Taken from an exchange on the MMA blog. These exchanges have been removed from the blog. The first two entries are by students in response to a posting by Tyler. (http://rumors.mma.edu)

"I, like most of the students here, believe that MMA is growing beyond what it is capable of maintaining. The classes are becoming too full, and as a result the quality of education is going down. That is not to say that the teaching staff is not doing a fine job - we have amazing professors here. However, it is true that they are having to spread their time amongst more students. In addition to this resources like labs, and after class activities are becoming crowded even the training ship is maxed. One of the reasons this school has been so amazing is the small size and personalized attention available here. Now even the "residents" of Castine are complaining - MMAwatch. I think it is a shame that there is segregation between students and the supposed residents. I thought we were all residents, every year we are asked to respect the year round inhabitants and remember that this is our community too. It just seems that this constant "growth" is not worth the strain it is putting on our resources and relationship with the community. I know that the "ideal" size it 800 - 850, but it doesn't seem to me that we can handle it. I guess this is more my thoughts then a question."
And another student adds:

"Maybe I am being short sighted but wouldn't one million dollars go a long way toward fixing up Dismukes? How can the Academy raise our tuition when they have enough money to spend on a second house? Privacy for the President? Tell that to the UMaine president who lives in the middle of campus of almost 10,000 students! This is the job and that is why the house comes free of charge! I agree that this campus is growing without a plan or is the Abbott House the plan? Where is the money coming from? I just am not convinced by the President's rationale."


Below is a Point Paper prepared by President Tyler regarding the purchase of the Abbott House and the concerns raised by some members of the Castine Community. Hopefully this answers some questions as well as makes people aware of some facts that they might not otherwise know.

"REGARDING THE PURCHASE OF THE ABBOTT HOUSE
Our intention is to use the Abbott House as the new residence for the president of MMA and his/her family

We respect the integrity and historical value of the structure and will not do anything to diminish it

The rationale behind this is that the current president’s residence is not at all private and activity at that location (grandchildren playing and dogs barking) is occasionally disruptive to those working or studying in the library or the classrooms in Quick Hall

There are no current or long-term plans for using the additional land surrounding the Abbott House for any purpose

We have no plans to grow beyond an average enrollment of 800 undergraduate students

We have no plans to build anything outside our institutional boundary

Without the Academy presence, there would not be sufficient year round activity in town to sustain the businesses and services we currently have here, e.g. banks, grocery stores, etc. . . ."