Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

SOUTH KINGSTOWN --Grey skies and showers drove the University of Rhode Island's 123rd commencement indoors Sunday for the first time during President Robert L. Carothers' 18 years at the state's flagship research institution.

But inclement weather failed to dampen the mood of the more than 2,700 undergraduates about to receive their degrees, who cheered, tossed beach balls and waved to friends and family in the Ryan Center, where the ceremony had been moved.

"This ceremony means an opening to a new beginning," said Olinda Gacin, 24, of Providence, who was the first in her family to graduate from college when she received her bachelor's degree from URI last May.

On Sunday, Gacin came with her relatives, many of whom had emigrated from Haiti, to honor her cousin Ruth Laurent, 22, the second relative to achieve this goal. "This is an accomplishment for our whole family," Gacin said. "That's what it means for us to be here."

The Class of 2009 twice gave a standing ovation to Carothers, who steps down June 30th as one of the nation's longest serving university presidents -- the first as he began his brief address,, and the second when he ended it.

Carothers encouraged the graduates to be independent and stand apart.

"What is it that allows you to separate yourself from the crowd, to become your own person?" Carothers asked. "For me, it has been the ability to say no. No to the status quo. No to the admonitions to go slow. No to pleas to be realistic ... No to bigotry. No to injustice."

Rosa Parks made history when she refused to give up her seat on the back of a bus, Carothers said. Rhode Island was founded by Roger Williams saying no to the Puritans in Boston.

"Be prepared to be dissed, demeaned and ignored. Be prepared to even be punished. But keep keeping on," Carothers said. "As we saw last November, there are yet those who see a better future and who say yes, yes we can."

 Tags  Robert L. Carothers University of Rhode Island

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