Thomas S. Gates, Jr. Community Center Groundbreaking Groundbreaking ceremonies for the 8,300-square-foot Thomas S. Gates, Jr. Community Center took place on August 22. Participating in this historic event were President Louis Rabineau; Anne Gates, widow of Thomas S. Gates, Jr.; and Polly Norris Ober, the Gateses' granddaughter, and her husband, David Ober. A number of trustees were on hand, including Chairman of the Board Edward McC. Blair, Leslie Brewer, Robert Suminsby and Philip Geyelin, and many members of the COA commu- nity took part in the ceremony. The center is named for Thomas S. Gates, Jr. (1906-1983), a former chair- man of the board of COA, Secretary of the Navy and Secretary of Defense. In the latter position, Gates is credited with e Atlantic President, Dr. Louis Rabineau. modernizing the Defense Department and Pentagon-a task considered SO crit- ical and SO effectively accomplished that President Eisenhower awarded him the Medal of Freedom. The career of this OA NEWS continued on page 3 Also in This Issue 1992/93 COLLEGE OF THE ATLANTIC BAR HARBOR, MAINE Presidential Search 2 ident Rabineau to Step Down Kresge Challenge Grant Met 4 Drury Fund Established 4 d of trustees meeting on Octo- resource areas have been strengthened. New Committee Chairs 4 Louis Rabineau announced Notable faculty appointments have been step down as president of Col- made; and faculty salaries have risen, Tribute to Elizabeth Thorndike 5 Atlantic effective June 30, enabling the college to attract and retain statement to the board of Faculty Associates Appointed 6 top quality teachers. 1 in his announcement to the In addition, in the last nine years the Jazz Great at the College 7 , President Rabineau said that college has raised over $12 million in e efforts and performance of annual and capital funds. COA has had a Allied Whale Around the World 8 culty, students, alumni, staff, balanced budget in each of the last six Czech Professor Visits 9 ater COA community, the col- years. complished more than anyone Rabineau came to the college in Maxine Greene Visits COA 10 sible. September 1984 as an interim president, a 1984, we have achieved, or post he expected to hold only one year; Sewer Fee Task Force Meets 10 najor goals," said President but following a nationwide search, he was Art Exhibitions at the Library 11 Now COA has the potential to offered the permanent post of president. 1 still further and to realize its In acknowledging Rabineau's plan to Staff Positions Filled 12 es." retire, Chairman of the Board Edward Rabineau's tenure, enrollment McC. Blair said that, while he regretted Great Cranberry Project 13 I, applications have tripled, the decision, the college had been fortu- Newsnotes 14 centage of students from other nate in having him as president for nine as increased appreciatively. At years. Blair made special note of A Terrific Tartuffe 16 ne, the environmental sci- Rabineau's vital role in helping the col- an studies, and arts and design lege rebuild after a fire destroyed a major continued on page 2 President Rabineau continued from page 1 portion of its facilities in July 1983. "Not cess in enlisting faculty, staff and students role with AED, one of the most prominent only has Lou Rabineau helped COA move in the enthusiastic pursuit of the college's nonprofit organizations engaged in the from disaster to real stability, he has also central mission. It is a privilege to have improvement of educational institutions led the college to achieving national and been a faculty member during his watch." and human services in the U.S. and international recognition." Before coming to COA, Rabineau was throughout the world. Citing Rabineau's "inspired leader- chancellor of higher education for the Rabineau and his wife, Dr. Mona ship," Trustee J. Mason Morfit seconded state of Connecticut and senior vice-presi- Rabineau, plan to continue to reside in Blair's praise. "I think Lou's triumph has dent of the Academy for Educational Southwest Harbor, Maine. been to rescue COA from the brink of dis- Development (AED). Among future aster and grow it against the odds for plans, Rabineau will assume a more active almost a decade. If there's some kind of CASE award for turnaround situations, An Excerpt from President Rabineau's Letter to Lou would be a great candidate." As president, Rabineau has overseen Edward McC. Blair, Chairman of the Board of Trustees: the reconstruction of the Arts and Science building and the rebuilding of Kaelber October 9, 1992 Hall, which includes the Blair dining Dear Ed: room, the Thorndike library, the Camp I write to tender my resignation as President of College of the Atlantic, effective community lounge and the Goodwin com- June 30, 1993, or at a mutually agreed upon time when a successor has been cho- puter center. This past August the college sen. broke ground for the 8,300-square-foot I believe that a college presidency is not a position that one person should fill for Thomas S. Gates, Jr. Community Center, too long a time. In my view, a presidency conjures up a picture of a relay race in scheduled for completion in June 1993. which a succession of the most capable and appropriate people a college can find The center, which will include a meeting run as fast and as hard as possible for a given period. I have tried to run both hard hall, a lecture hall, an art gallery and fac- and fast. If I have been successful in doing so, I owe so much to so many people. ulty offices, will enable the college to For the privilege of serving as President, I extend deepest thanks to the dedicated, expand educational and cultural opportu- adventurous and extremely able faculty; the hundreds of outstanding, original and nities for the COA community and for purposeful students who have been at COA during my tenure; the devoted, involved residents of Mt. Desert Island. and resourceful staff; the impressive and loyal alumni who continue to bring distinc- "Since Lou Rabineau has come to tion to themselves and COA; and the many who make up the greater COA communi- COA, the college has consistently grown ty on and off the Island. in size and quality," said Dr. Richard Bor- My period at COA has been one of the liveliest, happiest and most fullfilling den, academic dean. "We now have new times in my 45 years in education. I wish you and the College the very best. buildings, an expanded faculty and stu- Sincerely, dent body, and an internationally recog- Louis Rabineau, President nized curriculum in human ecology-al the result of Lou's steady guidance and leadership." Search for New President Under Way In praising Rabineau, faculty member Donald Meiklejohn emphasized the At the board of trustees meeting on Octo- 16th, Chair of the Search Committee departing president's leadership. "During ber 10, Edward McC. Blair, chairman of Edward Meade outlined the manner in his presidency at COA," Meiklejohn said, the board, announced the formation of a which the search will be carried out. "Lou Rabineau has achieved signal suc- search committee to begin the selection Views solicited from the entire COA com- process for a new president. Members of munity regarding the kind of vision, quali- the board appointed to the search commit- ties, skills and experiences to be sought in COA News is published three times tee were Edward Meade, chair, John candidates for the presidency will be a year. It is circulated to alumni, Kelly, J. Mason Morfit, Cathy Ramsdell reviewed by committee members who will parents, and other friends of '78, Peter Sellers and Edward McC. Blair in turn develop selection criteria and fash- College of the Atlantic. (ex-officio). ion a position description to be circulated All College Meeting Moderator and advertised widely. Editor: Carl Little Heather Martin '93 was requested to join The committee will accept nominations Writers: Anne Kozak, Carl Little, the committee. Two faculty members, Etta and applications from within and outside Sharon Reiser, Yazmin Zupa Mooser and Kenneth Cline, and Director the COA community. The identity of nom- of Government Relations Theodore Koff- inees and applicants will remain confiden- Special thanks to Anne Kozak, man were also selected. Registrar Sally tial within the search committee. The com- Cynthia Borden-Chisholm, Dallas Crock will serve as Koffman's alternate, if mittee hopes to close the period for appli- Darland and Laura Parlee for their need be, in his absence. cations by the end of February, at which invaluable assistance. With the concurrence of President time it will start its review of candidates Rabineau, the committee asked Melville and thereafter submit a slate of finalists to Printer: Furbush-Roberts Cote, administrative dean, to act as secre- the board of trustees. Candidates will be Designer: Z Studio tary to the committee. Patricia Ciraulo will invited to visit COA prior to the decision be his assistant. printed on recycled paper by the board, which is expected to be In a statement issued on November made in the spring. COA NEWS 2 WINTER 1992