Photo courtesy of Kadence Foster.

@Unity_CommonsUnity Commons @unitycommons

Unity CommonsA Student Publication

Summer 2019

Alumni Special Edition

Our TeamMichelle Neal, Editor in Chief

Dr. James Spartz, Project Advisor

Amy Dell, Co-Editor in Chief, Reporter

Benjamin Hoeckel, Submissions and Social Media Coordinator, Reporter

Brandon Hoeckel, Web Master, Editor, Reporter

Cody Pajic, Editor, Reporter

Cyndle Turcotte, Photographer

Kadence Foster, Editor, Reporter

Lyndsay Sharrock, Editor, Reporter

Mark Bernick, Photographer

Percival Ulsamer, Photographer

Raina Sciocchetti, Editor, Reporter

Table of Contents

Dear Unity Community,

Thank you for choosing to read the Unity Commons Alumni Special Edition! This season, our team decided to dip our toes into new ter-ritory. Within these pages, you’ll find several interviews with some of Unity’s best graduates: a zookeeper, a bat scientist, a dog law en-forcement warden, and more. Glean helpful hints from one of Unity’s most popular adventure therapy professors, and explore the unique history of Delta C: the unofficial fraternity you’ve never heard of. Truly, Unity’s graduates are as curious as they are intelligent, and as quirky as they are compassionate.

I will also note that this is my final letter as Editor in Chief of Unity Commons. I entered this role at the beginning of my sophomore year in 2017, and since then I have grown to admire this publication and its team immensely. I am so proud of our accomplishments, and I am eager to watch the Commons flourish under the leadership of Amy Dell, our up-and-coming Editor in Chief. Amy is a sophomore in Unity’s environmental writing and media studies program, and she has been a member of Unity Commons for two semesters.

Thank you, Unity Community, for supporting local (student-led) jour-nalism! Please continue to follow us on our social media accounts, and access more content on our website, commons.unity.edu.

Sincerely,Michelle NealEditor in Chief

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Alumni Spotlight: Lisa CronkBy Amy Dell

Unity Commons Master Calendar

Delta C: Coping with the Crazy, One Prank at a TimeBy Kadence Foster

Major Success: A Brief Guide to Navigating Adventure Therapy Post-GraduationBy Benjamin Hoeckel

Alumni Submissions

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Letter from the Editor

Alumni Spotlight: Jeff McCabeBy Amy Dell

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Alumni Spotlight: Chris McGovern By Brandon Hoeckel

Chris McGovern graduated from Unity College in 2017 with a degree in Captive Wildlife Care and Education. After grad-uating, he moved his way through several positions at the Oklahoma City Zoo. He is now a zookeeper in the hoofstock department of the zoo working with giraffes and okapi. In an interview, which took place in the library basement, Chris dis-cussed his time since he graduated in 2017.

The following interview with Chris McGovern has been edited for length and clarity. Brandon (B): What was the road to your current position at Oklahoma City Zoo? McGovern (M): Right after graduating, I was a seasonal zoo-keeper at friendly park zoo in the children’s zoo. That ended in September. I was able to get a full-time position at Oklahoma City Zoo starting a week after that. But I was applying for jobs across the country all summer long. B: Would you say Unity prepared you for your current position? Did you feel like you were prepared to be a zookeeper when you left school? M: The internships helped a lot! That helped me gain a net-work so I knew people in the field. Here at Unity, I think I got my job based on my experiences here. So, they talked a lot about hoof trim work with their goats in the children’s zoo, and

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Alumni SpotlightsI trimmed hooves here at the barn. That helped me get the job because I knew how to submit a training plan and how to actually do the hoof trims. B: What were you not prepared for when you got there? What did Unity not prepare you for? M: Good question. I would say the rejection hurt the most. I applied to eighty-four different positions. B: Wow. M: I would say for a person in Captive, I had seven years of vol-unteer work at an AZA-accredited zoo, I did two internships, I worked at the barn and several other barns around Unity, and I still had to apply to eighty-four different positions. So, I wasn’t prepared to look so hard for a job. I had experience but I thought it would be a little easier, like I only had to apply to like thirty jobs instead of eighty-four. But you have to be willing to go anywhere in this field. I didn’t expect to go to Oklahoma, but Oklahoma is where I am at. B: Do you have any regrets from your time here? M: There are some classes that I wish I had taken. The den-drology class would have been really helpful for being in hoof-stock because a lot of my animals are browsers. And I suck at identifying trees. So, dendrology would have been a good class to take. B: That’s not something I would have thought of. Are there any volunteer, seasonal, or full-time positions available to students at your workplace? M: Yeah, we have internships that just ended, the deadline [for applying] just passed, but we have summer internships, win-ter internships, fall, spring... So, we have other opportunities for people to intern. Oklahoma City—a lot of people don’t like to apply there. My department only got three applicants and we are accepting two, so your chances of getting an internship are good. We have many different departments: great apes, el-ephants, pachyderms, birds, herps, so there are a lot of differ-ent areas that you can work in. We do have part-time positions, right now I don’t think there are any open, but people usually want full time so those could open up. And we are constantly building so if we build an area where we need to hire more keepers, we could hire you too. Positions will open up!

Chris McGovern: 2017 Graduate

Chris McGovern holds one of Oklahoma City Zoo's critters.

A: What would you say is your favorite part of your job right now?

C: I think the freedom that I have. I don’t have to go and write tickets all day, I can go and educate. I don’t actually have an office. I work from home, and I get dispatched through my cell phone. So I’m kind of on my own; I have no one standing over me. And I absolutely love having that freedom over what courses of action to take.

A: Coming to Unity, did you expect to find yourself in this kind of career? Is this why you came to Unity?

C: Yeah, actually. I had really wanted to be a canine handler, but I’m really interested in animal stuff. Coming to Unity was kind of a great benefit of getting all my police training to be-come a canine handler, but also getting that additional wildlife training that I was really interested in. Right now, my job is more related to domesticated animals, but I still have dogs at large chasing deer, and I’m really able to explain to people why that’s a big deal.

A: What was your transition like from graduating to where you are now? Were there any influential opportunities that made it easier for you to get where you are?

C: I would definitely say keeping in touch with my professor, Tim Peabody. He had called me about some jobs that were pop-ping up, and I talked to him about if things were good options, and [I learned] about the people in the area that he knew and different opportunities that way. It was helpful knowing peo-ple, and I was able to get a good recommendation.

Lisa Cronk graduated from Unity College in 2014 with a degree in Conservation Law Enforcement. She worked as an Animal Control Officer in Maine before landing her current position as a Dog Law Enforcement Warden in Pennsylvania. In her posi-tion, Cronk enforces all of the dog-related state laws in Berks County, PA.

The following interview with Lisa Cronk has been edited for length and clarity.

Amy (A): What is your current position and how did Unity pre-pare you for that position?

Cronk (C): So, right now, I am working for the State of Penn-sylvania. I am a Dog Law Enforcement Warden. I basically en-force all of the state dog laws. I can cover the entire state, but right now I’m stationed to an entire county: Berks County in Pennsylvania. I think that Unity greatly helped me get that job, just because of the wildlife identification courses that I had, and different animal handling classes that I was able to have. Along with that, I was a Conservation Law Enforcement ma-jor, so I had that extra added bonus of the law enforcement: writing search warrants and preparing witness statements and stuff like that, so that definitely helped me get that job, which then in turn helped me get this one.

A: Would you say that there’s anything that Unity didn’t prepare you for?

C: I don’t think so. Unity did a really great job. I remember sitting in class when I was a freshman, we had the wardens come up, and one of the wardens kinda detailed how if there’s a thirteen-year-old kid who’s fishing, would you write him a ticket or give him a warning? And I was like, “Oh, yeah, write him a ticket because he broke the law.” And [the warden] was kind of like, “Yes, but you have to understand that sometimes it’s not exactly black-and-white. It would help more if you kind of related to them and just educated them.” And I think that Unity did a fantastic job teaching me to work with people, talk with them, educate them, educate why the laws are there and why we’re enforcing stuff like this. And I’m a huge proponent of warning first, ticketing second, and that helped me greatly in Maine, as well as this job down here. I think that I get a lot more respect and overall compliance out of people.

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Lisa Cronk: 2014 Graduate

Lisa Cronk poses with her co-workers.

A: Do you think Unity prepared you for your current position?

M: I think that Unity gave me a lot of skills that were helpful. I think the culture of Unity was such, and my fellow students were such, that it made me see things through different lenses and perspectives. It also gave me the ability to talk to different groups of people, and that’s been extremely helpful—I’m com-fortable in many situations. I think Unity prepared me for a fast-paced, ever-changing working environment. I think that some classes I took at Unity helped me embrace my ability to be a multi-tasker or a super-tasker, you could say.

A: Do you know of any positions that might be open to Unity students in your area?

M: There’s always an opportunity for students or recently graduated students to be involved in a political campaign. I think that’s something that there’s a great deal of opportunity and experience for recent grads or current students to get in-volved in—issue campaigns can be beneficial. It’s pretty hum-bling and it’s pretty hard work to be out there on those types of campaigns, but I think the experience is pretty important and it gives people a different perspective.

A: Do you think there was a key factor in you finding a job you love after college?

M: I think I had some pretty strong relationship with some pretty key staff. Folks at Unity who helped me realize who I was, folks who helped steer me in a direction. But overall, I think I picked a path where I thought that I would be a park manager or work at some environmental ed center or do something like that, but I think that my time being involved in student government, seeing some challenging things on cam-pus at different times, sort of helped me shape who I was, and how I wanted my greater community to act and behave, and sort of how I saw the future.

A: Is there anything else that you would want Unity students or the Unity community to know?

M: I would probably just say that as alumni, I think it’s im-portant that we all figure out a way to engage in Unity going forward. I think that those of us who graduated, there’s defi-nitely a way that we can give back and embrace the institution that Unity has become. I challenge my other alumni to that— to figure out a way to engage and to charge forwards to figure out the future and be a part of Unity’s future.

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Jeff McCabe graduated from Unity College in 2000 with a de-gree in Environmental Education. He served as a Maine State Representative for eight years, serving as the Majority Leader for two years, and now works at the Maine State Employees Association as the Director of Politics and Legislation. He also works seasonally as a guide at North Country Rivers. The following interview with Jeff McCabe has been edited for length and clarity.

Amy (A): How did you end up at your current job?

McCabe (M): There was an afternoon one spring where I was walking past the parking lot behind [Wyman Commons] and there was a group of other Unity students getting on a van, and I asked one of them where they were going, and they said that they were going to the State House. I said, “Oh, wow, I’ve never been to the State House in Maine.” So I jumped on the van and I ended up going down for a Lobby Stay. I’ve always been inter-ested in politics and policy, and after Unity I’ve had a number of positions with natural resources and conservation work. I was a State Rep. representing Skowhegan for eight years, at which time I served in a variety of leadership positions. And I kind of became more and more interested in how things work in the State House and with shaping policy.

Jeff McCabe: 2000 Graduate

Jeff McCabe enjoys some time outdoors on his cross- country skis.

Discover more events and details at our website: commons.unity.edu05

April and May 2019Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

April 28Anah Shrine Circus - 11 am @ Cross Insurance Center Women's Empowerment Yoga and Meditation Circle - 4 pm @ Ananda Yoga & Wellness BelfastAmatuer Cat Show - 5 pm @ Loyal Biscuit Co.

29Meditation Monday - 7 pm @ Wellness CenterFun with Ferrets - 11 am @ Well-ness Center3D Printing Workshop - 5:30 pm @ Common Street ArtsEquine Management Skills Class - 6 pm @ Wild Ivy Farm, Inc.

30SASSM Drop-in Hours - 10:30 to 12 pm @ Wellness CenterCardio Boxing - 11 am @ Tozier Gym Painting and Pastries w/ Soliana - 6 pm @ TerraHausPhoneix Series w/ Nichole Clarke - 6 pm @ CLC

May 1Messy Art! - 10:30 am @ Maine Discovery MuseumFun with Ferrets - 2:30 pm @ Well-ness CenterWriting Lab - 6 pm @ CLCEconomic Development Committee - 6:30 pm @ Unity Town Office

2Cardio Boxing - 11 am @ Tozier GymBoard Games w/ Steve - 6 pm @ TerraHauseCome Boating! in Belfast - 5 pm @ OACSelectmen's Meeting - 6:30 pm @ Unity Town Office

3Last Day of Classes for Unity Col-lege StudentsYoga - 12 pm @ Tozier GymMaine College Health Association Annual Conference - 7:30 am @ Unity CollegeBiMonthly Knitting Circle - 4 pm @ St Margaret's Belfast

4American Canoe Association Cours-es - 8 am @ Unity CollegeYard Sale - 9 am @ Thorndike Mill & Meeting PlaceFree Comic Book Day - 10 am @ Black Cape Comics Beatles for Sale - 7 pm @ UCCA

5Sawn and Enameled Leaf Necklace Workshop - 11 am @ Maine Jewelry & Art BangorPaint Nite - 2 pm @ Mammies Country KitchenSpring Concert - 6 pm @ UCCA

6Final Exams Period for Unity Col-lege Students Unity College Student Conference @ Tozier Gym

7Final Exams Period2019 First Responder PTSI Sympo-sium - 3 pm @ Emcc Rangeley HallWaterville Governor's Paint, Sip & Eat - 5:30 pm @ Governor's Restaurant

8Final Exams Period Unity Community Support Meeting - 5 pm @ Unity Community CenterFamily Game Night - 6 pm @ The Briar Patch Bangor"Office Space" Showing - 7:15 pm @ Railroad Square Cinema

9World Climate Negotiations - 5 pm @ UMaine Hutchinson CenterUkuleles at the Library! - 5:30 pm @ Waterville Public LibraryPark and Rec Meeting - 6:30 pm @ Unity Town Office

10Greater Bangor Bark for Life - 4 pm @ Bass Park Waldo County Republicans Spring Fling - 5 pm @ Bayview Point Event Center"The Goonies!" Showing - 9:30 pm @ Railroad Square Cinema

11May Commencement @ Tozier GymWilderness First Aid Afloat - 9 am @ North Star Adventures Spirit Doll Workshop - 10 am @ Waterfall ArtsMicrochipping Clinic - 10 am @ Loyal Biscuit Co.

12Mother's Day LNT Master Education Course Be-gins @ White MountainsMother's Day at the Gardens - 9 am @ Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

13Final Grades to RegistrarWaterville Trans & Allies Support Group - 6 pm @ Pleasant Street United Methodist Church

14Waterville Greendrinks - 5 pm @ The Proper Pig Waterville

15Unity Community Support Meeting - 5 pm @ Unity Community Center

16Classes Begin for May SemesterBangor Gem Event of the Year - 10 am @ Day's Jewelers2019 Season Opening - 6 pm @ Bangor Muscle CarSelectmen's Meeting - 6:30 pm @ Unity Town Office

172019 Loggers Expo - 9 am @ Cross Insurance CenterAll Roads Music Festival - 7 pm @ BelfastBiMonthly Knitting Circle - 4 pm @ St Margaret's Belfast

18Wings and Water - 9 am @ North Star AdventuresUnity Scenic Train Ride - 11 am @ Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad2019 Loggers Expo - 9 am @ Cross Insurance Center

19Shearing Day - 7:30 am @ North-ern Solstice Alpaca FarmWomen's Outdoor Skill Workshop - 9 am @ North Star Adventures Bespoke Bonbon Making Class - 2 pm @ Christopher Hastings Con-fections

20 21PFLAG Support Group - 6 pm @ Health Equity Alliance

22Senior Expo - 9:30 am @ Husson University Business Expo 2019 After Hours - 4:30 @ Cross Insurance Center

23Youth Day of Action - 11:30 @ Maine State HouseUkulele Paint Night - 6:30 pm - Canaun Mexican Restaurant

24Planning Board Meeting - 7 pm @ Unity Town Office

25Unity Scenic Train Ride - 11 am & 1:30 pm @ Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad

06

Photo courtesy of Cyndle Turcotte.

April and May 2019Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

April 28Anah Shrine Circus - 11 am @ Cross Insurance Center Women's Empowerment Yoga and Meditation Circle - 4 pm @ Ananda Yoga & Wellness BelfastAmatuer Cat Show - 5 pm @ Loyal Biscuit Co.

29Meditation Monday - 7 pm @ Wellness CenterFun with Ferrets - 11 am @ Well-ness Center3D Printing Workshop - 5:30 pm @ Common Street ArtsEquine Management Skills Class - 6 pm @ Wild Ivy Farm, Inc.

30SASSM Drop-in Hours - 10:30 to 12 pm @ Wellness CenterCardio Boxing - 11 am @ Tozier Gym Painting and Pastries w/ Soliana - 6 pm @ TerraHausPhoneix Series w/ Nichole Clarke - 6 pm @ CLC

May 1Messy Art! - 10:30 am @ Maine Discovery MuseumFun with Ferrets - 2:30 pm @ Well-ness CenterWriting Lab - 6 pm @ CLCEconomic Development Committee - 6:30 pm @ Unity Town Office

2Cardio Boxing - 11 am @ Tozier GymBoard Games w/ Steve - 6 pm @ TerraHauseCome Boating! in Belfast - 5 pm @ OACSelectmen's Meeting - 6:30 pm @ Unity Town Office

3Last Day of Classes for Unity Col-lege StudentsYoga - 12 pm @ Tozier GymMaine College Health Association Annual Conference - 7:30 am @ Unity CollegeBiMonthly Knitting Circle - 4 pm @ St Margaret's Belfast

4American Canoe Association Cours-es - 8 am @ Unity CollegeYard Sale - 9 am @ Thorndike Mill & Meeting PlaceFree Comic Book Day - 10 am @ Black Cape Comics Beatles for Sale - 7 pm @ UCCA

5Sawn and Enameled Leaf Necklace Workshop - 11 am @ Maine Jewelry & Art BangorPaint Nite - 2 pm @ Mammies Country KitchenSpring Concert - 6 pm @ UCCA

6Final Exams Period for Unity Col-lege Students Unity College Student Conference @ Tozier Gym

7Final Exams Period2019 First Responder PTSI Sympo-sium - 3 pm @ Emcc Rangeley HallWaterville Governor's Paint, Sip & Eat - 5:30 pm @ Governor's Restaurant

8Final Exams Period Unity Community Support Meeting - 5 pm @ Unity Community CenterFamily Game Night - 6 pm @ The Briar Patch Bangor"Office Space" Showing - 7:15 pm @ Railroad Square Cinema

9World Climate Negotiations - 5 pm @ UMaine Hutchinson CenterUkuleles at the Library! - 5:30 pm @ Waterville Public LibraryPark and Rec Meeting - 6:30 pm @ Unity Town Office

10Greater Bangor Bark for Life - 4 pm @ Bass Park Waldo County Republicans Spring Fling - 5 pm @ Bayview Point Event Center"The Goonies!" Showing - 9:30 pm @ Railroad Square Cinema

11May Commencement @ Tozier GymWilderness First Aid Afloat - 9 am @ North Star Adventures Spirit Doll Workshop - 10 am @ Waterfall ArtsMicrochipping Clinic - 10 am @ Loyal Biscuit Co.

12Mother's Day LNT Master Education Course Be-gins @ White MountainsMother's Day at the Gardens - 9 am @ Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

13Final Grades to RegistrarWaterville Trans & Allies Support Group - 6 pm @ Pleasant Street United Methodist Church

14Waterville Greendrinks - 5 pm @ The Proper Pig Waterville

15Unity Community Support Meeting - 5 pm @ Unity Community Center

16Classes Begin for May SemesterBangor Gem Event of the Year - 10 am @ Day's Jewelers2019 Season Opening - 6 pm @ Bangor Muscle CarSelectmen's Meeting - 6:30 pm @ Unity Town Office

172019 Loggers Expo - 9 am @ Cross Insurance CenterAll Roads Music Festival - 7 pm @ BelfastBiMonthly Knitting Circle - 4 pm @ St Margaret's Belfast

18Wings and Water - 9 am @ North Star AdventuresUnity Scenic Train Ride - 11 am @ Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad2019 Loggers Expo - 9 am @ Cross Insurance Center

19Shearing Day - 7:30 am @ North-ern Solstice Alpaca FarmWomen's Outdoor Skill Workshop - 9 am @ North Star Adventures Bespoke Bonbon Making Class - 2 pm @ Christopher Hastings Con-fections

20 21PFLAG Support Group - 6 pm @ Health Equity Alliance

22Senior Expo - 9:30 am @ Husson University Business Expo 2019 After Hours - 4:30 @ Cross Insurance Center

23Youth Day of Action - 11:30 @ Maine State HouseUkulele Paint Night - 6:30 pm - Canaun Mexican Restaurant

24Planning Board Meeting - 7 pm @ Unity Town Office

25Unity Scenic Train Ride - 11 am & 1:30 pm @ Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad

Delta C Coping with the Crazy, One Prank at a Time

By Kadence Foster

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At Unity College in the late 1970’s, when 93 Main was a cor-ner store named Granny’s, and the Student Center was referred to as the Tavern, the cows roaming on campus outnumbered female students. It was in these days that Unity College’s own “Delta C” was born. If you’ve ever watched the movie Dead Poets Society, you might be familiar with the dynamics of a fraternity or secret boys club. Well, Unity’s version was Delta C, or - frankly - Delta Clitoris.

Although short-lived, this unofficial fraternity made tremendous differences to its members’ college experiences and spawned an array of curious stories that still linger on the tongues of some students and alumni today.

On the surface, you might imagine keg parties or pledges per-forming dangerous tasks for membership, and although this isn’t far from the truth, Delta C was simply a tight group of fourteen male students living in Wood Hall. Members described Delta C as, “solely a mind game that the members play to keep from going crazy at this place called Unity College,” as written in a newspaper clipping from Mickey Simoneau, the proclaimed president of Delta C.

As a photographer, Puibello assembled a photo album for Delta C, stocked with newspaper clippings, photos of campus from the late 70’s, and portraits of each member and their unusual nicknames, such as “Mr. Universe” or “Tim Bob.”

The source of their madness? A lack of females on campus. When tossing around name ideas, Stephen Puibello, a Delta C member who also happened to be gay, suggested Delta “Clito-ris” as a joke, nodding to the other members’ heteronormative motives. To Puibello’s surprise, the name stuck, but the letter “C” was adopted in its place for obvious reasons.

From mooning campus to journeying to Mt. Katahdin, Delta C engaged in almost any activity to cope with “the crazy.” Pranks and other humor-driven shenanigans weren’t ex-empt from their daily To-Do lists.

In an interview, Puibello noted one time when he crawled into bed after a long day, only to discover a dozen snakes curling around his arms and legs. “Garter snakes,” he guessed with a chuckle.

Delta C member, Mickey "F.C" hangs on tight at the Willard Climbing Wall.

Delta C members pose for a group photo, drinks in hand.

Stephen Puibello in true 70's style.

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He also recalled a period of time in which yogurt was repeat-edly poured over the showers’ curtain rods. Other times he was trapped in his dorm room with a barrel of water posi-tioned against the closed door. Delta C certainly didn’t lack creative improvisation.

Despite some crude and unapologetic humor, Delta C was a group of friends who had each other's backs, especially during a time of blatant discrimination against gay men and women. The Gay Liberation Movement from the 60’s to the 80’s led Puibello to organize his own movement at Unity.

Recalling instances where he, too, faced discrimination, Pui-bello spoke of an incident in which a student pointed a bow and arrow at him. Before any physical injuries were incurred, Delta C members intervened, defusing the situation. “I was six foot one [and] 220 pounds in college,” he said, “I didn’t take crap from anybody.” Internships, however, are essential. In-field experiences

increase students’ likelihood of getting hired for a great job that they’ll enjoy. They teach students valuable lessons. Often graduates are offered jobs at the same organization, camp, or business where they interned.

Connecticut Wilderness School, Ironwood Tree Experience, True North Wilderness, and Aspiro are among a long list of organizations that offer internships to adventure students.

In the meantime, Dr. Hafford recommends that students remain thoughtful with their finances and continue living “like a college student,” even after graduation. Short-term and seasonal positions are excellent experience-building opportu-nities for students, especially as they seek out full-time careers.

Some places for adventure therapy students to search for jobs include the Association for Experimental Education, Unity Green Job Board, and Outdoor Industry Association.

Dr. Hafford believes that what matters is, “not just the pay-check [employers] give you, but how much they develop you.” Most importantly, Dr. Hafford said students should always pri-oritize self-care, even as they work on their careers or higher educations. Getting outdoors is an adventure student’s best medicine for any career or life stress they encounter.

Major Success A Brief Guide to Navigating Adventure Therapy

Post-GraduationBy Benjamin Hoeckel

Adventure Therapy is one of more than twenty undergrad-uate programs offered at Unity College. Through a colorful mix of adventure leadership training and practice with psychology and counseling, students graduate with essential skills needed to be effective leaders and counselors in unusu-al settings.

According to Dr. Will Hafford, Unity alum and professor of adventure therapy, Unity College provided him the founda-tion he needed to succeed in his career after graduation.

As graduates ceremoniously cross the stage to receive their college degree, it is impossible to know where they will end up in a decade’s time. There is a multitude of career options for Unity’s adventure therapy graduates; the trouble lies in narrowing down their options.

Students often wonder how much education is enough edu-cation to achieve their career goals. According to Dr. Hafford, adventure therapy students do not need a PhD unless they want to become a college professor or be highly specialized in their field. Masters degrees are also not essential, he said, though they do broaden career options for most students.

A tiny explorer. Photo courtesy of Kadence Foster.

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Alumni Submissions

"Food and Medicine" is the lead single from my upcoming record Dirigo Attitude. It is inspired by my near-decade in food system, hunger relief, and rural community building work at Veggies For All food bank farm and the Volunteer Regional Food Pantry—both in Unity, Maine. The song is a stark first-person narrative of persevering through generational poverty in the rural North. Her voice is not one that we often hear about people living in poverty. Because she is not cast as a victim or hero or villain—she is merely a resilient, flawed, hopeful, proud woman.

Country music is a tool for us to share the true stories of rural people. As any country person knows, our lives are not one endless pontoon party, or romantic tractor ride, or opportunity to wear our grandmother’s wedding gown. But those stories sell products, so many, many of those songs get written, produced, and sold. Stories like ‘Food and Medicine’ don’t make the listener want to buy some-thing. Frozen pipes and rusting roofs make for a poor “feel good song of the summer.” But it’s ok with me if my songs don’t ever sell light beer and new trucks. Instead, I hope, they invite listeners feel and think, even if that is uncomfortable, or unpleasant, or complex. I hope it makes listeners want to do something.

For more Student & Alumni Submissions, visit:

commons.unity.edu

Photo from Trunzo's "Food and Medicine" music video.

Visit commons.unity.edu to watch the full "Food and Medicine" music video. Chum Snack

By John Vinci

Food and MedicineBy Sara Trunzo, Singer/Songwriter

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Much of this journey was a dipping and diving along little dirt roads that ran close to the border. They took us through small Mexican towns that just happened to be in the United States. Sure, their post offices were flying the American flag, but colors were bright, names were of Spanish influence, little roadside establishes advertising menudo and tacos abounded. We saw myriad Crested Caracaras—a national bird of Mexico—but no Bald Eagles.

Photograph: "An Idea" by Kadence Foster.

@unitycommonsUnity Commons @Unity_Commons

Per drought.gov, as of April 2019, 493,000 people in Texas (2% of the state) live in drought-stricken areas. 8,290,000 people (33%) of the state live in abnormally dry areas. What’s the national emergency, again?

Artist Bio: Alison Vilag graduated Unity College in December 2016 and has since been working on bird-related research proj-ects that emphasize opportunities for science communication. Her current position is waterbird counter at Whitefish Point Bird Observatory in Paradise, Michigan.

...What National Emergency?By Alison Vilag

Words are powerful—dangerous, even—when used as irresponsible ammunition to further one’s cause. When the national emergency was declared late this winter, my partner Tripp and I decided to travel down to the borderlands for a first-hand perspective of the region. (And, some personal favorite spots would be jeopardized by a wall; I wanted to see them again, just in case…)

Read the full version of "...What National Emergency?" at commons.unity.edu

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Photo courtesy of Cyndle Turcotte.

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