Merry Christmas from all of us at Bryan College.

At this joyous season, we trust you have much for which to praise God, as we do at Bryan. Truly, this has been an outstanding year in which we have seen God’s hand move in a mighty way on our behalf.

We deeply appreciate your continuing interest in Bryan, and ask that you keep the college in your prayers.

As always, we invite you to pass E-Lumine along to friends and classmates who may not be receiving this on-line communication from Bryan. Encourage them to add their email address to our mailing list. Also, should your preferences change, please follow the link at the bottom of this page.

December/January events at Bryan

Friday, Dec. 16 – Last day of Fall Semester

Saturday, Dec. 17 – Men's basketball game at Southern Indiana

Monday, Dec. 26 – through Monday, Jan. 2, 2006 – Christmas Break for Staff - Offices closed

Thursday, Dec. 29 through Saturday, Dec. 31 – Women's basketball - Hampton Inn Tournament, Lake Wales, Fla.

Tuesday, Jan. 3 – Spring tuition payments due.
5:30 p.m. – Women's basketball v. Georgetown College

Thursday, Jan. 5 – 7:30 p.m. - Men's basketball game v. Bluefield College.

Friday, Jan. 6 – 4 p.m. – Women's basketball v. Bluefield College.

Saturday, Jan. 7 – 4 p.m. – Women's basketball v. UVA Wise
6 p.m. – Men's basketball game v. UVA Wise.

E-Lumine

Bryan breaks ground for residence hall

With hundreds of students, faculty, staff and friends standing on an outline of the building, Bryan College broke ground Nov. 30 for a new residence hall.

Bryan President Dr. Stephen D. Livesay said the occasion illustrated a recurring theme from the college’s 75^th anniversary celebration during the past year, God’s faithfulness. That theme was evident as several speakers offered their congratulations on this milestone.

Trustee Betty Ruth Seera said the project is evidence that “God’s hand of blessing has brought us to this place. This building speaks to the future and what God will do.”

State Rep. Bo Watson pointed out that construction “signifies the growth of Bryan College, but it also demonstrates the importance of higher education in Rhea County and our great State of Tennessee.”

Bethany Perseghetti, a student resident assistant, said the building reminds students of “community. People…that’s what it’s all about.”

Dayton Mayor Bob Vincent said a building like this “happens only one way, through hard work and the blessings of God.”

Rhea County Commission Chairman Harold Fisher offered his “sincere thank you for what you have done, for the impact Bryan College has had on the people of Rhea County. The community appreciates your Christian stand and the influence you have on us.”

Construction of the 120-bed residence hall is scheduled to begin in December after students leave for their Christmas break. Installation of the prefabricated wall, floor and roof sections is expected in mid-February, a process that should take 15 to 20 days. Once the building is “in the dry,” work can continue around the clock if necessary to meet the target of having the building ready for occupancy when students return in August for the 2006-07 academic year.

View pictures of the groundbreaking ceremony

Student wins concerto competition

Sophomore music education major Roy Smith has been chosen one of four winners in the recent Southern Adventist University concerto competition.

Roy, son of Ronald and Jacquelyn Smith of Helena, Mont., will perform the first movement of Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, Op. 22, by Saint-Saens with the orchestra Feb. 19, 2006.

Entrants in the concerto competition submit tapes, and finalists perform in a live competition. Winners play with the orchestra in concert. This year, nine finalists were selected and four were declared winners. Besides Roy, three string players were chosen.

Dr. Sigrid Luther, Roy’s piano teacher, said, “The competition is a wonderful opportunity for students who win to perform as soloists with a fine orchestra. I have always appreciated the fact that SAU opens the competition to students from outside their university.”

Roy is the seventh Bryan piano student to win the SAU competition. At Bryan, he accompanies the select Chamber Singers ensemble, as well as a number of soloists.

Bryan Center seminar to consider popular culture

Popular culture is a layer of our larger cultural world which is woven into the mosaic of the mainstream. It is as undeniable and unavoidable as it is powerful and influential.

Join us Jan. 20 and 21, 2006, for a seminar presented by the Bryan Center for Critical Thought and Practice as four scholars examine aspects of the world that surrounds us.

“To be able to understand and interact positively with popular culture, we must be able to examine the contemporary through both Biblical and social lenses,” Bryan Center Director Dr. Charles Van Eaton said. “Understanding of the times must be both personally meaningful and socially relevant. Our speakers will help direct our thought toward this end. We invite you to be with us and to join in the discussion.”

Dr. Carson Holloway, assistant professor of political science at the University of Nebraska–Omaha, will speak on “Contemporary Pop and Classical Philosophy.”

Dr. Raymond J. Heberski Jr., assistant professor in the department of history and social science at Marian College, will speak on “The Way of The World: The Struggle over Popular Taste in Postwar New York Movie Culture.”

Dr. Thomas S. Hibbs, distinguished professor of ethics and culture at Baylor University, will speak on “Nihilism and Heroism in Pop Culture: What’s Wrong (and Right) with Hollywood.”

Mr. Michael Palmer, associate professor of communication studies at Bryan, will speak on “From Woody Allen to C.S. Lewis and from Plato to Neil Postman – A Consideration of Meaning and Class in Popular Culture.”