It was overcast, typical Maine weather for an atypical Maine Day celebration. Among the usual raft of events happening across the University of Maine campus, there was one that stood out. It wasn’t a volleyball match, a dunk tank or even a concert. It was the chance to make history by breaking a record that had stood for 10 years.
The event, aptly named Unwrapping the Not-So-Sweet Truth of Relationship Violence, was created by the Male Athletes Against Violence, a student group that works to spread awareness about domestic violence and the problems it causes as well as possible solutions and preventative measures. Its name stems from the theme of the event. MAAV called on students to join them in attempting to break the Guinness world record for number people unwrapping candy at the same time.
Graduate student Spencer Wood is a member of MAAV and played a major part in planning the event.
“We’ve been marketing this event really hard. We first talked about it in class in February. It’s been a building process,” Wood said. “I’m gonna be real happy when we see the final number.”
Doors opened at 4 p.m. at the Alfond. At first, there was a slow trickle of people who wandered away from lawn games and studying. The trickle soon turned into a stream, which evolved into a flood as word spread about what was going on. Tarleton State’s benchmark of 614 people was in reach, and everyone knew it.
Upon entering the Alfond, students were given MAAV buttons as well as a stick on which they were told to write one thing they would wish for if they could wish for anything to better the university. This was used as a way of keeping track, a tally that would later tell whether or not the record had officially been broken. Otherwise the number would be an estimate, something that simply isn’t acceptable for the folks at Guinness.
Spruce Run, Rape Response Services and the Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence were all on hand with tables that featured informational pamphlets as well as candy for participants. Fifth year child development student Erin Phillips was running the table for Spruce Run .
Her favorite candy is anything chocolate. However, to avoid her chocolate cravings, she will be unwrapping a Jollyrancher.
“I truly believe in healthy relationships and ending the violence against women.” Phillips said.
Morgan Bragdon is a first year student who is part of the Alpha Omicron Pi sorority. She, along with her sorority sisters were part of the large Greek Life presence at the event. Her favorite candy is Almond Joy.
It was 4:15 and the seats were getting filled. It was getting close. Event workers walked back and forth in front of the students, throwing candy and little rubber basketballs and footballs into the stands. The crowd was growing impatient as they realized that it may take longer than they realized to accrue the necessary amount of people. They had volleyball games and barbecues to get back to. It wasn’t long before the balls and candy were being thrown in every direction. No one who was standing was safe.
Sensing the tension, Wood picked up the microphone from his spot on the rink and addressed the students.
“We are 50 people short, so get on your phones and call everyone you know. We need to get people down here.” Wood sad.
The updates came every five or so minutes. Forty people short. Twenty people short. Members of the Greek Life community could be seen on their phones, rallying more troops for the occasion. Then, at approximately 4:25, a wave of brothers from Sigma Alpha Epsilon arrived, putting the total at 616, two more than the record.
Wood’s voice echoed through the building once again.
“Alright everybody, we’ve got the numbers. So let’s unwrap in 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.” Wood said.
Among the banter could be heard a subtle crinkling sound as 616 people unwrapped all matter of candies ranging from Tootsie Roll’s to loli-pops, officially putting the University of Maine into the Guinness Book of World Records.
Although this was a high for everyone involved, the underlying purpose of the event was to spread awareness about much darker subject matter. On hand to speak about domestic violence was United States Marshal Noel C. March, the lead Marshal in Maine. March was also the lead advisor for MAAV during his time as a public safety official at the University of Maine.
“I’ve spent eight years [at UMaine] as a public safety official. I carry with me into my [position as Marshal] the lessons that I learned here at the University of Maine, and that is that communities are safest when we look out for each other. The community doesn’t like the police looking over their shoulder … and we don’t like to be there either so we like people looking out for each other.” March said.
Ten years ago a benchmark was set, and on April 30, 2014, it was raised by the University of Maine but a total of two. Here’s to ten more years.