COAA News college of the atlantic association july 1985 FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK Why did I choose to transfer to that groovy place despite my advisor's skepticism? True, along with First of all, Andy, Lisa, and I would like to thank all leaving behind a pre-med oriented biology of you who responded with such enthusiasm to our department, I was relinquishing some privileges: first newsletter. As we sat in the Wursthaus in exposure to a large faculty with diverse Harvard Square every Tuesday morning from perspectives, interaction with exchange students 7:00-9:00 discussing "the alumni" we began to from other cultures, and the use of the many realize that we needed more information. How do all facilities of 8 well-endowed school. Although there of you want to be involved in the college and how can is much to be said for the benefits of developing we, through the COAA News, help to build a COA intellectually for 8 few years in 8 well-padded community? college I needed to feel my rootlets growing towards a larger root system. I was ready to seek out the For this reason "From Classroom to Career" became "privileges" I needed, rather than finding them just our first topic in the Forum for Discussion. The by stepping outside of the dormitory. In fact, the message that we got back was that most of us are very first challenge I had to meet at COA was that there attached to the college for 8 variety of emotional and was no dormitory to step outside of. intellectual reasons even if we haven't said "human ecology" in many moons. Another common trait is As an educator constantly refining my philosophy and that we are all curious-wanting to know about practices, I find myself facilitating learning things, people, and ideas. experiences for children not unlike those I experienced at COA. Remembering how exciting my Printed below are the responses we received tracing studies became as I made them relevant beyond the this transition that few of us make without 8 little Ivory Towers, I try to involve students in studies soul-searching, upheaval, and occasional joy. which have application to their community. Recently in 8 science education program with adolescents I've worked with a method called Learning By Real Problems (LBuRP) developed by The Corporate Council for Critical Skills in Milford, New Hampshire. Kids develop group process and critical thinking skills through directing themselves to completion of projects such as: doing 8 woodlot I remember feeling quite small sitting in his inventory and management plan for a local preserve, overstuffed leather chair. As 8 sophmore at a analysing sludge for 8 local chemical plant, or traditional liberal arts college I had come to speak starting their own organically grown seedlings with the head of the biology department about my business. plans to transfer to COA. He suggested that if I was serious about pursuing a career in ecological My commitment to science education stems from 8 field research I should look into some larger human ecology focus nurtured at COA. With our universities, places "a little less groovy" than COA. society SO committed to technology, it is important that the populace understand the true spirit of science: the development of insight. Through discovery learning in science, a unique relationship between the knowledge and the learner develops connecting the child to the very workings of the universe. COA helped me combine the powers to This newsletter was produced by the Communications inform my curiosities with a sense of potency in Committee of COAA: involvement, and helped instill the belief that it is not too much to ask a science curriculum to provide Andrew Bennett these same learning experiences for children. Lisa Holley Jean McHugh One lesson I learned at COA through exploring the histories of scientific investigations was that ideas With assistance from: ( use of computers) that are judged to be wrong within 8 current frame of reference may somehow turn out to prove that it is Bruce Friedman the mindset that needs altering. COA challenges IEC, Inc. Solar Design & Contracting assumptions, takes risks and fosters creative problem-solving through 8 commitment to Dorothy Shamonsky innovation. Exposure to the spirit and policies of COA LCS Telegraphics, Inc. as an institution effects my day-to-day interactions with organizations. Edward DeBono, in a book on And helping at COA: creative thinking, puts it this way: "It is better to have enough ideas for some of them to be wrong than Elmer Beal to always be right by having no ideas at all." Sally Crock Marcia Dorr Postcript: It's fall and hawks are migrating. Driving Charlie Hesse through autumn colored mist, I converse with the stuffed barred owl and crow sitting in my passenger Artwork graciously submitted by: seat. I ask them how they would go about comparing Janet Biondi-Parker themselves to hawks for the benefit of 4th graders (ocean mammals) just gaining exposure to the world of birds. The next Dorothy Shamonsky week one boy insisted that during the weekend he'd seen "a whole bunch of peregrine falcons" flying over his uncle's field. Maybe it's not important when, or even if, that boy realizes that he'd related a Note: To anyone with access to an Apple MacIntosh; if perfect description of pigeons in flight. Maybe you want to contribute MacWritings, MacArt, or what's important is that the child was visualizing other MacThings to the newsletter, just do it on your falcons, that he was participating body and soul in the Mac and send us the disk (preferably with a thrill of discovery. I leave his classroom, satisfied self-addressed and stamped envelope for its return). to think that just maybe he'll remember that in 4th It would save us many valuable hours on the grade he was asked to do what was once asked of me: to keyboards. As for those who have qualms about look upward. reading computer print, we are working on the Kass Hogan '81 means to typeset the whole newsletter. Anyone want to donate 8 letter-quality printer in the meantime? 2 COAA NEWS For the past five years, I have been working with emotionally disturbed children in residential settings. The group process and values clarification work that I did at College of the Atlantic has proven most helpful in my child care and counseling. Good communication skills are to a residential counselor what well-honed chisels are to a carpenter. COA has most definitely helped me to formulate 8 While at COA, I had the opportunity to develop general life philosophy. I was more or less guided by written and oral as well as nonverbal communication my principles before attending COA but my skills. Unlike the large lecture halls characteristic experiences there helped me to define and develop of traditional universities, the college's small them and to understand how they and their seminar format encouraged full participation on my consequences have an effect on the world, micro and part, as a student, I took advantage of my easy access macro. to the various committees that governed the college. This experience has surely contributed to my Technically speaking, my work at the college did not effectiveness as a spokesperson at staff meetings prepare me for the work I am now doing. As 8 matter where we discuss program development. Finally, of fact I've had to relearn much of what I thought COA prepared me for my current agency-based work architecture was about as a result of my COA environment in that I had to deal with everyone experiences. Solar houses are not architecture and involved in the college, not just close friends and one does not need to be an architect to design and build special interest staff members. one, although architects enjoy that sort of work because it is like the freedom of 8 sandbox after the There is one regard in which I now consider my COA rigors of real architecture. Architecture as a education to be a setback. That is the grade option. I profession is mostly business, diplomacy, and enjoyed having the choice while in attendance, opting problem-solving (in that sense my COA schooling has for letter grades in the natural sciences and history made me more prepared for my work than many of only. The bulk of my studies concerned values my colleagues). The art of architecture is actually a clarification and socio-cultural issues, and I deemed small part of the reality of the practice of grades to be inappropriate for these areas of study. architecture, even though the bulk of schooling is Nevertheless, a grade point average would be focused on design fundamentals, theory, and critique. advantageous for me at this particular time as I apply Unfortunately, that is the part of the process that I, to the University of Washington's School of Social and most of my colleagues enjoy the most. Work. Architecture as 8 business often does not involve The College of the Atlantic offered me a supportive global thinking. Although architects are concerned environment, with sufficient intellectual, social and for the health and welfare of the built environment, interpersonal exchange to facilitate maturation of my more SO than our clients and contractors at any rate, ecologically-based value system. While my life it is still 8 business. The result is that the bottom philosohpy is constantly evolving, I acknowledge my dollar is the bottom line and aesthetics are often years at COA as milestones in this progression. forsaken for economics. Much about the world of business and the personality adjustments required The friends and contacts that I made during my stay for "success" are repulsive to me and I resist were the stuff that my success and happiness were adopting those traits. made of. Regretfully, I have lost touch with most of you since moving to the Northwest. Those COAA The people that I can relate to on a philosophical level members who reside in New England are particularly do share my feelings that I will characterize as fortunate to be able to retain some sense of human ecological, but they are not as abundant as one community. I miss y'all. might expect, having been surrounded by that kind of Greg Merrill '79 thinking at COA. Perhaps it is the American West COAA NEWS 3 with its associated attitudes (consumerist, Architecutre is a process of analysis and problem- individualistic, anti-government, anti-cooperative) solving, planning and design. I carry that approach that determines the percentage of human ecologists with me to every task I undertake. There is SO much within the population, but I tend to think it is more about the urban environment that is fascinating. It is associated with "the times". The generation that a classroom for studying all facets of human nature. spawned the College of the Atlantic grew up in times A city is 8 network of patterns on many different of prosperity when there was little concern for levels: activity, density, transportation, scale, building and economic stability and, with the basics income/ethnic/occupation levels. The city is where covered, people were more motivated toward the future happens first. A real challenge for the farther-reaching relationships. human ecologist. I have become involved in many civic, planning and design, and political groups in the It sounds like acliche, but ecology is 8 good word interest of becoming part of that future and helping to describe the prevalent thought at the time. I to shape it. Besides which, I THRIVE on the challenge. believe that once one is infused with the knowledge of ecological relationships and responsibilities, one can Susan Freed '80 no longer go back to short-sighted, self-centered thinking. But there just weren't enough of us when the tide turned. COA still has 8 place in our society but that type of educational orientation should be pervasive throughout our country's educational system, not just exisiting as a small "liberal arts anomaly" tucked away in a hidden corner of the woods. COA was and is a very important maturing experience for college-age people, perhaps more SO emotionally than intellectually, and the size and Ithough I have never been an advocate of the proximity of the college provides 8 favorable "learn-to-earn" philosohpy of higher education, I environment for this type of growth. would say that some of my experiences at COA have been valuable to me. My work experience has varied On a scale of advantages/disadvantages of a COA and will continue to do so, and in that light, my COA education, I will discuss the high and low ends. The training will help in many, but not all of my most positive, tangible consequence of my college employment opportunities. education is the perspective I have developed; the ability to see far-reaching connections and Certainly in the biological field few small colleges relationships is essential to problem-solving and to have provided the same opportunities in teaching and living a responsible lifestyle. In the absence of all research for interested students. I doubt that there other physical and intellectual resources, I think are any other colleges or universities that routinely that those two skills are all one really needs to make place students in valuable internship positions or it in this world. They provide 8 foundation for that have faculty that work SO hard to that end. The applying one's other resources. On the low end of the internship requirement was/is one of COA's strong scale I feel I was released into the big, bad world with points and was especially important in my early a rather naive view of human nature. Are people training. inherently BAD? I don't know the answer to that question but it is something I think about A LOT, and The basis of my personal philosophy was well it is something that 8 good solid COA philosophy established before entering COA. The college was to a course could really investigate. One can get a serious certain degree an expression of it. After two and 8 case of altruistic-delusions from spending too much half years at a traditional university I was amazed time at COA. that there was 8 school that emobodied SO much of what I wanted in an education and a focus. I brought Certainly Albuquerque is not 8 booming metropolis my philosophy and goals to COA and expanded upon but it has 8 great deal of urbanity, good and bad. them. COA was great for that. 4 COAA NEWS Exposure to new ideas is quite intense at the college It's hard to be sure how well COA work prepared me and I had 8 good share of 'eye-opening' discussions for work I've done or am doing, as opposed to another and studies. Dick Davis's class "Humans in Nature school I might have attended. I must keep it in and Bill Drury's "Study of Landscapes" were the perspective. Work done at COA prepared me best courses I took at COA. Both have had lasting somewhat for graduate school. I have more impacts upon the evolution of my personal prerequisites than if I had gotten an undergraudate philosophy. degree in engineering and the rigor requires some adjustment; I carried over 8 personal understanding With regards to friends and contacts of similar that learning is not only beneficial to my interests, if you wish to enter the world of contacts professional goal-seeking, but learning is also 8 as most of us need to do in order to get along in this personal desire and reward. That makes that hard world, the faculty and staff at COA are great. work easier. However, this philosophy had occured to me before attending the College. COA just helped Advantages at COA Disadvantages at COA proved it can be SO. -student/faculty ratio - under semester Any experience will affect one's philosophy or -student participation system a certain lack outlook on life, I believe. How much did COA affect in governance of diversity mine? I'm not sure. Not much I think. -pragmatis -almost too sheltered -students develop greater My COA experience was 8 transient one. I never confidence stayed in one town for more than nine months from -responsible action, devel- 1975-1981. I met many acquaintances and 8 few opment of early work ex- close friends who I rarely see anymore. perience -community size A short term disadvantage of the course work I did in Environmental Design is that it only prepared me for drafting or architectural work. Technical design of As for the nature of the newsletter, I would have to systems, technologies or any product requires much echo previous comments sent to Carole O'Donnell. I broader fundamentals. An advantage that far am not SO interested in hearing what SO and SO is outweighs the disadvantages mentioned is the doing or who they just married. The nature of such opportunity for independent work. Projects and updates and their frequency seems overly egocentric. papers pursued at COA have added 8 lot of strength to I am more interested in knowing what folks are my resume. This obviously is a long term advantage. thinking about: their lives, their development, the world with our common background as a familiar Mark Simonds '81 starting point. I'm more interested in ideas and feelings than events unless the events exhibit underlying shifts in thought and influence. Steve Mullane '81 In general, my education at COA has prepared me well for my current line(s) of work and life in the "real world" (Kansas City??! real world?!??). I not only got 8 decent technical education in energy, but acquired 8 variety of skills and a wide spectrum of knowledge. COAA NEWS 5 The advantages of COA for me included a lot of Minutes of the flexibility in the program and the freedom to puruse my own interests and make my own mistakes. I got a Annual Meeting real education there, instead of just fulfilling 8 set of course requirements. We had a reasonably short (1-1/2 hours) meeting in the auditorium at COA on Saturday morning, June The disadvantages, which I regard more as wonderful 1, 1985: our fourth annual meeting. Fifty-eight challenges, include the anonymity of COA and the people attended, including Maurine Rothschild, vagueness of "Human Ecology". I regard these as who is a new member of the Board of Trustees, two challenges because I'm forced to rely on myself faculty, and one staff member. To sum up the instead of the status of my degree or alma mater. business of the meeeting, we have had a very Also, my degree in Human Ecology has stimulated productive year. some wonderful conversations ("Human Ecology? What the hell is that ?") What it comes down to is that I was and am 8 PHOENIX FUND PHONATHON curious , stubborn and intelligent person with a short attention span and 8 wide variety of interests. COA gave me a good education because a variety of The Second Annual Phoenix Fund Phonathon was held subjects were covered and the program was flexible on March 18th and 19th at Harvard's Gutman enough for me to mostly get my own way (within Library in Cambridge. With a staff that fluctuated reason). Nothing much has changed except that now from 10 to 17 callers we raised about $7,000 in two I have a wide variety of skills and knowledge to evenings of calling. Approximately 80 alumni match my wide ranging interests; I know something pledged an average of $85.00 each, a figure which about most things I'm interested in. And I know how compares very favorably with other alumni to plunge in and find out about the things I don't know fund-raising drives at other more traditional about. The people were great - stimulating and colleges and universities. intelligent - and no matter what I was, I was rarely bored. Some statistics: Jill Kolva '83 TOTAL PLEDGED NOT PLEDGED GRADUATES 292 156(54%) 132(46%) Matriculants 245 45(18%) 200(82%) Visiting 84 7(8%) 77(92%) Special ? 4 ? TOTAL STUDENTS 621 212(33%) 414(67%) We'd like to thank those of you who gave SO generously to the Fund and all of the devoted Boston alumni who helped out this year. Special thanks to John March, Henry Elliott, and Maudi Russell-March who spent hours organizing the event. We'd also like to thank Bob Holley, Phonathon Leader Emeritus, Hard-Bitten Fund Raiser for his encouragement and professional expertise. 6 COAA NEWS 1) The Board of Directors began working positively Morong (1 year), and new to the Board, Josie with COA in establishing 8 fiscal relationship. Todrank (2 years). Sally Morong 2) The Board also discussed with COA the need to Treasurer establish an alumni affairs coordinator on-site at COA. Notes from the Board These two projects are by no means clear-cut or solidified, although we made great strides towards The spirit at the college is phenomenal; to me it these long-term goals. seems more dynamic than it was when I was there, if that is possible. It seems more gut grabbing, more 3) The Board also re-organized the Communications than ever like a whirlwind of activity, as Father Committee. This committee did 8 herculean job with Jim Gower once described it. Maybe I'm riding on the last newsletter and "the omens look good" for this my own euphoric high, a peculiar blend of nostalgia and future newsletters. We are beginning to look and new ideas, but there is no denying the positive professional. ed. note: "you ain't seen nothin yet!!) power emanating from everyone I met and spoke with at alumni/graduation weekend. After several hard 4) The Board encouraged the continued efforts of the blows, the college is bouncing back, like a bantam Fund-Raising Committee in organizing a second rooster, small but gritty. Phonathon. This committee not only organized the Phonathon, but also spent considerable time engaged Jackson Gilman, speaker at commencement, likens in the hunt for the elusive mailing address. The the COA community to a flock of geese, whose phonathon was less successful monetarily than we collective strength guarantees its arrival at its goal. had hoped, although 70 to 80 percent of persons His presentation literally kept us on the edge of our contacted pledged, which is still phenomenal seats, and oftentimes out of them. You never thought compared to similar fund drives. The committee also there was that much to geese, now did you? gained some invaluable experience in this project. COAA had an excellent representation at all the 5) The membership accepted the proposed changes in weekend's activities. We had a chance to develop the Constitution that the Board presented. These ideas among ourselves and with others in the COA were primarily "housekeeping" details that clarify community, and to get more involved in the college on the meaning and intent of the Constitution. This was a more personal level. the only business motion brought to a vote. How about a several-day conference at COA, an 6) The Board developed a logo and 8 newsletter alumni forum to re-introduce us to curriculum masthead this year (Andrew Bennett did the planning and philosophies of COA and give us an graphics), SO we will soon have professional opportunity to make educated suggestions about these stationary. directions? About a half-dozen COAA folk have batted this idea about since Day One. 7) The Board and the Nominations Committee established staggered terms for the Board of Or establishing a formal position (volunteer or Directors; the Nominations Committee also wrote a otherwise) for a COA/COAA archivist? set of guidelines for nomination procedures (all the committees should write 8 set of guidelines) and Or COAA publishing a special Voices (Voices From developed the slate for elections. the Past?) with descriptions of what struck us strongly at COA during our sojurn there--funny, sad, moving, revealing; comments, quip, and quotable Re-elected to the Board of Directors this year are quotes, etc.? Robert Holley (2 years), Olen Berkowitz (2 years), Andrew Bennett (1 year), Sally Or establishing an organized branch of COAA on the COAA NEWS 7 West Coast so members who live there can have more Center for Collaborative Problem-Solving, San active standing in COA and COAA affairs? Francisco, CA (1). A Collection of Short Stories( (FP). Hey, you folks who couldn't make it, for whatever reason: We missed you!! It wasn't the same without Sebastian Lousada* - Hack site attendant for the you! Don't let your absense affect your continued Peregrine Fund (1). A Study of Fruit Handling interest and involvement. Your value to COA is not Puerto Rican and Hispaniolan Parrots (FP). just monetary; just as important are your participation in the fun times today, your sharing of Neil Mick - Teacher at Baltimore Experimental yesterday's times, and your ideas to enhance School, Baltimore, MD (1). The Creative tomorrow's times. Process(I Hope to see you next year. Until then, go well. Steve Millett - Apprentice, Emery Brothers Boatbuilders in South Freeport, ME (1). Exhibit for Sally Morong the Natural History Museum (FP). The Class of 1985 Joanne Rodgers - Weaver for Susan Grosjean, Franklin, ME (1). Combined Materials for Functional Art (FP). Congratulations to the new alumni! They have given much to the College with their research, projects, Mary Roper - Farm apprentice (1). COA Site new ideas, thoughts and enthusiasm. Now we welcome Evaluation and Landscape Plan (FP). them into the larger community where their talents and skills are more useful and necessary than ever. (Karen) Miranda Ryan - Intern, Warwick Below is a list of the graduates, their internships (1) Congregational Church (1). A Jungian Interpretation and final projects (FP). The asterisk denotes of Christianity (FP). students who stood with previous classes and who were not at this year's graduation. Erin Saunders - Intern, COA Development Office (1). Distinguished Visitor Series (FP). Diana Cohn* - Teacher at the Bay School, Blue Hill, ME (1). Romance in Education (FP). Meg Scheid* - Park naturalist, Acadia National Park (1). A Young Naturalist's Guide to Acadia David Flynn - Designer and builder with Gates National Park (FP). Moor, Norwalk, CT (1). Traditional Wooden Boat Building (FP). Jim Senter - Prior fulfillment of requirement(1) Bryophytes of Mt. Desert Island, Maine (FP). Loretta Gleason* - Teacher's aide at American School for the Deaf, West Hartford, CT (1). Pati Vitt - Interpreter at Wild Gardens of Constructing 8 Feminist Framework in the Acadia(I How Plants Live: A Book For Classroom (FP). Children(FP) Chris Hamilton - Conservation volunteer for the Sara Wendt - Research Assistant, Office of Bureau of Land Management in Fairbanks, AK (1). Education, National Museum of Natural History, Critical Analysis of Family Planning in Kenya, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC (1). Africa (FP). Experiments in Fiction and the Production of "Voices". (FP). Peter Heller - Prior fulfillment of requirement(1). A Study of Mysticism (FP). Karen Wennlund - Ranch hand at Rail Canyon, Adin, CA (1). Annotated Bibliography on Sustainable Michael Kaiser* - Administrative Assistant, Agriculture (FP). 8 COAA NEWS The COA Presidential Search Lou Rabineau became a candidate late in the search process. His commitment to the college as an interim The presidential search process began last November president was for one year. The community was SO when a group of nine representatives from the COA impressed with his performance as interim community gathered together to assess the needs of president that he was asked to join the pool of the college and establish criteria for choosing an applicants for the permanent position. effective president. Over a five month period the committee narrowed the field of over 70 applicants The process of the search was valuable not only in to a group of five finalists. These five were carefully locating outstanding candidates for the position of scrutinized by the entire COA community in a variety president but also in forcing the community to of forums on campus. By unanimous vote Dr. Louis reassess COA's values, priorities, and goals. In Rabineau was chosen to assume the role of presenting COA to candidates the community's own president at COA. understanding of the college was strengthened. While visiting the campus final candidates offered The qualities sought in each appliccant were: 8 constructive criticisms and suggestions on subjects background in education administration, an of enrollment, strengthening the public image, fund enthusiasm for COA's mission, 8 demonstrated fund- raising tactics, and filling gaps in the academic raising ability, and a friendly, approachable program. Their input helped the community see the disposition. The successful candidate had to accept college with a fresh perspective. the democratic style of COA governance and be a charismatic and aggressive public champion of the college. Glenon Friedman, COA student COAA NEWS 9 COA INTERNATIONAL PEACE IN THEORY AND PRACTICE CURRICULUM Donald Meiklejohn This is a study of three recent efforts to establish 8 dependable peace: the Peace Conference at Versailles The folowing courses were selected as 8 sample of the in 1919, the Yalta Conference in 1945, and the courses to be offered in the Fall 1985. A more contemporary super-power balance in Europe. The complete list can be found in the new 1985-86 central question of the course is: How far can moral catalogue. As alumni it is important that we are considerations govern national policy in foreign aware of the development of the COA curriculum as a affairs? reflection of COA's philosophy and values. OUTREACH EDUCATION PRACTICUM THE FUTURE OF SUBSAHARAN AFRICA: Vicki Nichols (alumnae) Population, Growth, Famine, and Development Elizabeth Russell (visiting faculty) This practicum combines natural history studies and environmental education. Initial emphasis is on This course examines present and potential problems learning natural history concepts and general of developing Third World countries in Mid- and comparative mammal anatomy/physiology which is Southern Africa. Each student "adopts" a country and pertinent to the outreach programs. Later, the focus studies its economy and ecology. is placed on program presentation, the role of teacher/facilitator, and curriculum design. INTRODUCTION TO ARCHEOLOGY AND MAINE PREHISTORY ROOTS OF THE MODERN WORLD Diane Kopec (visiting faculty) John Visvader (visiting faculty) This course examines our present knowledge of The major strands in the development of science and Maine's past environments and cultural history by technology, economics, philosophy, and politics are way of sites which have been excavated and analyzed traced from the 15th and 16th centuries to the within the past ten years. Students explore the present. The major emphasis is on the co-evolution relationship of the past peoples to the changing of ideas and institutions, how various areas of environment of Maine and gain 8 firsthand look at culture acted upon and influenced other areas. For the prehistory of Mount Desert Island through site example, how ideas of science and economics visits. influenced the development of modern democracy. 10 COAA NEWS