Bryan College Triangle

Corrie Walker
Features Editor

photo courtesy of billboard.com

After six long years, Justin Timberlake has finally resurfaced on the Billboard charts.

The 20/20 Experience is Timberlake’s third album, released on March 19, moving an incredibly impressive 968,000 units in just the first week.

After winning several Grammy and Emmy Awards for albums FutureSex/LoveSounds (2006) and Justified (2002), Timberlake dropped from the music scene and took up residence on the big screen.

During the last six years between his sophomore album and The 20/20 Experience, Timberlake starred in several films including The Social Network, In Time and Friends with Benefits.

After those many years without the release of even a hit single, the world was unprepared when Timberlake announced the release of The 20/20 Experience just a few months back in January.

Much of the album’s success could be contributed to the hard work Timberlake put in while promoting the album.

He worked hard to make appearances on all levels of media. Some of his performances included singing on Super Bowl Weekend and at the Grammy Awards. He also hosted and performed on Saturday Night Live and appeared on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon for an entire week.

Timberlake also utilized social media to respond to his fans and further promote the album.

“I’m gonna find a way to show my appreciation to you ladies and gents this week… Stay tuned. #finderskeepers,” tweeted the pop star on March 27th.

He followed up his promise two days later by creating a Twitter Scavenger Hunt — whoever followed his picture clues to the prize got to keep it.

“It’s friday and I ain’t got $h*t to do! Sooo I placed 5 signed vinyls around the country! #staytuned #finderskeepers,” tweeted Timberlake.

Also, the release of the hit single “Suit & Tie” preceded the album, kicking off JT’s return to musical fame with his first single in over six years.

Throughout the album, Timberlake’s smooth voice is accompanied by clever beats and an R&B, soulful, yet still pop-infiltrated, feel.

Each of the ten tracks average about seven minutes in length. Repetitive beats and lyrics make the songs easy for DJs and clubs to transition in mixes.

The first song titled “Pusher Love Girl” begins the album with stringed instruments, transitioning into a steady beat paired with some of JT’s famous smooth falsetto.

Themes of romance and sex infiltrate the soulful tracks – which makes sense since he just recently married long-time girlfriend Jessica Biel.

“I’m just a junkie for your love,” he sings about his girl being the drug of his choice.

This album features a little more international flavor than on previous albums with the tracks “Don’t Hold the Wall” and “Let the Groove Get In.” Futuristic sounds blend with smooth R&B sounds in “Strawberry Bubblegum,” “Spaceship Coupe,” “Tunnel Vision” and “Blue Ocean Floor.” However, “That Girl,” “Suit & Tie” and “Pusher Love Girl” hold truest to the soulful roots JT tries to imitate. “Mirrors,” the second most popular song on the album, most resembles his previous work and is an enjoyable and easy song to sing-along with.

Much like his last two albums, The 20/20 Experience features 10 tracks in which JT’s cooing chords and smooth sound is sure to make the ladies swoon.

These ten songs are only the beginning of Justin Timberlake’s musical comeback. A second volume of the album is scheduled for release in November.

By Daniel Jackson
News Editor

Justin Galemore hands Ryan Wolf a certificate and a pin after inducting him into the Sigma Tau Delta chapter on campus. Sigma Tau Delta is the international English honors society. / Photo by Daniel Jackson

Sigma Tau Delta, the international honor society for English students, is a gathering place logophiles, bibliophiles or those who love the prose of JRR Tolkien or the poetry of Edmund Spenser.

On April 11, the Sigma Tau Delta society on the Bryan hill gathered in the yellow light of the Rhea County room as a heavy rain fell on the roof and sky turned blue-black. Some of the 16 students dressed for the occasion, donning cocktail dresses and ties.

This meeting was the changing of the guard: In this meeting, the society at Bryan elected its officers for the upcoming year and accepted five new members into the society. They also listened to guest speaker Professor of English at Taccoa Falls College, Ga., Donald Williams, who writes poetry and has authored eight books.

Krista Elsten, junior, was one of the new students who were inducted into the society that night. As an English major, she heard about the society often from her professors and fellow students.

She describes the society as a place for “lit nerds.”

Professor of English at Bryan Whit Jones said the society will listen to three to four speakers a year, take trips to the New American Shakespeare Tavern in Atlanta, and around Christmastime, read Christmas classics in the library over cookies and hot chocolate.

Some of these events are open just for the club; others are open to the whole campus.

On April 25, the society will host a poetry slam in Brock Hall.

A poetry slam, Jones said, is “a little like a rapping competition.”

Participants will read their poems and the audience will pick a winner. Jones said a poetry slam is “in your face,” and poets will get immediate judgment on their work by an audience.

Every new member of the society received a certificate and a pin. When students graduate, they can add a chord to their graduation robes to mark their participation in the society. / Photo by Daniel Jackson

Sigma Tau Delta started their meeting by inducting the five new members.

After taking an oath, the new members listened to the history of the society. The society began one year before the Scopes Monkey Trial was held. Sigma Tau Delta was started in 1924 in order to “confer distinction for high achievement in English language, literature, and writing,” reads the society’s website.

The chapter at Bryan was started eight years ago. Jones, who told this part of the history of the society here on the hill, said the society has had its up and down years, but recently he’s seen the society gain more members on Bryan’s campus.

After Justin Galemore, senior, managed the elections of the officers for next year, he said, “That concludes some logistical stuff, so we can now have some fun.”

Professor Donald Williams of Taccoa Falls College, Ga., spoke to the society, reciting his poetry, talking in several languages and speaking about consuming media while remaining pure. / Photo by Daniel Jackson

Williams read some of his poetry and then discussed how Christians should consume media. He said separating from the bad culture is not an option—Christians will still be exposed to it. He said Christians need to focus on good literature and the Bible so that the bad does not affect their minds.

“You keep that stuff washed out by keeping the good stuff flowing through,” he said.

Afterwards, a student asked Williams to speak in Elvish because when Jones introduced him, he said Williams spoke the language fluently.

“My students are always asking me to speak Klingon,” he said launching into the fictional language spoken by the Klingon warrior race of Star Trek. He accented the harsh language with fisted salutes

Then he spoke Elvish, the language JRR Tolkien developed for his trilogy, “The Lord of the Rings.”

Students listened with half smiles as he spoke the language that sounds like a stream flowing over rocks.

“We have to do Old English,” Williams said next.

Old English, the predecessor of modern English, is similar enough to modern English that a careful listener could understand the language.

He launched into the language, a language that sounded like a blend of German, Swedish and French.

One student figured out what he was speaking: The Lord’s Prayer. Williams went line by line, explaining the vocabulary, explaining that Old English pronounces things differently and that once a listener understands the rhythm and stresses of Old English, they can understand it much easier.

By 9 p.m., they were done. The rain outside had lessened. The new members were inducted. And Elsten liked her first meeting.

“It was good. It was fun,” she said.

By Amy Bailey
Triangle Writer

(Video produced by The Kellys’ Productions)

Bryan College seniors Justin and Hannah Kelly, are living proof that business and marriage can go hand in hand.

In January of 2012, the couple founded their joint enterprise, “The Kellys’ Productions.” Since then their company has blossomed. They started out pursuing their individual interests in photography and film.

Sitting in Common Grounds during this interview, Justin recalled the story of Hannah’s receiving a camera in high school. She leads the photography side of the business, while Justin handles the film and video work. However, they were both quick to comment that they equally assist one another in the field and always accompany the other on individual assignments, such as when Hannah is booked for a photo shoot.

“Justin comes along and helps me by holding the boom stand or something similar,” she says.

The Kellys agreed that being able to work and spend time together is a real benefit, particularly in comparison to working nine-to-five office jobs apart. Their unique relationship as husband and wife also adds an interesting dynamic to their business—aside from not having to worry about having vexatious coworkers (most of the time), it gives them an endearing appeal with their clients.

The Kellys’ faith in God influences every aspect of their business. As Hannah puts it, since they are made in God’s image, she and Justin strive to do their best in their work as a reflection of that. Their efforts have paid off—The Kellys’ Productions already has several jobs lined up for the coming year.

One of their more important jobs is with the White County Chamber of Commerce. The Kellys have been asked to make 30 to 40, 30-second videos showcasing the county.

“This is a big job and will give us the opportunity to branch out to other chambers of commerce in other counties. It is also opening many new doors with many new people.”

Additionally, Justin was hired by Suburban Manufacturing in Dayton to make product information and employee training videos. Justin will also be doing some work with a recording studio in Nashville that he interned with during high school.

After graduation, the couple hopes to relocate to the Nashville area. Justin is a music administration major, with a minor in film. And Hannah is a business administration major, specializing in finance and economics. Her business education has already proved to be a worthwhile investment in organizing their company and keeping the books, according to Hannah. She has also been able to use what she has learned about marketing and advertising to better promote the company.

Currently, she is looking for a job in finance. Justin plans on pursuing videography full time. Ideally, the Kellys hope to be able to devote their energies full-time to their company. The Kellys’ Productions has a website, thekellysproductions.com, and can also be found on Facebook and YouTube.

By Daniel Jackson
News Editor

A view of Bryan’s campus from the water tower. Over the years, a few students have climbed the tower.

At night, the water storage tank hangs like a moon over the skyline. From almost any point on the hill, you can look up and see the structure on the northwest edge of campus.

This is apparent when you look at photos taken from the top of the tower. The campus and the city of Dayton open up below. But climbing that tower? Over 100 feet without any safety equipment?

At least two students have climbed the tower in the last academic school year. It took them several attempts, but on Oct. 28 after 10 minutes on the tower, they descended with photos of campus.

I accompanied two students—one climbed the tower in October, the other never made it to the top—when they made an attempt. It was after dinner sometime in November. The sky had darkened and the streetlights burned yellow when we met in the woods behind the soccer fields. Our boots felt the uneven ground in the dark and we spoke in whispers as we followed a trail that led to the tower.

Up close, the white tower seemed to grow as we exited the woods and walked around the barbed wire fence that surrounded it. By that time, the climbers already found a system for getting past the fence: using the padlock on the gate as a foot-hold up over the fence.

I watched from outside the fence as one of them shimmied up a small pipe that ran up. For the first 20 feet or so, the ladder was obstructed to discourage climbing.

The student’s black boots squeaked on the white metal as he finally wormed his way to the first rung of the ladder. But he decided that the rest of the climb wasn’t worth it. His hands were numb from the metal and he didn’t trust them to hold him the rest of the way.

We walked back.

The man who climbed to the top, The Climber, said cold weather was the reason why he did not succeed when he tried “once or twice” before.

The night of Oct. 28 a full moon illuminated the water tower. The Climber stuffed a backpack with a camera, water bottle, tripod, “toboggan” and, of course, a knife. He brought a friend.

They made it past the fence. They made it past the pipe and they were on the first few rungs of the ladder.

“At this point, we were the furthest we have ever been,” The Climber said.

So they started climbing. The Climber was in the lead. Halfway up, he looked down. The view looked as high as the whole tower looked from the ground.

“We thought, hell, if we fall now, we’re dead,” he said.

They disregarded safety and started climbing up and up. For most of the way, about 100 to 150 feet, the ladder is almost vertical and then for the last 10 feet, it straightens out. By that time, he was gripping the ladder for so long that his forearms grew exhausted. Those last few feet felt like the ladder started to bend up back behind the Climber, he said.

On that night, it was about 40 degrees, and a wind was blowing, swaying the tower, making camera shots blurry.

The Climber and his friend saw a man come out onto his back porch and they quickly moved to the other side of the tower. They stayed there for 10 minutes, taking shots of the campus and of the City of Dayton. When they were done, they climbed down. It took them 45 minutes from the time they left their dorm to the time they returned.

The Climber knew of no one else who had climbed the tower, although he knew of plenty of people who wanted to make the ascent. He climbed, “just really for the thrill of it.”

He described himself as an adrenaline junkie, but this was the first ambitiously crazy thing that he had done.

“Small towns don’t offer too much, as far as that goes,” he said.

He has read websites such as nopromiseofsafety.com, a site run by urban explorer Joseph Carbonale, who climbed the Golden Gate Bridge.

The Climber thought about the legal risks before he climbed. While he doesn’t know the exact penalties for climbing a water tower, he thought he would get a slap on the wrist and a $500 fine.

If he was caught during an ascent, he figured no one would call the water company, since it was late at night. If the police department was called, he and his friend would conceal themselves for half-hour to 45 minutes until the police would get a call and move along.

Triangle tried to contact the Dayton Police Department for comment for this story. However, Chief of Police Chris Sneed was not available to talk about the penalties associated with climbing a water tower at the time this story went to press.

During all the years Director of the Physical Plant Doug Schott has worked at Bryan College, he has never heard of anyone who has climbed the water tower. When Triangle called to talk about Bryan’s polices about tower-climbers, Schott was skeptical. It did not help that I called him April 1.

Schott said the tower is owned by the City of Dayton.

If he ever needed to deal with a student who was on the tower, Schott said he would “focus on their safety and try to get them down safely.”

He would call for them to come down and if they did not climb down, he would call law enforcement.

“My policy is very simple: treat people like adults and hope that they use good judgment,” he said.

The Climber is not the only student to climb the tower. In the spring of 2011, a senior sneaked out of the dorms around 3 a.m. with his friend and made the ascent.

“I did it because my friend was having girl troubles,” he said.

It was cold and windy, but they had a great view of the campus. They watched as fellow students, curfew breakers, attempted to sneak back into the dorms.

He knew of about seven other people who climbed the tower before him.

Like the Climber, the Graduate, too, shared the feeling that comes with flirting with law and life by hanging onto a white ladder in the dark.

“Of course, we didn’t want to get caught,” he said, but there was a more tangible fear: “I was worried about dying.”

By Jonathan Warner
Triangle Writer

Left to Right, Jonathan Warner, senior, Starla Bivins, junior, Eric McEachron, assistant director for faith and missions, Brian Burnsed, junior, pack meals during their Break for Change trip to Atlanta over spring break. / Photo courtesy Sarah Vest

He had a listless look in his eyes. A wild crop of bleached hair hung across his scraggly face. The lines under his eyes spoke of a hard life and a youth stolen a long time ago. He was homeless and hungry. He was only about 20.

This was just one of the people I met as I went with the first Break for Change group that traveled to Atlanta during spring break. I had the opportunity of helping to lead this group as we ministered with Street Grace and its partners.

Street Grace was formed in 2009 when a coalition of eight churches came together to address the issue of the commercial sexual exploitation of children in Metro Atlanta. It developed into an alliance of Christian church partners, community organizations and individual volunteers who are working together to end commercial sexual exploitation of children through a model of awareness, empowerment and engagement leading to social change.

Our role, as a Break for Change team, was to assist the partners of Street Grace.  We mainly worked with StandUp For Kids and Wellspring Living.

Located in inner city Atlanta, StandUp For Kids ministers to homeless and at-risk youth within the city. Wellspring Living runs an aftercare program for women and girls who have been victims of exploitation and abuse.

The haggard young man I described at the beginning was one of a number of youth that we had the chance to see on Wednesday night when StandUp For Kids opened its doors to provide a warm meal and place of refuge.

Many of these youth were people I would have walked past on an average day in the city and never thought twice about where they would lay there head that night or how they got their next meal. They were the young people that the pimps wanted to find—vulnerable because their basic needs were not being met.

On Friday, we vacuumed concrete floor, threw away leaves, washed windows, and scrubbed steps at Wellspring Living. This was all a part of an effort to prepare Wellspring’s new facility for the arrival of girls who were victims of forced prostitution and are now a part of Wellspring’s residential recovery program.  These were hard jobs that needed to be done in order to move the renovation of the grounds and building forward.

Our week consisted of doing simple jobs for people who need extra-hands.  Even though it seemed small to us, everywhere we went the help was immensely appreciated.  These ministries rely on volunteers to get many of their jobs done.

Some may ask how much the  Break for Change trips really accomplish.  I can say from my experience and the conversations we had with those in the field, that it is the small things that empower lasting change.  Our team was able to help a much bigger cause in little ways that may not be realized by most, but will be felt by all in one way or another.