Association Newsletter College of the Atlantic March 1983 Vol. 1, No. 2 HUMAN ECOLOGY AND BATH IRON WORKS Sally Morong In July of 1982, I was hired by the Bath Iron Works as an apprentice pipefitter. For better than half a year, I have been working in a highly industrial environment, the likes of which few COA people will probably experience. When I first discussed this job with COA people at the June association meeting in Boston last year, the reaction was generally of surprise and curiosity. It is an unusual occupation for a human ecologist. And in that vein, some of you have asked me how I can relate a lifestyle of human ecology to the construction of weapons of war, namely, the guided missile frigate. The question is an excellent one, and I don't pretend to have all the answers to argue or to defend this decision. In this short essay, I hope only to share some thoughts I have on this. First, I haven't resolved in myself the dilemma between these two seemingly opposite camps. My feelings are still a mixed bag. To relate even remotely the building of weapons to human ecology, I put forth the argument that those who are not strong enough or skilled enough to defend themselves are overcome. In the forest, the weak are eaten; among nations, the weak are occupied, a political consumption. I believe strongly in defense. Part of my mixed bag of feelings, however, comes in recognizing that those who decide on defense also have the power to decide on offense. But a show of strength can maintain the peace, as was exhibited this past month in the Middle East. The United States sent some war vessels into the Red Sea just to "cruise around", but it was enough to deter the Libyans from attacking the Sudan. This does not solve the problems between the two countries, but does keep the doors open for negotiations. Similarly, between members of the same species, a show of strength impresses inferior members, and they COW down and behave submissively. Accordingly, the superior beast refrains from injuring the supplicating individual. No blood is shed. In the event of conflict, individuals usually resort to the infliction of minor flesh wounds. It appears that humans are the only species that have devised the idea of democracy (and not all of them, at that), since the ecological ways of the world seem to indicate that an order of hierarchy is needed to keep the superior genes of a species at the forefront. But humans keep coming up with new ideas and strive for the freedom to express them. My interest in the American Revolution remains quite strong, not because of the strife and bloodshed it created, but for the development of an opposing philosophy and culture different from anything the Old World had ever imagined could exist and which shapes our lives today. Although England was not an especially bad ruler over the Colonies, she was ignorant of the changes in the needs and attitudes of the Colonies. Old World attitudes and lifestyles simply could not always apply to New World situations. The Colonists had settled a wilderness, which took initiative and imagination, not to mention the prerequisite courage and strength of mind and body. The extreme remoteness of the Colonies from the mother country necessitated their ability to make major decisions on their own. (It was no accident that many of our country's greatest thinkers lived contemporaneously during that period of time.) The Revolution was not so much a defense of material things as it was a defense of new philosophical beliefs and tenets. What revolution has ever been different? Back to BIW: In a way, I have made a compromise with myself in working at Bath Iron Works. The apprenticeship program is three years long, and when I have graduated, I will have a journeyman's license, which will mean that I am qualified to do industrial or commercial pipefitting anywhere in the country. I feel at this time that it is worth my while to gain this trade to improve my employability. With today's economy, the more things a person can do, the more likely he is to remain employed. Will I stay at the Iron Works? I can't say for sure; right now, I am looking ahead only as far as the completion of my apprenticeship. I must add, too, that the experience of working in a highly industrial environment is an important addition to my awareness of life for many people. I am gaining first-hand experience with the physical distresses that blue-collar workers deal with every day, which pose serious problems for thousands of workers all over the country; air laden with welding smoke, steel dust, fiberglass, epoxy paint dust and fumes, fumes from brazing, gouging, and cutting, and a host of other contaminants. Noise is among the more serious environmental assaults on the human body. It is hard to imagine the levels of noise that can be attained by the operation of blowers, cutting wheels, the grinding and chipping of metal as it is prepared for fabrication, the engines of tools and machines and vehicles, the testing of equipment and lines, and the "pinging" of sonar testing, among a myriad of other things. Most distressing is the careless attitude of many, many employees about the effects of these distresses upon their bodies, particularly the airborne contaminants. Very few use respirators, although they are available. These people do not feel immediate effects of steel particles in their lungs, so they think nothing of it. I am enjoying the work itself, the actual hands-on experience in working with pipe, learning the use of machines and tools, and how metals respond to different handling. I often work with older employees, who know hundreds of tricks of the trade that no book could ever explain. The people I have met are fascinating, as well. Contrary to popular belief, blue-collar workers are not the rubble of civilization. Granted, some employees are poorly educated or exhibit little intelligence. But most people I have met have achieved some degree of education, usually at least high school, and many with college and graduate degrees. I know former airplane pilots, actors, teachers, technicians, foresters, resort managers, writers, architects -- you name it, they work here. Others have no more than a gradeschool education, yet have educated themselves to a high level of professionalism through their work. There is something to be learned from all of them. I have not experienced any kind of harassment or discrimination because of my sex, although the guys like to joke around. I like a good joke as well as anyone, and even had the honor of having my feet painted green upon leaving a certain section of the yard. Male or female, if you can't take it as well as you can dish it out, they' plague you endlessly on it. I cannot go into more detail in the short space of this essay, but I hope to continue to share with you my thoughts and experiences in this field, and I hope those of you who feel moved to respond will do so, to comment on my statements, or to ask more questions. Sally Morong COA '76 2 REPORTS FROM THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND ASSOCIATION COMMITTEES FROM THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS John March Annual Meeting Date Set The Board of Directors of the COA Association is pleased to announce that the association's second annual meeting will be held on the island this year in conjunction with the graduation of the Class of 1983. The meeting is scheduled for the morning of Sunday, June 5, and all association members and their families are enthusiastically invited to attend. Formal invitations, together with a schedule of the weekend's events, will be mailed soon to all members. (If you received this newsleter, you're a member. Simple as that.) Like last year's meeting at the New England Aquarium in Boston, this year's meeting will feature a number of speakers from the college's faculty and administration. In addition, of course, it will be an occasion to renew old friendships, to see the college once more, and to welcome some sixty new members the (enormous) Class of 1983. Mark the date on your calendars now! Nominating Committee Named A three-person Nominating Committee has been named by the association's Board of Directors to present a list of nominees for election to the board at the annual meeting in June. Named to the committee were Joan Feely, Nadine Gerdts, and Bob Holley. By the terms of the association's constitution, all five seats on the board must be refilled at this year's meeting. Several current board members have indicated that they will be unable to stand for reelection, so some turnover is expected. As the association's governing body, the board is responsible for all affairs of the association, including the setting of policy, committee oversight, and relations with the college. If you would like to suggest a possible candidate (including yourself) to the committee, please do so. The committee members may be reached at the phone numbers and addresses listed below, and they would welcome any suggestions you may have. Joan Feely Nadine Gerdts Bob Holley COMMUNIQUE FROM THE COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE Kathy Weinstock The committee met on January 22 at Keith Patrie's house in Portland, Maine. Our main topics of discussion centered around the alumni newsletter and the role of class correspondents. The alumni newsletter will be published 3 times a year - in March, July, and November and may contain committee reports, articles from people presently involved in the college 3 community, a readers' response section, poetry, prose, artwork and articles written by alumni, and personal news of alumni. Several people have expressed interest in being class correspondents. We will publish the list of correspondents in the next newsletter after discussing the responsibilities of the job with each. Their major responsibility will be to compile the personal news, articles, art, etc. from their class members and to send it to Carole for inclusion in the newsletter. Please write to Carole if you have any additional ideas about the content of the newsletter or if you can think of an inspired title and/or logo for this publication. ALUMNI FUND COMMITTEE REPORT- Bill Ginn The 1982 annual alumni fund drive and the first one organized under the auspices of the COA Association has resulted in a nearly 100% increase in the number of contributions over previous years. The overall number is still small compared to the total number of alumni, with only 12% of the 351 alumni contributing. Through the generosity of an annonymous alumni supporter, a $5000 challenge grant was offered to match two to one any contribution from new donors. To date, over $2597 has come from new donors. This more than meets the condition of the challenge grant. With these contributions, the total Alumni Fund stands at $8682, still short of our $10,000 goal to be raised by June 30, the end of COA's fiscal year. The COAA fundraising committee will be meeting this spring to discuss further ways of increasing alumni participation in the financing of the college. Ideas to be considered include a phone-a-thon and the development of a class agent system. Anyone with comments or ideas should feel free to call Bill Ginn at 207-688-4468 or write him care of the college. For all of you who have supported the college to date, our thanks. To those of you who have not, please give consideration to mailing a contribution this year. NEWS FROM COA ALUMNI SPEAKERS SERIES On March first, Scott Kraus visited classes at COA during the day and gave an evening talk entitled "What's Wrong with Right Whales?" Scott, a 1976 graduate of COA, is research associate for the New England Aquarium in Boston and has spent the past two years studying the North Atlantic population of right whales in the Bay of Fundy. He met informally with students the morning following his talk, allowing students the opportunity to discuss his research, his experience as one of the first students at College of the Atlantic, and his sense of career opportunities in the biological sciences. This was followed by his attendance at All College Meeting. 4 Scott's visit was the first of what we hope will become a once-a-term alumni speakers series. Our second speaker will be Steve Oransky on May 17th. A 1979 graduate of COA, Steve is an instructor at Cornerstones Homebuilding School in Brunswick, Maine. His slide and lecture presentation on energy efficient design and construction is entitled "The Superhouse: High Tech, Low Tech, No Tech." WATSON FELLOWSHIP AWARD Peter Wayne, who will graduate from COA this spring, is one of 70 students nationwide selected to receive a Thomas J. Watson Fellowship for 1983. The fellowship provides recipients with a stipend of $10,000 to support independent study and travel abroad for one year. Peter will use these funds to study the effect of different cultures and their land use practices on the ecology of several islands in the North Atlantic. He will travel to Nova Scotia and islands off the coast of Wales and Scotland. The Thomas J. Watson Fellowship Program is a national competition awarding grants totaling $720,000 in 1983 to graduating seniors from 50 small private colleges and universities throughout the United States. The fellowships are awarded by the Thomas J. Watson Foundation, a charitable trust established in 1961 in memory of the founder of International Business Machines Corporation. This is the first year College of the Atlantic has been invited to nominate one of our seniors. NEWS FROM MEMBERS Carole O'Donnell Until class correspondents officially take over the writing of personal news items, I will continue my tradition of sharing news of people I have heard from over the past few months. We received a lengthy letter from JEAN McHUGH this winter. Jean is a Peace Corps volunteer in Togo, West Africa where she is helping to set up and train village health committees to teach village people how to use clean water to improve their health. This is part of a development project which is drilling 450 wells throughout Togo. Jean carries 15 liter buckets of water on her head from a dam to her home, travels throughout the countryside on a red motor bike and has learned to socialize in a culture where shaking hands is "practically a national sport.' She offers the following thoughts on education: "I have thought a lot about my COA education since coming here, particularly in comparison with the pseudo-French educational system the Togolese employ as well as in comparison with what I can gather about European education In observing the Togolese system it has become obvious that a school has a specific cultural setting and purpose. In Togo for instance, the students all come out of small villages to be trained as development workers. They eventually work in rural organizing, school teaching, health care or as part of the military or para-military. Very few students continue their studies through university level because the government has neither the means nor the desire to cultivate a well-educated, free-thinking population. As for the Europeans, their schooling is very rigid from start to finish and they have no choice but to specialize in college. It seems like all the men I've met are some kind of engineer/scientist and all the women are nurses or grade-school teachers Our society can afford to support a school in which the students occupy themselves with ideals. COA is a product of a comfortable society-which is not an accusation coming from me although coming from somebody who was never given the luxury of a liberal arts education it could be I realize that COA is not trying to turn out dreamers that will spend the rest of their lives thinking up impossibly obstuse projects, but rather to spend half the time thinking them up and the other half implementing them. Toward this end I would even suggest that COA allow itself to wallow in 5 its liberal-artsyness. More reading of classics, a required course in the history of the world to give a sense of the develoment of the intellect, with tangents into world art, world mathematics, world religion as well as an acquaintance with the simultaneous political events. " TIM MILNE recently wrote from England where he is a student in The School of Peace Studies within the University of Bradford. Not only is he having a good educational experience in one of the few programs of its kind, he is in love and will be married this spring. CHERYL NORTON will finish her masters degree in environmental communications this spring from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and DAVE WINSHIP is a librarian at a high school in Virginia where he has just finished a winning season as the eighth grade basketball coach. JUDY SCHWARTZ sends her regards from Burlington, VT where she is enrolled in a Ph.D program in biomedical engineering. Her thesis in electrophysiology involves electrically modelling the human heart, and she teaches freshman physics labs. LESLIE McCONNELL PAPAZIDIS and STEPHEN PAPAZIDIS traveled for 51/2 months last year throughout Asia and Southeast Asia. They are currently living in the Boston area where Leslie is a graduate student in the Consulting Teacher of Reading Program at Lesley College. She hopes to finish her M.Ed in August. Another person involved in education is WENDY VAN DYKE who is a teaching intern at Newfound Harbor Marine Institute at Big Pine Key, Florida. She is teaching marine biology and subtropical marine ecology to junior high school groups and is learning CPR, boat handling and piloting. Our thanks to SKIP BASSO for the heading on this newsletter. Non Profit Organization College of the Atlantic U.S. Postage Paid Bar Harbor, Me. 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