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University of Maine Alumni Magazines University of Maine Publications

Fall 1999

Maine, Volume 80, Number 3, Fall 1999

University of Maine General Alumni Association

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Recommended Citation University of Maine General Alumni Association, "Maine, Volume 80, Number 3, Fall 1999" (1999). University of Maine Alumni Magazines. 390. https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/alumni_magazines/390

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(jiving ... and Receiving

(( jwant to encourage others to 1 look at charitable giving as an estate planning option. A charitable remainder trust is an excellent way to give and a good way to receive income from existing assets.” -Dr. Robert D. Buchanan ‘44

Dr Robert D Buchanan ‘44 and his wife Pearlee Buchanan at Reunion ‘99

r. Robert D. Buchanan ‘44 has arrangement that provides a lifetime always been grateful for the income and, upon his death, creates a Deducation he received at the Universityscholarship fund. of Maine. He wants to make certain that In addition to providing a generous future generations of students have the lifetime income, the charitable remainder educational opportunities that he had. unitrust helped Dr. Buchanan remove With help from his financial advisor, assets from his estate, avoid capital gains Dr. Buchanan established a charitable taxes and receive an income tax remainder unitrust with appreciated charitable deduction based on the present assets. It is smart money — a gift value of his gift.

To learn more about ways to increase your retirement income and support the University of Maine, please contact Amos Orcutt ‘64 or Sarah McPartland-Good at the University of Maine Foundation.

UNIVERSITY OF MAINE FOUNDATION Since 1934

65 Years of Private Support for Our Public University 80 Exchange Street, Fleet Center, PO Box 2220, Bangor, ME 04402 207-947'5100 / 800-982-8503 / 207-947-6193 FAX / www.umaine.edu/foundation THE POWER OF ENDOWMENTS

"During the past few years considerable activity has been evident in a movement to create endowment and donation funds.... It is true that only a beginning has been made but I am sure that a foundation is being laid which will eventually result in sub­ stantial amounts being left for the University. I hope this movement will be fostered." ~ Harold S. Boardman, Class of 1895 Biennial Report of the President of the University of Maine, 1933 - 1935 i • n the early 1930s, recognizing that endowments could pro­ vide institutional longevity for the University of Maine, PresidentI Harold S. Boardman appointed several prominent alumni to an Endowment and Donations Committee. The committee was asked to consider creating an organization to receive and manage funds for the benefit of Maine's public university. After nearly four years of painstaking prepara­ tion, the University of Maine Foundation was established on June 9,1934, with a gift of $1,000 from the Class of 1909. The Class of 1909 Fund is now one of more than 580 separately endowed funds that form the Foundation's General Endowment. Together, they provide over $3 million each year in scholarships, funds for research and teaching, and other private support. In the face of increased operating costs and reduced public funding for higher education, Kevin J. Frazier, C.P.A. endowment support has helped the University of Maine rise Director of Finance and Administration to unprecedented levels of excellence. University of Maine Foundation Donors who establish endowments during their lifetimes can enjoy watching their gifts grow through compounding interest and appreciation. At the same time, they can share in the benefits their much needed support provides for students and the University. Acting in a fiduciary capacity, the / Foundation balances the long-term goals of these endowments with the current needs for income from the endowments to honor the wishes of donors. Donors can also be confident that gifts to the Foundation will be managed and utilized pru­ dently. By holding its fund managers to a high standard of performance, the Foundation protects the purchasing power of the endowment with a rate of growth to keep pace with inflation while paying out sufficient income to support the endowment's purposes. As the University of Maine Foundation marks its 65th anniversary, we are grateful for the wisdom of our founders and the generosity of our donors. They have ensured a lega­

UNIVERSITY OF MAINE FOUNDATION cy of excellence at the University of Maine through their Since 1934 vision of the power of endowments. "Hey, I made a contribution to

Editor the university, how come I Jim Frick Editorial Assistants Abigail Zelz don't get all the alumni Mary Ellen Barnes Design Consultant Mike Mardosa '73 Publisher publications? Jeffery N Mills '83

General Alumni Association Officers Giegory D Jamison '72, '98G, Chair Yes, we know it's a bit confusing, and for that we apologize. Patricia A Riley '73, '78G, Vice Chair Let's see if we can clear things up. Catherine Cleale '86, Vice Chair • + M Perry Hunter '52 , Vice Chair The General Alumni Association is independent and self­ Nancy Pnsk Leathers '72, Vice Chair Fred B Knight '49, Vice Chair funded. Its dual purpose is to serve you, our alumni, and to Nancy Nichols Hogan '62, '65G, Treasurer support the University of Maine. Jeffery N Mills '83, President Mana R Fuentes '85G, Immediate To meet those goals we run a membership program and an Past Chair Annual Alumni Fund. The two programs are distinct and nec­ UMGAA Board of Directors essary, because of the restrictions of our tax laws and our not- Pamela L Beal '69 Susan J. Bell '70, '71G, '93G for-profit status. But that distinction, which is clear to us, can Edward S Coffin '54 Robert C Covell '44 seem blurry to folks not involved with the GAA. Here's a simple Barbara Brown Dalton '81 explanation that might help. Dana B Dolloff '63, '64G Bion A Foster '68, TOG You become an alumni association member by sending in a Virginia R Gibson '72, '76G Virginia Barnes Grogean '63 completed membership form along with your $30 nontax-de­ Candace A Guerette '84, '86G ductible dues. That money goes to support many services like Suzanne K Hart '68 Jane Stevens Harvey '54 alumni activities, advocacy work on behalf of the university, Joseph F Herbert '58 Dione Williams Hutchinson '54, '71G publications, student groups, etc. With your membership dues Susan A Johnson '85, '87G you get lots of benefits, including four issues of our classnotes Douglas E Kneeland '53 Elizabeth Hitchcock Locke '77 publication, Mainely People, and all three issues of MAINE maga­ Pasquale F Maiorino '69 Eugene A Mawhinney '47, '49G zine. The IRS says that payment for benefits and services can't John G Melrose '73, '75G be tax-deductible. James D Mullen '72, '75G Larry M Shaw '81 A donation to the Annual Alumni Fund is tax-deductible. It William S Skoohcas '80 Edric P Starbird '56 goes to support academics, athletics, and the arts at UMaine. Rita E Sullivan '95 A donation can be designated to a certain area of the univer­ Zeynep Turk '95 G Todd Williamson '97 sity, or undesignated, in which case it will go where the need is

Publications Committee greatest. With your donation you'll receive just two publica­ Nonni Hilchey Daly '59 tions— the fall and summer issues of MAINE magazine. Such H Allen Fernaid '54 Joseph Herbert '58 a limited token of appreciation falls within IRS guidelines. Douglas E Kneeland '53 Fred B Knight '49 (Chair) So, a donation to the annual fund doesn't make you an Richard W Sprague '50 alumni association member and your membership dues don't Daniel R Warren '79 make you a donor to the annual fund. Of course you can be­ MAINE is published three times per year by the General Alumni Association of the come a member and a donor—lots of alumni do. That's the University of Maine The editorial office is ideal way of keeping your alumni association strong and inde­ located at the Crossland Alumni Center, PO Box 550, Orono, ME 04473-0550 pendent, maintaining high quality at the university, and guar­ Telephone 207/581-1137 Third class postage is paid at Burlington, VT 05401 anteeing that you'll receive all alumni publications.

2 Maine University Credit Union “King of the Road”

When credit union member F. Richard King, Professor Emeritus of Business Management UMA, and his spouse Annie wanted to finance their RV they knew who would help them on the road to their dream: University Credit Union.

Since 1967, UCU has been helping members realize their dreams, whether it’s financing a RV, auto, mortgage or computer, UCU offers a wide variety of loan products tailored to meet members’ needs.

University Credit Union — Any Time, Any Place.

University Credit Union - Orono 800-696-8628 in Maine 800-992-8628 outside Maine

University Credit Union — Portland 800-455-1906

www.ucu.maine.edu

University Credit Union. Serving its members with quality financial services since 1967.

Your sa\ ngs federally insured to $100 000 NCUA EQUAL HOUSING Nat orul Credit Un on Administration LENDER a US Government Agency We Do Business in Accordancv With the Federal Fair Hous ng law and the Equal C ed t Opportun ty Act 1999/2000 Performance Season blink Lakota Sioux Indian Dance Theatre Saturday, September 25 at 4 pm Friday, November 12 at 8 pm Sponsored in part by the Bangor Daily News King Lear William Grant Nabore— Minsky Recital Hall — Aquila Theatre Company of London Sunday, September 26 at 3 pm Tuesday, November 16 at 7 pm

BANGOR SAV BANK PRESENTS Judy Collins Holiday Show Gala: RobW a Flack Sunday, November 28 at 7pm Saturdax^S^tober 2 at 8 pm Tap Dogs My Sister’s Siste " Hauck Auditorium Thursday, February 3 at 7 pm Monday, October pm Sponsored in part by the Bangor Daily News In Partnership Community I^Hth and Counseling Services The King and I Saturday, February 12 at 8 pm WOFA African Dance 4 Sponsored in part by Down East Magazine Wednesday, October 13 at 7 pm The Magic Flute — London City Opera Company Hart-Rouge Thursday, February 24 at 7pm Friday, October 15 at 8 pm Sponsored by the Buswell/Ou Piano Trio — Minsky Recital Hall University of Maine General Alumni Association Sunday, March 5 at 3 pm I The Tempest Takacs String Quartet — Hauck Auditorium — Hauck Auditorium — School of Performing Arts Thursday, March 30 at 7pm » Friday, October 22, Saturday, October 23 at Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble 7:30 pm; Friday, October 29, Saturday, October 30 Friday, April 7 at 8pm at 7:30 pm, Sunday, October 24 at 2 pm; Saturday, With Support From NEFA October 30 at 2 pm; Sunday, October 3 I at 2 pm Oedipus the King Roger Whittaker — Aquila Theatre Company Tuesday, November 2 at 7 pm of London Annie— I^Musical Monday, April 10 at 7 pm Sunday, ‘ ember 7 at 3 pm and 7 pm Spons y Fleet Bank

For Tickets Call (207) 581-1755 or 800-MCA-TIXX

TDD/TTY Service available through 581-1888. Box Office Hours' Monday-Friday 9 am to 4 pm and I [/i hours before each performance

The Peoples Heritage Educational Series nnrwi the university of Providing support for the educational activities surrounding WOFA, Lakota Sioux, blink, Alvin Ailey, William Grant Nabore, Buswell/Ou Piano Trio [TO MAINE Page 22

Table of Contents

10 Science Meets Philosophy 26 Bringing New Life to Old Glory Genetic modification holds great Marilyn Amelia Zoidis '71 puts promise but also provokes some together the Star-Spangled Banner serious questions. exhibition for the Smithsonian.

14 Interning with the "I" Man Senior Danny Cashman wants to be a big-time talk show host. This

I summer he got to study with one of the biggest hosts firsthand.

19 Natural Preservation: What's it Worth to us? UMaine researcher Kevin Boyle '78 spends a lot of his life trying to find out. Page 10 22 On the Road With Wynton Marsalis Departments: Campus Briefs 6 Jazz devotee Nathan George '93 Alumni Newsmakers 30 lands a job as production assistant Alumni Bookshelf 32 for the Lincoln Center Jazz Final Thoughts 34 Orchestra.

Fall 1999 5 Campus Briefs

UMaine student continues the contractual relationship that the uni­ enrollment versity has had with Coca- continues Cola for several years to climb "For years most of the beverages sold on campus have been Coca-Cola prod­ The largest class of first- ucts," Duringer says. "The year University of Maine added benefit of this long­ students in a decade began term agreement is that we classes on September 7. will have significantly The new class of 1,630 stu­ more funds to direct to ac­ dents is approximately 15 ademic programs and stu­ percent larger than last dent life " year's, which was 23 per­ Competing drinks have cent larger than the group been sold alongside Coke that began in fall 1997. products in two campus Twenty-nine states and University of Maine hockey coach Shawn Walsh talks with convenience stores and 14 foreign countries are President Bill Clinton on August 2 when the National Cham­ Memorial Union, but all pion Black Bears were invited to the White House. Standing represented in the Class of to Clinton's immediate left is U.S. Representative John Bal­ vending machines and 2003, which is made up of dacci '84. (photo by Rick Kozak) fountains in cafeterias and 81 percent students from elsewhere have long dis­ Maine Among those Main­ pensed only Coca-Cola ers are 58 who finished ei­ athletics University signs products ther first or second in their According to a survey Duringer adds that the high school class and took conducted by UMaine's In­ long-term bid process for the bever­ advantage of UMaine's stitutional Studies, 73 per­ agreement age rights was approached Top Scholars scholarship cent of the new students in a manner similar to the program for students who report that UMaine was with Coca-Cola bid process for other cam­ achieve that distinction. their first choice of schools. pus needs and services. The average SAT score An even greater percentage The University of Maine "Arrangements like for students in the new (76 percent) of out-of-state announced that it has se­ these are very common at class is 1087, virtually the students say that UMaine lected the Coca-Cola Com­ universities around the same average as last year's was their first choice. The pany as its exclusive bev­ country," Duringer says class UMaine students Class of 2003 also reports erage provider and is en­ Over the course of the continue to bring SAT high aspirations Sixty- tering a formal 10-year 10-year contract, Coca- scores that substantially three percent expect to partnership that will gen­ Cola will pay UMaine $1 8 exceed the state and na­ have a "B" average or bet­ erate more than $3 million million in cash, and will tional average. ter during their first year; for the university guarantee a share of its Additionally, nearly 20 three-quarters say they are According to UMaine's campus vending machine percent of the members of "very well" or "well" pre­ Chief Financial Officer, revenues of nearly $1 2 mil­ the entering class finished pared for college Almost Robert A. Dunnger, the lion. In addition, Coca- in the top 10 percent of half (44 percent) say that new agreement is the result Cola will provide goods their high school class; 38 getting good grades is their of a year-long competitive and services, product dis­ percent finished in the top most important concern as process directed by a com­ counts, customized ongo­ 20 percent. they begin college. Fifty- mittee made up of univer­ ing promotions, and sup­ The overwhelming ma­ five percent plan to pursue sity students and staff port for campus events jority reports having been a graduate degree, with 12 members It covers soft With the agreement in involved in high school percent saying they expect drinks, sports drinks, juic­ hand, the university will be and community activities, to eventually pursue a doc­ es, and bottled water. deciding how the revenues including student govern­ torate. Duringer explains that will be allocated, says ment, performing arts, and the agreement basically Duringer. Several sugges-

6 Maine tions will be considered, Cooperative including using portions of the money for classroom Extension lands and library improvements, AmeriCorps student scholarships, and partial funding of a cam­ Award pus fitness center.

i if—... "President Hoff has (J 11 h- University of Maine Coop­

▲HI made it clear that we need Hr? i ' J MW/v A 1 z 1 V - 4 f aWFJtg -Ki erative Extension has been to use this money for pur­ selected as an AmeriCorps poses that benefit stu­ Education Awards Pro­ dents/' Duringer says. gram that will engage 1,200 young people ages 17 and up in service to benefit communities. As a result of Bell Atlantic gift their volunteer efforts dur­ boosts ing the next two years, the training for U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright spoke to a young people will qualify sold-out audience at the Maine Center for the Arts on Octo­ for post secondary educa­ teachers ber 13. The speech was the second in the William S. Cohen tion awards with a total Lecture Series. Cohen, currently U.S. Secretary of Defense, value of $1.4 million. gave introductory remarks. The amount of each Technology is changing the award will reflect the num­ way the world communi­ the College of Education Duane Smith '59 ber of hours of community cates and how teachers and Human Development, Scholarship service performed by each teach and students learn in and Edward Dinan, state volunteer. Young people Maine classrooms. A new president and CEO of the established will have opportunities to partnership to further ex­ Bell Atlantic Corporation, do two terms of service and pand the digital bridge announced the partnership receive a maximum of from classroom to a trans­ in Augusta during a work­ Maine high school gradu­ $1,181.25 for 450 hours in formed society was an­ ing session of the Maine ates enrolled in UMaine's one year, or $2,362.50 for nounced recently by the Distance Learning Project College of Natural Scienc­ 900 hours over two years. Bell Atlantic Foundation Advisory Committee. es, Forestry, and Agricul­ The goal of the program and the University of The Bell Atlantic award ture may be eligible for fi­ is to recognize the value of Maine College of Educa­ will extend the work of the nancial assistance from the youth service and help tion and Human Develop­ Maine Distance Learning Duane A. Smith '59 Memo­ Maine youth go on to high­ ment. — Project, through the col­ rial Scholarship Fund. Re­ er education. Bell Atlantic's $100,000 lege, by providing profes­ cently established with a Teens can get an orien­ grant will expand the sional development to edu- gift from the University tation packet from county college's capacity to model cators and exposing Credit Union to the Univer­ extension offices, schools, the best use of technology UMaine students studying sity of Maine Foundation, and service organizations in its own instruction and to become teachers to ex­ the Smith Fund will be en­ that work with youth. The to prepare teachers who are emplary educational prac­ dowed and the income will packet contains details and technologically competent tices using the ATM net­ provide scholarships for application materials, in­ and confident. The Bell At­ work. ATM enables instan­ financial need students. cluding information about lantic grant is targeted at taneous transport of voice, A 1959 graduate of the Corporation for Na­ developing educator ex­ video, and data exchange UMaine, Smith was a re­ tional Service, the Maine pertise in the effective use between connected sites. spected director of the Commission for Commu­ of the broadband, interac­ The college is one of five credit union, an educator nity Service, AmeriCorps, tive ATM telecommunica­ pilot sites established to with Cooperative Exten­ and UMaine Cooperative tions network. test equipment and inno­ sion, and a UMaine adjunct Extension. Robert Cobb, dean of vative use of the network. professor.

Fall 1999 7 Campus Briefs

UMaine/MBNA use the money to develop and conduct programs in collaborate for four area school districts, education and make curricula avail­ able to other schools state­ center in Belfast wide UMaine was one of 20 The University of Maine successful applicants out of will establish a new educa­ 157 nationwide A group of tion center in Belfast to pro­ UMaine faculty and public vide opportunities to pur­ school teachers from sue college education, pro­ Orono, Veazie, Old Town, fessional development, Indian Island, Milford, and lifelong learning, commu­ Bradley met for almost two nity education, and cultur­ months to lay the ground­ al programming for the cit­ MBNA's Shane Flynn (left) shakes the hand of UMaine work, says Susan Brawley, izens of the midcoast re­ president emeritus Fred Hutchinson '53 (right) at the UMaine professor of plant gion groundbreaking for the Hutchinson Center in Belfast. Look­ biology, who coordinated MBNA, through its ing on is current UMaine president Peter Hoff. the effort MBNA Education Founda­ "We want to involve the tion, is providing the build­ community resource " grees In addition, UMaine best UMaine science stu­ ing and land for the new "As an employer, will offer noncredit cours­ dents in working with center, which will be locat­ MBNA has encouraged es designed to prov ide pro­ teachers and their pupils," ed on Route 3 in Belfast, and supported education­ fessional dexelopment or says Brawley "It's exciting contiguous with MBNA's al and professional devel­ personal enrichment to let these students, who Northeastern regional opment opportunities for Hoff says this type of are at the cutting edge of headquarters UMaine will the men and women it em­ collaboration between the their disciplines, take their provide the faculty and ploys," Hoff continues. university and outside en­ enthusiasm for science to will manage the facility "Among its many benefits, tities is becoming a more our public school class­ under a lease agreement the Hutchinson Center will common aspect of rooms " with MBNA. The new facil­ expand those opportuni­ UMaine's engagement The program is a major ity will be called The Uni­ ties for the citizens and with the people of Maine NSF initiative NSF direc­ versity of Maine Hutchin­ communities of the mid­ tor Rita Colwell cited it in son Center of Belfast, coast region " remarks to Congress this named in honor of former MBNA expects to com­ summer. "There is no UMaine president Freder­ plete the project in the sum­ group of people that ick E. Hutchinson '53, '58G. mer of 2000. Preliminary UMaine receives should feel more responsi­ "Expanding UMaine's plans call for the facility to grant to spur ble for science and math presence in the midcoast include eight classrooms, a education in this nation region is consistent with 124-seat auditorium, and a science than our scientists and en­ the university's statewide state-of-the-art telecommu­ education in gineers and scientists-and teaching, research, and out­ nications system engineers-to-be," she said. reach mission," explains Hoff says that UMaine local schools Among the program University of Maine presi­ expects to begin offering goals are improved learn­ dent Peter S Hoff. "The degree and nondegree ing opportunities for pub­ Hutchinson Center will courses in Belfast at the The university has received lic school pupils, profes­ enable the university to be­ Hutchinson Center starting a three-year, $1 3 million sional development activi­ come more deeply and pro- in September 2000. Many grant from the National ties for teachers, and strong ductively involved with of the courses offered at the Science Foundation to ex­ partnerships between the midcoast community, Hutchinson Center will pand science education in higher education and pub­ and will serve as a valuable award credit towards bach- Maine's public schools. lic schools educational, cultural, and elor's and graduate de­ Students and faculty will

8 Maine New program cently launched appropriated by MaineBlackBears.com, a the Legislature for links UMaine web site completely devot­ research and de­ with Jackson Lab ed to University of Maine velopment at the and Portland athletics. RivalNet made Orono university. UMaine alumnus Jim Dwyer described , I Baines '89 the publisher of the purchase as an i the site "important invest­ When professor of bio­ Baines is a former ment" by the uni­ chemistry Mike Vayda broadcaster and present versity. It had pre­ gives a lecture in his grad­ public address announcer viously considered uate-level course, Mecha­ for UMaine athletics (pri­ building similar fa­ nisms of Gene Regulation, marily soccer and men's cilities at other locations. only about half of his 15 basketball). Baines has also UMaine buys But cost estimates had students are located on the run the Alfond Arena mes­ proved to be prohibitive. UMaine campus. Most are sage board for ice hockey Franklin While the Franklin facil­ in Bar Harbor, and at least and basketball games. Hatchery ity was technically pur­ one is in Portland. "This is a breakthrough chased by the University of The course is the latest for UMaine sports cover­ Maine System and will be in a series of cooperative age," Baines says. "Not The University of Maine available to students from ventures in a new molecu­ only are there more and bought a 23-acre hatchery all UMS campuses, Dwyer lar genetics program in­ more people using the In­ at auction in September for said the center will be con­ volving UMaine, the Jack- ternet here in Maine, but $400,000, launching a ma­ sidered part of the Univer­ son Laboratory, Maine there are a lot of transplant­ jor bid to raise and breed sity of Maine. Medical Center Research ed Mainers and UMaine fin fish in a "kick-start" for The facility, which will Institute (MMCRI), and the graduates who easily lost the state's aquaculture in­ be called the Center for University of Southern touch with the Black Bears. dustry. Cooperative Aquaculture Maine. The institutions are Once you cross the Piscat- The parcel near Taunton Research, will complement laying the groundwork for aqua River—or the St. Cro­ Bay includes several build­ the Darling Marine Center a molecular biology degree ix, for that matter—it's ings, generators, holding in Walpole. program that will give stu­ kind of hard to keep up. pens, fish tanks, a labora­ Darling, Dwyer said, dents new opportunities to This web site will solve that tory, and ocean frontage. will conduct aquaculture work and study with scien­ problem; it's just a matter The university's school of research and studies of tists and in laboratories in of letting people know the marine sciences is expected shellfish. He said the each community. web site exists." to use the facility to raise Franklin site is more appro­ Baines plans on thor­ and breed haddock, hali­ priate for fin fish studies ough game coverage, but, cod, and salmon, said because of the colder wa­ alumni updates, color pho­ Dame’ Dwyer, vice presi­ ter temperatures and New web site tos, video footage, and dent cf research and gradu­ higher salinity concentra­ provides Black quick scoring updates on ate studies of the univer­ tions of Taunton Bay. the web site. In addition, sity. UMaine officials re­ Bear sports message boards and up-to- The purchase at a fore­ cently noted that private information date statistics will be fea­ closure auction was a bar­ fish farms are showing in­ tured. On-line chats are gain. The Hancock County terest in the facility. planned for the future. town of Franklin values the In addition, the U.S. De­ For the first time, Black So far, Baines says he property at slightly more partment of Agriculture is Bear fans can now access has been impressed with than $1.6 million. UMaine looking into the feasibility instant, up-to-the-minute RivalNet's vision and en­ will have to pay $50,314 in of developing a marine information on University thusiasm. "This is an op­ back taxes owned to the cold-water research center of Maine sports teams. portunity for me to cover town. in Maine. RivalNet (rivals.com) of something I love," he says. The money comes from (By Shawn O'Leary, Seattle, Washington, re­ $23.5 million in funding Bangor Daily News.)

Fall 1999 9 Research & Innovation

Genetic Modification Science Meets Philosophy

Nearly 30 UMaine researchers are involved in some form of genetic research, including the testing of transgenic crops. And the new knowledge and technologies are raising provocative questions.

f By Misty Edgecomb '99

trand by strand, scien­ entist, and I'm struck with awe," Millions of copies of the DNA seg­ tists are unraveling the says Wiersma, estimating that near­ ment can be reproduced in test tubes double helix of DNA, ly 30 members of the UMaine facul­ in a matter of hours slowly but steadily re­ ty are pursuing research on the ge­ Vayda goes on to explain that the vealing the most funda­ netic level. "Fundamentally, they're selected genetic material can then be mentalS knowlege about our genetic seeking knowledge, understanding inserted into the cell of another or­ makeup. how cells operate," he says. ganism He notes that inserting the As a result, genetic engineering, But the term "genetics" is a broad material is easy but knowing which the branch of modern biology that concept that can be applied to ev­ genes will successfully receive the gives our society the potential to erything from archaeological com­ information is proving much more cure diseases or grow vegetables for­ parisons to cloning, says Michael difficult tified with a drugstore's worth of vi­ Vayda, a professor of biochemistry. tamins and antibiotics, is changing Genetic manipulation (also Brave New World the way we traditionally think about known as recombinant DNA tech­ organisms and species. Provocative niques) involves the processes that Traditional breeding techniques, new issues are surfacing, and in the alter the actual genetic makeup of which cross related organisms thou­ process, science is merging with phi­ an organism As Vayda explains in sands of times to produce an off­ losophy. his paper, "What is Genetic Engi­ spring with the exact combination And at the University of Maine, neering7," a gene is a segment of of traits that is the most desirable, this dynamic field is capturing re­ DNA that makes a unique protein has been de ngeur for agronomists searchers' imaginations that can direct chemical reactions since Gregor Mendel planted his "These scientists are literally at within an organism. Scientists iden­ peas. But genetic techniques make the very fundamentals of life," says tify the segment using specific en­ it possible to implant the traits of one Bruce Wiersma '64, dean of the col­ zymes and then remove it. It could species into a totally unrelated or­ lege of natural sciences, forestry, and be DNA that codes for something ganism, Vayda says. agriculture and director of the undesirable, like Down's syndrome For example, Rebecca VanBene- Maine Agricultural and Forest Ex­ in humans, or the segment of DNA den, a professor of zoology, has im­ periment Station. that produces something desirable, planted cells from mice and fish "I listen to them as a trained sci­ like additional Vitamin A in rice. with the genetic material from fire-

10 Maine flies that makes them glow. An ad­ lished the work of scientists from Above: Researcher Michael Vayda checks ditional gene causes the cells to be Princeton, M.I.T., and Washington genetically modified corn being grown in a UMaine greenhouse. phosphorescent only in the presence University who endowed a mouse of dioxin. So, put a few drops of wa­ with super-intelligence through ge­ search project at UMaine must pass ter into a dish containing the trans­ netic manipulation. They claimed a number of topic-specific peer re­ genic cell culture, and homeowners the same process could feasibly be view committees (human subjects, can know if their water is contami­ applied to other mammals, includ­ DNA, radiation, and animal subjects nated with dioxin, Vayda explains. ing human beings each constitute review by a separate James Weber, a professor of ani­ Wiersma feels sure that break­ committee of scientists). mal and veterinary sciences, is throughs such as the cure for cancer Each proposal is also approved studying cow and horse embryos to will be unveiled through lab-based by a review board outside the uni­ find a foolproof way of determining genetic research like scientists are versity, and active projects must be gender before implanting them. conducting at UMaine, but, like all constantly monitored by Wiersma Other scientists are breeding mutant people, he has concerns about the and other university scientists. zebra fish for use in studying fish power of genetic manipulation. UMaine does not enforce a specific immune systems, and searching for "We have within us the ability to ethical code, however. Wiersma and a new type of inoculation that uses do great good, but we also have the Vayda put faith in the common­ only segments of a virus's genetic ability to do despicable things," sense ethics of individual scientists material, eliminating any risk of Wiersma says. and oversight committees. "We need contracting a disease through the Many of the moral issues regard­ to see these scientists as real human vaccine. ing human genetics are moot at beings. They act on their own moral Though fireflies and fish may UMaine since the school has no codes and values, just like you and seem light-years from the complex­ medical facility where such research me," Wiersma says. ity that is the human body, manipu­ would be conducted. Nonetheless, Despite precautions, the ability to lation of our own DNA may, in fact, concern over scientific ethics and supersede species boundaries, to soon be possible. The Human Ge­ safety led the university to found a "play God," continues to worry peo­ nome Project has nearly completed DNA oversight committee when ple such as Maine Organic Farmers its mapping of human chromo­ genetic research began several years and Gardeners Association (MOF- somes. And Nature recently pub­ ago. According to Wiersma, any re- GA) head Russell Libby '86. They

Fall 1999 11 Research & Innovation

believe that in concert with discov­ grown last year boasted genetically came susceptible to rot, you can un­ ering the keys to life, scientists are altered seed, according to Tune mag­ derstand how to overcome that de­ uncovering some ethical questions. azine fect " His work is creating the foun­ The questions arise because our Wiersma believes that the de­ dation for what could someday re­ rapidly increasing understanding of struction of the corn was a complete­ sult in the development of a potato genetics isn't simply an academic ly misguided act. He says the uni­ with better disease resistance. exercise. This new knowledge is al­ versity's cooperative extension was, But no new transgenic crops have ready being applied to commercial in fact, looking at the effects of emerged on campus since a potato uses, including genetically modified Roundup ready corn, a plant devel­ was developed and tested during food. oped by Monsanto to be resistant to the late 1980s, Vayda says No con­ "If you're a vegetarian and a common low-toxicity herbicide, scious decision to avoid transgenic there's a gene from a flounder in until anonymous activists mowed crops was ever made at UMaine; in your tomato, is it still a vegetable?" down the field in protest fact, Wiersma would embrace the asks Libby. Other questions are like­ "These people attacked and de­ opportunity to do such work "If it's ly to stir even greater debate. If hu­ stroyed a research project that was good science, and the faculty mem­ man genes are inserted into a pig, is investigating the very things they ber wants to do it, then we will do it humane to harvest the hybrid or­ are concerned about," he says that research. I'm sure if we had the gans for transplant to cure disease7 At UMaine, most research stays money, we'd do more," he says. If your backyard potato plot is emit­ in the laboratory, however, any Developing a new crop variety is ting its own pesticides, is the fruit breakthroughs made on the cellular an expensive, labor-intensive pro­ organic7 level do have eventual real-world cess, Vayda says. It may require But for many at UMaine those applications. Vayda is currently thousands of plants before the de­ questions will not hamper progress studying the mechanisms of what sired gene is expressed, and one re­ in genetic research They believe the causes potatoes to break down. "If searcher with a tew graduate assis­ gift of cross-species genetic engi­ you can understand why they be­ tants can only cultivate about 50 neering is the foundation for tomor­ row's science. "It's a brave new world out there. We can't turn our The Lowdown on Roundup Ready Corn backs on the promise of that tech­ In the early hours of August 19 (or possibly late on August 18), a half­ nology," Wiersma says acre plot of genetically modified corn was destroyed at the University of Maine's Rogers Farm. The corn was designed to resist the nonselec- Resistance tive herbicide Roundup. Although no one has been charged with the vandalism, a group The issue of genetic modification identifying itself as "Seeds of Resistance" claims to have performed has stirred more than verbal argu­ the act f ment In France, farmers hurled tons John Jemison of Cooperative Extension was using the corn, which of rotten vegetables and manure at is approved for use in Maine, to determine the effects of different tim­ McDonald's restaurants during ear­ ing and application rates of Roundup. Nonselective herbicides kill many ly September protests. varieties of vegetation, says Jemison, such as annual and perennial The university, too, has been the grasses and broadleaf weeds that reduce yields in farm fields. Round­ scene of radical actions. At UMaine's up is moderately effective and does not leach into the groundwater or Rogers Farm, a corn field was lev­ persist in soil or plant tissues. It works by inhibiting photosynthesis in eled by an activist group calling it­ plants. The genetically modified corn has the ability to conduct photo­ self "The Seeds of Resistance." synthesis in the presence of the pesticide. In both cases, the people were re­ ''Our goal is to provide reliable agronomic and environmental in­ acting to one of genetic manipula­ formation to Maine's small family farms," Jemison says. "This plot was tion's most prolific applications, one of 14 studies we were doing in the summer." He added that the transgenic foods In Europe, the loss of the plot meant the university was not able to give farmers infor­ crops, known as "Frankenstein mation about this weed control option. foods," are widely shunned. But in The corn that was destroyed was not for human consumption. Most the United States, 26 percent of the of the corn grown in Maine is processed as silage for farm animals. corn and 35 percent of the soybeans

12 Maine specimens at a time. A public uni­ that transgenic plants that are re­ versity just doesn't have the means "If the university leased from the lab may cross with —financially or staff-wise, he says. doesn't do this, other plants, providing adverse ef­ So development of transgenic fects. A transgenic grain coded to be crops has fallen to the private sec­ farmers just have the resistant to herbicides could cross tor. Companies like Monsanto, Du­ with wild relatives, making the Pont, and Novartis have flooded the company's weeds resistant to herbicide, he says. market with genetically modified Or, the transgenic variety could con­ seeds. claims....The taminate organic varieties of the Regulatory agencies like the En­ same crop, he says. Plants that emit vironmental Protection Agency, the university's role is to pesticides could cause similar prob­ Food and Drug Administration, and lems, making insects quickly devel­ the United States Department of provide unbiased op a resistance to the substance Agriculture were tapped to review that's continuously genetically ex­ the new products' safety, and information to the pressed by the plant. they've found little to concern them To avoid such risks, Libby be­ Some 48 different varieties have public...." lieves the university should keep its passed the government tests. genetic research contained in the lab, UMaine faculty members work­ public so it's not an emotional deci­ and form its research priorities ing on transgenic foods are confi­ sion, nor is it the company's party around public opinion. dent that genetically modified foods line," Vayda says. "It seems to me that it should be are safe. important for the public to say what "My professional scientific opin­ Long-Term Effects it wants," Libby says. ion is that it does not warrant health But John Jemison, cooperative ex­ concerns," Vayda says. "The re­ A researcher at Cornell University tension water specialist, says that search has been done, and it is well- published a study indicating that a the UMaine Roundup research was, documented that genetically modi­ transgenic corn variety designed to in fact, a response to the state's farm­ fied products present no hazard." withstand the European corn borer ing community, who identified re­ But Libby takes issue with the exhibits enough pesticide in its pol­ search on the benefits and problems FDA's decision to study only the end len to kill Monarch butterflies that of genetically modified crops as a product and ignore the process of feed on leaves dusted with the pol­ high priority for Maine agriculture. genetic manipulation that brought it len. Libby cites the study as an ex­ Jemison also shares Libby's con­ into being. ample of how unintended species cern about protection for organical­ "The U.S. government has basi­ can suffer the results of genetic ma­ ly certified crops. cally abdicated regulatory responsi­ nipulation, one of the main concerns "If we can't assure organic grow­ bility," he says. "By looking exclu­ of MOFGA, which opposes all ge­ ers that we can protect their crops sively at vitamin content and nutri­ netically altered crops, and has from cross pollination with a genet­ tional value, the FDA does not con­ thrice attempted to pass legislation ically modified variety, then I'd be sider long-term effects of transgen­ to require labeling of transgenic the first to say that we shouldn't use ic crops. The reality is that we don't foods in the supermarket. it in Maine," Jemison says. know the effects and no one is look- "Rapid commercialization of ge­ In order to be sure organic crops netically engineered foods has left are protected, UMaine needs to con­ But Wiersma believes the univer­ us without pause to look at some of tinue its research and testing, Vay­ sity's research is directly addressing the longer term implications," Lib­ da and Wiersma say. They believe Libby's concerns. "Testing transgen­ by says. transgenic crops are an established ic products is a significant research But Vayda says that the Cornell fact of American agriculture, and the mission for modern land-grant uni­ research which Libby cites may not benefit is worth any minor risk in­ versities," he says. be conclusive. He notes that last year volved in studying them. "If the university doesn't do this, the Monarch butterfly population in "UMaine has gifted scientists farmers just have the company's transgenic corn areas actually in­ working to solve the natural re­ claims....The university's role is to creased. source problems of Maine," Wiers­ provide unbiased information to the Another of Libby's concerns is ma says.

Fall 1999 13 Student Life the "I" Man

UMaine senior Danny Cashman wants to make it big on either television or radio. Last summer he got some valuable experience by working for one of his idols, radio legend Don Imus.

anny Cashman has set a "I guess I made some bold re­ pretty lofty goal for marks that the producer liked," himself. All the UMaine Cashman notes. "I said something mass communications about how I thought Imus was flip­ major wants to do is replaceflopping David on the Clinton issue. He DLetterman when the "Late didn'tShow" expect that from a 20-year-old host retires from television Maine kid." Go ahead and chuckle, but a lot Although he didn't get the inter­ of folks who know Cashman well view he wanted, Cashman decided wouldn't be at all surprised if he to hang around while the show was eventually makes it to the big time. being aired. It wasn't easy. Because The UMaine senior has already of school studies and a string of oth­ made a mark in the local entertain­ er commitments, he had gone al­ ment field. This summer he added most 30 straight hours without another impressive page to his re­ sleep. He was struggling just to stay "He asked me about my show, sume by interning with world-fa­ awake in the Bangor Civic Center 'The Nite Show,' and wanted to mous talk show host Don Imus lobby. know what I would ask him if he The first connection with Imus The next thing he knew he was came on as a guest So we ended up came when Cashman was hosting being called up to the stage doing a kind of mutual interview " his own local TV talk program called As he later told the Bangor Daily Cashman must have made a "The Nite Show." In typical bold News, there were two thoughts run­ strong impression because the exec­ fashion, he decided that he would ning through his head at the time. utive producer of "Imus in the try to get the "I" Man on his show First, he was hoping his own cam­ Morning" gave him his business while the "Imus in the Morning" eraman was set up to record the mo­ card. Later on, when Cashman was show was on the road and being ment. Second, he hoped that Imus hoping to get an internship, he gave aired from Bangor in October 1998. wouldn't be too rough on him. his advisor the card. Prior to air time, Cashman went "I was just waiting for him to "My advisor gave the producer with the other local media to try to completely trash me," Cashman a call and I got the internship at get an interview. It didn't happen, says. MSNBC and the Imus show " but he did get to talk to the show's But that didn't happen. As it The internship gave Cashman producer, who was impressed with turns out, Imus was much nicer than some valuable experience in both ra­ the UMaine student's brazenness. he expected. dio and television Three days a

14 Maine third had his son's name on it. The trouble was they spelled his son's name wrong and so he proceeded to smash all three vases on the air. They had spent a lot of time making them. It was mean, but it was funny to the radio listeners." On his last day on the job, Cash­ man received his own on-the-air trashing by the "I" Man. "I gave him a card, thanking him for letting me hang out all summer," Cashman says. "I figured he proba­ bly would never even open it, but later that morning I had to go back in the office and I noticed the card was opened and sitting on his desk. Then, to my surprise, he proceeded to read it on the air and totally trash me for writing it. It was funny be­ cause it became a major topic, and everyone else on the show and all his guests stuck up for me." Cashman had been mentioned on the air at other times during the summer, but he was always referred to as "the intern." "He acted like he didn't know my name," Cashman says. "But I know he did because when I handed him the card, he said 'Thank you, Dan/" Cashman has been known to do photo by Bob DeLong, his own brand of trashing people on BangorDtulyNeivs the air, but, as he is quick to point week he worked at MSNBC studios worked to keep well informed on out, he only directs it toward peo­ in Secaucus, New Jersey (Imus also everything that is going on in the ple or groups that can handle it. does a TV show). There he got to world. That is really the source of "I only make fun of people who work with top professionals and good material for a host and it made are succeeding," he explains. "I nev­ state-of-the-art equipment. an impression on me." er make fun of people who are vul­ The other two days a week he His impression of Imus was ba­ nerable and would be hurt by it. The worked for the Imus radio show at sically that of a nice guy who can get people I make fun of can take it be­ WFAN in Queens. There he did what mean if his staff screws up or he cause they are in positions of success he described as "basic intern stuff." doesn't get what he wants from peo­ or power." The real value came in sitting in ple on the air. A good example of the Cashman the adjoining studio to Imus with all "No question about it, he will style can be heard on his current the "I" Man cronies. He got to ob­ trash a lot of people on the air," campus radio show, "Intern in the serve, firsthand, Imus' sense of tim­ Cashman says. "Sometimes he can Morning" on WMEB-91.9FM. ing and his sometimes over-the-edge go over the edge and be pretty mean. The show patterns itself after sense of humor. I remember a time he was sent these "Imus in the Morning" with skits, "Imus is very intelligent," Cash­ three handmade vases by some fans. interviews, humorous musical piec­ man says. "So are all the people who One vase had Imus' name on it, one es, sports updates, and lots of gen­ work with him. I saw how they had his wife's name on it, and the eral comedic banter between Cash-

Fall1999 15 Student Life

man and his sidekicks. "He and my mother were a huge Early this fall, he was consistent­ help," Cashman says. "My father ly poking fun at UMaine president wrote the funniest jokes for the Peter Hoff for the university's $3 show " million deal with Coke for exclusive He also got lots of help from distribution of their products on friends, especially the Lidrals and campus Every 15 or 20 minutes, his sidekick on the program, Rich Cashman would play the old 1970s Norton. Coke jingle—explaining it was at the "It was a group effort," he says. insistence of President Hoff One "So many people ended up helping week, in a particularly playful out. It was a lot of work, but I think mood, Cashman invited the local everyone involved looks back at it Pepsi distributor to sponsor his now as a really good time." show and deliver a few cases of Pep­ When Cashman was offered the si to the station every week. internship last spring, he decided to People have noticed a difference "Imus is very end "The Nite Show" after two years in Cashman's level of skill and his and 87 installments And while it enthusiasm since the Imus intern­ intelligent. So are all was great fun and a valuable learn­ ship ing experience, budget, censorship, "I think working with Imus has the people who work and programming issues were caus­ definitely increased his polish," ob­ ing him to get a bit disillusioned. served UMaine music professor with him. I saw how "I was ready to switch my major," Karel Lidral "When you work in Cashman admits. "Not because of New York City, everything is at they worked to keep anything at the University of Maine. warp speed He'sbecome very good I think the department here is one at keeping the momentum going informed on every­ of the best But working at the sta­ and the show is pretty free-wheel­ tion, well, let's just say there were a ing and funny. " thing going on in the lot of things I didn't agree with " Lidral knows Cashman's capabil­ world." But the Imus/MSNBC experience ities well. The two worked closely has completely rejuvenated his en­ for two years on Cashman's "The thusiasm for the broadcast field. Nite Show" on WBGR-TV in Bang­ flection of his personality and am­ "This internship% was not just lm- or (The Lidral Trio was the show's bition. portant, it was inspirational," Cash­ regular band) Danny also plays bass The idea for the show developed man says "In New York, I realized in Lidral's UMaine Jazz Ensemble when Cashman was a UMaine fresh­ what it can really be like How great Lidral notes that Cashman is very man and employed as Babe the Blue it can be It brought back my origi­ good at learning from his experienc­ Ox, the mascot for the now-defunct nal passion for working in television es He remembers one time on "The Bangor minor league team. He got and radio " Nite Show" when Cashman had set to know the folks at the station and That passion, coupled with his up an interview with a young girl proposed the idea for a local, late considerable talent, could take Cash­ who had just been in the news. night talk show man a long way But replacing Dav­ "He had set aside six minutes for "I had to earn their trust," Cash­ id Letterman? the interview," Lidral remembers. man says. "Once they gave me the "Danny has talent and skill," "But when he got on the air all the green light, I had to go out and get notes Karel Lidral "Of course, there questions he asked got a 'yup' or sponsors and then figure out how to are plenty of people with talent and 'nope' answer. It was all over in 45 put it all together " skill who never go anywhere You seconds He learned a lot from that The resourceful Cashman solicit­ also have to have survivability and kind of thing. That wouldn't happen ed the help of both family and good luck and ambition. Danny is to him now." friends His father, former Old Town ambitious, but he's also realistic. If "The Nite Show" was not just a legislator Jack Cashman '73, wrote there is anybody who is capable of vehicle for Cashman's talent and the show's monologue and many of making it, it's him I wouldn't bet comic sensibilities, it was also a re- the jokes against him "

16 Maine Give the Gift of Maine Hockey for the Holidays! mainehockey. com

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Fall 1999 17 (

UNIVERSITY OF MAINE ANNUAL ♦ ALUMNI ♦ FUND

z

The Annual Alumni Fund Your Connection to the University of Maine

he university of Maine alumni association has an ambitious goal this year: Raise $2 million from 12,000 alumni. We’re off to a good start, but we can’t make it Twithout your help.

Perry Hunter '52 Annual Alumni Fund Chair Here are some facts you should know about the Annual Alumni Fund: 1. It is run by the UMaine Alumni Association.

2. The Association’s Board of Directors decides how the undesignated dollars are allocated.

3. FY 99’s undesignated dollars supported: • Scholarships to students

- ■ • Financial assistance to individual students and student groups

& • ’< • Programs and services for alumni • Advocacy for the University of Maine

4. 100 percent of the designated dollars received by the Alumni Association are given to the area of the university to which they are designated.

’ • • >

Your personal commitment to the Annual Alumni Fund ensures the Alumni Association I remains a strong, independent advocate for MAINE. Your personal commitment to MAINE helps to make it an even greater institution. r If you have already made your annual gift, I thank you for supporting the University of Maine. If you haven’t yet made a gift, please consider doing so today. Your support will allow * K us to reach our goal and guarantee a strong University.

> University of Maine Annual Alumni Fund P.O. Box 550, Orono, Maine 04473-0550 800-934-ALUM / 207-581-2586 http://www.umaine.edu/alumni/

■'wk: i tr* Wk-Mi I Fall 1999 MAINE’S Alumni House Campaign

Class of 1942 Alumnus Names Leadership Hall in UMaine's Buchanan Alumni House

Francis S. “Andy” and Dorothy J. “DJ” Andrews have recently named the prestigious Leadership Hall in the Univer' sity of Maine’s future Buchanan Alumni House! Andy graduated, Phi Beta Kappa, from the University of Maine in 1942. After serving in the United States Army in World War 11, he earned an MBA from Harvard Business School. With his partner, Bob Christiansen, he went on to rancis S. Andrews '42 and Dorothy J. Andrews establish his own business, American Fund Raising Service, Sale of Maine Companies Inc. ’ May Present Giving Opportunities Andy and DJ were married in 1943, and will celebrate for \ ' University of Maine their 56th anniversary this fall. Dorothy is a 1943 graduate of ' Donors Wellesley College, and Andy credits her for being an integral J J k / .f ■ part of his successful career. Many University of Maine alumni and friends who hold shares of stock in Central Maine (continued, page 4) Power Company or Hannaford Brothers may be fac­ ing large capital gains taxes due to the pending sales of these companies.

I - *

L The University of Maine Foundation offers gift annuities that are simple to establish and can be ^created with any stock. Gift annuities provide an easy way to (1) make a gift that provides the donor with a lifetime income, (2) benefit the University of Maine, and (3) reduce capital gains tax.

For an example of the income tax benefits of Establishing a charitable gift annuity, please contact one of the Foundation's planned giving officers at (800) 982-8503 in Bangor or (800) 449-2629 in Portland. ■F

/ i

t'£- ______.______Buchanan Alumni House Francis S Andrews '42 and Dorothy J. Andrews Leadership Hall

Plans are under way to recognize all DONORS IN AN ELEGANT AND APPROPRIATE FASHION IN THE NEW ALUMNI HOUSE. All donors at the $25,000 level or higher WILL BE RECOGNIZED IN THE PRESTIGIOUS "Leadership Hall " as well as in the space THEY HAVE CHOSEN TO NAME.

Thank You to all Alumni House donors FOR THEIR CONTINUED GENEROSITY! page 2 'I

raw PAlLCa/MUnC CENTERS m 9q.pt. Hq

[

• JL . « ••• " I JU ■'i •' • .•,» • ’IL , I « * 4‘ * < - ■ t • • I tf »<• » t 1 • J ‘.‘ib *' r •i •’ I. 1 • • MAINE Family Room UMAA Administrative Office The heart of Alumni House Reception and support for the University of

c I Maine Alumni Association President r, Library/Museum The home of UMaine memorabilia and Alumni House Elevator collections To be handsomely decorated, with a Maine

V Stein song decor

J Covered Porch A beautiful porch overlooking the MAINE Event Room Vestibule impressive Alumni House Gardens Grand entrance to the McIntire Event Room

Additional naming opportunities are available on the Lower and Upper Levels. Contact the Alumni House Campaign office at u •• I 207-942-9008 for details! ZSV * "' A’ ______-

______3 Leadership Hall Named

(Continued from page 1) Andy Andrews has been recognized as a pioneer in the devel­ opment of modern fund raising methods, and an originator of many of the techniques now universally used by major non-profit fund rais­ ing organizations including the American Cancer Society, the March of Dimes, and the American Heart Association. Andy and DJ have had deep commitments to their communi­ 4 4 ana ties throughout their lives. They have invested in the town of Oxford and in several other communities in Maine, Florida and Massachu­ setts. Both have served on the boards of non-profit organizations in their local area. “I have always felt a responsibility to the University of Maine, and I have always intended to make some sort of major gift at some time,” Andy explained. Mr. and Mrs. Andrews have donated a gift of prime commer­ cial property, located on Rt. 26 in Oxford, Maine, to the University of Maine Foundation. Proceeds from the sale of this land, expected to be $1 million or more, are designated to benefit Alumni House and to establish a scholarship fund for graduates of Oxford Hills High School who plan to attend the University of Maine. Alumni House Honorary Campaign Chair, William W. Treat ’40, thanked Andy and DJ for their very generous gift. “I be­ lieve it is essential that the Andrews name have prominent recognition in the Alumni House, and am personally grateful for their extraordinary generosity to this project,” said Mr. Treat.

* nn,4- mn» i j - j - in . ii For more information on MAINE’s Alumni House Campaign, . i \ i • • • •■ • j*

I PLEASE CONTACT: 1 *. • \

• r •

i i

University of Maine 4 ’ * ‘J - J • . C Alumni Association N 1,' *- Jeffery N. Mills ’83, Ph.D., President \ University of Maine Alumni Association I P.O. Box 550 4 Orono, Maine 04473-0550 I

TELEPHONE: 207-581-1131 OR 1-800-934-2586 ‘ I J 2? FAX: 207-581-3268 University of Maine Foundation Amos E. Orcutt ’64, President 'QjiJts of $10 000 and our arc listed in this edition of I Place to Call Home niversity of aine oundation U M F I he u inter issue mil list gifts of 5/ 000 to >9 999 99 Franklin Street i > P.O. Box 2220 I Bangor, Maine 04402-2220 •*> • I TELEPHONE: 207-947-5100 OR 1-800-982-8503 ■ft] Fax: 207-947-6193

page 4 Faculty Profile Natural Preservation: What's it Worth to Us?

UMaine professor Kevin Boyle '78 is highly regarded for few years ago, when lic land. his ability to place the U.S. Forest Service Their publication is titled Public needed to know just Preferences for Timber Harvesting on cash value on Private Forest Land Purchased for Pub­ how much the public lic Ownership in Maine and was pub­ valuesA tree harvesting, endangered lished last June by the Maine Agri­ resources that don't species preservation, and other for­ cultural and Forest Experiment Sta­ est land practices, they came knock­ have clear market tion. ing on the door of Libra Professor Last May, his record of research, Kevin Boyle '78 in the department grant awards, and public service value. He combines of resource economics and policy. I earned him the Outstanding Re­ Boyle and Mario Teisl, assistant pro­ the ability to ask the search Award from the College of fessor in the department, conduct­ Natural Sciences, Forestry, and Ag­ ed a pilot project and surveyed a ran­ right questions with riculture. dom sample of Maine citizens. Boyle grew up in Presque Isle and They found that, on average, peo­ the statistical skills to received a bachelor's degree in eco­ ple would be willing to make a one­ nomics from UMaine in 1978 and his time payment of about $440 per turn the answers into Ph.D. at the University of Wiscon­ household through state revenues to sin-Madison in 1985. Since his return buy a township (36 square miles) of dollars and cents. to UMaine in 1986, he has been private forest land in northwestern tapped to do research by state and Maine. federal agencies, corporations, and However, there are strings at­ environmental organizations. He By Nicolas Houtman tached. That value depends on how has worked closely with the Maine the land is managed. On the ex­ Department of Inland Fisheries and tremes, extensive tree harvesting Wildlife to collect information on and complete preservation were not hunting and fishing activities. valued as highly, Boyle and Teisl In the past few years, he and four found, as a middle ground of selec­ master's degree students developed tion harvesting on a portion of pub­ Fall 1999 19 Faculty Profile

and applied a property value model sure what are known as "non-mar- dation for the agency's budget re­ to measure the benefit to Maine's ket values," the challenge lies in quests More than any other state lakeshore property owners of keep­ knowing what to measure and how agency, IF&W depends on revenues ing lakes clear and clean. "People to measure it. "One of the big themes from licenses to support its opera­ have talked about applying this sort in my research," says Boyle, "is how tions. The public's willingness to of model to natural resources for people anchor on the stimuli that buy those licenses, a measure of pub­ years, and we just happened to use scientists give them. Some years ago, lic value, is critical to its survival lakes," says Boyle. resource economists did a kind of Growing up in Aroostook Coun­ The results have been used by iterative bidding experiment where ty, Boyle developed a taste for work­ lake associations and the Maine De­ we said, would you give $10 for a ing outdoors, but he was also con­ partment of Environmental Protec­ resource? And if you said yes, we'd cerned with the economic problems tion to justify state support for lake say, how about $207 If you said no, of the potato industry. For a short monitoring and protection efforts we'd say, how about $57 time, he worked for the president of Initially funded with a $10,000 "It took me about 10 years to fig­ Northern National Bank who ad­ seed grant in 1993, the lake work at­ ure out an appropriate experimen­ vised Kevin to go to Orono and get tracted almost $300,000 in federal tal design and to develop the statis­ an economics degree research funding. Economists in Ver­ tics, but I showed that there really However, the job market for eco­ mont and New Hampshire are ap­ was an anchor on the first bid that nomics graduates in 1978 held little plying the model in those states. you gave them, even when you do appeal for someone who preferred "This is where my work has had not ask the follow-up questions The the outdoors Rather than work be­ the most direct and substantial im­ higher the first bid, the higher you'd hind a desk in a bank, Boyle started pact," says Boyle. "We showed that end up in the final amount that you a carpentry business in the Lincoln/ actions that property owners take on would get " Howland area It didn't last. their property affect their property Boyle conclusively showed that "It was a really tough time, the value So it's no longer just that they the resulting experimental bias af­ late 1970s. The economy was down. want a nice lawn going down to the fected the outcome of such valuation There were gas shortages Just get­ lake. Having the lawn may be nice, studies. There are plenty of sources ting gas for the truck to dri\e to a but if everyone has this type of lawn, for variability in how individuals re­ site was an issue One fall day, I was the resulting eutrophication will de­ spond to survey questions, he says, sitting up on the roof of a house we grade the lake and have a negative but scientists need to minimize the were building It was Indian sum­ impact on property values. sources that are within their control, mer We were eating lunch And ev­ "And there's more pressure for i e., the design of experiments erybody else had gone somewhere, collective action. If everybody is be­ "Controlling for all those effects and I thought to myself, am I going ing good and a few people are cheat­ is tough There are biases that go into to be happy doing this for the rest of ing, you can still mess up the lake people's real behavior The truth is my life7 And the answer was no " So I think that's been useful for lake that we can't control for all of them So Boyle traded his hammer and groups and communities to take ac­ When we're trying to minimize saw for books and a computer He tions to protect their lakes." those effects, we're trying to mimic entered a Ph D program in agricul­ At the core of Boyle's research is the real world, free of additional er­ tural economics at the University of the ability to elicit an accurate and rors introduced by our experiments Wisconsin-Madison and went to reliable measure of public values "The question for us is, what's the work trying to measure the value of from surveys. "People say, well, it's truth7 What if, for example, rather such things as canoeing along the really hard. We can't put values on than allocating moose hunting per­ Wisconsin River and hunting in the some things. But the truth is, people mits by lottery, the department of dairy state's sand hills. The themes put values on things every day. inland fisheries and wildlife sold he developed there have carried When they decide to send money to those permits?" through his work to the present refugees in Kosovo, they've decid­ Over the last decade, the depart­ Today, Boyle uses two general ed not to send money to starving ment has depended on Boyle to tal­ approaches to elicit values’ 1) ask children in Africa or pledge money ly up values associated with fishing, people to makes choices on the ba­ to buy public land in Maine, and so hunting, and wildlife observation. sis of hypothetical scenarios, and 2) on," says Boyle. The results of these cooperative use records of prices already paid by For economists who try to mea­ studies have provided a solid foun­ individuals. The forest land project

20 Maine noted above is an example of makers. It's not the absolute the first case Boyle and Teisl value of a particular resource created a scenario with several that's important, he says, but options and asked people to in­ the change brought about by a dicate the desirability, to them, particular decision. of each option. "People want to know how The water quality work used valuable a resource is. If it's big, the second approach Boyle and they say it's really valuable so his students took the prices peo­ we should do everything and ple had already paid for lake­ anything that comes along to shore properties and statistical­ protect it. From an economic ly teased out the relative impor­ perspective, that's meaning­ tance of various attributes of less. Just because something is those properties. This method big, it doesn't mean that a has the advantage of being Professor Kevin Boyle change is going to be big. For based on actual choices made example, with Edwards Dam by the public "If we keep going the way (the Kennebec River dam that "Actions speak louder than was breached last June), just be­ words/' Boyle notes. we're headed, we'll be no cause fishing is big in this state Nevertheless, he adds, the different from New York or doesn't mean that removing ultimate benefit of both ap­ the dam will have a big incre­ proaches depends on being able New Jersey." mental effect on the value of to apply the results to the pop­ sport fishing in Maine which ulation at large. By drawing m- has abundant alternative fish­ formation from a random sample of see wolves back in the Maine but has ing sites." the public, the first approach makes no intention of ever going into the In fact, Boyle surveyed Maine it possible to reliably make conclu­ north woods and seeing them. But anglers in 1989 and found just that. sions about public values. he is willing to pay something for In a state with about 32,000 miles of However, when information is bringing back wolves. That's where mostly fishable streams, adding an­ drawn only from properties which the big values are for public policy," other 17 miles doesn't make a big have actually changed hands, there he explains. difference. may not be a good match with all In a paper due out later this fall, "The greater benefit is probably properties. In this case, says Boyle, Boyle argues that economists do a in the creation of additional free the results could reflect the most very poor job of measuring such val­ flowing water, which is scarce in desirable properties and overesti­ ues. "I've published some of the Maine's major rivers," he says. mate the actual benefit from any one more substantial work that shows As an environmental economist, attribute, such as water quality. that we're not very good at measur­ Boyle sometimes tackles difficult While Boyle seeks to minimize or ing them. I was beat up as much as subjects with creative accounting. eliminate such problems, he is in­ you could be by the reviewers for For example, to protect Maine's fa­ volved in a controversy with broad­ that paper." mous coastal views from the sprawl er implications. It involves what The issue becomes important in of vacation homes and develop­ economists call "nonuse values." lawsuits and decisions by govern­ ments, he has a recommendation for The idea of such values is that citi­ ment agencies. "Damages are count­ businesses that depend on tourists. zens in one area are willing to pay ed across people not across the re­ Such businesses should tax them­ for goods and services that they may sources," says Boyle. "An economic selves, he says, and use the funds to never actually use. For example, cit­ value exists only if at least one per­ protect those views. izens of the United States may be son is willing to pay something for "If we keep going the way we're willing to pay higher taxes or oil a resource. If no one is willing to pay, headed, we'll be no different from prices to see that Prince William it has no economic value." New York or New Jersey. Why Sound in Alaska is kept clean. Moreover, it's the marginal should people drive to Maine to "Nonuse values arc somebody change, Boyle emphasizes, that is the have it be colder and full of bugs?" who lives in Portland and wants to most significant point for policy he asks.

Fall 1999 21 On the Road With Wynton Marsalis

The scene could be Moscow, Rio de of efficient, dedicated people that Janeiro, London, Los Angeles, Chi­ you never see on stage. UMaine cago, or Portland, Maine. World-re­ graduate Nathan George '93 is one nowned trumpeter and composer of those people Wynton Marsalis takes the stage George's official job title is pro­ with his Lincoln Center Jazz Orches­ duction assistant, and as he de­ tra (LCJO) to a thunderous ovation. scribes it, that could involve just The music is fabulous The evening about anything—including driving goes as smooth as silk When it's Wynton Marsalis from New York to over, the audience stands in appre­ Chicago (he doesn't like to drive ciation. himself so he can work in the car) When the LCJO leaves its home And it's never just routine. When Nathan George in New York City and takes to the George has to think through and road, its goal is to spread the joy and anticipate problems at every venue. ’93 befriended enrichment of American jazz to new For example, last summer the or­ audiences. chestra played a ballet that Marsa­ members of Wynton But in order for that goal to be lis wrote. The orchestra was re­ achieved, hundreds of less glamour­ quired to be on stage at one point in Marsalis’ band after a ous things have to happen behind the performance and in the pit at an­ the scenes Bookings need to be other. George and his colleagues re­ made. Plans laid out for getting from alized there would not be enough concert years ago at city to city. Vehicles have to be rent­ time to move the drums from the pit ed. Plane tickets purchased If it's a to the stage so he arranged to rent a UMaine, he never foreign trip, visas must be applied second set of drums. for Hotel arrangements need to be George says that he is greatly aid­ dreamt it would made. Caterers need to be hired for ed by the fact that he is a musician pre-concert meals. Directions to con­ himself (he was a drummer in someday lead to a job cert halls have to be secured. UMaine's 20th Century Jazz Ensem­ As performance time comes clos­ ble). He knows the instruments and as production assistant er, instruments need to be unpacked he knows the music. and set up for band members. There "Being a musician really helps," for Jazz at Lincoln have to be meetings with concert he says. "I know what drummer hall crews on procedures, security, Herlin Riley needs. I know what the and what kinds of lights are need­ saxes and trumpets need. I draw on Center. ed Microphones have to be installed my experience as a musician so that and sound checks conducted. Then, I can have everything prepared for By Jim Frick there are the even smaller details like them. All I want them to worry making sure each of the musicians about is the music I also know and has a bottle of water and the tune love the compositions For example, Photographs list for the evening. in one Ellington piece I might know by Petra Richterova Yes, it's the music that's impor­ that the trombonist will need a cer­ tant, but for the band to be ready to tain mute and I'll have it right there perform at its best, it takes a group for him."

22 Maine When you see George interacting friend, Elizabeth Nichols '94, struck "He told me that everywhere he with the musicians before and after up a conversation with band mem­ goes, he recommends books and a gig, you can see that a strong bond ber Wess Anderson. They ended up music to young people, but no one has developed. going out with Anderson and other ever reads them or gets back to him. That's not surprising. Nathan band members for a bite to eat. The fact that I had, made an impres­ George is an engaging guy. Big Among those was Marsalis' person­ sion." smile, big laugh, and always genu­ al manager, David Robinson (he's The two men kept in touch. Rob­ inely interested in what people have now the LCJO's sound engineer). inson sent postcards from his trav­ to say. The kind of person who after "I got talking to David, and he els around the world with Marsalis. an hour you feel like you've known found out I was an English major," They occasionally called each other. him all your life. A guy who keeps George remembers. "He asked me When George moved to Philadel­ in touch with friends and acquain- if I had read these different books, phia, Robinson invited him to come tances. and I said no, I hadn't. He gave me to Washington, D.C., where the It was just that engaging quality a list of books to read and I went to Marsalis band was performing. that helped George land a job he the library, took them out, and read "I went and hung out with the might have dreamed about when he them." band for a few days and then drove was teaching school a few years ago George followed up with a letter David back to New York," George in his native Glenburn, Maine. to Robinson discussing the books says. The seed was planted back and thanking him for the advice. Not long after, Robinson called when George was a UMaine student Then, in 1993, when the university and told George they were going to and Marsalis brought his septet to was looking for a new jazz director, be in Philadelphia and that the Jazz Orono for a concert at the Maine he called Robinson to see if he knew at Lincoln Center director of produc­ Center for the Arts. Following the someone who might be interested. tion and touring wanted to meet performance, there was a reception "He remembered me, and had him. which George attended He and a even saved my letter," George says. "I went to meet them and David

Nathan George (left) and Wynton Marsalis preparing for a Jazz at Lincoln Center concert at the U.S. Open Tennis Tourna­ ment. Fall 1999 23 gave me a big hug," he recalls "Then he turned around and said 'Nathan, this is Billy Banks/ We talked for 15 minutes about a job opening and then he offered me the job. I was kind of in shock —all I can remember saying is, TT1 take it/" George got thrust right into the fire at Lincoln Center. The people who worked with him weren't even sure what he was doing there. "Billy (Banks) would just tell them, 'Give it to Nathan, he'll take care of it.' I think they thought I was an intern and I think they were say­ ing, 'Hey, this intern has way too much responsibility.'" As soon as George started with Jazz at Lincoln Center, he had to Wynton Marsalis composing at his apartment. make last-minute arrangements for a foreign tour "He is either playing music, writing music, "I had to go to these foreign con­ sulates and get visas," he recalls. "I playing basketball, or spending time with his didn't know anything. I mean I had to ask directions how to get every­ kids. Wynton is never just doing where. The orchestra was headed for a South American tour and they still nothing. He's always doing something— didn't have all their visas. I scram­ bled all over the city to get them and that's why he gets so much accomplished." actually had to FedEx them to the band in Puerto Rico." together and you kind of depend on sic and the mission of Jazz at Lin­ The good thing about those first each other." coln Center weeks, he says, was that he realized Not long ago, George had one of Another big motivator is his ad­ that his was an important job, and his fondest experiences with the miration of Wynton Marsalis. that despite his limited experience, band. Marsalis was throwing one of George admired Marsalis long be­ he could do it well. his post-LCJO tour parties when the fore joining Jazz at Lincoln Center. It's obvious that George's favor­ orchestra returned to New York And in this case, familiarity has not ite part of the job is getting to be George arrived late because he had bred contempt, only greater admi­ around some of the world's best mu­ so much to do after the tour When ration. sicians and to watch how they ap­ he walked into Marsalis' apartment, "I love Wynton to death," George proach their art This year, that has several band members were around says "He's just a great guy Here he been an even greater treat because the piano playing the blues. Marsa­ is, the greatest jazz artist of his gen­ the orchestra has focused almost lis was singing. Band member Wess eration, and yet he is really very exclusively on the music of Duke Anderson signaled for George to humble. He is the first one to always Ellington (in honor of the 100th an­ join them on drums. say, 'I've got to work on this.' He'll niversary of his birth). Ellington is "Wess sees me come through the look over at me after a hard passage George's favorite composer door and tells me to play. This great and say, 'Man, I've got to shed on Now in his second year, he's got­ musician is inviting me to play! So 1 that— whew, I made that by the skin ten to know the players well. started playing, and there's Wynton of my teeth ' And he respects the "I get along with everyone in the singing the blues. Wow, it made me older players. He doesn't have the band. I love them all," he says. feel good " attitude that he knows it all. He'll "They're always kidding me, espe­ George works incredibly long go ask other players for their opin­ cially about being from Glenburn, hours and has gone months without ions." Maine. You have to be accepted into a day off. But the work doesn't seem George's favorite times are LCJO the group—it's kind of like a team to drain him. It's obvious he loves rehearsals. There he gets to see in sports. You're all out on the road the job and is energized by the mu­ Marsalis' approach to performing

24 Maine and his love and respect for jazz that George most admires is his firsthand. dedication to the Jazz at Lincoln "The band often practices all Center mission—the vision of day," George notes. "Wynton will reaching and teaching more peo­ say T know everyone is tired, but ple about jazz. we have to do this again, we have "He doesn't have to do what to play this Ellington piece with he's doing with Jazz at Lincoln authenticity/ On the other hand, Center," George says. "He could he is never uptight. He is very make more money just making concerned about presentation, albums and touring with his sep­ but his big thing is about every­ tet. But he has this vision of one having a good time. He stays reaching people with the music. loose. Sometimes before a perfor­ That is much more important to mance, we talk about the tune him than the money." list, and he'll say, 'I don't know, After a performance, Marsalis man, what should we play?' I stays to sign autographs and talk mean, he's asking me!" to fans until the last person But make no mistake about it, leaves. George says, Wynton Marsalis is a Nathan George (left) with friend and "After every performance, peo­ mentor David Robinson. Jim Frick photo perfectionist. ple hang around to meet Wynton "He's an extreme competitor," recalls. "Of course being from and the band," he says. "Sometimes George says. "A fierce competitor. Maine, I was pretty experienced at it's ridiculous. In Iowa, there were That's why he's a great player that The road was very slick. Wyn­ over 800 people who stayed. They That's why people come to hear him ton was pretty quiet through the were in the hall, on the stage, every­ play—to hear that fire. They whole thing. But when we got out, where. It took him two hours to wouldn't be there if he had an atti­ he turned to me and said, 'Man, that greet everyone. And all that time, he tude of 'I played well enough.' He's was a hell of a leg you drove. Good was signing autographs, having his always striving to be better." thing I wasn't driving or I would picture taken with people, hugging And according to George, that have killed us all.'" people, and playing the trumpet for means better at everything. But the side of Wynton Marsalis kids There were so many people on "He is either playing music, writ­ the stage that I had trouble break­ ing music, playing basketball, or About Jazz at ing the equipment down. That hap­ spending time with his kids," he pens every night until everyone is says "Wynton is never just doing Lincoln Center gone; there is never an exception. nothing. He's always doing some­ Jazz at Lincoln Center is the He's amazing." thing— that's why he gets so much world's largest not-for-profit arts It's obvious that Nathan George accomplished." organization committed to pro­ has found his niche. He loves his job An example of his industrious- moting the appreciation of jazz and he sees a bright future with Jazz ness is the fact that Marsalis has 12 through performance, educa­ at Lincoln Center. new CDs coming out this year alone. tion, and preservation. With its "This organization is growing so George got a firsthand look at world-renowned resident or­ fast," he says. "And I feel I'm really Marsalis' love of sports and his com­ chestra and a variety of distin­ in on the ground level. I want to help petitive nature when he was on the guished guests, Jazz at Lincoln it grow." cross-country tour. Marsalis Center celebrates and advances And being an educator, George whipped George (a UMaine varsity this distinctly American art form hopes to become more involved in track athlete) three times in a row in by producing a wealth of pro­ Jazz at Lincoln Center's education one-on-one basketball grams for audiences of all ages. programs. He's got lots of ideas for "When I drove Wynton to Chica­ These include performances, lec­ making greater use of computers go, we talked about a lot of things, tures, a film series, workshops and jazz to teach students a wide but he really loved to talk about how and master classes, recordings, range of subjects. he was going to kick my butt in bas­ publications, high school band But right now, he's just happy ketball or football," George says. competitions, and TV and radio with exactly what he's doing. But he also got a rare compliment programs If you would like "Oh yeah!" he exclaims. " I'm so from Marsalis during the trip. more information visit fortunate. There isn't a day that goes "When I was driving through www.jazzatlincolncenter.org. by when I don't count my bless­ Pennsylvania, we hit snow," George ings."

Fall 1999 25 Bringing New Life To Old Glory

Marilyn Amelia Zoidis '71 plans the Star-Spangled Banner Exhibition at the Smithsonian Institution.

ld Glory. It's this coun­ The Smithsonian's Star-Spangled sen for the job, she was finishing her try's most patriotic Banner project goes far beyond the Ph.D in history at Carnegie Mellon symbol—so impres­ preservation of the historic flag. It in Pittsburgh Her focus was in sive flying over Fort involves developing a permanent American cultural history. McHenry during a sea exhibit at the museum—an exhibit "When they were looking for a battleO in the War of 1812, that it in­ which will not only tell the story of curator for this exhibition, they spired Francis Scott Key to write the the flag but will also explore the idea wanted someone who could talk words that eventually became our of what symbols of patriotism mean about broad themes in American national anthem. to the diverse segments of United history and the cultural significance One hundred and eighty six States citizens. In addition, there are of the American flag," Zoidis ex- years later, the sight of Old Glory extensive research and educational plains. "So my academic work can still evoke great emotion in outreach projects. meshed with my seven years of viewers. But time has taken its toll. To find the right curator for such museum experience to prepare me The flag's physical condition is frag­ a major undertaking, the museum for the job " ile. Its stars are not so bright—its conducted a nationwide search. In In fact, Marilyn Zoidis' career stripes tattered and sagging. the end they chose Bangor native seemed to be custom tailored for the The condition of the Star-Span­ and University of Maine graduate, curator's position. gled Banner was becoming a major Marilyn Amelia Zoidis '71, '78G. For many years Zoidis taught concern to the folks at the Smithso­ For Zoidis, the job was nothing history at Bangor High School. Then nian Institution where the flag is short of a dream come true. It com­ a friend called and told her that the housed. As a result, they began one bined all of her interests and drew Bangor Historical Society was look­ of the largest conservation projects on all of her skills, training, and ex­ ing for a new executive director. in history—an $18 million effort that perience. And she would get to work "She said they were looking for will improve Old Glory's condition, in Washington, D.C. What better new energy and new direction and and, more importantly, guarantee its place for a historian and museum that got me interested," Zoidis says. preservation as an important sym­ professional? "It really wasn't that big a leap be­ bol for the American public. When Zoidis heard she was cho­ cause one of the museum's impor-

26 Maine tant missions is education. I thought "I am honored to have been se­ for two years during World War II museum work would allow me to lected for this," she says. "And I'm when it was stored away for securi­ combine my love of history with my very cognizant of the importance of ty reasons. teaching skills and educate in a dif­ the exhibition. My challenge is to do Doing the conservation in public ferent way." justice to this national treasure." view comes with a price. The Smith­ From Bangor, Zoidis eventually The actual work on the preserva­ sonian constructed an entire room moved to the Freeport Historical tion of Old Glory is well under way. for the project at a cost of $1.5 mil­ Society, an organization with a big­ True to the spirit of the family who lion. And because there was no ex­ ger staff, more properties, and more commissioned the making of the isting conservation equipment large complicated issues. flag, and donated it to the Smithso­ enough for the flag's grand size, ev­ Helping her in both positions nian in 1912, the restoration is be­ erything had to be custom made. were past experiences in manage­ ing done in a glass lab, in full view People can now walk up a ramp ment and public relations. of museum visitors. and observe all aspects of the pres­ Then it was on to Carnegie Mel­ "The person who donated the ervation, and take the time to reflect lon where, in addition to her aca­ flag was Georgiana Appleton, the on what the flag means to them. demic work, she had the opportu­ daughter of Lt. Col. George "Most restoration work is done nity to serve as director of research Armistead, who had commissioned behind closed doors," Zoidis ex­ and collections at the Senator John the flag to fly over Fort McHenry," plained. "It certainly would have Heinz regional history museum. In Zoidis explains. "She was passion­ been easier and less expensive to do that position, she worked on a core ate about the flag being shared by the work out of the view of the pub­ exhibition that covered the entire all the American people. The fami­ lic. But that would not have been in history of Pittsburgh. ly understood the cultural signifi­ But even with all that experience, cance of the object. And the muse­ Above: Marilyn Amelia Zoidis in how could anyone really be pre­ um has been very true to that man­ front of the Star-Spangled Banner pared for the responsibility of pre­ date." conservation lab in the Smithsonian serving and presenting such a great Indeed, the flag has been on ex­ Institution. Photograph by Rick American icon? hibit continually since 1907 except Kozak.

Fall 1999 27 the spirit of the donor's wish to ples of how soldiers have embla­ play a quilt comprised entirely of pa­ share this great symbol." zoned their uniforms and gear with triotic symbols made by the women The public even gets the oppor­ patriotic symbols. of a community tunity to do its own hands-on re­ Zoidis says that the way Ameri­ "This was a way for these wom­ search in flag restoration. Using a cans view these patriotic images en to express their patriotism historic reproduction of the flag, vis­ changes with the times. They also through a traditional female skill," itors can conduct fiber tests, burn mean different things to different Zoidis says. tests, and dust analysis to explore groups of Americans. These various objects, together Old Glory's condition. To help her in her research, Zoi­ with text, videos, and photographs When Zoidis observes visitors' dis has been assembling scholars will accompany the exhibition's cen­ reactions to the flag being preserved, from across the country who deal terpiece, Old Glory, in telling a sto­ she knows making the whole project with different societal groups—Af­ ry of what America means—and accessible was the right decision rican-Americans, Native Americans, what it means to be an American. "One day I saw a Zoidis also wants woman staring at the that story to get out to flag intently," she says. millions of school kids "I said to her, 'Pretty im­ throughout the country. pressive, isn't it?' She Toward that end, the told me that the flag had Smithsonian's National very special meaning to Museum of American her and her family. I re­ History has distributed sponded that the flag a manual focusing on had special meaning to the Star-Spangled Ban­ many people. She said, ner project to over no, it had extra special 90,000 teachers. meaning to her because But first things first. she had five brothers A View of the Bontbai dinent of Fort McHenry, 1816 Right now the Smithso­ who fought in World nian's primary focus is War II, including one The Inspiration for the National Anthem on getting the flag pre­ who had been killed on t was known as the War of 1812, but the Star-Span­ served. The museum Iwo Jima. She had tears gled Banner became famous when it flew over Fort has a team of 10 conser- in her eyes." McHenry in Baltimore during a sea battle with the vators working full time Americans' reactions British in September 1814. On the morning of Septem­ in the newly construct­ to patriotic symbols ber 14, British ships were retreating from an attack on ed lab One of the pri­ such as the Star-Span­ theI fort. Francis Scott Key had been detained on one of mary tasks will be to re­ gled Banner will be a those ships. It was about 7 a.m., "by the dawn's early move the linen backing major part of the exhibi­ light," that Key saw the grand flag flying over Fort that was stitched to the tion that Zoidis is put­ McHenry and was inspired to write the poetic and flag in 1914. In addition, ting together Among defiant words that became a rallying cry for Americans scientists from around the many questions she who had fought their first war as a united nation. the world are providing will be exploring are Ironically, Key's poem was set to an English tune expertise, including How do people form called "The Anacreontic Song." The song did not be­ wool chemists from as their ideas of patriotism, come America's official national anthem until 1931 far away as New citizenship, and nation­ Zealand. al identity? And how do The work by the people use the flag and other sym­ Asians, Latinos, women, veterans, team of conservators is being done bols to express their feelings and and others. on a large table, where the flag is ideas? "We may all see these symbols in rolled out just a few feet at a time. One example that will be used in different ways," Zoidis notes. "Peo­ In order to reach portions of the flag the exhibition are skates from Olym­ ple who have been marginalized in in the center of the table, conserva­ pic figure skating champion Brian our society may not see them the tors lie on a mobile work platform Boitano. The skates have an Ameri­ same way as others. They may also that spans the width of the flag can flag on them. use these symbols in different forms Every possible precaution is be­ "Those skates were an expression of expression." ing taken to make sure the flag is not of his patriotism," Zoidis says. For example, the Star-Spangled harmed during the conservation All There are also numerous exam­ Banner Exhibition will have on dis­ light in the lab is ambient, reflecting

28 Maine off the walls and ceiling. No direct light hits the flag because ultravio­ let light is harmful to fabric. Air tem­ perature is kept at 68 degrees and humidity at 50 percent All fumes re­ leased from chemicals used on the flag are immediately removed from the room through an elaborate ex­ haust system. Conservators use a delicate fiberglass screen to prevent any original threads or fibers from being accidently vacuumed up. The ultimate goal of all this work, Zoidis says, is not to make Old Glo­ ry look new, but to make it look bet­ ter. The word used by folks at the Smithsonian is "stabilize " "We don't know what it will look like," Zoidis said in a recent Boston Globe interview. "This is not like re­ storing a historic house in Ports­ mouth, New Hampshire. It won't be a gussied-up flag." The "stabilizing" isn't cheap. In addition to the $1.5 million lab, con­ servation of the flag will cost an ad­ ditional $4 million. The funding for the project is coming primarily from private sources Polo Ralph Lauren made a $10 million contribution for the Smithsonian Photograph flag's conservation through Presi­ dent Clinton's Save America's Trea­ Facts about the Star-Spangled Banner sures campaign, and has pledged an additional $3 million for the cam­ paign's public awareness program. • The flag is 30-by-34 feet, close to three stories high, and A generous contribution was also weighs about 150 pounds. The massive size was typical of made by the Pew Charitable Trusts flags used at American forts in the 19th century. The Star-Spangled Banner Exhi­ • The original size of the flag was 30-by-42 feet. Pieces of bition is scheduled to open in 2002. Zoidis expects her job to continue the flag were removed before it came to the Smithsonian through 2003. By then she hopes to Institution. have completed her Ph.D., and may­ • There are 15 stripes and 15 stars, as mandated by be settle into a position in the aca­ Congress in 1794. Some years later, the number of stripes demic world. But for now she is too busy to think about the future was reduced to 13 to represent the original states, and "Right now I can't see beyond stars were added for each new state. this project," she says. "It's really all • The flag was made in 1813 by Mary Pickersgill of consuming. I don't worry about Philadelphia and her 13-year-old daughter. what's next because all my jobs have come to me when I wasn't even • It was commissioned for Fort McHenry by Lt. Col. looking. George Armistead. The cost of the original flag was "I'm really not sure what I'll do. $405.90. When this is over I might just want • It was donated to the Smithsonian Institution in 1912. to go and lie on a beach in Florida for a while."

Fall 1999 29 Alumni Newsmakers

Andrew Mead '73 to an important precedent for world class companies to do business in head Maine Superior Maine." Court system Microsoft picked EnvisioNet from over 26 competing firms. Microsoft now uses several firms Justice Andrew Mead '73 of Bangor for customer service but would like has been appointed chief justice of to "whittle down" to one site, ac­ the Maine Superior Court by Chief cording to technical support manag­ Justice Daniel Wathen '61 of the er Greg Gilkeson. Maine Supreme Judicial Court. Even before the Microsoft con­ Mead succeeds Justice Margaret tract, EnvisioNet was considered to Kravchuk, also of Bangor, whose be one of the fastest growing com­ two-year term expired in July. panies in the state. The firm was The duties of the chief justice in­ founded by Blease in Augusta in clude administering the 17 Superior 1994. After earning a degree in elec­ Court locations throughout Maine. trical engineering, she left Maine to The Superior Court is the state's work for Digital Equipment Corpo­ Andrew Mead '73 general jurisdiction trial court. It ration She then returned to her processes approximately 15,000 civil home state to launch her Internet and criminal cases each year. quicker and with no sacrifice to at­ technical support idea "The challenge is to do more with tention If I've done that, I'll have Five years after its inception, En­ less," said Mead of his appointment been successful," Mead said (By visioNet has plans to expand to "In an age of limited resources, Dawn Gagnon, courtesy of the 1,000 employees and provide cus­ we need to process cases promptly Bangor Daily News.) tomer support to 20 businesses. and more efficiently while still giv­ Blease said the new contract is ing each matter the attention it de­ expected to create hundreds of new serves," he said. jobs in the Brunswick and Winthrop In making the appointment, Heather Blease '86 offices The firm is also looking at Wathen noted the court's efforts to lands Microsoft additional sites around the state mcrease efficiency through comput­ contract for her "Our goal is to become the flag­ erization and the movement to make ship technical support partner for jury duty less burdensome and more EnvisioNet company Microsoft's Internet access," she enjoyable for those called to serve said. (By Emmet Meara, courtesy of As Mead has been active in both the Bangor Daily News ) areas, Wathen observed, his ap­ When a frustrated Microsoft user I pointment at this time is particularly calls for help during the next few appropriate. years, chances are good that phone Mead is a graduate of the Univer­ will be answered in Maine Zoe Harris '92 enters sity of Maine and New York Law Heather Blease '86, president of Hockey Hall of Fame School. Before his first appointment Brunswick-based EnvisioNet Com­ to the bench in 1990, he was a part­ puter Services, Inc., recently an­ ner in the Bangor law firms of Paine, nounced a new technical support Zoe Harris '92 was recently entered Lynch, and Weatherbee, and contract with software giant Mi­ into the Hockey Hall of Fame in Tor­ Mitchell and Stearns. crosoft. Also on hand for the an­ onto, Ontario, Canada She received Mead also served for 10 years as nouncement was Maine governor the honor along with Cindy Dayley the chief judge of the Penobscot Angus King, who was involved in for being the first females to coach a Tribal Court and is a former presi­ luring Microsoft to Maine. men's collegiate club ice hockey dent of the Maine State Bar Associa­ "We welcome Microsoft to the team. tion. other coast," King said. "Besides cre­ Harris served as Dayley's assis­ "I'm hoping that after two years, ating quality jobs and stimulating tant at the University of Washington I can say cases were processed here the economy, EnvisioNet is setting They are the first females to have

30 Maine ever headed a men's collegiate hock­ medical care for the 71 ey program. The two spearheaded major league umpires. a turnaround of the Washington pro­ That will encompass in­ gram. The team achieved its best dividualized condition­ record in over 10 years, going 11-6 ing programs and nutri­ in the coaches' first year behind the tion as well as addressing bench. The team set records in sev­ health concerns of invid- eral categories. ual umpires. "We were excited to have exceed­ "Right now, the main ed all the goals we set with the team challenge that I have be­ this year," Harris said. "And being fore me is the condition­ entered into the Hall of Fame is just ing factor and dealing a wonderful surprise." with weight control," Le­ Harris was a member of the tendre says. "We're also women's ice hockey club when she going to spend a lot of was at UMaine She served as team time emphasizing vision captain and club president during testing and vision train­ her last two years at the university. ing. Another thing we'll be doing is working with the umpires to develop better protective equip­ Barbara Kelley '76G ment so that they can chosen one of 10 most Barbara Kelley '76G gives some soccer pointers to lean directly over the a student at the Vine Street School. plate and get a better influential educators view of the strike zone. ers] from the outside," Kelley told Right now they have to lean to the Teacher Magazine has named Barbara Teacher Magazine. She also worried inside or the outside of home plate." Kelley '76G, a physical education that her specialty would not be con­ Letendre notes that under the teacher at Bangor's Vine Street sidered worthy of certification, ac­ umpires' new contract, the condi­ School, one of the 10 people who cording to the magazine. (By Gor­ tioning and medical services pro­ shaped American education this don Bonin, courtesy of the Bangor gram will be compulsory. decade Daily News.) "It's a process," he says. "When Kelley, a 25-year teaching vet­ you increase conditioning capacity eran, was chosen for her work in the you increase performance. By affect­ area of teacher certification by the ing performance, you increase the magazine, which is published by the Mark Letendre '78 integrity of Major League Baseball." same organization that publishes moves into new He says he will miss the compe­ Education Week. tition of being part of a baseball team Kelley is the first teacher to chair position for Major and the hands-on aspect of being a the National Board for Professional League Baseball trainer. But Letendre is looking for­ Teaching Standards. The board was ward to the administrative challeng­ established in 1987 as a means to Major League Baseball recently es his new job presents. He will also professionalize teaching in the same named former San Francisco Giants be required to do less traveling and, way professions such as medicine head athletic trainer Mark Letendre because his new office is in Scotts­ and architecture have organizations '78 as director of umpire medical dale, will be able to be home more that set standards and codes, over­ services. regularly with his wife Judy and see credentials, and recognize exper­ Letendre had worked for the Gi­ daughters Alyssa and Shannon. tise. She took over the chair in 1997 ants organization since 1986. Prior Prior to leaving the Giants, Leten­ from North Carolina Governor Jim to that time he spent eight years with dre played an integral part in the Hunt. the New York Yankees. planning, design, and construction "I thought it was just going to be In his new position, Letendre will of Pacific Bell Park's 5,200-square one more reform imposed on [teach- be in charge of providing all the foot Community Health Center.

Fall 1999 31 Alumni Bookshelf

Night on Fire gift for sharp storytelling deftly ment Programs By Diana Deverell '80 blends soap opera, action-adven­ For many, the salmon has been a Avon Books, 1999. ture, and human relationships with living gauge of the health of our riv­ wily plot twists. ers and oceans. The salmon's strong In 1977, when homing instinct helps maintain pop­ Diana Deverell ulations that are locally adapted to went to work physical and environmental condi­ as an educa­ Maine Atlantic Salmon: tions. Wild stocks are valuable pre­ tion advocate A National Treasure cisely because they spawn natural­ with a by Edward T. Baum '67 ly without human intervention Skowhegan Atlantic Salmon Unlimited, Since this stock has the best chance youth services Hermon, ME, 1997. of long-term survival in the natural agency, she environment, many scientists argue If you read the didn't figure Maine Atlantic Salmon that the irreversible loss of wild At­ to meet a teen­ A iNalion.il Treasure headlines, lantic salmon must be prevented ager who, as a spy, would later en­ then you, too, This book is about both the science danger the United States. But 13- might be and the art of restoration efforts. year-old Michael Lance Walker grew struggling to Far from being an isolated inter­ up to steal more than 1,500 classi­ keep up with est of a small group of experts or fied documents from the Navy, pass­ the survival of sport fishermen, Baum shows clear­ ing them to the KGB through his fa­ Maine's Atlan­ ly the connections between the fate ther's spy ring By then, Diana had tic Salmon. Or of this species and the rest of us, earned her MPA from Maine and perhaps think­ whether we're in aquaculture, agri­ embarked on a career in the U S. ing the science is beyond you, you're culture, or forestry, whether we're Foreign Service. When she learned trying to decipher the public policy Native Americans, health-conscious of Walker's perfidy in 1986, she was debate. The future of the anadro­ consumers, state and federal legis­ serving at the American embassy in mous Atlantic Salmon, one of the lators, or hydro-electric and water Poland, and Warsaw was ringed by most perplexing resource issues in control dam owners. This book will Soviet Army garrisons. Because of Maine, has actually been with us for help the reader understand the on­ Walker, Soviet tacticians could an­ over 150 years, and this book, abun­ going environmental controversies. ticipate every move the U S. would dantly illustrated with colorful make if the Cold War turned hot It maps, charts, historical and scientific was a frightening situation and, she photographs, may be what you're says, "her interest in treason dates looking for to make sense of it Where Duty Calls: back to Michael." Just as new fish commissioners in The Story of Sarah Emma Edmonds, Her new thriller, Night on Fire, the late 1860s monitored, experi­ Soldier and Spy in the Union A'rmy features counterterrorist expert Ca­ mented, and developed regulations, by Marilyn Weymouth Seguin '73. sey Collins on assignment in Den­ today's scientists, anglers, and pub­ "I am natural­ mark, trying to leave for Bangor to lic agencies are still discovering in­ WHERE DUTY CALLS The Story of ly fond of ad­ help investigate a major airplane formation about Salmon salar, about Sarah Emma Edmonds crash. However, when a dead biker its genetics, life stages, migration SUdkr ht tbr Uaka Anr, venture, a little is found in her Copenhagen apart­ routes, and habitat needs. For the ambitious and ment, she's detained by local police last 30 years, Ed Baum '67 has been a good deal ro­ and is soon the center of a complex in the midst of Maine's research and mantic, and international conspiracy involving restoration efforts. Baum, a Rumford this together Stinger missiles, drugs, and murder. native with a B.S in wildlife man­ with my devo­ MARILYN SEGUIN Speeding through the country­ agement, has worked for Maine's tion to the Fed­ side, the reader quickly learns about Atlantic Sea-Run and Salmon Com­ eral cause... rockerkrig, the European biker gang missions for the last 30 years, and made me forget wars, as Casey tries to solve the currently serves as senior fisheries the unpleasant items, and not only murders, avoid her own, and re­ scientist and coordinator of Atlan­ endure, but really enjoy the priva­ trieve stolen weapons. Deverell's tic Salmon Restoration and Manage­ tions connected with my perilous

32 Maine Great Gift Idea!

positions. Perhaps a spirit of adven­ ture was important—but patriotism A pictorial was the grand secret of my success." So reads Sarah Emma Edmonds' history memoirs, a young woman from Canada who served in the Civil War. of the Historians estimate that at least 400 women enlisted and fought on both University sides during the War Between the States. Their reasons for enlisting of Maine ranged from youthful restlessness to patriotism to wanting stay with hus­ at Orono. bands or brothers. Most of these women disguised themselves as men, and some were soon discov­ '/L C ilty rif (Jrrirt ered and discharged Many were not discovered until they were treated for wounds, or By UMaine Alumni Bob Briggs '80 and Debra Wright '86. until they delivered babies A few women fought in the war Available by calling toll free: and their identity was never discov­ K 877-582-5541 ered Where Duty Calls is historical fiction, based on the diary of Ed­ monds, whose identity was appar­ ently not revealed until many years after the war ended. Emma's expe­ Come Visit the BODWELL rience as "Frank Thompson" is es­ Alumni Association's pecially interesting because dur­ ing her enlistment she served as a New Improved MOTORS Union spy, causing her to adopt Web Site multiple identities in addition to her Ford - Lincoln - Mercury - male disguise. Chrysler - Plymouth - Dodge Marilyn Seguin's interest in the • Alumni events Civil War was sparked by the dis­ • MAINE magazine and 169 Pleasant Street covery of Emma's memoirs in the Mainely People on-line Brunswick, ME 04011 Kent State University Library. For • Connections to UMaine research for this book, she visited 207-729-3375 many of the battlefields where cultural activities and Emma fought. Marilyn holds de­ sports calendars Bath grees in English and communication • Alumni bulletin boards 207-443-5533 from UMaine and the University of • Alumni House info Akron, and teaches in the English Department at Kent State. (Where • Class reunion news Duty Calls was published by Bran­ don Publishing Company, 1999.) Check it out! Launch date December 1

For information on how you can www.mainealumni.org purchase books that appear in Good Luck Black Bears! Alumni Bookshelf, call 207-581-1137. Bill Bodwell ’50

Fall 1999 33 Final Thoughts On Passion and Compassion One of America’s top sports broadcasters has some words of wisdom for UMaine’s freshman class: Find what it is you love to do, keep an open mind, and treat people with understanding and civility.

By Gary Thorne '70

assion and compas­ that burns brighter and harder sion. These are the as the relationship gets deep­ two terms that, for er It is not to be taken lightly, the most part, have and it is damned hard to find. guided my life in about every­ Along with that type of pas­ Pthing I've done. Whether in sion comes the passion about my personal life or my profes­ what you will ultimately do sional life, I always seem to with your life on a daily basis come back to those two things Unfortunately, I suspect it in making decisions about isn't uncommon for some in what it is I'll do, and in how I this room to get up to do things will react and relate to other on a daily basis because that's what they do, it's what they I think passion is about have to do to live, but there how you are going to be for isn't much passion in it yourself and compassion is Folks—including those of you about who you are going to be who may be only 18, 19, 20 for others, from immediate years old—I assure you, the family to those you will come Monty Rand photo time from there to here goes in contact with as acquaintan­ just like that. Don't let it go by ces Somehow, these two ele­ without finding yourself a pas­ ments—passion and compassion— your life. Hopefully, a better foun­ sion. In order to do that here at the seem to be tied to a thing called dation, a more solid foundation, college level, you've got to open up, truth: the endless search in our lives than you have today. open your mind—you've got to be for some fundamental truths that And hand-in-hand with building receptive. You've got to be willing guide us and give meaning to what that foundation is finding your pas­ to hear, and listen, and debate and we do and how we live sion. Passion, to me, is the fuel that discuss, because otherwise you'll College is the opportunity for keeps you going. It's what you run never find your passion. Because— you to search, that's what this is all on every day of your life if you are for most of you at this point—you about. Lookmg for you And I would lucky enough to find it. It's what don't know what your passion is. suggest to you that by the time you gets you up in the morning happily, I didn't know what it was. It's a leave here, you are going to be sur­ what takes you out the door happi­ search It's part of your search. And prised by what you've found. ly, and what you do during the day in order to find you, in order to find In this search for you, if you are that brings you a sense of self-satis­ that passion, you've got to have an fortunate enough, when you come faction and reward. It comes in a lot open heart, and you've got to have up and receive your UMaine degree of forms, not the least of which is the an open mind Do that Do that from four years from now, you will have sexual passion. I mean, the real sex­ day one. Work at it. Listen to the formed a foundation upon which ual passion The sharing with some­ things that you may not agree with you are going to build the rest of one else in your life that has a fire Listen to the things you really don't

34 Maine like. Listen to the people you prob­ generally fit it. He taught me about Old Town and in Maine, that I ably don't respect or like at this political history, which I had no would walk in an anti-war demon­ point, listen to what they're saying knowledge of and no interest in, un­ stration march. I did. Win Libby al­ and why they're saying it, and then til I got here. Through him, I discov­ lowed the classes to stop. He make your decisions on what you ered how people around the world opened up the president's home, he believe or don't believe. develop political systems and why. brought those of us who were stu­ If you're fortunate, and you're And when they served, and when dent leaders into his house, and we open to seeing and hearing, you will they did not. It has been one of my talked. And he listened. And we lis­ be moved by people you don't even intellectual passions all of my life. I tened. And there were no fires, and know yet. I thought about this over read political history all the time, there was no violence, and there was the four years I was here at Orono just for fun. Professor Dow is the no civil disruption. Regular classes I've thought about some of the reason. turned into discussions about the things that moved me and some of If you're lucky, you will have Vietnam War. And he was the impe­ the people who people who will re­ tus for it. Throughout all of it, while moved me, and I affirm some of the the community blasted him for let­ want to relate that "Passion, to convictions you ting the classes stop, while radical because I hope it come here with, and student leaders blasted him for not will help you to me, is the fuel reaffirm them on a doing enough, Win Libby walked seize opportunity. solid basis. For me, softly, listened, acted with dignity If you're fortu­ that keeps his name was Bud and leadership, and pulled this uni­ nate, you'll have a Schoenberger. He versity through a very difficult and lot of change of you going. It's taught political sci­ dangerous time. opinions. There what you run ence here and he There were students who want­ was an English was heavily in­ ed to burn this campus down—and teacher—a graduate on every day volved in politics in they were serious. It didn't happen. student, I believe— the community and If you're fortunate, and if you're who taught writing of your life if the state. I learned looking, you're going to find some­ freshman year. I through Bud the re­ one like Win Libby who you won't came out of Old you are lucky alities of politics, forget 30, 40, 50 years from now. Town High School how they worked If you're fortunate and if you're as a great patriot, a enough to on the local, county, listening, you're also going to find flag-waving sup­ and state levels. He somebody who is going to open porter of the Viet­ find it." taught it with pas­ doors. His name was Stan Devino, nam War, believing sion, because he be­ and he was dean of the college of that it was the right thing and that lieved in it. He conveyed that pas­ business administration when I was we should be there. He challenged sion to his students. All my interest there. Before I met him, I had never us as students by requiring us to and my involvement in politics over heard of arbitration or mediation. write a converse position of the the years can be traced back to Bud Dean Devino was one of the early thing that we most passionately felt Schoenberger's work here as a state and national arbitrator media­ about at that moment in time. He teacher. tors in this country. And we talked forced us to take a look at the other If you are lucky, if you're open, if about it. If you could stand all of the side of the coin, in this case the Viet­ you're watching and listening, you smoke in his office—he was a chain­ nam War. He profoundly affected will find in your time here at the smoker—you could go and sit and my life. university examples of leadership talk for hours. And he would do so If you are fortunate, you will find and dignity that you will remember with anyone who wanted to learn. a new fire while you're here. For me, and use as a guide in your own life. And I did. It led me not only on to his name was Arthur Dow, profes­ For me it was the UMaine president. law school, but into labor law with sor, head of the political science de­ His name was Win Libby. In 1968, a graduate degree—a doctorate of partment here at Orono. Professor we shut the university down—we law from Georgetown. I was head Dow is viewed by many as a cur­ being the students—over the Viet­ of the labor relations board here in mudgeon, a term I now highly re­ nam War. I never dreamed in my Maine. I have served as a state and spect and wish to be called, and he life, from my background here in labor mediator on both the Maine

Fall 1999 35 Final Thoughts

and national levels. Why? Because major cities, we have gotten so out an option. That kind of compassion a door was open to me that I didn't of touch with one another, we are so for others is really important-and even know was there while I was at cruel and crass and violent, so ill- not just for the people to whom you the university. If you're lucky, and mannered in how we deal with the show it, but for your own develop­ if you're looking, you're going to people around us, that it is very sad. ment and happiness in life find one of those special people who That is about compassion For those who are looking for open doors for you. We need compassion—under­ sports stories, I apologize; that's not Most important, you're going to standing and realizing that others why I was asked to come here and, find someone who will give you the have passions, desires, and dreams to tell you the truth, I don't find passion to wonder, who will give too. Some may come in conflict— sports to be one of my passions you the joy of learning. I cannot that's what dealing with other peo­ My personal passion happens to hope for anything more for you than ple is about: finding a way so that be with the woman who's the sig­ that. If you can come out of here both of you can do the things you nificant other in my life with a joy to learn, with a passion to need to do that will make your life And in my work, my passion is learn, you will have the richest of rich. broadcasting—not sports. I started lives. As you probably already I've become increasingly con­ at WABI in Bangor when I was 16 know—and if not, the people here cerned that we are losing that mid­ years old, and what I found was a will assure you of it over the time— dle ground. I don't understand chance to be a kind of an artist, a your four years here is only a scratch where compassion went—why chance to create. It was this big won­ on the surface when it comes to we've lost so much of it derful pad in front of me, waiting to learning. It doesn't stop. Life is not When I started practicing law, I be filled with some type of entertain­ a mountain where you climb and had these high hopes—I was going ment, some type of artistry, and it reach an apex and it ends. Not in the to have a big office and be highly was empty every day I came to intellectual sense. successful and make some money work. It's still empty every time I The truth is that the more you I went to work for Gene Beaulieu. go to work Every game I do, some­ learn, the more you know how much Gene is now a federal magistrate one's set up another easel, some­ you don't know. But the joy of learn­ who is retiring this coming year. But one's put out another blank pad, and ing, especially in areas you love, will we had an office in Old Town with said, "We're going to pay you to fill fire your life on a daily basis and will Stanley Needham, and I got there this up " help to make you happy. and I'm looking around, and I said, I'm going to keep letting them You are not here to learn to satis­ "Gene, we have to buy this, we have pay me, but what they don't know fy somebody else—I think that's re­ to buy that, we need to get new is that I'd do it for free. That's what ally important. You come here as a books and a new computer." And I love. That's what broadcasting is freshman. Others already have ex­ then, all of a sudden, someone to me—it's the empty pad to be pectations for you—high ones, good comes in with two chickens and a filled. When I go on the air it hap­ ones, for every solid reason, partic­ box of vegetables I said to Gene, pens to be in sports, but I did it as a ularly your parents and your fami­ "What the hell is this7 We're trying disc jockey, I did it at an all-news sta­ ly. But you are the one who's got to to run a law practice here " Gene tion, I've done it in classical music make the decisions on where you're said, "That's our pay." And I was And I'm happy—really happy. going, what you're going to do, and dumbfounded. I said, "How are we There isn't anything else I would what's going to make you happy. supposed to live accepting chickens want to do more in life than to go to You're the one who's got to find the and vegetables?" Gene looked at me work, paint the picture, come home, passion. and said, "That's all they've got." get up the next day, and get to do it So, in the process of learning That was a big, big lesson. I again I'm very fortunate to have here, and studying, do it for you. If stayed there and practiced law— found that. And what I hope for you you do that, then it will be for them happily I took the chickens, took the is that you will find your passion— as well, because if they really care vegetables, and was glad to have your blank pad and then fill it up, about you, what they want is for you done it. He taught me compassion, every day, for the rest of your lives. to be happy. because that's what he had The al­ It's a wonderful way to live Now about compassion God, do ternative was to say to those people, we need it in this country. Traveling Gary Thorne is a broadcaster for "We can't help you. You can't pay ESPN. He presented this speech at as I do 52 weeks a year, largely in us, we can't do it." No, that wasn't UMaine's 1999 Convocation ceremony.

36 Maine The University of MAINE ALUMNI Association takes our Black Bear pride to...

Join family, friends and Maine Alumni for a fabulous vacation. Discover the magic!

April 17 • April 24, 2000

Price includes: Round trip air from Portland, Maine* Ground transportation from airport and hotel 7 nights accommodations 6 day Park Hopper Pass * Overnight accommodations available at additional cost. Alternative departure cities subject to availablility. Space is limited. Prices will vary with party size $50 OFF each package for Sign up today! The University of Maine Alumni Association members. For information and reservations Call the University of Maine Alumni Association 1-800-934-ALUM or 1-207-581-ALUM

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If cancellations are received 60 days prior to departure your full deposit minus a $25 service fee will be refunded.

Travel arrangements are provided by: Main 1 Travel, Bangor, Maine VISA

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