COLLEGE OF THE ATLANTIC NEWSLETTER FALL, 1981 Photo by George Benington Ed Kaelber to Step Down After twelve years as President of College fully accredited, four-year college with an of the Atlantic, Edward G. Kaelber has enrollment of 180 students, 24 full- and part- announced that he will step down, effective time faculty members, and an administrative July 1, 1982. and support staff of 29 persons. The college With characteristic self-scrutiny, Ed told acquired and updated a 26-acre physical the Trustees at their August 20, 1981 meeting plant and achieved financial stability and that he feels the college needs a fresh national recognition. perspective. "On January 1, 1981, I completed Among his accomplishments, Ed has my eleventh year at the college," he said. "In overseen the growth of college assets from staying beyond a decade, one risks losing $20,000 in 1970 to over $2,000,000 in 1981, imagination and spontaneity." He added that and the establishment of a $3,100,000 the timing of his decision was a matter of endowment. Hisgentle, optimistic leadership conscience. "I would not have considered and personal educational philosophy have withdrawing from the college if it was not set also nurtured an academic community of the firmly on its course." highest quality. Ed came to the college in 1968 from his post Ed plans to devote his remaining time as as Associate Dean of Education at Harvard President to raising additional funds for the University. He recalls that starting a college college endowment and much-needed at that time was a risky venture, but also an laboratory and auditorium facilities. exciting challenge. "We had no idea how it After that, his plans are less certain. "Pat would turn out," he said, "but the omens were and I would like to stay in Maine,' "he said. "I've good!" sent out some resumes and we'll see what Under his guidance, COA has grown from turns up." an idea in the minds of a hand full of people to a Search Underway Second Decade Following the announcement of Ed's Priorities Set resignation, the college began a search for a presidential successor. COA Trustee, Robert COA is moving into its second decade with H. Kanzler of Detroit, Michigan, was an ambitious set of fund-raising priorities. appointed to chair a search committee Following the successful completion of Phase composed of trustees, staff and students. I of its endowment fund, the college hopes to To date, the college has received well over raise an additional $2,000,000 in endowment 60 applications from prospective presidential through individual and foundation gifts in candidates, many responding to ads placed in excess of $50,000. national publications. Nominees from Plans are also underway for construction of students, faculty, administrators and trustees several new facilities on campus. Architect have also been contacted, and an on-campus and former COA faculty member, Roc search commitee has begun candidate Caivano, hasbeen commissioned by the Board screening. of Trustees to conduct a feasibility study on a The deadline for applications is November new auditorium. He will work closely with the 1 with initial campus interviews to follow. By Building and Executive committees. Roc's mid-December, a selected list of applicants preliminary plans, including site location and will be recommended to the Board of Trustees an architectural rendering, will be unveiled with presentation of a final candidate at a at the January Board of Trustees meeting. special Board meeting in New York City on A second priority is the construction or January 18. renovation of laboratory facilities. The labs There is still time for nominations from the are bursting at the seams and additional space college community at large before the is needed for COA's active science program. November 1 deadline. Any recommendations V.P. for External Affairs, Albie Smith. hopes should be made to Albie Smith, Vice President to raise $2,000,000 within the next 18 months for External Affairs. for these building projects. College Convenes COA's tenth Convocation brought together students, faculty, trustees and friends on September 14, 1981 for the first formal gathering of the academic year. Following a warm "welcome" to new students and "welcome back" to returning members of the college community, President Ed Kaelber introduced Convocation speaker Dr. Paul Silverman, President of the University of Maine at Orono. Dr. Silverman, a parasitologist and epidemiologist, spoke on the history of world- wide attempts to eradicate malaria and what it has to teach about the interrelatedness of biological organisms and human activities. He related the lessons learned in malaria research to problems facing the world today such as the disposal of toxic and radioactive wastes. Dr. Paul Silverman. Photo by M. Kane Students at the Harpswell Islands School put together the bleached bones of a Minke whale. Photo by Don Hinckley Whales on Wheels COA faculty member Sentiel (Butch) larger desire to prepare a complete whale Rommel has taken his innovative method of collection for a permanent museum at COA. teaching comparative anatomy out of the The school already has six whale skeletons, laboratory and onto the road. With the help of several bird skeletons and numerous students Rebecca May and Megan Pennoch, taxidermic specimens. Butch has assembled a traveling natural Plans are underway for a "stationary" history exhibit containing disassembled natural history museum on campus next skeletons which are assembled like giant summer which would contain exhibits, jigsaw puzzles, audio visual materials and skeletons, models and artwork centering taxidermic specimens. around the plants and animals of MDI and its Dubbed "Whales on Wheels," the traveling surrounding waters. The museum would exhibit visited over 1,300 school children and feature a variety of activities including tours, other groups during the spring of 1981. When lectures, slide shows, natural history walks the "Bonemobile" visits a school, studentshave and a children's program. the opportunity to piece together the skeleton Also connected with the natural history of a young minke whale while learning about museum program is the preparation of the whale's anatomy and natural history. specimens and exhibits for other institutions. With sufficient funding, Butch hopes to This program provides the necessary expand the program to include other educational activities for COA students who specimens native to Maine such as bear and are interested in museum preparations, in moose. interpretative display or in careers as