A Degree of Dislike

It's June, when graduations mark the culmination of years of effort on the part of students everywhere. The University of Maryland has offered classes on overseas military installations for years - for military members, their families, and others. Here in Germany the director of the U of M's University College Europe had a special treat in store for the many GI's who had managed to complete their degree requirements in spite of deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, and other garden spots around the world. Rather than send them off with a rousing cheer, Professor Detlef Junker, founder and director of the Heidelberg Center for American Studies, was brought forth to lecture them, letting them know that Europeans hate Americans because of the actions of their Commander in Chief.

?He starting talking about [President Bush?s] 2002 State of the Union address, the axis of evil, you?re either with us or against us ? and that?s when it started going downhill,? said Cheryl Atwood, a commissary technology specialist who received her Bachelor of Science degree at the May 29 ceremony.

?At first, I thought, ?I?m being overly sensitive.? Then I heard somebody in the back shouting ?USA! USA!? and I thought, ?Maybe I?m not taking it wrong.? Several people got up and left and people stood up waving, telling him to sit down.?

John Golembe, director of the University of Maryland University College Europe, also dealt with a number of unhappy graduates and attendees who called or e-mailed him to complain.

?I say, ?If this bothered you and you think your day was spoiled, I?m sorry for that,?? Golembe said.

But Golembe, who?s been with the University of Maryland Heidelberg program for the past 26 years, said Junker?s speech fell squarely within the tradition of college commencement speeches. There are basically two types, he said. One type is full of praise for graduates? accomplishments.