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Vol. LXXXVII, No. 1.5 DEERFIELD ACADEMY, DEERFIELD, MA 01342 May 10, 2012
By JAMES CHUNGStaff Writer
Students of the new springelective,ClassicsSeminar,analyzeancient literature to understandthe horrors of war, such as theeffects of post-traumatic stressdisorder and other forms of traumainthelivesof soldiers.Samuel Savage, the teacher
of thecourse,described itas“away of connecting intellectualworkthatstudentshavedoneatDeerfieldtoarealworldissue.”
By STUART BICKNELLContributing Writer
We’ve all heard of post-traumatic stress disorder,PTSD. But what exactly is it?The experience of trauma is,unfortunately, all too commoneven in these relatively safeand peaceful United States.Automobile accidents, violence,abuse,untimelydeathof alovedone—allcanbetraumatic.What distinguishes PTSD
from other trauma is thelingering,intrusivenatureof it.Itseemstotakeonalifeof itsown.Flashbacks and nightmares
andatriggeringsightorsoundorsmell can plunge the individualbackintoaterribleandterrifyingre-experiencing of the earliertrauma. The traumatized soldiercan shut down and withdrawor become hyper-vigilant andover responsive. The stereotypeof the traumatized combatveteranincludesapersonwithahair-trigger temper, easily over-stimulatedandhighlyreactivetohisenvironment.Butveteransalsocomehome,
even from a broader “theaterof war,” with more subtlesymptomsthatincludeavoidanceandnumbing.Forthesesoldiers,thatsuitof emotionalarmorwasessentialinprotectingthemfromthe intense emotions stirred upbythethreattolifeandpresenceof death.Oncehome,itbecomesa severe and heavy handicap.When you can’t feel pain, youalsocan’tfeelloveandpleasure.Today’s soldiers return from
overseasdutytoarelativelywarmwelcome.Wemay object to thewar—but embrace the soldier.In my experience, there wasno “Welcome Home” comingback from Vietnam. The anti-war movement was raging, andvery fewof uswere advertising
By CAMERON CARPENTER
Staff Writer
Students, teachers, localresidents and veterans will havethe opportunity to attend thefirsthighschoolperformanceof Theater of War, by the theatricalgroup Outside the Wire, whichperforms selections fromSophocles’ war dramas, AjaxandPhiloctetes,tobringawarenessof soldiers dealing with post-traumaticstressdisorder.The performance will
showcase four actors, alongwith students from the ClassicsSeminar,anewspringelective.A panel of three audience
members and one studentwill share their reactions tothe performance. The studentpanelist will be Jordan Jancze’13, whose mother is deployedoverseas.Jancze explained the
significance of being able toseeTheater of War. “I obviouslycannot read my mother’s mindwhensheisdeployed,soIthinkitwill be interesting to see howthesoldierreacts.”Adiscussionamongaudience
members will follow, led bydirector and founder of thegroupBryanDoerries.Veteransfromthesurrounding
areas have been invited to theperformance and discussion toshare firsthand experience andinsightintotheplays.Classics Seminar teacher
Samuel Savage explained howseeing these issues portrayed inaformof artcouldbeacopingmechanismforveterans.“Peoplewho have seenwhat
they’ve seen have a really hardtime reachingout. It is adeeplypersonalwoundandmostpeoplecannot relate.Beingwith otherswho have experienced similarthings can give you somethingoutside of yourself to talkabout,”saidMr.Savage.Mr. Savage and Latin
teacher John Burke attended aperformance of Theater of War earlierintheyear.“Itwasdeeply
moving, even mind blowing tohear people connect with playsthatarenotatallfarfromreality,”Mr.Savagesaid.Designing the curriculum for
theClassicsSeminar,Mr.Savagewanted to incorporate ancientdrama. He contacted Outsidethe Wire this past summer.The group helped shape thecurriculum of the elective andwanted to perform at Deerfieldasapartof it.Dr. Burke explained that,
for the students of the ClassicsSeminar, “this is a greatopportunity to see how Classicsand Classical literature is beingapplied to modern issues andproblems.Ithinkitisfascinatingthat ancient literature can havesomething to say about a verymodernproblem.”
WAR’SWORSTMEMORIESENACTEDClassicsSeminarLooksatAncient,ModernWarTraumasAFTER SHOCK
WhentheBattleisOver
ourmilitary service.We felt outof synchwithourpeers, deeplydistrustful, and profoundlyprivateaboutourwarexperience.Many of us felt ashamed of our participation in a cause wedidn’t believe in. As a graduatestudent in a university setting,nobody wanted to hear—orwould believe—that I’d spent ayearinVietnam.Itwasoddanddisorienting.Whilethiskindof shutdown
andwithdrawaldoesn’tmeetthecriteria for a true PTSD, itwas,for hundreds of thousands of non-combatveterans, the legacyof Vietnam.In1995,JonathanShayinhis
ground-breaking book, Achilles in Vietnam, wrote persuasivelythat for those returning fromcombatwithPTSD,therewouldbenosuchthingasa“returntonormal.” To be exposed to thehorrors of war is to be scarredforlife.Somedegreeof recoveryisallwecanhopefor,Shaysaid.Fortunately, there are
encouraging newer PTSDtreatment modalities that havebeendevelopingsincethen.Theresponse time to returning vetshas accelerated and follow-upprograms and treatment groupshavemultiplied.Someof today’svetsobjectto
thestigmatizingthatcomesfromcouplingthe“D”(Disorder)withthePTS.Theyarguethatit’snota disorder; it’s a predictable andunderstandable reaction to anextremely unhealthy situation(theviolenceof war).Icanappreciatetheirconcern.
The Pentagon, in response tothe thousands of traumatizedsoldiersreturningfromIraqandAfghanistan, tried to rewrite thePTSD criteria to limit eligibilityfor benefits. In a show of solidarity,veterans’organizationsand other supporters registeredsufficient outrage to force thePentagontoreconsider.That the government would
make every resource availableto support returning soldiers—medically, psychologically, andfinancially—is simply the rightthingtodo.
outsidethewirellc.com
Thisweek’sValley Advocatesaidthat “inTheater of War, combat-related psychological injury[is] viewed through the lens of Sophocles’wartimetragedies.The cast for the Deerfield
presentation had not beenannounced at press time, butprevious performances havefeatured high-profile stage andscreen actors including DavidStrathairn, Gloria Reuben, AmyRyan,andPaulGiamatti.”According to the Advocate,
“thisNewYork-basedcompany...employs classic theater worksto illuminate and stimulatediscussion on such issues asaddiction treatment...and prisonreform.”Thefreeperformancewillbe
heldonMay12, at 7:00p.m. intheGaronzikAuditorium.
“I obviously cannot read my mother’s mind
when she is deployed, so I think it will be
interesting to see how the soldier
reacts.” -Jordan Jancze
“I feel like the discussions I’m
having in this class will stay with me for the rest of my life.”
The course specificallyprepares students for Saturday’sperformanceof Theater of WarbythegroupOutsidetheWire.Thegroup conducts readings fromclassicalwarliterature.Actors aspire tofind the link
between the modern and theancient soldier, a similar goalstudentsof theClassicsSeminarhopetoachieve.“Theideaof thiscourseisto
give us a better understandingof what modern day veteransgo through. By using ancientmaterials, we are able to makeconjecturesandexploreconceptswe would feel uncomfortabletalking about in the realworld,”said Thomas Earle ’12, one of theeightseniorsinthecourse.Students of the seminar
recently visited a groupof veterans at GreenfieldCommunity College to describetheirclassandTheater of War. “The class is specifically
designed so that all studentsare able to have a culminatingexperienceintheclassroom,”Mr.Savagesaid.“IfeellikethediscussionsI’m
havinginthisclasswillstaywithmefortherestof mylife,”saidEarle.
2 The Deerfield Scroll SPORTS May 10, 2012
VOL.LXXXVII,NO.1.5 MAY10,2012
Editor-in-ChiefKRISTY HONG
Front PageCASEY BUTLER
Opinion/EditorialSAMMY HIRSHLAND
Arts & EntertainmentMIRANDA MCEVOY
FeaturesCAROLINE KJORLIEN
SportsSARAH SUTPHIN
AdvisorsSUZANNE HANNAY & JOHN PALMER
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.
PhotographyASHLEY SO
GraphicsTATUM MCINERNEY
OnlineJOHN LEE
Online AssociateDAVE KIM
Editorial AssociatesCHARLOTTE ALLEN
COLE HORTONTARA MURTY
EMILY NGJON VICTOR
By EMILY NGEditorial Associate
The baseball and softballteamshavenotperformedaswellastheyhaveinpreviousyears,yettheircaptainsandcoachesexpecta successful remainder of theseason. Though each team haswononlyasinglegameeach,theplayersareundeterred.Softball coaches Rebecca
Melvoin and Danielle Chagnonforesawdifficulty from the startof theseasonastheteamlackedboth size and age. “With smallnumbers, we knew we wouldhavetogetbacktothebasicsandwe were prepared for the hardworkahead,”saidMs.Melvoin.Onecauseof theteam’slosing
streak is the repetition of basicerrorsduringgames.“Some errors we are
working on include hittingmore consistently, making gooddecisionsinthebatter’sbox,andrebounding from errors in thegame,”Ms.Melvoinexplained.Junior Co-Captain Hannah
Insuik’s goal for the team is toavoidlosinggamesbythe“mercyrule,” which ends the gamebecauseoneteamisaheadbysomuch.“Iwant us toplay thewhole
game instead of losing by 15runs. I hope to make cleanerplays, keep our confidence, andavoidstrikeouts,”Insuiksaid.Nevertheless, the softball
teamisoneof mostwell-bondedoncampus.Theteam’screedistohavefunandnottakethemselvestoo seriously when makingmistakes. “Our team gets alongsowell,andthat’swhathelpsusgets through our games. We’reable to have fun because it is a
By RYAN LOGIEStaff Writer
Whentheboys’varsitylacrosseteamlostitsstartinggoalieLukeAaron’12toillness,manypeoplethoughtallwaslost.But,thatwasbefore new sophomore DavidHamiltonsteppedontothefieldandintothenet.Although Hamilton has
been thrust into the spotlight,he has taken his new-foundresponsibilityinstride.“Ithasbeengreatplayingon
the team so far. It’s definitely alot of lacrosse, playing six daysa week, and I’ve been seeing alot of shots. It’s a big step up
from the lacrosse I was playingbefore,”Hamiltonsaid.When asked his feelings
toward this opportunity,Hamilton said, “I’m excitedto get a lot more playing timethan I’vebeenused to. I’malsoexcited for all the big gameswe have coming up.” Anotherthinghecanbeexcitedabout?Aprospectivelacrossecareer.“Theplayingtimeheisseeing
nowwill pay off for him downthe road. I want him to havea great experience and be thedifference in some big games,”saidHeadCoachCharlesDavis.“As a goalie, he sees the ballvery well and throws excellent
outletpasses.Heputshisworkineveryday.”There is, however, always
room to improve. No one canhelpHamilton grasp this realitymorethanAaron.Hamiltonsaid,“It’sbeengreatplayingwithLuke[Aaron].He’s super experiencedbecause he has been on thevarsity team since his freshmanyear.I’velearnedalotfromhiminallaspectsof thegame.”So with a string of tough
gamesaheadagainstcompetitiveteams such asAvonOld FarmsandSalisbury,Hamiltonhaslargeshoestofill—andfast.But“heistough-minded and steady,” Mr.Davisadded.
HAMILTONRISESTOTHEOCCASION
By COLE FAULKNERStaff Writer
When most people think of post-graduate students, a big,brawnylacrosseplayercomestomind.Itdoesn’tevencrossmoststudents’ minds that there arefemalePGsamongstusaswell…like Tierney Griff and AlannaMcDonough.Griff enrolled this past fall
in order to play lacrosse, whileMcDonough enrolled to focusonrunning.Both girls recognize the PG
stereotype and admit that theyaredefinitelynot aswell knownaround campus as their malecounterparts.“Most people don’t even
know we’re PGs,” laughedMcDonough. Griff agreed,saying, “I was asked if I wasa freshman five times at thebeginningof school.”Griff said that even friends
from her previous high schoolwere surprised by her decisionto repeat senior year. “Back athome, Ihad toexplain that yes,Iwasgoingtohighschoolagain,andnoI’mnotaboy.Girlsdoittoo.”Neither athlete regrets thedecision to spendafifthyear inhighschool.
BASEBALL, SOFTBALL WORK FOR LATE SEASON TURN AROUND
game,andweplaytoloveit,nottowineverygame,”saidInsuik.On the Headmaster’s Field,
meanwhile, varsity baseball Co-Captain Nolan Doyle ’12 andhead coach David Irwin alsohope for a stronger end to theseason, in spite of their losingrecord.Theteamstruggledinitsfirst
fewgamesagainstotherschools.“We knew we would have
a core of strong hitters andpitchers.Thesuspectareawouldlikely be with our fielding. Wehaddifficultywiththegloves,andstruggled to put together seveninningsof cleanball,”Doylesaid.Mr. Irwin believes that the
team’slossescanbeattributedtoits difficulty in putting togetherthe three major facets of thegame: pitching, defense, andoffense. “When we get a great
pitchingouting,wecan’tseemtoscoreruns.Whenwescoreruns,wemaketoomanyerrors inthefield,”saidMr.Irwin.Mr.Irwinhopesfortheteam
togainmorefaithinitself tostaycompetitivefortheremainderof theseason.“The challenge for us is to
keep believing in the team; toknow that we are a team whowillkeepscratching,clawing,andfightingfromthefirstpitchtothelast out. No one can challengethe tenacity, perseverance, andcommitment that the team hasdisplayedthisyear,”hesaid.Doyle enthusiastically added,
“You can rest assured thatDeerfield baseball is a team ontherise.Wetookourfirstleaguevictory on April 28 againstExeter. We liked the taste of victory,butwe’restillhungry.”
However, despite theattention that boy PGs receive,McDonough and Griff confessthat they don’t mind being leftout of the limelight too much.McDonough joked, “I’d almostrathernotstandout,tobequitehonest.”InresponsetowhyDeerfield
over other high schools, Griff said, “Out of everywhere Iapplied,thiswastheoneplaceIdidn’tknowanyoneandIthoughtitwouldbeagoodexperience.”“Deerfield is pretty well
knownforreallybalancinggoodacademics and athletics andit looks good from a collegestandpoint,”McDonoughadded.McDonough, who became a
PG to switch her athletic focusfrom hockey to running, hasbeen satisfied with the level of competition she’s encounteredthisyear.“Thecrosscountryandtrack
teams here have greater depthand a few better runners thanmyoldschoolsoIhavecertainlygottenbetter.”Griff concludedwithsharing
the highlights of her year.“Playingonateamandbeinginthatpartof thecommunitywasreally fun. It has been a greatexperience.”
Caroline Ashford ’14 goes airborne as Kylie Davis ’14 looks on. Later, Davis outruns Hotchkiss player.
Ashley So
Penny Ashford
AlannaMcDonoughandTierneyGriff arecomingtotheendof theirpostgraduateyear.
PGs COME IN GIRLS’ SIZES, TOO!