March 29 2005

What is the source of "rights?" Are they given by "the Laws of Nature and Nature's God" as the Declaration of Independence suggests, or are they given by governments in documents such as the Constitution?

The first seminar produced by the Bryan Center for Critical Thought and Practice will address the topic "The Natural Law: Is the Declaration in the Constitution?" in five lectures April 17 to 19.

Dr. Charles Van Eaton, director of the Bryan Center, said this topic "is not simply an exercise in academic discussion because much of what has happened as a result of numerous court decisions requires reconsideration of whether rights exist by virtue of natural law or only by court opinions."

Speakers and their topics include:

• Professor Douglas W. Kmiec, "The Necessary Compatibility of Natural Law and Originalism." Prof. Kmiec is professor of constitutional law and Caruso family chair in constitutional law at Pepperdine University. He served Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush as constitutional legal counsel. He will speak at 8 p.m. Sunday.
• Professor Peter Lawler, "Putting Locke in a Locke Box: The True Greatness of our Founders." Dr. Lawler has written or edited nine books, and his American Political Rhetoric is used in many colleges and universities. He will speak at 4 p.m. on Monday.
• Professor Colleen Sheehan, "The Gift Outright: Repaying the Legacy of the American Founding." Prof. Sheehan, a former member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, is professor of law and government at Villanova University. She is co-editor of Friends of the Constitution: Writings of the Other Federalists 1787-1788 and author of numerous articles on the American founding which have appeared in scholarly publications including William and Mary Quarterly. She will speak at 8 p.m. on Monday.
• Professor Tom West, "Does America Have a Constitutional or a Declaration of Independence Soul?" Prof. West, professor of politics at the University of Dallas, is author of Vindicating the Founders and editor of many books on the American founding. He will speak at 4 p.m. Tuesday.
• Professor F. Russell Hittinger, "Is Natural Law 'in' Human Laws?" Prof. Hittinger is chairman of the department of philosophy and religion at the University of Tulsa. He is author of A Critique of the New Natural Law Theory and The First Grace: Rediscovering the Natural Law in a Post-Christian World. He will speak at 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Seminar sessions will be held in Rudd Auditorium, and the public is invited. For more information, visit the Bryan Center's web site.

The strains of "Faith of our Fathers" opened Heritage Week's first chapel on March 14, praising God for His faithfulness as Bryan College honored its longest-serving president.

That theme, the faith of Bryan's leaders, traced its way through the program, with a special emphasis on Dr. Theodore C. Mercer, the fourth president who served from 1956 to 1986. Highlight of the service was current President Dr. Stephen D. Livesay's announcement that the college Administration Building would from now on be known as Mercer Hall in Dr. Mercer's honor.

"This is most appropriate, a great tribute to Dr. Mercer and his family," Dr. Livesay said. He likened naming Mercer Hall to the festivals, pillars and stones of remembrance mentioned in Scripture commemorating special individuals or events.

While the focus was on Dr. Mercer, a PowerPoint presentation with recorded comments about Bryan's other six presidents reminded those present of the heritage of faith and trust in God that has marked Bryan's 75-year history.

Speaking of Dr. Mercer, alumnus Dr. Ronald Zartman, pointed out that the name "Theodore" comes from two Greek words that mean "gift from God."

Speaking to Mrs. Mercer, Dr. Zartman said, "It was a tough ministry your husband had. The Administration Building was unfinished; the furnace was coal-driven. Times were tough. There were unpaid food bills he inherited. We needed a gifted man - that's what we got in your husband. On behalf of the students from 1956 to 1986, our deepest appreciation for his years of service."

Dr. Jack Traylor, a faculty member who came to Bryan in 1979, remembered Dr. Mercer's willingness to spend time with and encourage people. "My positive impression of Dr. and Mrs. Mercer came from their encouraging my interest in the lovely dean of women, Karin DeRosset," now his wife. This interest in romance extended to the annual freshman reception where freshmen men and women were paired up for an evening as the school year began.

"My lasting memory is his friendliness and almost-always smiling face. I believe the friendliness of Bryan College is in large part a result of his efforts," Dr. Traylor said.

Dr. John Mercer, Dr. Ted Mercer's second son and a Bryan graduate of 1974, said, "My family is gratified for the college honoring my father in naming Mercer Hall, but he would say that there would be no Mercer Hall if not for the hundreds of people from 1956 to 1986, the faculty, staff, trustees, and thousands of students, alumni and parents. Let's dedicate Mercer Hall to all those who contributed to Bryan's success.

"When we came to Bryan, my father was coming back home. He was born and raised in Spring City, and lived all but 17 of his 65 years in Rhea County."

"My mother's ceaseless work was indispensable to my father's success. In the summer, she painted dorm furniture. She taught English, edited copy for Bryan Life, designed the floor plan for Rhea House and founded the Bryan Women's Auxiliary. Her trustee luncheons and student receptions have passed into legend. Both my parents enjoyed their roles as official hosts for the college."

He recalled two of his father's best-known traits: a love for taking pictures at college events, and his prodigious memory for names. "To this day, the closets in my mother's house are filled with carousels of slides," he said. "He could greet students on campus by name, and would know where they were from, what church they attended, who their parents were, and which were alumni."

Bryan Trustee Glenn Stophel said, "Ted Mercer was always in a hurry, absent-minded, down-to-earth. He was steady of character without being stuffy. He was soft-hearted without being soft-headed. He loved to introduce himself as Dr. Ted Mercer of Bryan College."

Dr. Livesay invited Mrs. Alice Mercer and her sons, Ted, John and David, to join him at the front of Rudd Auditorium - the building John said his father was most proud of - as he unveiled a portrait of Dr. Mercer and a plaque highlighting his life, both of which will hang in the main lobby of Mercer Hall.

Following the chapel program, the Mercer family was honored at a luncheon with trustees, faculty from the Mercer era, alumni, college retirees and family friends.

A heartbreaking loss to a highly ranked team ended the Lady Lions' basketball season at the NAIA national tournament March 10, but Coach Matt Bollant is excited about his team's accomplishments.

The Lady Lions earned their second consecutive trip to the nationals by racing through the Appalachian Athletic Conference tournament for the team's first-ever conference tournament championship. They defeated seventh-seed Union by 13, Virginia Intermont by 12, and Milligan by 18 to claim the title.

"I was nervous about Union," Coach Matt Bollant said. "I knew they were fired up. We got off to a slow start, but Sarah Bass took over and would not let us lose. She scored 30 points, hitting nine of 12 from the floor and 12 of 12 from the line. After that, the team had a sense of relief; they knew they could relax and play.

"Since I've been here, we've talked about winning a championship. It was great for this team to do it. I felt this team had great defense, an unselfish offense and did what they had to do to win. It was special to see the team, especially the five seniors, cutting down the nets."

At the NAIA tournament, however, the Lady Lions were paired against Doane College of Crete, Neb. "Doane plays in the Great Plains Conference, a conference that has dominated our division. Last year they had three teams in the final eight," Coach Bollant said.

"We knew they were a tough draw, but I felt good about our team. This was the best team since I've been at Bryan. I expected them to play well."

And play well they did. The game was tied with less than a minute to play, when a turnover gave the ball to the Lady Tigers, who scored and pulled away for the win.

"Last year I felt we had a breakdown on defense," the coach said. "This year we just weren't making the shots we needed. You have to credit Doane's good defense for that."

The coach is looking forward to next year as he recruits to replace the five seniors, including guards Liz and Sarah Bass, who combined for more than 4,500 points during their four years.

Click here to see pictures from the team's trip to the NAIA national tournament.

Break for Change teams traveled to Miami, Fla.; the Apache reservation near Phoenix, Ariz.; Jamaica, Guatemala and Peru where they ministered in a variety of ways. In addition, the Chorale toured through Alabama, Florida and Georgia giving concerts, and two Worldview Teams spent the week in Ohio and New England speaking at schools and churches; and a team worked with an indigenous Indian ministry to assist victims of the December tsunami.

Students returned rejoicing in their opportunities for service. As Victoria Flowers, a senior from Tracy, Calif., said, "The biggest blessing was watching [the team] unite and work together."

For the Break for Change teams, projects ranged from construction to providing vacation Bible school programs for children to simply befriending people of all ages.

Paul Miller, a sophomore from Bogart, Ga., said his team in Guatemala learned that "God made us relational creatures, all of us being capable of loving anyone that came across our path because that love flows from Christ within us." His team's challenge was to communicate that love despite a language barrier, an effort they made through playing games and doing crafts with children, and simply showing affection.

The tsunami relief team found a similar need in the villages they visited in India. David Shifrin, a senior from Arvada, Colo., said the team was not permitted to do overt evangelism, but helped build relationships and open doors for the national ministry they were assisting.

One day, he and several other members of the team were talking with a village head through a translator. "He told us, 'You came. You didn't give us assistance, but you spent time with me and with the people of my village. It is our pleasure to have you.' Sometime sending money is not the most efficient use of resources."

Jennifer Parks, a senior from Prattville, Ala., added, "Being there to touch the kids, to drink cocoanut milk with them. That does matter."

"I am so grateful for the commitment of our students," President Dr. Stephen D. Livesay said of the spring break team members. "They have caught the vision that service to our Lord by serving others begins now. I know they were a blessing to those they met, and many have told me how their spring break was a blessing for them. It is so encouraging to see Bryan students making a difference in so many places, in so many ways, and so gratifying that friends of the college will help make it possible for them to serve in this special outreach."

Click here to view pictures from Break for Change trips.

Six Bryan professors have been selected for inclusion in the current edition of Who's Who Among America's Teachers.

Bryan President Dr. Stephen D. Livesay said the honorees are selected by faculty and staffing recognition of their contribution to the educational program of the college.

Honored were Dr. Paul Boling, associate professor of philosophy and Bible; Dr. Bill Ketchersid, professor of history; Dr. Bill Lay, professor of business; Dr. Phil Lestmann, professor of mathematics; Dr. Ernie Ricketts, professor of Greek and linguistics and Bible; and Dr. Jack Traylor, professor of history.