Nonprofit Organiz. July, 1984 U.S. Postage Paid College of the Atlantic Bar Harbor, Me. Permit #47 Bar Harbor, ME 04609 COA News "Most of the seals NEA gets are from Down East Maine," Carey explained. "The program at COA will handle healthy, abandoned seals from the area, and we'll send the sick pups to NEA." After losing the first seal of the year to an infection, the Program now has two healthy pups. Student helpers - including Rob Marshall, Lilea Stockwell, John Long, Paul Adler, and Phil Girton - are making sure they get the best care. It appears that a majority of the seal pups are abandoned by their mothers in May and June, during the height of the birthing season. "Most of the pups are sick when they are abandoned," said Charmaine Kinton, who is working at the center for part of her senior project. "But there are other pups that are abandoned for no apparent reason, and those are the pups we can save and put back into a natural environment." Carey noted that some pups are mistakenly "rescued" by well-meaning people who think the pups have been abandoned. Actually, mother seals may leave their young alone for up to two days. Eventually, however, the parent will return. Feeding the pups can be a less than appealing task. Abandoned - and rescued - seal pup. Carey said that the formula fed to the pups five times a day is "not the greatest thing to smell." Made of ground herring, cream, esblac, and assorted rich oils, the formula is bottle-fed to the young seals. As the pups get larger, To Save a Seal they start to eat whole fish. The seals are taken swimming every day, and when Each spring, dozens of abandoned harbor seal pups they are ready to hunt on their own, they simply swim out are found abandoned on Down East Maine's beaches and to sea and don't come back. "We should see the last of ledges. Until this year, the pups were "air lifted" to the these pups soon," said Carey. "They'll be hunting on their New England Aquarium (NEA) in Boston. Now, thanks to own soon, and when they start doing that they will be Butch Rommel and a crew of helpers, seal pups normally ready to join bands of wild seal pups." Wild pups leave sent to NEA are being raised at COA for reintroduction their mothers and band together in June and July each into the wild. year, she explained. The Seal Rehabilitation Program (its formal name) is Butch Rommel is responsible for finding the funding headed by Carey Bell. She reported that Pat Fiorelli, for the Program. Charmaine Kinton expressed the hope Director of the seal rehabilitation program at NEA, had that, "Eventually, we will be able to expand the program been trying to set up a rehabilitation center in Maine for to take care of other wild animals that are hurt or several years. abandoned." Graduation a better world. I watch you young folk and wish you well. Make the right choices and live good lives for yourselves." Speeches by students Megan Pennock, Meg Schied, Largest Ever and Pamela Wellner were enlivened and supported with dramatic sketches by Nathaniel James. Fifty-three students graduated from the College on Pennock spoke of the "importance of world peace, a June 2 at the Holy Redeemer Church in Bar Harbor. It concept of peace that extends to the way we interact with was the 12th commencement ceremony for the college, people in our professional work and relationships. The and the largest graduating class to date. paradox of our situation today is that although we face one The audience, which filled the church to capacity, of the most difficult challenges ever, there is also heard a program conceived and performed by members of tremendous potential for unity in the human race becauseof the graduating class. It included two presentations by the this threat." COA choir, a poetry reading by faculty member Bill Following Pennock, Pam Wellner compared her Carpenter, and a performance of the song "College Life," experiences at COa with her previous experiences at sung and composed by student Eve Schwartz. Michigan State University: Bagpipers from the Acadia Pipes and Drums "When I attended Michigan State University, with welcomed the crowd. 47,000 students, the curriculum was aimed at serving a A departure from tradition was introduced in the large student body. Unfortunately, the first day of my awarding of degrees. President Judith P. Swazey presented biology 101 class, I was introduced to my professor, Dr. a diploma to the first student. Then each student, in turn, Sony Trinitron. There we were: 30 young, fresh minds presented the next student with a diploma. being hypnotized by the radiating flow of the television After a greeting and introduction by graduating senior screen. Laura Starr, guest speaker Helen Nearing took the Meg Scheid stressed the value of living closely with podium. Nearing, who pioneered the homestead movement the natural world and her appreciation for having been of the 1970s with her late husband Scott, urged the able to study on MDI, "wrapped in beautiful surroundings students to "pick a way of life that interests and absorbs with Acadia National Park only a stone's throw away." you. Make the thing you like to do your life work." An honorary degree was awarded to the late Richard She told the students they have many choices, S. Davis, the college's former vice president and professor adding, "There is a good life for you somewhere. Find it, of philosophy who died in 1982 at the age of 41. The live it, achieve it. degree was accepted by his widow, Norah. "If you want a soft comfortable life, conform and be The ceremony ended with the graduating class accepted in today's world. If you can take a harder life, if gathered on stage singing "Travel On," a song written by you dare to be different, it may be rough, but it's Eve Schwartz. The song brought a standing ovation from worthwhile." the crowd. Summarizing, she said. "In reality, we're all indissolubly linked in a great family, the human race on earth. And that includes all animals, not only mankind, and all nature. We're all in it together, or we may blow each other up." "You have a whole life ahead of you to make your choice to line up with the plunderers or with the bulders of Fundraising Update COA Adds $4.3 Million Gifts to both the Pheonix Fund and the 1983-84 Annual Giving Campaign continue to flow in, reports To Maine Economy Charles Hesse, Director of Development and Public COA contributes $4.3 million to Maine's economy Affairs. each year, a recent study shows. The College's 180 As of May 14, 1984, over $1.3 million in gifts and faculty, staff and students pump much of this money into pledges had been received for the Pheonix Fund - a Hancock County's local economy. three-year, $5 million campaign to rebuild the COA The 1983 study, commissioned by the Maine campus after the fire of July, 1983. Alumni have already Independent Colleges Assocition (MICA), gauged the pledged almost $30,000 - well on the way towards their impact of Maine's 12 independent colleges on the state three-year goal of $100,000 and only 34% of the Alumni economy. Overall, MICA estimates the independent have been contacted to date. colleges contribute $260 million to Maine's economy The College had received gifts and pledges of annually, and rank among the state's 15 largest industries. $668,849 to its Annual Giving Campaign as of May 14, The study notes that every dollar directly spent by 1984. This figure is approximately $11,000 short of the Maine's independent colleges translates into a $2.50 goal of $680,000. If the goal is reached, the Annual contribution to the economy. Giving Campaign will have matched last year's effort. "This is an especially impressive showing during a year when a capital campaign has also been launched," Charles states. "We are very encouraged by the response we have been getting from both our new and regular Summer Programs donors to the College." The College launched its first full summer program in 1981. Today, these special programs - which brings Exxon Award scores of enthusiastic students of all ages to COA each year - are tremendously successful, reports Ted Koffman, COA was recently awarded a grant of $10,000 from who is coordinating summer activities. the Exxon Education Foundation. The grant will be used "Enthusiasm for the College's summer activities has to continue development of the College's Human Ecology grown significantly," Ted says. In 1985, the College plans curriculum. to expand its summer offerings to meet the increased "The purpose of our grant is to help COA carry demand. forward the educational ideas generated by the symposium This summer, COA is hosting "Gardening by the "The Ecological Paradigm in Education' (held at COA in Sea," a symposium co-sponsored by the New York August, 1983)," said Robert Payton, President of the Botanical Garden; classes for high school students; Exxon Education Foundation. Teachers' Workshops; and Elderhostel, a low-cost When informed of the Foundation's award, COA academic program for older adults. Most of the programs President Judith Swazey said, "This grant will be important already are fully subscribed, Ted says, although the in helping us to move ahead with our programs. We August Gardening conference still had openings as of mid- continually seek to fine-tune our undergraduate programs June. as well as expand the range of our teaching efforts for For more information about the summer programs, secondary school students and the adult population." write the College or call Ted Koffman at (207) 288-5015. College Hosts Energy Conference Seventy educators from around the state gathered at COA for Maine's first Energy Education Conference on May 19. The Conference, co-sponsored by Bangor Hydro- Electric Co. and COA, began with an introduction by graduating senior Vicki Nichols, who organized the meeting as her final project. John Kerry, Director for the Department of Energy's Office of Energy Resources in Augusta, then welcomed participants and workshop leaders. "Since Maine is at the end of every pipeline, it is important for us to develop our resources in a holistic manner," he said. He explained that a holisitic approach to the state's energy needs would include using a mix of energy sources and a strong conservation program. JUDY Espousing the spirit of the Conference's energy education message, keynote speaker Richard Hill said that "there is so much bad information being generated today, such as 'the Kilowatt crunch is over', that people are lulled into assuming our energy answers lie right around the Judith P. Swazey corner." Petroleum is still the major energy question of the future, Hill warned. Every year, he noted, 75,000 miles of pipe is drilled into the ground, yet less oil is found. Hill is a President Swazey Professor of Engineering at the University of Maine at Orono. Tenders Resignation Also contributing to the success of the Conference In a special statement to the press on June 12, were the seminar leaders. Their topics, ranging from Robert H. Kanzler, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of "Human Energetics" to "Integrating Energy into the the College, announced that he had received a letter of classroom via Language Arts, Social Studies, and resignation from Dr. Judith P. Swazey, President of the Science," dealt with many of the concerns that today's College. "Judith has decided to return to her research, educators share. writing, and consulting work in biomedical ethics and health care policy, and to prepare for a two-month teaching and research trip to The People's Republic of Summer Museum Opens China in 1985," he stated. On June 11, the Natural History Museum began Expressing regret over her decision to leave, Kanzler another entertaining and informative summer season. This said, "Judith Swazey has done much to move the College year, COA's museum is featuring almost 40 exhibits that into a stronger financial position since she took over as depict various aspects of the natural history of the region. President, barely two years ago. We are especially in debt A snowy owl that has settled on a rock on Cadillac to her for helping the College to rebound so quickly after Mt. greets visitors at the door. Other displays show a Kanzler stated that he has called a meeting of the for honey, ravens scavenging, and a snapping turtle about Board of Trustees for July 12, to act upon Dr. Swazey's to grab the foot of an unsuspecting black duck. resignation and take steps to assure the continued sound "All these exhibits were prepared by students," points management of the College. Kanzler added that Dr. out Vicki Nichols, a graduating senior and one of the Swazey will work with the Board and the College in the museums two summer naturalists. The other naturalist is initial stages of the search for a new president. Lilea Stockwell. "The decision to leave College of the Atlantic," Museum visitors can also enjoy a walk along the Swazey said, "was a difficult one, for I have found my College's nature trail, or attend lectures scheduled by work here to be challenging and stimulating. The College Museum staff. has played, and I know will continue to play, a very The Museum is open 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. seven days special role in higher education." a week, until Labor Day. Admission is $1.50 for adults and $.50 for children. COA Student Wins Watson Fellowship Graduating senior Richard Epstein is one of 70 students nationwide to win a Thomas J. Watson Fellowship for 1984. The Fellowship carries a $10,000 stipend to support independent study and travel abroad. Richard was selected from among 165 finalists. He will study vernacular housing structures along the 40th north latitude in Italy, Greece, Japan, and China. In particular, he will study the factors that determine traditional home design in each of the different cultural an environmental settings. This is the College's second year as a participant in the Watson Fellowship program, and a COA student has won a fellowship each year. Last year's COA Watson Fellow was Peter Wayne. He is studying the terrestrial ecology of North Atlantic islands. The Thomas J. Watson Fellowship is an annual competition which awards grants to graduating seniors from 50 small colleges and universities nationwide. The program is designed to provide Fellows with an opportunity for a post-graduate year of study and travel. The Fellowships are awarded annually by the Thomas J. Watson Foundation, a charitable trust established in 1961 as a memorial to the founder of the International Business Machines Corporation. Watson winner Richard Epstein Research at the Rock Briefly Starts 11th Year Happenings Enjoy the scenic drive to Mt. Desert Rock? Steve Katona's green Toyota jeep, a prized Led by coordinator Harriet Corbett, volunteer possession for more than a dozen years, went down to the researchers will conduct a census of marine mammals for sea in May - literally. The tragedy happened while the the 11th year at Mount Desert Rock. "The Rock," as it is jeep sat on the Bar Harbor boat ramp during' a launching. affectionately called by research veterans, is located 23 The brakes slipped, and his truck slipped beneath the miles from Bar Harbor in the Gulf of Maine. The small, waves moments later. It was sold on the spot, keys still in barren lighthouse station is an excellent spot for off-shore the ignition. A photograph of the Toyota being salvaged bird and mammal studies. graced the front page of the Bar Harbor Times the next From June to October, 10-15 volunteers a month will week. travel to The Rock to do research. Some will collect data on finback whale respiration rates. Others, for the second Carole O'Donnell and Catherine Kiorpes-Elk both year, will attempt to photograph and identify individual had baby girls this spring. Carole and husband Vance finback whales visiting The Rock. named their new daughter Jennifer Eve. Catherine and Finbacks, like humpback whales, can be identified by Jim Elk chose Laurel Elizabeth for their little girl. distinctive scars and scratches. However, finbacks are far more difficult to identify than humpbacks, which have very Publications Student Miranda Ryan's poem "August distinctive tail patterns. The unique humpback tail patterns Night" was accepted for publication by Laurel Press. It will continue to be photographed for Allied Whale's will appear next January in a collection of college poets. Humpback Whale Catalogue. Miranda will be a 1985 graduate from the New School of Summer research at The Rock will also include plants Social Research in New York City Student Victoria and birds. A group of COA students will take a census of Wubben took a look at some elementary school texts plants, and compare their results to a similar study done used in Bar Harbor schools and analyzed the sex-role three years ago. Biologist Ann Rivers will conduct bird stereotyping of the contents for an independent study. research from mid-August to mid-September. With the help Only one of the twelve texts she studied was not a victim of volunteers, she will band the raptors (hawks, eagles, and of sex-role stereotyping. "The solution to sex-role owls), songbirds, and shorebirds that frequent The Rock. stereotyping in textbooks ultimately is to stop buying This year, volunteers also will grow fresh vegetables them," she says. "There are textbooks on the market in The Rock's greenhouse to supplement the weekly today that don't stereotype." Her study was the subject of grocery delivery from the mainland. a feature story in the Bar Harbor Times Research done by Steve Andersen's students may be used by the Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund. "Your work equals or surpasses much investigative work done by more experienced law students on similar projects," Staff Students Help Attorney Durwood Zaelke told the students. Build Playground Comings and Goings Graduate Clark Stivers '84 has COA, Bar Harbor Day Care, and the Bar Harbor joined the Buildings and Grounds crew. Marie DeMuro YWCA joined forces in May to build a new playground has left the Internship Office. (Marie and Clark were for preschoolers enrolled in the Day Care Program. married this spring, by the way) Jill Barlow-Kelly is The project was initiated by Bar Harbor Day Care to now helping out in the Internship office, and the Office of children COA the Registrar Caul K etchum in telring o leave of students designed the playground and were responsible for absence next year. be teaching at organizing and overseeing the project. A dragon slide was in Waterville, Me. built in the COA woodshop along with some other equipment. COA faculty member Robin deJong served as a consultant, while student Mary Roper coordinated the Go down to the sea in ships Graduate Dee Kimball is project. running a Sea Kayaking business - "Ebb Tide" - in Mary reports that the playground crew is "currently Bar Harbor this summer. "Sea kayaking is relaxing, looking for interesting tree branches to incorporate into a unlike its wild counterpart, white-water kayaking," Dee climbing structure, and we hope to establish an evergreen says. "There isn't a better method of exploring the hedge as a border for the playground." outdoor environment without disturbing it." Rich Borden will be traveling to Sweden, Norway and England in July and August, and will visit selected human ecology programs at universities in those countries. In Gardening by the Sea October, he will join scholars from Brown University and two dozen other institutions at the Meadowcreek Project Center in Fox, Arkansas. The group will explore The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York, establishing cooperative academic programs, and ways to and COA will be cosponsoring a week-long symposium coordinate programs at different colleges. Rich has also entitled "Gardening by the Sea." The symposium, which been chosen to edit the proceedings of the first national will be conducted Sunday, August 5, through Saturday, conference on human ecology, to be held at the University August 11, is designed for both avocational and of Maryland in April, 1985. The conference is sponsored professional gardeners. It will explore the techniques, styles by the Society for Human Ecology. and methods of gardening near the coasts. Visits to historical and contemporary garden sites will provide examples of landscape design and use of native plants, herbs and ornamentals for seaside gardening. COA at the Monitor Lecture topics include "Seaside Gardening with Native David Malakoff, a junior transfer student, worked at Plants," "Planting Aquatics to Attract Wildlife," "Coastal the Christian Science Monitor this past winter as an Architecture and its Relationship to Seaside Gardens," intern. Two articles that David wrote featured COA "Woody and Herbaceous Perennials for Seaside Gardens," programs. and "Herb Gardens by the Sea," among others. Activities The first article, "On the Tail of the Humpback include a walk to examine the historic architecture and Whale," appeared March 5, 1984. In it, David reported landscape gardens along the shore path of Bar Harbor, an on Allied Whale, the College's marine mammal research evening concert of songs of the Maine coast sung by folk- effort run by Steven Katona and a staff of researchers. singer Elmer Beal, who specializes in traditional music of The Natural History Museum's "Whales on Wheels" the region, and a centennial film on the settlement, social education program was the focus of the second article, and architectural history of Mount Desert Island. which was in the April 20, 1984 Monitor. A picture of Housing and meals will be available at the College. Catherine Kiorpes-Elk COA graduate and Whales on Program participants will have access to a full range of Wheels coordinator is included with the story. Both articles activities and facilities at COA and swimming will be appeared in the Monitor's "Ideas" section. available in nearby lakes and in the ocean. David was excited about his work at the paper. "I To receive a copy of the program brochure, write to learned how much work journalism requires," he said. "But Gardening by the Sea, College of the Atlantic, Bar the publication of some of the articles I wrote shows me Harbor, Maine 04609 or call (207) 288-5015. I'm capable of writing professionally."