structure and neighborhood poverty. Those factors

disproportionately afflict black and Latino students — and hold back children from life’s starting line.” I completely agree with Leonhardt and the statistics from the APA also display the need for class based affirmative action.

I think there will be a good balance of minority students without the direct consideration of race for university admission if students are admitted without factoring in income. Of course this requires schools with a great deal of resources but it also doesn’t put students from low-income white families at a disadvantage.

The affirmative action policies are supposed to give certain group an advantage; it doesn’t seem right to me that because the minority student advantage other students have to suffer. A class-based policy can also eliminate preference for affluent minority students. If a family has the proper resources to give their children an adequate education, then their children don’t need an upper hand for college admissions.

Class based affirmative action will increase access to education, diversify universities and the professional world without undermining disadvantaged majority students.

BY TASNIM ELBOUTEContributing Writer

that exhausts the character limit on a college application.

A long list of activities can compromise your mental and physical health, academic success, personal relationships and happiness. In my case, teachers and mentors constantly warned me that doing everything could ultimately hurt me.

“Why do you feel the need to do so much?” my friends asked.

“Because I care,” I responded, end of conversation.

But it was a different kind of caring, rooted in pleasing everyone through different mediums and pleasing my family by stirring the hope of getting into a prestigious college. I allowed my activities to shape me into a student and individual, instead of taking control of

BY KRISTY HONGEditor-in-Chief

Elboute Supports A Different Kind of Affirmative Action

Redefining Success: Happiness, Balance Comes Firstthe situation and asking myself whether I was truly learning or just doing the motions.

Putting college aside, I grew to become more empowered by knowing what I could handle and diving deep into a couple of activities that challenged me to demand more of myself and genuinely care about what I’m getting out of it—personal growth.

It is imperative that students understand the power of “less is more” and “probing deeper, not stretching farther” earlier on in high school. I believe this lesson would have made me a happier person with a more balanced life. We should redefine success to mean those two qualities, rather than a list of achievements or even, say, a college acceptance.

3

The Deerfield Scroll February 6, 2012

“You deserve it!” is what people often say to seniors who have just been admitted to their first-choice college. It’s great to hear congratulations from people close to you, but the truth is that “deserving” doesn’t have much to do with whether or not a college lets you in.

While good grades and well-written essays obviously help, there are many factors out of our control. We can’t really decide the state we’re from, who our parents are, or our ethnic background, yet these can all contribute to whether or not we get into the schools of our choice. It’s not fair.

Can it ever be? Not really. Would you want to go to a college that based admission solely on grades and test scores? I wouldn’t. There’s a good reason for affirmative action and admissions preference based on geography. I wouldn’t want to go to a school where everyone looked the same or was from the same place.

While I recognize that it’s true that this may hurt my chances of getting into certain schools, I also recognize the importance of diversity on school campuses.

As for legacy preference, in some cases it’s a necessary evil. In many cases, it’s a way for schools

to get money, although I don’t think building alumni loyalty should necessarily be a priority over what is best for the current student body.

So, yes, I agree that it’s completely unfair for two people who are equally qualified for admission at a particular school to be held to two different standards, but I also think it’s sometimes necessary.

Even without affirmative action or legacy preference, the college admissions process would never be a true meritocracy. Some students are great test-takers, while others find that their SAT and ACT scores don’t accurately reflect their academic abilities. Some students have parents who can afford to hire tutors, while others have to balance a job and school work during high school.

The list goes on. It’s hard for a college application to show someone’s character. Admissions officers don’t know how you are when no one is looking, and some people face challenges that don’t necessarily show up on a college application.

While you might be thrilled to get into the college you want to go, do you “deserve” it more or less than the person next to you? Probably not. And that’s fine, as long as you recognize that you cannot attach success or failure in this process to who you are as a person.

BY SAMMY HIRSHLAND

Opinion/Editorial Editor

Actually, You Don’t Deserve It

It is time Deerfield did away with AP courses. We are lucky enough to attend a school where we expect a top-notch education. By forcing students to follow an AP curriculum, making studying for the test an end all be all, Deerfield limits itself. Our teachers are fully capable of creating educational, insightful courses that prepare us for higher learning without help from the College Board. Students are more than capable of earning top marks on standardized tests without dedicating a yearlong course to preparing for it.

AP classes are meant to impress college admissions officers. In schools that are less well known, admissions officers often have a hard time figuring out the intensity of different classes offered and can be assured by a standard that AP classes across the country are the same. However, a Deerfield student can have an impressive transcript without AP classes. Few students

here find an AP class to be their

most challenging one. As Exeter stated in its

college profile, “Exeter declined participation in the College Board’s Advanced Placement audit, as all Exeter departments offer coursework that goes beyond the College Board’s AP curriculum.” We should be able to say the same thing.

As a reputable prep school, Deerfield already offers this challenge to every student regardless of whether or not they choose to step into an AP classroom. Our school works hard in all of its departments to prepare us for the workload and critical thinking we will need in college.

Some colleges allow students receiving 5’s on certain APs to skip levels or receive credit for graduation requirements.

Exeter’s college profile gives statistics about the score distribution of students who elected to take the AP test without having taken a specific AP class. This resulted in 69% of students receiving 5’s and only 10% scoring below a 3. Our English department has also proven we are able to score highly on the College Board’s test without a coursse name devoted to it. Deerfield must honor its heritage by breaking free of AP classes so that students can gain a more full perspective on the subjects they elect to take.

BY LAURA QUAZZOContributing Writer

AP Classes Limit Curriculum

College: it’s probably all you’re thinking about. And it’s not your fault. Almost every adult conversation I had from the beginning of my junior year till the end of my senior year was about colleges. Ivy League or NESCAC? Big school or small school? East coast, the South, or California. (Forget the middle…we know there are only cornfields there.)

For two years your present has been about planning your future. So let me tell you something I know now: It’s mostly a waste of time.

Allow me to backtrack before I get a wave of angry emails—college is important. You should probably go. But the college you end up going to is about as significant as your freshman year Sadie’s date. Think back—you got all excited to be set up with this hot senior so you bought an overpriced costume and you styled your hair and you planned out the conversation you were going to have during the five minute walk from your dorm room to the gym and then…you ditched each other.

Maybe that only applies to girls, but you get the idea. We do the same with colleges—we build up this idea of the place we want to go to, put it up on a pedestal, and then try our hardest to get in and fulfill the dream.

But the acceptance letter you all will receive is not the key to a blissful future, but to a door of opportunity. And there are a lot of great doors to choose from. What’ll make you stand out is is what you choose to do after you walk in.

I wanted to go to Yale but I didn’t get it. In fact, I had one of the most horrendous college application experiences possible (Go ask Ms. Lyman if you don’t believe me, I give her full permission to pass along all the gory details). I applied to 21 schools. First piece of advice: do not apply to 21 schools. I got into around four or five.

And for those of you who don’t know me, it’s not because I didn’t give Deerfield my all—I had a 91% GPA, took AP classes, went to Thailand with Round Square, served on the DC, played varsity sports all four years, was in the Acting Tutorial, was a Big Sister…you get it.

But the college admissions

process is ruthless and it tore me down. Nothing makes you feel more worthless than a pile of rejection letters and a call from Ms. Lyman over spring break telling you to apply to schools in the UK because your prospects aren’t looking good. But I got through it, and to the Seniors still waiting for that letter of good news, you will too.

I’m currently a sophomore at the University of Michigan. It’s a big, Midwestern state school with top-notch academics and boundless school pride, Google it sometime.

I’m studying film, I’m a member of the Michigan Student Honor Council, I produce and correspond for a weekly TV news show, I have a part-time job, I spend my Saturdays with over 100,000 fans cheering on the Wolverines, and I’m super happy.

True story. I got rejected by my dream schools and I’m thrilled. Because, like I said, there are a LOT of great doors out there, and because you’re a Deerfield kid a lot of them will open for you. But you have to find the one that opens for you. Confused?

Here’s what I mean: colleges may accept you because you’re smart. Or because you can play lacrosse. Or because you’re one-of-a-kind juggler. But other schools will accept you because fifteen people in your family went there. Or because they have a dorm named after you. Or because your mother dated this guy back in the day whose brother is now the head of admissions. And that school might be number one on U.S. News & World Report.

But it’s not necessarily the school you should go to. When you walk onto a college campus you should feel at home. Not intimidated. Not obliged.

If you choose a college because someone else says you should, you’re doing yourself a grave disservice. You will not thrive in an environment where you were let in as a courtesy. You will find success at a college that accepts the person you really are.

I got lucky because almost every other door had to be slammed into my face before I walked through the right one. But maybe you’ll be smart enough to choose that school on your own. I certainly hope so.

Let me leave you with this last thought: College is not an idea to fall in love with; it’s a school, a group of people, a vibe, and a mindset. And there’s no right one for everyone. Find your door and walk in with your head held high. Your future is yours. Own it.

BY SELDY GRAY ’11Contributing Writer

College is not an idea to fall in love with; it’s a

school, a group of people, a vibe, and a mindset

Stressing About College Is a Waste of Time

When the college advising office announced that they would be offering to meeting with sophomores for the first time, the decision was met with mixed reactions. Some argued that sophomore year is too early to begin the college process, and relatively few sophomores took advantage of the opportunity in the week it was offered.

I am of the opinion that this was the first step in the right direction. Students attend Deerfield (and parents send them there) with our impressive matriculation rates in mind and with the ultimate goal of attending a prestigious college.

Knowing this, shouldn’t we begin the process as soon as possible? I think that entering students should be assigned a college advisor right away. This way, by the time an advisor is required to write about their advisee, they have known them for longer than three months.

Freshmen would meet with their advisors only once or twice, mostly to discuss class choices or co curricular options and their significance.

I know that I would have made different class and testing choices if I had the benefit of meeting with a college advisor before my junior spring.

While I don’t see this proposal becoming reality in the near future, I am very glad to see the College Advising Office moving in that direction and I hope that the next time the offer is extended, more sophomores will take it.

BY CASEY BUTLERFront Page Editor

The Meaning of Life

If the meaning of life were defined by colleges,life would come after April 1st,childbirth after asking “why us?”—instead of Fitzgerald, the literaturefilling the Barnes & Nobles bookshelveswould be Princeton Review stories of success.

If Ivy Leagues were to define success,Phi Beta Kappas would run electoral colleges,SAT vocabulary manuals sag the bookshelves,five-year-olds learn to write “me” essays first;unique-tales-about-a-special-rock would be literature,and its theme “community is not me, but us!”

All the world would want passports from the US,where internationalism is failed success,where experience is sought to produce literature,to create narratives for top-rated colleges—oh! and make sure your starving children’s charity is the firstto have stocked its library with full bookshelves.

Learn how to mosey your way around the bookshelveswhere colleges teach you the ropes of “how to get into us,”so admissions gods might choose you firstand make you special, glowing with success,who will be able to write on Facebook: “i am going to college!”and perhaps never again read literature.

However, if your unfortunate love is literature,do not roam among the bestselling bookshelves,where all you see is diversity’s success at attending colleges,where being accepted is being able to call your “me” “us,”where losing your own identity is a success,because you will be able to put some sorority first.

So perhaps if your life goal is to get that large packet first,before you contemplate any introspective literature,then maybe you shouldn’t expect much successwhere your name will be lining the bookshelves;perhaps you should consider changing your name to “us”before you apply to those colleges.

Whether six or thirty-nine colleges, you have to sell yourself first;Yet you must think in the collective “us” when writing your “me” literature,because of course to make it to the bookshelves, you have to be

the perfect story of success.

-Stefani Kuo ‘13

Put “College Prep” In

Prep School

FEATURESThe Deerfield Scroll February 6, 2013

When he submitted his application to Deerfield, Jordan Montour ’13 had yet to learn about the deeply rooted familial ties he had with the town.

His family story began during the legendary Deerfield Raid, in which French and Native American forces attacked the settlement of Deerfield, killing 56 and capturing 109. The attackers led their captives on a 300-mile march to what is now Quebec.

Among those abducted was seven-year-old Eunice Williams, who is also Montour’s great-grandmother “eight or nine times back.” Eunice was the daughter of John Williams, a Puritan minister who lived in Deerfield during the 17th and 18th centuries and whose name is bestowed upon a Deerfield dormitory.

Eunice and the other captives were taken to Kahnawake, a Mohawk reservation located just south of the island of Montreal. Entering as a young girl, she soon became a fully integrated member of the Mohawk tribe. She married a Mohawk man, François-Xavier Arosen, and had children with him.

M o n t o u r and his family still reside in Kahnawake, a l o n g s i d e many others of Mohawk descent.

D e s p i t e being able to trace his lineage even further back to John Williams, Montour thinks of Eunice as really beginning the family he identifies with. “I usually link my heritage back to Eunice, because she kind of really started the Mohawk family, not John,” he said.

Today, many of the settlers who were involved in the Deerfield Raid are buried in the cemetery behind Field. “As a family we’ve gone to the cemetery and looked for and eventually found John Williams and his wife’s tombstones,” Montour said. “Obviously there’s more of an emotional attachment to [Deerfield].”

Montour embraces his family history and said it even had some influence on his choosing Deerfield. “I think it’s really cool to have some ties to the school and town that most people don’t have,” he said. “There’s a contrast between two sides of my family, one planted here and one still in Kahnawake.”

When she was nine years old, Ayesha Kapur ’13 starred in the film Black as a blind, deaf and mute child, a role that eventually won her national recognition and accolades for her performance.

She continued her acting career and had the chance to take part in a series of movies and films, one of which was a short film based on child prostitution in Bombay’s slums.

However, the film was never released to the public, because it was controversial.

“Not releasing the film was really sad, because I think the world needed to know what was happening,” Kapur said. “I think sending a social message to the people is more important to me than the acting itself.”

Although she has only appeared in Bollywood movies so far, Kapur said she hopes to “break through one day and get

Before he arrived at Deerfield, the only time David Mwakima ’13 had left his country was for a Round Square International Conference in India.

“I was very excited to be given the opportunity to attend a place such as Deerfield. I knew it would change my life,” Mwakima said.

Native to Nairobi (Kenya), Mwakima attended the Starehe Boys’ Centre and School and was selected to attend Deerfield for a PG year.

“To be honest, the transition was challenging,” Mwakima said. The main difference, he noted, was in academics.

“I was not used to assignments being given on a regular basis and being due the following day,” he said. “In Kenya we still had assignments but were given a little more time to do them. Here, if you don’t do your reading the night before, you risk being left behind as the discussions are proceeding.”

Despite the difficulties, most aspects of Deerfield academics have improved for him and helped his transition.

“At Starehe, as well as most secondary schools in Kenya, the discussions are much stricter, you must always raise your hand,” he said. “Here it is easier to p a r t i c i p a t e . You can come

BY JAMES CHUNGStaff Writer

BY CAMERON CARPENTER

Staff Writer

Mwakima Shares His Transition and Lessons

BY JON VICTOREditorial Associate

Montour Discovers Roots

in Historic Deerfield

the chance to act in Hollywood.” But Kapur has come very

close.She tried out for a role in

the movie Eat, Pray, Love and was chosen as one of the top five finalists. Additionally, she

finished as one of the top two actresses for a part in the movie Life of Pi.

“I met a lot of really interesting people through that experience, like casting agents and directors in Hollywood,” Kapur said.

The idea of coming to Deerfield for her junior

year began as a joke b e t w e e n Y a r a K h o u r y

and her m o t h e r .

Never the less, fast-forward one

year and Khoury is here at Deerfield rather than King’s Academy in Jordan, where she was a day student.

During her sophomore year, Khoury received an email outlining the exchange program. Khoury suggested it to her mother jokingly, because her only time apart from her family had resulted in extreme homesickness. She did not mention the opportunity again until she realized that she was actually interested. From that point on, Khoury began the process of writing an essay and getting teacher recommendations, in a fashion not dissimilar to applying to Deerfield as a regular student. Once she found out she was accepted, both Khoury and her mother were thrilled.

The biggest challenge for Khoury was not actually leaving her home behind, but rather her language. “Everyone speaks Arabic there. You speak Arabic with your friends, and suddenly there is no one to talk to [in it].” Despite this, Khoury has an

advantage due to the fact that she spent many of her winter and summer breaks in the United States with family. Classes are taught in English at King’s, but Khoury said that her experience in America before coming to Deerfield is what reduced the culture shock. “Because I’ve been exposed to living in the States before, and I’ve spent so much of my childhood living in the states, it’s not as bad,” she explained.

Once Khoury arrived at Deerfield, the assimilation process was not difficult. She realized that that there are very few differences between Deerfield and King’s. “Because King’s is modeled after Deerfield, it is so similar,” she said. While the similarities helped, Khoury credits her smooth transition to the girls on her hall, who “changed the whole thing.” She could not praise them enough, adding, “The girls on my hall are amazing. They are so nice. They made it so much easier for me to just fit in and get into everything.”

Not only can students from King’s Academy come to Deerfield, but Deerfield students can also spend a year at King’s Academy. Khoury encourages everyone to “consider going there because life in Jordan in so different–just visiting the Middle East, visiting Jordan and experiencing a different side of the world is so much fun.”

The thought of leaving behind your school and country can be frightening, but for Khoury, it was worth it. “I miss being with my friends. But I love it here. I don’t regret it a bit.”

For Yara Khoury, a Joke Becomes a Dream

BY MARGARET CHAPPELL

Staff Writer

For now, Kapur has one of the main roles in the movie Gaadha, directed by Shajin Karun, which will begin filming in India this summer, and she is working as the assistant director in the Deerfield student-run production Riverside Drive, directed by Sofi Taylor. Kapur explained, “Seeing how plays are run has helped me as an actress and has given me an experience I would never have received while living in India. Not being on the stage showed me

a different perspective of acting I did not know about.”

Next year, Kapur said, she will take a year off to work on acting, learn Hindi and Bollywood dance and search for new opportunities to work.

in and give your comment or observation—that was new to me.”

In political philosophy class, he learned to speak up. “I think my teacher thought I was reserved at first, but I really just was not comfortable interrupting someone that way,” Mwakima said. “But I realized that was the environment.”

Several aspects of the culture were foreign to Mwakima as well.

“I have come to appreciate the culture that is here at Deerfield,” he said. “Something that I think is distinctive is the idea of thanking. After every class or meal you thank the teachers. That was also new to me.” He continued, “I know a lot of students here come from well-off families, and then there are many who don’t come from the same background, but every one person has such a uniqueness that I don’t feel you would know the difference. I have not met a person that ever looked down upon me.”

Mwakima said he learned an important lesson from attending Deerfield.

“You must not live life [just] for yourself,” he said. “If you can live your life for others, you gain not only your own happiness and satisfaction, but also your actions and decisions

are for other people in your community.

It will help [solve] the negative vices we see in society. I think Deerfield is taking a very strong step towards that.”

Jinane Achi ’13 spent last summer and the first half of her senior year at an African boarding school outside of Johannesburg.

Founded in 2004, The African Leadership Academy (ALA) intends to educate, identify and connect Africa’s next generation of leaders. The student body is

predominantly African, and Achi was the only American student.

“I wanted an environment that was different from Deerfield and that gave me a more authentic picture of Africa,” Achi said. “I think that I would have had a very different experience if I was surrounded by Western kids, because I wouldn’t have been fully immersed in a different culture.”

Achi shared her experience meeting a girl from a Liberian refugee camp.

“To afford her and her siblings’ education, she started making jewelry from broken bullets she found on the ground,” Achi said.

ALA chose to specifically address Africa’s need for “ethical and entrepreneurial leadership.” All ALA students participate in an entrepreneurial leadership

program. Students pitch enterprise ideas each year, ranging from on-campus restaurants to the online marketing platform Achi launched. If approved, the idea is developed by student groups over the school year. ALA has launched 38 enterprises since its founding, all piloted by students on campus.

Achi credits her biggest takeaways to her entrepreneurial

leadership class. She learned that in creating a business the entrepreneur needs to combine skill, passion and need.

“If you mix these three things, you can lead any project effectively, because you’ll be good at what you’re doing, you’ll love what you’re doing, and you’ll be solving an issue at the same time,” Achi explained.

Continued online

Kapur Aims to Leap from Bollywood to Hollywood

Jinane Achi Talks Entrepreneurial Leadership in AfricaBY EMMA DECAMP

Staff Writer

17-year-old Ayesha Kapur acts in the 2011 winter play, Medea (left). At 9 years old, Kapur stars in Black with well-known Indian actor, Amitabh Bachchan, who is starring in The Great Gatsby with Leonardo DiCaprio this year (right).

4

ARTS&ENTERTAINMENTThe Deerfield Scroll February 6, 2013

5

To keep music a vital part of students’ lives, guitarist and singer Ju Hwan Park ’14 has started Deerfield’s first student-run band in recent memory.

“There are so many talented musicians at Deerfield who don’t really get to play music because they dedicate so much of their time to academics,” Park said. While the school has a concert band, it is only available to students who have a free 6th period and choose to take it as a class.

“Some students just give up their music careers if they are not able to take that class,” he explained.

For two nights a week, Park joins pianist Chris Lin ’13; drummers Jimmy Park ’13, Cole Horton ’14 and Michelle Kelly ’15; bassists Chris Merrill ’13 and Hailey Nuthals ’14 and guitarist John Dillon ’13. The band is open to anyone who loves music, no matter the extent of his or her musical prowess.

“I want to give people the opportunity to play and enjoy music,” Park said. “Also, music is healing. It seems like people

BY SHARON TAMStaff Writer

are always so stressed here, and I want to be able to share and promote music. When I first came to America, my English was not that good. I communicated through the universal language of music.”

Park played the drums for six years before high school and currently plays the guitar and piano. “I love singing, and I wanted to play something I could sing along with, so I picked up guitar,” he said.

Park also sings with the Deerfield Mellow D’s and is in teacher John Van Eps’s Wind/Rock/Jazz Band class.

Park’s band debuted at School Meeting and performed at the MLK assembly. “It took us some time to get started, but now requests are hitting us all at once. We are preparing,” Park said.

The band plans to put on a weekend Greer concert as well as provide entertainment for Spring Day. Seeking to make community service one of their central focuses, the band also plans to perform at the “Relay for Life” ceremony as well as at senior centers and the Deerfield Elementary School.

“It makes me happy when we give back and play music that people truly enjoy,” Park said.

Taran Weeks ’13 learned the art of stained glass during his four years at Eaglebrook. At Deerfield, academics and other commitments have left Weeks too busy to spend much time on stained glass, but this winter he has been given the opportunity to pursue the craft as a co-curricular.

“I tried stained glass my first semester at Eaglebrook and fell in love with it,” Weeks said. “I hadn’t tried to get an exemption for stained glass before, but I figured since I am going to donate my finished piece to Deerfield, the school would be happy to let me do it.”

“I have a studio in the basement of my house, and my teacher from Eaglebrook helped

me buy all my own materials,” Weeks explained. “Besides the project I’m currently working on, I’ve done two other really big projects. One was a wedding present for my brother—a view of Bar Harbor from Cadillac Mountain in Maine. The other is called ‘Wild Life,’ a small window depicting flowers and nature.”

Weeks’ current project will be the largest stained glass window he has ever made with dimensions of roughly 30” x 20”.

“It’s the view from The Rock looking down on the Deerfield Valley,” Weeks said. “There’s the river and mountains, and I’m going to try to put a couple Deerfield buildings into it.” Weeks also said he pictures his piece catching the light in a window on the second floor of the Boyden Library.

“The hardest part about stained glass is imagining what your project is going to look like when you put it up against a window,” Weeks said. “You’re working with light as a medium, so the way your project looks with a dark background is completely different from how it looks against the light. Cutting the glass and all is not really that hard. It just takes a while.”

Weeks spends about an hour and a half every day after school working on his piece with glass panes that cost about $10 per sheet (all of which he paid for). Due to time commitments, Weeks is unsure if he will continue making stained glass after Deerfield. “I would love to continue with stained glass, but I’m worried I won’t have enough time in college,” Weeks said.

Wyatt Sharpe ’13 is currently carving an abstract 3-D piece from wood and preparing for an exhibition at the end of the term with Topics Tutorial classmates Marina Hansen and Tatum McInerney ’13.

Although this is his first sculpture at Deerfield, he has previous experience in woodcarving. His favorite work so far is a table he made.

“There’s a famous artist, George Nakishima,” he said. “I’m a really big fan of his furniture. The beauty of his furniture is the wood–the cracks, the contour of the perimeter, the grain. I did something of his style.”

Although Deerfield was the first place he studied art formally, Sharpe enjoyed sketching in his free time in middle school. “I always liked to tinker and make things with my hands,” he said.

Studio Art Teacher David Dickinson described Sharpe

as an “energetic, thoughtful and independent” artist.

“He does a lot of thinking about the imagery he is trying to produce,” Dickinson said. “He is willing to push the envelope on his imagery. He is willing to take some visual risks. As a result, his work is often unique and creative.”

“The most challenging thing about art is being patient with it and knowing when to stop and not overwork a piece,” Sharpe said. He explained that spending too much time on a piece of work can often lead to negative effects on the quality of the work.

Though Sharpe hopes to pursue a career in biology or engineering, he says that science and visual art have a lot in common, especially problem-solving.

“Art is a good meditative exercise,” he said. “You can go into the art studio and work for as long as you want. You can also see the results really quickly. You can see your progress visually.”

BY JADE MOONStaff Writer

BY ANNA PETTEEStaff Writer

Chris Lin, Hailey Nuthals, Michelle Kelly, Corby Pryor and Ju Hwan Park rock out in Mr. Roihl’s office on a Monday night.

Jackie Dowling

Wyatt Sharpe: Wood Whittler

Born in Bath, England to Jamaican parents and raised in Montreal, John Douglas Thompson worked as a traveling computer salesman in New England until he lost his job. He then decided to pursue acting at a Rhode Island theater conservatory, landing notable roles like Flavius from Julius Caesar and Othello. At one point, The New York Times said of Mr. Thompson, “There may be no better classical actor working in the New York Theater right now.” Scroll: What is it about theater that made you pursue an acting career?JDT: Plays give me this opportunity to explore my own humanity. The play world gives you the option of exploring characters that live lives apart from your actual daily life. That leads to a constant exploration of humanity, and that’s what does it for me. As an actor, I get a role in a play, study that role, and study the time of the play, so it enhances my intelligence as an actor, and I am constantly exploring different kinds of things. Scroll: Are there any lessons that you’ve taken from your experiences that you wish you would’ve known when you

started acting?JDT: I think it would be two things: patience and trust. Just having the patience to realize that things will happen without you forcing them, and trusting the fact that you’re good enough to be any character in any play. It’s really about enhancing your self-esteem and keeping that in a positive place. Scroll: Do you have any projects coming up that you’re particularly excited about?JDT: Absolutely, I am going to do Joe Turner’s Come and Gone in March, the play that inspired me to become an actor. Then I’ll be working on a production of Hamlet that will hopefully happen the summer of 2014. Scroll: What’s your favorite memory in your career?JDT: There was a moment that I was acting like I was passed out in a play about drunkards, and it was as if I felt I was transported to that very time. The delineation between the play world and real world was gone. It was that moment of transportation, not as an audience member, but as a cast member. And so that was a fascinating experience where, for the first time, I got that feeling that everything was real. It was like it was really happening to me. It’s the kind of experience that makes you want to do this kind of stuff more.

Classical Shakespeare Actor Shares his Experience in ActingBY COLE HORTON

Editorial Associate

A Hand-Crafted Masterpiece Will Take Weeks to Complete

For the Love of Rock ‘n Roll

“Wye-Keezy” shares his art from previous classes.

Ashley So

Ashley So

TARAN WEEKS ’13 HARD AT WORK. “WILDLIFE” (BOTTOM RIGHT)

6

SPORTSThe Deerfield Scroll February 6, 2013

Professional photographer Jeff Brown is the man behind the camera, photographing sports games, dances, and school portraits for Deerfield since 2005.

He started taking photos for the Com-munications Department, as well as free-lancing in weddings, portraits, and other local work.

“Every shoot has its own challenges,” Mr. Brown said. “You can photograph the same sport many times, but each time it is going to be a little different. I also get to meet many different people in a variety of walks of life.”

While Mr. Brown likes to meet a range of people, he also likes to take pictures in a range of sports. “There is something great about just every sport or team I get to photograph,” he said. “With that said, usually the more action and faster the game or event moves, the more I like it.”

He added, “I find it can be even more fun if you personally know the athletes or have some sort of a connection to the team you are covering, which is why covering the Deerfield teams is so enjoyable.”

Just as Mr. Brown likes his job, he likes most of his photographs. But some photos are particularly memorable. The two that come to mind were both taken

at Deerfield. “One was during basketball sea-

son when during a game I captured the

This season, he Girls Varsity Squash team has outscored opponents 35-1 dur-ing its first five matches, which have in-cluded competitions against accomplished teams such as Hotchkiss, Milton, Groton and Choate.

Pleased with the effort so far, Coach Karinne Heise attributes the squad’s suc-cess to “skilled, talented players who work hard and are driven to be the best they can be.”

Howev-er, the team has many cha l lenges ahead, nota-bly the Na-tional High School and New Eng-land Cham-pionships. At these c o m p e t i -tions, the group will face Green-wich Acad-emy, “our long-standing rival,” accord-ing to Heise, and seek to avenge its sec-ond-place finishes at both events last year.

“We really hope to win high school na-tionals this year,” Captain Emily Jones ’13 said. “It has been a goal of mine since I was a freshman and it’d be such a great way to finish. We have great talent and have worked very hard this season. I really think we can do it.”

Sophomore Sam Chai is also eagerly

In the past two years, professional Squash player Osama Khalifa ’14, has won over 60 times in not only Egyptian tournaments, but also the German, British, Swiss, Australia and World Squash Opens.

He also won the Dutch Open when he was 16 years old, the youngest player to win this tournament in the history of squash.

Hailing from Cairo (Egypt), Khalifa first found out about Deerfield when he met a squash coach at a tournament who introduced him to the school.

“After thinking about my future, I decided to come to Deerfield, so I could balance out my academics and squash,” Khalifa said.

His said his ultimate goal is to win the gold medal in the 2020 Olympic Games, but he does not want to overlook his education. According to Khalifa, it is very hard to both study and practice the game every day. However, he tries his best to balance the two activities. “Whatever the future holds for me,” he said, “I want to graduate from college before deciding what I really want to do.”

Although Khalifa is now a globally acclaimed player, success didn’t come easy. He started playing squash when he was four years old.

“My dad loved squash and first taught my older brother, then me,” he said. “It is a sport that has been passed down from generation to generation in my family.”

Throughout his childhood, Khalifa spent more time in the squash courts than he spent with his friends.

Khalifa said, “I would wake up at 6 a.m. and go practice in the squash courts. After practice would be school, fitness, then squash again.”

Also, because the British Open is held on January 2nd every year, Khalifa has spent both Christmas and New Year’s

exact moment that a player dislocated his kneecap while driving to the basket,” he said. “His knee was obviously dislocated in the shot. The other that stands out is a shot of a soccer player doing a header. The image shows the multiple ripples that distorted his face as he headed the ball.”

And along with favorite shots come fa-vorite memories as well.

“I have many memories that I look back on fondly,” Brown said. “One that comes to mind was when I was on an as-signment at Purdue. Purdue was playing Minnesota and the Purdue quarterback threw a record five touchdown passes in that game. The quarterback’s name was Drew Brees (now a member of the NFL team, the New Orleans Saints). You never know when you are photographing some-one who he or she will become. Through the years I have taken images of many athletes who have gone on to become professional and even Olympic competi-tors.”

alone in the squash courts for the past couple years. Although he has had to make this sacrifice, along with many others, he said, “[Squash is] my best friend, my family and my love. Although I don’t get to do what others do, I get to spend the holidays doing the thing I love most.”

Even at Deerfield, Khalifa has kept up with this routine that he has followed for years. Since the start of the school year, Khalifa said that he believes he has learned a lot about the value of teammates and family.

“By practicing together with other players, I am not only able to hone my own skills, but also teach and learn from them,” he said. “My older brother is in New York so he comes up here often and coaches me.”

He also believes that his decision to attend Deerfield was the right one.

“It was definitely one of the hardest decisions I have ever made i n my life. Leaving Egypt, my family, and my squash was the last thing I had ever thought about. However, it clearly is a life-changing opportunity. I have had the chance at an incredible education and amazing worldwide friendships, as I gain a whole new global perspective along the way.”

He especially notes, “One faculty member who I am especially grateful to is my hall resident, Mr. McVaugh. He has made me feel at home during this transition and I cannot thank him enough for all that he has done for me.”

anticipating the tournaments. “The teams are of a different caliber from our league matches,” she said. Chai, along with fresh-man Annie Blasberg ’17, demonstrates the team’s depth, as the roster also includes four juniors and four seniors.

Jones is the group’s number-one player, who committed to play squash at Harvard next year.

“I admire her energy and love for the game—it encourages us,” Blasberg said. “Playing with Emily inspires us to work towards her level.”

Despite the high level of commit-ment, which i n c l u d e s year-round i n d iv i d u a l efforts, the teammates “always have so much fun together and laugh even during the hardest workouts,” Chai said.

J o n e s added, “The team is unique be-

cause we all get along so

well. I see these girls all the time, on and off the squash court and in and out of season. We’re an incredibly close team.”

Although each individual competes with her team members on the ladder, Coach Heise said the group maintains a sense of camaraderie. “Pushing and com-peting with each other improves the girls’ individual skills and contributes to boost-ing the team,” she said.

BY JOSH KIMStaff Writer

Osama “Sam” Khalifa: Squash Wiz BY RYAN LOGIE

Senior Staff Writer

A Portrait of the Man Behind the

Lens

BY BROOKE HOROWITCHStaff Writer

Girls Varsity Squash Squashes its Competitors

BY COLE HORTON Editorial Associate

Emily Yue ’16 has achieved notable success in her hockey career at Deerfield and beyond, including a spot on the Chinese Olympic team competing in 2014.

Yue, who has played competitive hockey for eight years, is excited about this wonderful opportunity and the challenges her team will need to overcome in order to qualify for the Games. “We’ve been knocked out of the qualification rounds this year, so we have to win the preliminary rounds in February in order to make the Olympics.

In preparation for these obstacles, Yue plans to play during the offseason to keep her skills sharp. “During the summer, the [Olympic] team usually comes to Canada or the States, and I practice with them while they’re here. I also play field hockey during the fall and am going to be competing at nationals with a club team in the spring.”

Yue plans to continue to play hockey for the Big Green, as she hopes to play hockey at a collegiate level.

However, the road to even competing for China in the next Winter Olympics won’t be easy. Since Yue doesn’t speak Chinese, it’s harder to communicate with her teammates both on and off the ice. As of now, Yue has not gained Chinese citizenship but will most likely do so before 2014.

The Girls Varsity Squash team huddles before a match. They have been undefeated this season.

Insuik is SickBY CHARLOTTE ALLEN

Very few athletes at Deerfield hold the title of tri-varsity captain, and Hannah Insuik ’13 is one of them. In addition to excelling at her fall and spring sports of volleyball and softball, Insuik is also known for tearing up the ice on the Girls Varsity Hockey team.

First stepping onto a rink at the age of five, Insuik has been playing goalie since

she was 9. She said that she “only waited so long because my parents refused to allow me to be a goalie,”

adding, “I always knew I would be a goalie, the tricky part was getting my parents to admit it as well.”

Insuik has committed to play hockey next year at Colby College. “When I started my college search,” she said, “I subconsciously knew that I wanted to play hockey in college, even though I looked at some schools that didn’t have hockey. I even made up excuses to my mom when we visited schools like UVA, that it “smelled funny” or “was too southern.” I think I really just knew I needed to be near a rink. I am so relieved, and excited to be playing at Colby next year, because I honestly can’t imagine my life without hockey.”

Hockey is more than a sport for Insuik, and she described how “I don’t think I could pinpoint my favorite thing about hockey. There is just something about the feel of the ice under my skates that I can’t even describe. I feel more comfortable, more at home, in front of that net than I do anywhere else. Of the 10 plus sports I have tried in my childhood, hockey is the one that has stuck with me, and really touched me. I play because I love it.”

Insuik described how, “hockey players are notorious for being extra superstitious, and I in particular cannot play unless I do things in a certain way. While getting dressed, I must put my left skate and leg pad on before my right. I must listen to the same three songs before every game.”

With triumphs such as winning “the state tournament once, the annual Waterville tournament once, and [being] the top goalie at the college exhibition camp [she] attended this summer,” Insuik is clearly a rising star in the hockey world.

Editorial Associate Yue is Awesome