The Pine Needle, November 1949

Libraries and archives collect materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. As a result, materials such as those presented here may reflect sexist, misogynistic, abusive, racist, or discriminatory attitudes or actions that some may find disturbing, harmful, or difficult to view. Both a humor and literary magazine, The Pine Needle was a University of Maine student-produced periodical that began publication in the fall of 1946, the first post-World War II semester that saw GIs returning to campus. The Needle reflected an edginess and rebellion not found in previous UMaine student publications. While past student publications relied on euphemisms for alcohol and dating on campus, The Needle openly promoted the sexualization of co-eds and the use of drugs, tobacco, and alcohol by students who experienced war. Cover art for this issue is a pen-and-ink illustration by Len Keenan depicting a first year student wearing a freshman cap and bow tie, smoking a pipe that appears to be making him ill. Leonard F. Keenan (1929-1984), graduated from the University of Maine in 1951 with a B.S. in Forestry. He later earned his MBA from the Army Comptrollership School at Syracuse University and served as a civilian in the Army Budget Office. Though his career with the Army hit a snag in 1976, when he was among four men receiving formal, written reprimands for ...failing to detect and present accounting [failures] that lead to massive overspending... at the end of the Vietnam War, Keenan was honored following his death by the establishment of the Leonard F. Keenan Memorial Award at Syracuse University. The award continues to be presented annually to the U.S. Department of Defense\u27s outstanding financial manager. Keenan died in Virginia on April 30, 1984 from congestive heart failure