Deerfield Gender Meetings, which facilitate the space to share stories of how gender affects Deerfield experiences, have usually appeared in the Opening Day’s Schedule. Last year the Student Life Office removed them from the schedule.
Dean of Residential Life Rebecca Melvoin who helped reform the meetings over the past year said, “We removed Gender Meetings because it felt like: welcome to Deerfield, tell us which gender you feel comfortable with.”
Dr. Melvoin explained that she was unsure to what degree people felt comfortable with the prior climate of the meetings; however, the SLO did not remove the meetings because of negative past experiences. She said, “The last time we had [the Gender Meetings], there was a clear purpose. The Boys Meeting went well, and they shared vulnerabilities they hadn’t in the past. The Girls Meeting was fine, with its focus on appreciating the sisterhood.The All-Gender Meeting was also an affirming space for folks who go.”
As of this year, the Gender Meetings are no longer an administrative responsibility and are instead initiated by students. However, faculty advisors were present at the Girls and All-Gender Meeting to ensure that the meetings facilitated supportive conversations. The student organizers reached out to faculty to coordinate faculty participation.
The focus of the meetings is still to promote a constructive atmosphere. Dr. Melvoin said, “[The meetings] are not the place to process trauma. It should be a place to explain how being a boy or girl at Deerfield helped during my best and worst moments. Perhaps some fun stories.”
Anneke Wittink ’25, who attended both this and last year’s meetings, shared, “The student leaders this year were clear that every story should have a purpose instead of just existing to expel negative emotions, and everyone did that. I felt a restored faith in the female community at DA upon leaving.”
Sammie McKee ’25, who attended the meeting, said, “I got up and shared a story about checking in on others. I was crying at school meetings and two girls noticed, and later that day they asked me what was wrong. People just cared that I was crying. It made my day that two people whom I wasn’t close with checked in. I thought it was wholesome.”
In regards to the All-Gender Meeting, organizer Lillian Regal ’24 said, “The purpose of the All-Gender Meeting is largely similar to the other two: to provide a space to discuss issues specific to gender-expansive students at Deerfield.” The topics can range from talking about “resources available on campus, spreading positivity, expressing frustration with challenges, and building community,” Regal added.
The Boys Meeting is yet to happen, but there will be a similar process of relaying the goals to the SLO and then scheduling the time in tandem with faculty advisors. Each meeting was organized independently, so the timing of the meeting did not line up.