Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Bryan College.

     We trust you will experience God’s richest blessings during this happy time of year when we celebrate the birth of our Savior.

     If you are near Dayton, we invite you to join us Friday or Saturday night this week for the Chorale’s presentation of Handel’s Messiah, a glorious celebration of the story of redemption. Dr. David Luther will lead the 104-voice Chorale, with orchestral accompaniment, beginning at 7:30 p.m. both days.

     This has been an exciting semester at Bryan, and we are anticipating great things in the coming year. We appreciate so much your continuing interest in the college, and invite you to join us as often as possible for events—or just a visit—on Bryan Hill.

 

 

Dec. 8, 7:30 p.m., Rudd Auditorium, The Bryan Chorale will present Handel's Messiah with orchestral accompaniment.

 

Dec. 9, 7:30 p.m., Rudd Auditorium, The Bryan Chorale will present Handel's Messiah with orchestral accompaniment.

 

Dec. 12, Final exams begin and continue through Friday.

 

Dec. 15, Last day of the Fall semester.

 

 

Jan. 8, Faculty Workshop. Faculty meet to discuss academic matters as the Spring semester begins.

 

Jan. 9, Academic registration for the Spring semester.

 

Jan. 10, First day of classes for the Spring semester.

 

Jan. 15, MlK Community Service Day. Faculty, staff and students travel to sites in the community to assist non-profit organizations and deserving individuals.

 

Jan. 22, 7 p.m., Brock Hall, The Hilltop Players present a dessert theatre production of Agatha Christie's classic mystery, “The Mousetrap.”

 

Jan. 23, 7 p.m., Brock Hall, The Hilltop Players present a dessert theatre production of “The Mousetrap.”

December 8, 2006

     Bryan said an informal “good-bye” to 58 students Dec. 6, as seniors who will complete their graduation requirements this semester were honored in chapel.

     Academic Vice President Dr. Cal White read the names, asked them to stand, and offered a prayer of blessing for the graduates. The 58, including 10 receiving B.A. degrees and 48 receiving B.S. degrees, have been invited to participate in next May’s graduation ceremonies.

     Dr. White explained that Wednesday’s recognition ceremony is in part a response to requests from mid-year graduates. “We started this last year at the request of students who were not able to attend graduation in May,” he said. “Next year we will have a formal graduation in December.”

     The mid-year commencement is being developed because of the growth of the Aspire degree completion program, the anticipated growth of the MBA program, and the growth in the number of traditional students.

     “The past two years we have had right at 160 march in the May graduation ceremonies,” he said. “As the Aspire program grows, we will see that number increase, particularly beginning in May 2008. Traditional students finish in May, August, and December; Aspire cohorts complete their studies in a variety of months, including September and October. We felt it best to offer a second commencement so the graduates wouldn’t have to wait so long between finishing their classes and graduation.”

     Dr. White said college officials expect more than 50 students to be eligible for the first December commencement next year.

     Bryan’s newest residence hall will be known as Robinson Hall in honor of the college’s first trustee chairman, following action by the board of trustees in October.

     Frank Earl “F.E.” Robinson was a member of the national campaign committee to found Bryan University; was president of the Bryan Memorial University Association; was one of the seven incorporators of William Jennings Bryan University; and was the first chairman of the Bryan University Board of Trustees, serving from 1930 to 1956.

     “Through the years F.E. Robinson provided leadership, encouragement, counsel, prayer support, financial assistance and help with student and staff recruitment,” Bryan President Dr. Stephen D. Livesay said. “According to his late son, the Robinsons often paid the college bills and teachers’ salaries from their own funds during the difficult early days of the school.

     “F.E. Robinson was a businessman who was always looking for ways to promote his business and his community, so I believe it is fitting that the newest residence hall on campus, built in a new manner, be named in his honor.”

     Mr. Robinson was chairman of the Rhea County school board and was one of two men primarily responsible for initiating the idea to test the 1925 Tennessee law which banned teaching theories of human evolution in public schools. The resulting Scopes Trial brought national attention to Dayton and led directly to the founding of Bryan Memorial University, now Bryan College.

     Ceremonies to mark the naming of Robinson Hall will be held March 19, 2007, during the college’s Heritage Day celebration.

     Bryan’s new Debate Club hit the ground running with a second-place finish in its first intercollegiate competition, and two team members took high honors in the meet.

     Lawrence LaPlue, a junior history and political communication double major, and Rachel Welch, a sophomore communication studies and English literature double major, finished second in a field of 20 teams at the meet at Belmont University in November. In addition, Rachel captured first-place honors in the individual speaker competition and Lawrence finished second.

     Reaching this point has been a challenge Lawrence has been working on for the past two years at Bryan. “Ever since I was a senior in high school I have hoped to debate at the collegiate level,” he said. “I wanted to come to Bryan, but Bryan didn’t have a debate team. I’ve been working toward this ever since I came.”

     This year there are six team members, but budget constraints limited their first competition to just one two-member team. “Last year the student government association gave us some money and we used that to go to a tournament in Kentucky so everybody could watch,” Lawrence said. “It was good for everybody to see what a tournament is like.”

     Rachel explained that in the parliamentary debate format teams are given a resolution statement and have 15 minutes to prepare. The “government” team defines the terms and the “opposition” team must be prepared to counter the “government’s” arguments.

     “It’s as close as you can get to real life,” Rachel said. “You’re forced to deal with uncertainties but still stand up and deliver your arguments well.”

     Lawrence and Rachel competed in the novice division with 19 other teams, including duos from debate powerhouses Patrick Henry College and Carson-Newman. “In five preliminary rounds, we won four,” Rachel said.

     Lawrence pointed out that he and other team members know students who are interested in debate “and who went elsewhere to college because Bryan did not have a debate team.”

     The team, which also includes sophomores Ben Johnson, Lindsay Matlock, Brittany McGehee and Laura Nieses, meets weekly to review current events—the source for debate topics—and to practice.

     Lawrence has been working with Development Director Jim Barth to secure funding for the program long-term, and particularly to be able to enter the competition at Carson-Newman College in February. The tournament entry fee is $100 per team, in addition to the cost of travel.

     Individuals interested in learning more about the team may contact Mr. Barth at barthji@bryan.edu or by phone at 423-775-7280.

     Bryan College will open an on-campus health clinic in the spring semester, responding to requests from students and parents, President Livesay has announced.

     The Bryan Health PolyClinic will occupy some 1,500 square feet of the lower level of the Rankin Communication Arts Center, and will be staffed by medical personnel from Sports Care Chattanooga under the supervision of Dr. David Jenkinson. "We have been working with Dr. Jenkinson and Sports Care Chattanooga for our athletic teams, but they are fully certified for general medical practice,” Dr. Livesay said.

     Students will be charged a $60 per semester clinic fee to cover any co-pay the student insurance might require, allowing students to receive routine care at no charge. Faculty and staff and their families also will have access to the clinic’s services.

     Hours of operation will be determined during an evaluation period in January. Dr. Livesay said plans call for the clinic to be open five days per week, and Saturday hours are being considered.

     In addition to requests from students and their parents, the Bryan administration plans to open the clinic because of the growth in the number of on-campus students and the growing world missions program. Students planning mission trips to countries where special vaccinations are required will be able to secure their immunizations on campus for just the cost of the vaccine. “There often is not enough of the proper serum in Dayton for these students, so this should alleviate these kinds of problems,” Dr. Livesay said.

President Dr. Stephen D. Livesay met with a group of Bryan alumni and

friends in New Jersey early in December to report on the college and share

his vision for Bryan’s continued growth. Following the luncheon, a number

of the guests attended a presentation of Handel’s Messiah that evening,

directed by Bryan Vice President for Advancement Robert F. Davis.