Maine author tells class at UMM to see the world

MACHIAS ? Countering author Stephen King’s recent advice to graduates urging them to make their careers in Maine, fellow Maine author Sanford Phippen on Saturday encouraged the graduates at the University of Maine at Machias to leave the state.

Phippen was the commencement speaker at ceremonies that saw 105 graduates receive bachelor’s degrees and 12 receive associate degrees, one of the largest graduating classes from the college in recent years.

Phippen laced his speech with reminiscences of his own college experience at the University of Maine in Orono and those of others who had attended the Machias college, remarking on the strict rules that existed during the 1960s that required women students to sign in and out of the dorms and refused entry to the library to girls who wore pants or jeans.

He drew chuckles from some older people in the crowd when he recalled that Woodies ? a combination Sunoco station, barber shop and bar ? was the local hot spot, the Navy guys from Cutler who hung around campus and how girls used to keep their beer in a trash can with ice at the bottom and trash on top.

But Phippen also reminded the graduates of the dedication of the teachers at the college, and he quoted his cousin who recalled that Machias “… always provided positive reinforcement.”

He also told them that “a truly educated person begins to realize that he or she can never really know that much. What’s important is to know how to use what knowledge one does possess,” he said.

Reading from a letter he had received from a Mainer now living in Michigan, Phippen reminded the graduates that Maine is now a part of who they are and that “once you have lived in Maine, it is difficult to appreciate other places.”

“So on this day of your leave-taking from Machias, I am not going to echo my contemporary Maine writer Stephen King and tell you stay in Maine,” he said. “I think you should probably leave and experience the world. Our ancestors here who went to sea were very worldly people.”

He noted that the college had been selected by U.S. News and World Report as one of the top five public comprehensive colleges in the Northeast.

“I’d say it’s your duty to travel around and spread the word,” he said.

In her charge to the graduates, Interim President Cynthia Huggins urged them to follow her mother’s admonition to “play nice.”

“Just remember to play nice, to never steal anyone’s dignity and respect. Don’t resort to cheap insults and hurtful language. Avoid hurting the feelings of others, and when you do, apologize for it. Enjoy ? and respect ? the value, the diversity of background, opinion, challenges, beliefs, fears, hopes and dreams that surround each of us and unite us in our common humanity.”

Graduation was a family affair for Nancy Lund and her son, Richard Lund, both of East Machias, who each received bachelor’s degrees in business administration during the ceremony. Both said it was a wonderful experience to share the college experience, often taking classes and doing homework together.

“It was the experience of a lifetime,” Richard Lund said.

The graduating class also included 19 students from 11 other countries. The university awarded distinguished service awards to Leona “Noni” McBride, who has been active in community affairs for many years, and to Doug Kell Sr., the founder and president of Kelco Industries and a member of the UMM board of visitors.

Richard Larson and Elsie Larson were named emeritus professors of business studies, and William Weigle was named professor emeritus of mathematics and environmental studies.

Graduate Molly Phipps joined Gene Nichols, associate professor of music, in singing “Happy Trails” in memory of the late UMM President John Joseph, who died just before commencement ceremonies in 2003.