Press Releases

March 10, 2004

Adventures at Sea: Southampton College Students Sail From Virgin Islands to Greenport
On Board 125-Foot Schooner Crew Studies Maritime History, Literature, Coastal Ecology and More

Contact:
Patricia Conway
631-287-8313

Southampton, N.Y- Twenty Southampton College students just left Dominica where they hiked through a tropical rainforest, took an informative tour of the Indian River and immersed themselves in the culture by eating regional foods and searching for artifacts and crafts at local markets. The students, currently setting sail for Tobago, are participating in the Spring session of SEAmester, a one-of-a-kind educational experience at sea sponsored by Long Island University's Southampton College.

The students, along with their professors, live and study for a nine-week semester on board the 125-foot schooner, "The Spirit of Massachusetts," as it sails along the eastern seaboard from St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. to Greenport, NY. It is scheduled to arrive at Claudio's Dock in Greenport on Sunday, April 25.

SEAmester is a challenging adventure at sea where students not only study the ocean environment, they live it. On board the ship, students take responsibility for crewing the schooner, standing deck watch, manning the helm and setting the acre of sail. At the same time they take a full semester's workload, everything from navigation and seamanship to Melville and Hemingway. The curriculum includes courses in maritime history, marine science, coastal ecology, and literature of the sea. Being prepared for the unexpected is as routine as doing chores. SEAmester voyagers have been known to endure hurricanes and overcome seasickness.

Southampton College, one of Long Island University's three residential campuses, is nationally recognized for its Marine Science and Environmental programs. Founded in 1963, the College enjoys all the benefits of its link with Long Island University, the eighth largest private educational institution in the nation. The natural marine laboratory surrounding the College provides an unparalleled setting for marine and environmental studies. In the past two decades Southampton College students have won 37 Fulbright Scholarships, two Udall Scholarships, a Truman Scholarship and a Marshall Scholarship.