COA News NOVEMBER 1984 Vol. 8 No. 1 Dr. Louis Rabineau Appointed University of New York at Albany and his Doctorate of Education from Harvard University. President of COA COA welcomed President Louis Rabineau at convocation Monday, September 10. Through his association with the Academy for Educational Development in New York City, Dr. Rabineau will serve as president of COA for one year and assist the College in the search for a permanent president. The appointment of Dr. Rabineau follows a search conducted by a committee chaired by Trustee Donald Straus and coordinated by William Newbold. The Search Committee included other members of the Board, as well as faculty, staff, and students. "We feel very fortunate to have found someone who can bring to COA the broad knowledge of higher education and in- depth experience in academic administration which Lou Rabineau has," said Dr. Thomas Hall, chairman of the Board of Trustees. "His nomination was enthusiastically and unanimously approved." In his convocation address, Dr. Rabineau outlined a three-point plan for the year: one, to reaffirm the ideals of Human Ecology; two, to enroll the most qualified students; and three, to develop increased awareness of the College and strengthen financial support. "I look forward to the opportunity of serving as president of COA at this important period of its development," said Dr. Rabineau. "This is an exciting college. The faculty, students, Lou Rabineau staff, members of the Board of Trustees, and friends of COA have impressed me with their energy and with their dedication SEARCH FOR COA PRESIDENT IS UNDERWAY to the College. We should have an exciting and productive Nominations and applications for president will be year at COA." accepted until February 1. Contact Ted Koffman for Dr. Rabineau received his B.A. and M.A. from the State information. Admissions Hosts Counselors, of Trustees. Other new members are Samuel Eliot, former vice president of COA, and William Foulke, chairman of Pardee Prospective Students Management Company in Philadelphia. Newly elected officers of the Board are Thomas Hall, As part of the Downeast Consortium fall college tour, on chairman; Neva Goodwin and John Kauffmann, vice chairs; October 16 COA welcomed guidance counselors from 28 and Leslie Brewer, treasurer. high schools throughout New England and New York. The focus of the gathering was a panel of five students who answered questions about life at COA and the Human Author John McPhee Visits Ecology degree. Trustee John Kauffmann stopped by Bill Carpenter's On October 26 COA again played host - this time to Autobiography class this fall term. With him came friend and twenty-six prospective students and a few parents. The visitors author John McPhee who proceeded to explain the "innards of arrived on Friday afternoon and met with faculty representatives to discuss the major areas of study at COA. a piece of writing" to 25 students. That evening they enjoyed a spaghetti supper in Turrets and a "Before you write," McPhee explained, "you must study what you are writing about until you see it as a whole. A good concert in the auditorium. Saturday was spent sailing, hiking, writer knows the last line before writing the first." By and touring the library before returning to campus housing for illustrating his method of organization - which includes pizza and an evening with hosting COA students. separate folders for separate sections, intense research, and critical editing - he recreated "The Encircled River" from his Board of Trustees Elects book Coming into the Country before the students' eyes. John McPhee, a regular contributor to the New Yorker, New Members, Officers has published such books as Basin and Range, Survival of Two COA graduates, John Biderman and Cathy the Birch Bark Canoe, Curve of Binding Energy, and Ramsdell, are among the newly elected members of the Board Giving Good Weight. INVOLVED: STUDENTS WORK WITH MDI PUBLIC SCHOOL "We're going to use three halfbacks and three fullbacks," shouts Emerson Middle School soccer coach Kevin Geiger. Over the noise of the players and the bus he continues, "Don't worry, we'll win." The Emerson Tigers are worried about their chances in today's game against the Pemetic Indians of Southwest Harbor. Emerson School volunteer teaching assistant Dorie Stolley says, "I'm teaching 6 seventh-graders about world peace and understanding." Her students are asking serious questions about nuclear war. Kevin and Dorie are COA students. Kevin, 19, is studying environmental design. Dorie is 20; she is studying environmental education. "Emerson didn't have a soccer coach," says Kevin. "I knew one of the team members and he asked me if I wanted to coach. I've played soccer for years and I love it - so I said sure. In spite of losing, we are all having a great time." "I taught in the public schools last spring with Peter Corcoran's 'Teaching Controversial Issues," explains Dorie. "I saw how concerned the kids were about peace issues and how important it is to deal with their questions. This fall's project is actually my independent study: 'Children: International Understanding and Peace." The Emerson Tigers lost that game to the Pemetic Indians. However, Kevin's team did win a game before the season ended. "It was great!" Kevin says. Dorie's students may choose to attend the "World Youth Conference" in the U.S.S.R. next year. Dorie explains, "The Soccer Coach Kevin Geiger students have to decide whether they think a trip to the Soviet countries. I think that they already know that what they are Union will help create understanding between our two studying and doing makes a difference." OOPS for Fall '84 SAILING THE "SPRAY" Outdoor Orientation Program We sailed from Southwest Harbor through a light mist into the Great Harbor of Mount Desert Island on Monday, the third of September. There were ten of us aboard the Spray, eight students and the crew. For six days we would live and work together in close quarters, getting to know new faces as we adjusted to a new school. The first evening out we encountered the worst weather of the entire trip - a light drizzle as we headed into Frenchboro. Throughout the remainder of the voyage we would enjoy fair winds and blue skies. After that first damp night in Frenchboro, we proceeded to Isle au Haut. From Isle au Haut we sailed to Vinylhaven and from there to Swans Island. Our last night was spent on Sheep Island. After rowing to shore at low tide, Captain Ed demonstrated clamming on the tidal flats. With a feast in mind, we collected several pounds of clams and bushels of blue mussels. Our twilight bonfire crackling, we reflected on our week at sea. CANOEING DOWN THE ALLAGASH High water and good weather highlighted the Allagash Wilderness Waterway canoe trip for new students this fall. Twenty-eight students and staff members crammed their bodies and their gear into fourteen canoes for the five-day trip. While one canoe did capsize, the unusually high water was welcomed by most paddlers. In past years, canoeists have spent as much time dragging their canoes through shallow water as they have shooting rapids. The paddlers saw geese, ducks, loons, osprey, and Sailing the Spray moose. One lucky student even spotted a coyote taking an early morning drink. Leader and returning student David Malakoff summed history and ecology of Mount Desert Island. Under Vicki's up his feelings about his second Allagash trip: "There isn't a direction, that is certain. better way to meet your new classmates than a week on one of the most beautiful rivers in North America." BRIEFLY WHO WE ARE: VICKI NICHOLS APPOINTMENTS: Charlie Hesse was appointed Vice President for Development and Public Affairs in August. To the positions of assistant director of the Natural Charlie has worked with Development and Public Affairs at History Museum and outreach coordinator, Vicki Nichols COA since January of 1984. brings not only training and experience, but infectious Kathy Wagner joined the staff as public affairs assistant enthusiasm. in September. Kathy will help plan and implement all aspects A COA graduate, Vicki participated in two terms of the of public relations and marketing for the College. Outreach Practicum and helped design the Naugahyde Whale Rich Borden was named special assistant to the president program, a foam and fabric replica of a pilot whale with "skin" in October. Rich will provide general support to President Lou that unzips to reveal removable muscles, bones, and organs. Rabineau while continuing with his teaching responsibilities in Vicki also took other more traditional education courses at Human Ecology. COA and UMO. Elmer Beal began his duties as director of Admissions on Through her studies in education, she became involved in November 15. Elmer has been with COA since 1972. bringing energy studies into the classroom of area schools. Her Peter Corcoran was named internship director. Peter senior project combined her interests in education and energy has also been elected secretary of the University of New - Vicki designed and coordinated Maine's first statewide Hampshire/University of Maine Sea Grant Policy Advisory Energy Education Conference. Committee, re-elected vice president of the New England "It was a valuable experience," Vicki said. "And it was so Environmental Education Association, and re-elected to the successful that Bangor Hydro is interested in sponsoring a board of trustees of the Maine Audubon Society and the second conference." Maine Chapter of Nature Conservancy. Last summer Vicki worked as a coordinator for the Steve Katona has been elected academic dean.. Natural History Museum. She led daily interpretive programs, Marcia Dworak has received notice that the governor museum tours, handled the museum's finances, and managed intends to reappoint her to a second term on the Maine Library the museum's bookstore. Commission. Currently, Vicki is directing the focus of the Outreach COMINGS & GOINGS: Donna McFarland has taken the Practicum to emphasize working with people. Students are position of assistant to the director of Admissions. given more freedom to design the educational format for the Cathy Kimball began her duties recently as secretary to interpretive programs. the president. Cathy resides in Bar Harbor where her husband is a member of the Bar Harbor Police Department. HAPPENINGS: Whales-on-Wheels made the six o'clock news Friday, October 26, when WLBZ TV in Bangor covered the Museum Outreach Program. Seventy second- graders from Ellsworth spent the day on campus touring the museum and hiking the Nature Trail, as well as assembling the whale. COA will sponsor a conference May 10-12, demonstrating ways in which art and science are integrated to generate and use various images. Through a consumer education approach, IMAGES: A Conference on Image Acquisition and Analysis will feature product presentations, demonstrations, and informal lectures. Educators and students throughout New England will be invited. Sally Greenman and Suzanne Knecht have been nominated for the Thomas J. Watson Fellowship award. An anonymous gift has made it possible to establish a building fund for the Natural History Museum. FIELD TRIPS: Janet Andersen's Edible Landscape/Permanent Agriculture class toured the New Alchemy Institute in Falmouth, Mass., on October 26. There they heard a lecture by David Rosenmiller, a COA graduate and employee of New Alchemy. Butch Rommel's Comparative Functional Anatomy of Vicki Nichols Vertebrates class toured several museums during the first weekend in November. Their trip included visits to the Anticipating her second summer with the Natural History Peabody Museum in New Haven, Conn.; the Museum of Museum, Vicki recognizes the potential of the museum to Comparative Zoology in Cambridge, Mass.; The Children's expand and reach a more diverse audience. She plans to Museum and the New England Aquarium in Boston; and the incorporate more hands-on learning opportunities for museum Mystic Aquarium in Mystic, Conn. visitors and she is interested in developing natural history field Steve Katona's Marine Mammals class enjoyed a whale classes that would examine more closely some of the varied watch on September 22 on board the Island Queen out of ecosystems in our area. Most of all, she wants the museum to Southwest Harbor and again on October 13 out of be stimulating and to offer exciting introductions to the natural Newburyport, Mass., on board the M/V Cetacea. Permit #47 Bar Harbor, Maine 04609 Bar Harbor, Me. U.S. Postage Paid College of the Atlantic Nonprofit Organiz. November 1984 Human Ecology Films lawn. Faculty members Don Cass and Janet Anderson recently explained the puzzle. The strange-looking device is a Plans for a series of eight films to be used as a course in cloud sampler. Human Ecology are underway. The college-level series, A national cloud-sampling network has been organized "Humans in Nature," will examine the themes of ecology, to monitor the chemistry of cloud moisture. The network, culture, ethics, natural resources, and population. The project including Don and Janet, has already tracked a major cloud is designed not only for COA and other colleges with pollution event from the industrial East Coast as it moved ecologically-oriented programs, but for national distribution as through the Northeast. This September study showed an well. acidity level 200 times greater than normal levels. The group Initial funding has already been received. In addition to is hoping to find out just how much these "acid rain storms" $500 each from three trustees, grants have been received affect plants. from the Maine Community Foundation, $1000, and the The mystery, then, is not the cloud-sampling device, but Hancock County Regional Arts Fund, $450. Major grants are the cause and effect of acidic precipitation, which can also take being sought nationally from foundations, corporations, and the form of fog or snow. individuals. Some $3 million is needed to complete the project. As Janet said, "I feel like a detective." The prime suspect? Industrial waste, or pollution if you prefer, dumped into our air Kloman Fund Established by the factories of Middle Atlantic States. The Helm Kloman Memorial Fund was established in 1981 in remembrance of E. Helm Kloman, a student at COA To Study In Mexico in the summer of 1976. Helm's studies in whale biology that Steve Katona and a dozen students will be spending summer stirred an interest in understanding whales and November 26 to December 16 in Mexico. They will study porpoises and in preserving the natural environment. marine biology on the mainland coast of Mexico on the Sea of Later that year Helm began to experience health Cortez. Thanks to the generosity of student Kim Robertson's problems and he learned that he had cancer. He died in parents, the class will stay in the Robertson's house in San November 1980. Carlos. Helm's friends resolved to continue pursuit of Helm's interest by creating a fund which would annually support a summer of field work by a COA student. COA NEWS The Kloman Fund now totals $5,775.00. Contributions November 1984 to help bring the fund to a minimum of $10,000 are welcome. Editor Kathy Wagner Editorial Assistance John Long Cloudy Mystery Illuminated Production Assistance Marcia Jaquith There have been some questions concerning a Photos by John Long mysterious 8-foot piece of machinery sitting on the school