Bucking the Trend COA's Enrollment Up for Fall In a year when declining numbers of college-age youth have caused college enrollments to drop around the country, enrollment at College of the Atlantic is holding its own and even appears to be on the increase. Director of Admission and Finan- cial Aid Steve Thomas says that as of the end of May, the college had re- gistered seventy-eight students for Fall 1991, a twenty percent increase over the sixty-five students who were registered for the incoming fall class at the same time last year. Thomas cited a recent report issued by the New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE) which concludes that the region's private institutions have been among the hardest hit nationwide by the declining demographics. He com- mented that COA's positive enroll- ment picture seems to be counter- trend when compared to the data reported by NEBHE on other private, four-year colleges in New England. Trustee Cathy Ramsdell '78 and honorary Master of Philosophy degree Thomas attributes COA's rise in en- recipient Bill Drury pause before the commencement activities begin. rollment of new students in part to the human ecology education offered by the college. "Many of the people who are of college age today have grown up in a time when the importance of en- COA NEWS vironmental issues has been presented to them through the media and educa- tion," explains Thomas. "People are more willing to consider spending four SUMMER 1991 COLLEGE OF THE ATLANTIC BAR HARBOR, MAINE years studying these issues and how they are interrelated than they may COA Graduates Second Largest Class have been in the past." continued on page 18 Forty-five seniors, the second largest ecology, and his guidance for many of class in COA's history, were awarded us goes beyond the scientific to the the B.A. in Human Ecology at the philosophical and the compas- Also In This Issue college's nineteenth commencement sionate." Drury was also recognized ceremonies, held on June 8. for his instrumental role in the estab- New Gates Community An estimated 700 guests also lishment of the college's advanced Center Planned 3 celebrated the conferral of COA's first studies program, begun in 1990. Watson Winners honorary Master of Philosophy Ramsdell spoke for many in the Announced 4 degrees. The first of these was COA community when she told awarded to Dr. William Drury and the Drury, "Bill, I want to thank you New Trustees Elected second to former Vermont Governor publicly and personally for all that you to Board 5 Madeleine M. Kunin. have meant to me and the community Faculty Perspective Drury, a distinguished biologist of realists, thinkers and intellects. I'm by Etta Mooser 7 and ornithologist, has been a member glad that I know you." of the college's faculty since 1976. In Graduating Senior Ned Ormsby's Peregrine Falcons presenting Drury for the degree, Trus- introduction of featured speaker Hatch in Acadia 8 tee Cathy Ramsdell '78 said of him, Madeleine Kunin was marked by ad- An Appalachian Journey 10 "Bill has had a dramatic impact on a miration and humor. Describing many number of minds, young and old alike. of her accomplishments in furthering A Sampling of His work has been about the search Senior Projects 16 environmental policy, women's rights, for the nonfiction in the science of and the education and social welfare continued on page 2 inine, receptive principle has to offer, and begin to bring these quieter, in- ward voices into balance with all of our activity." Mike Whitehead encouraged the audience to be involved in decision making. "It is our responsibility to in- sist that today's decisions are made in the long-term interest of everyone," he said. "Participation in government is a right that we must maintain. We face a pressing need to reclaim democracy, and to remain aware of the drawbacks that accompany every choice we make." In relating some of his experiences student teaching at the Bell Multi-Cul- tural High School in Washington, D.C., Jeremy Norton said that people must work together to over- Former Vermont Governor Madeleine Kunin and graduating come injustice. "As one senior Ned Ormsby listen while President Lou Rabineau speaks who is about to receive a to guests and graduates. degree in human ecology, I have questions," Norton of children during her six years as In a ceremony told his fellow graduates. governor of Vermont, Ormsby con- filled with the "As we fight our environ- ceded, "Even in Maine we can take voices of the grad- mental causes, do we pride in Madeleine Kunin's achieve- uating seniors, wonder what the issues of ments." seven graduates of- the logger are? Do we even In an address which embraced fered words of wel- care? Do we wonder what many of the comments and views ex- come, reminis- the struggles of women are pressed by the student speakers who cences, warnings, in the workplace? Are we preceded her, Kunin urged students to stories, and the wis- willing to stand in act on their passion for the environ- dom of their youth. solidarity with people of ment by bringing that passion to bear Following color? I believe all people on the political process, "where the Bobbi Marin's wel- of struggle should be decisions are made." coming remarks, united as one," he con- "As you develop your environmen- 1991 Watson Fel- cluded. tal skills, you will also be required to lowship Winner President Louis mobilize your political skills," advised Wendy Doherty Rabineau reminded the Kunin. "It is not enough to express presented the first Graduating senior of four Student Jeremy Norton graduates of some of the outrage and then trash the system that events that occurred and could right those very wrongs that Perspectives. Doherty spoke about the the issues that were discussed during spark the outrage." opportunities COA has given her. their years at COA and urged them to Kunin spoke about her recent trip "The broad base of knowledge that I keep in touch with the college. He to Eastern Europe, and about Bul- have acquired here has opened me to concluded his remarks by telling the garia in particular, where she saw the a broad range of interactions with the graduates, "Just think, you have a extensive environmental damage world," said Doherty. "Although I lifetime ahead of you to explain to wrought by that country's efforts to have my own specific interests, I don't strangers what human ecology is." achieve the industrial prosperity of feel limited to them. I have developed Before Chairman of the Board Ed- the West. "The sins that have been the ability to communicate intelligent- ward McC. Blair conferred the committed consistently over a period ly, and to work effectively with all degrees, graduating senior Michael of years by turning water, soil and air sorts of people from many different Hall, who also stood for his teacher into veritable garbage pits have fields. This is, perhaps, the most valu- certification, read The Carrot Seed, a created both a physical and spiritual able skill a human ecologist can have." children's story by Ruth Krauss. It hell" in Bulgaria, she said. Viewing Andrea Ford called for a greater tells of a little boy who successfully this kind of devastation makes one representation of women's voices at grows a carrot. Hall remarked, "Each thing absolutely clear, Kunin asserted, COA and in the world at large. She of us here graduating today is like this "degradation of the environment is no said, "One of the most revolutionary little boy. We have all carefully tended less than a degradation of human life things we could do for the planet is to the seeds of our hopes and dreams, itself. There is a brutality behind this slow down and listen to the voices trusting that someday, something mag- environmental destruction," she said. which we do not normally hear in our nificent would come up. Well, today is "Maybe I do understand what a production-oriented world. We need the day of harvest. Let us celebrate human ecologist is, after all." to recognize the gifts that the fem- the harvest." - Elena Tuhy 2