This past November the Dayton City Council passed a city ordinance which bans registered sex offenders from using the Clyde W. Roddy Dayton public library.

The action follows a similar ban passed in Knox County and signed by Mayor Tim Burchett in September which prevented registered sex offenders from using the 19 public libraries located in that county.

With the passage of the Knoxville ban came threats that the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) would file a lawsuit.

When asked about the possibility of a similar lawsuit against the city of Dayton, Tom Solomon, the city recorder, said, “[The ACLU] will go after Knoxville first. They’ll pick the bigger city.”

He added this was because smaller cities generally follow the direction of larger cities. He said he did not know if there was currently such a court case in Knoxville.

According to Dayton Councilman Steve Randolph, the city had not experienced any issues from sex offenders using the Dayton City Library in the past, but when they became aware they were able to pass such a law, they decided it would be beneficial to the people of Dayton.

Though the ordinance is currently in effect, the city council decided at the December meeting to have the ordinance reviewed by Susan Arnold, the city attorney.

“We instructed our attorney to review it to make sure it complies with Tennessee state law to ensure it does not violate someone’s

civil rights,” Randolph said. “I do want to make sure we haven’t done something that will create problems down the road.”

Randolph said the reaction from the citizens of Dayton has been positive. “I have heard from several people who have told me they felt we had acted properly to protect the people using the library,” Randolph said.

Fellow Councilman Gary Louallen added, “I’ve received a lot of compliments from people who said they didn’t want sex offenders in [the public library] around the children … I’ve not had anyone come up to me personally who was against it.”

However, Louallen did add that some citizens wanted the bill to be revisited to make it more specific about banning only those offenders who pose a threat, such as pedophiles and violent offenders. Louallen said this was one of the reasons the ordinance was being reviewed by the city attorney.

There is no word as to when the city attorney will finish reviewing the law and present it to the city council. The next city council meeting is scheduled for Feb. 6, 2012, and the docket for the meeting should be available the Friday before the meeting at the Dayton City Municipal building for any interested in attending.

Students found this offensive sign hung on a tree near Long Dorm last semester / Photo courtesy of Vincent Smith

What started as Diversity Week, ended with campus-wide rumors about racism at Bryan. Students attending chapel on Jan. 25 heard the “racism announcement” and without specifics, questions and speculations began to spread. Students spoke of racial slurs being carved into trees and minority students leaving Bryan at the end of the semester.

When asked to help clarify some of the rumors, Dean of Student Life Bruce Morgan had no comment for Triangle.

The truth, according to Student Body President Vincent Smith, is that Diversity Week was not planned as a response to recent racist acts on campus, but rather was planned at the beginning of last semester as part of the year’s chapel themes.

The week’s theme did, however, raise questions amidst the student body as to whether the Bryan community actually needed a series of lectures on diversity. According to Smith, many students vocalized the feeling that racial or cultural insensitivity wasn’t a problem at Bryan and that caused the formation of the group that made the announcement in chapel last Wednesday.

In a way, the announcement was meant to validate the need for the diversity series, according to Smith. It was also meant to challenge the student body in several ways: to make students more aware of the problem of racial or cultural insensitivity at Bryan, to get students thinking about ways to overcome ignorance or unawareness to insensitivity, and to encourage students to respond to derogatory or insensitive language they may hear on campus as brothers and sisters in Christ.

“[The announcement] was meant to bring us together [in this effort],” said Smith.

In general, the majority of racial insensitivity at Bryan comes in the form of tactless stereotypical comments, according to Smith who has been one of the primary people these incidents have been reported to.

“Individual students are kind of dealing with it on our own because it’s a heart issue and I don’t know how much reporting it to the administration would help,” said Smith. “But ignorant comments happen all the time.”

Another example, according to Smith, occurred last semester when a sign was posted on a tree near the pathway in front of Long dorm containing racial slurs and other derogatory language (see picture). The context of the sign is unknown, but despite being offensive and talked about by many, the sign was left up for three days.

“People just left it there for three days and it was left up to one of the groups being discriminated against to take it down,” said Smith referring to Senior Ashton Alexander who tore down the sign.

Insensitivity has not just been limited to racial issues, but happens toward many minority groups on campus, according to Smith.

“If there’s just one black person or one democrat in a classroom, that’s often highlighted [in some way],” said Smith. “Someone may make a joke about poor people living off of welfare and people laugh, but there could be someone in the room that comes from a home that does.”

There have also been cases of students knowingly saying malicious and racially insensitive things, but of this category, Smith did not feel comfortable sharing specific examples with Triangle.

“Students are leaving [Bryan] more because they just don’t feel at home here,” said Smith. “It’s not really in response to a specific incident or a sudden decision, but more a cumulative effect of little things.”

For Sophomore Taylor Hutchinson, (one of the students who is considering leaving Bryan at the end of this semester) the biggest problem with racism at Bryan has been small, snide comments and generalizations, particularly on Twitter and Facebook.

Although racism is not Hutchinson’s reason for leaving Bryan, it has been an added “push to leave.” She feels like she’s been put in a box in a negative way and doesn’t want to be looked at based on the color of her skin, but rather her beliefs.

“As the body of Christ we need to understand that, yes, we are different, but we are the body of Christ,” she said. “Once we understand that, then we can start to see our differences as a positive instead of a negative.”

Smith said that the message and movement begin stressed right now is not to be oversensitive, but to fight insensitivity by working towards being more aware.

“Recognize and be aware that there are different cultures at Bryan and some things that are funny to you may be insensitive to others,” he said.

Hutchinson feels that now that the problem has been recognized at Bryan, action needs to be taken.

“We need to start seeking a more diverse campus,” she said. “Not just in students, but also with faculty and staff.”

Smith also emphasized that this issue is not one that we should limit to addressing just during the time we are at Bryan.

“This is something that we can take out of our experiences in this community to the world, because the world has this problem as well,” he said. “There is a bigger significance.”

The Office of Student life recorded that about 35 students face work hours for skipping chapel, as of last Wednesday, November 30. OSL said that this number is about the same as last year.

With such a small number of students facing discipline for skipping chapel, the college is unconcerned with students skipping the three-times-a-week corporate gathering.

“It is adults making decisions based on their priorities,” said Ben Norquist, Director of Faith and Mission, about students skipping chapel. He, however, recognizes that the college has rules in place which must be enforced. One part of Norquist’s duties is to direct chapel.

Despite all the requirements and rules about chapel, Norquist sees chapel as a primary ingredient to the Bryan experience. He said though pursing the goal of chapel, to study and worship together, a sense of belonging is forged. He said that it’s the only time when faculty, staff and students listen to speakers, pray and worship.

“It’s a core part of the Bryan experience,” he said.

For the students that chose to skip chapel the student handbook outlines what is allowed: each student is given eight skips a semester, which can be used as the student chooses. These could be anything from doctor visits and job interviews (as mentioned in the handbook) to Call of Duty campaigns and naptimes. The college will only grant excused absences from chapel for college-sponsored events, for example, to a team traveling to a game.

Once the ninth skip is recorded, the student receives 10 points in warning. If the student skips one more day, they face work hours. If the student continues to refuse to go to chapel, they may face probation.

Dr. Ken Turner finished writing his first book / Photo courtesy of estudent

Ricky Angel
Guest Writer

After four years of research and writing, Dr. Ken Turner has finally completed and published his dissertation, titling it “The Death of Deaths in the Death of Israel: Deuteronomy’s Theology of Exile.” In his work Turner interacts with many current biblical issues such as language, theology, and other Old Testament issues, but his main focus of study is on the book of Deuteronomy and the meaning of exile. In particular, Turner examines Israel’s exile and restoration as a nation, and its connection to the death and resurrection of Christ.

“One of my favorite parts about writing the book was how it brought a lot of issues together,” said Turner. “It talks about how to read big picture theology, and it’s focused on a biblical text. It’s hard to find a dissertation focused on a biblical text these days.”

The book highlights Israel’s exile as reflection on the spiritual death of man. God promised Israel restoration after the nation had been exiled, and this covenant reprents God’s promise of eternal life after death to mankind.

While the book is available to the public, it’s not an “easy read” by any means because it is filled with in-depth analysis and discussion meant mostly for the minds of experienced biblical scholars.

“I mean, it’s basically a re-work of my dissertation, so it’s really for the Bible nerds,” laughed Turner. “Put it this way, I refuse to dedicate it to my wife because she refuses to read it.”

One of the biggest obstacles that Turner faced while writing the book was trying to manage something that touched on so many different aspects of Christianity. “It was really hard to organize it, and to put the pieces together, “said Turner. “I had no idea what my conclusions were going to be at first, but thankfully [his research] lead me to a place that was good.”

The book will soon be available in the bookstore on campus.

SGA is sponsoring a canned food drive Monday, Dec. 5 through Friday, Dec. 9. The cans will go to We Care’s food pantry to help those in need around Christmas.

To get students to participate in the canned food drive, the Office of Student Life will take away three points per can turned in up to 15 points – five cans.

The point forgiveness incentive was based off something that senior Daniel Grayton’s hometown library had done in the past with overdue book fines.

“The idea is that we don’t want anyone to have to get work hours for Christmas. We can turn the points, which are supposed to be a friendly reminder of what the rules are, into a positive thing,” Grayton said. “Really, it’s a win-win situation because you help someone and you don’t do work hours, as opposed to just letting the points expire or getting work hours and having to either pay for them or to do the work.”

The cans will not affect the work hours already received before the announcement was made Monday morning during chapel. They will help make sure that students don’t get more work hours before the semester is out.

“You really won’t be able to go out and get more points and then just bring in cans,” Grayton said. “You won’t be able to get those points forgiven. It only applies to points you already have.”

SGA hopes to continue the canned food drive in future years.

“This year is the first time it’s been done,” Grayton said. “And we’ll see if it’s something that can happen in the future – every Christmas.”

Cans must be brought in to OSL, who also requests the yellow point slip to make finding the points in the system easier and quicker.

Student Body Vice President Daniel Grayton reviews a list of concerns brought to the forum by a student while other SGA representatives talk to students about their concerns / Triangle photo by Natali Masti

Natali Masti
Triangle Reporter

Tuesday SGA Senate hosted a new type of event to better serve the student body — an open forum.

Freshman representative Kerrie Reinhardt said that, “[the] purpose for this event was to figure out what issues the students care most about.  Once we understand the student’s opinions on these key issues we can figure out the best way to represent these ideas to the administration here at Bryan.”

While SGA usually receives comments from students sporatically throughout the year, this event was designed to provide an opportunity for students to come directly to SGA to give suggestions or complaints, according to Sophomore representative Joseph Murphy.

To the dismay of SGA, only about five to ten people took advantage of the opportunity. Reinhardt, however, was not daunted by the few numbers and maintained an optimistic outlook.

“The student forum turned out very well,” said Reinhardt. “We had several very useful ideas brought [to our attention] that we can start working on immediately. I hope the student body realizes that we listened very carefully to what they had to say, and that we will try our absolute best to fix the problems that were brought up tonight.”

Senior representative, Ryan Anderson, commented about the small number in attendance at the forum saying, “I feel that if we had a better turnout, this could have proved very beneficial, but for the ones who did show up we will address their questions and concerns as best we can.”

Anderson was not the only SGA member with this mindset.

“I was a little disappointed by the number of people who attended,” said Murphy. “However, those who did come brought some fantastic concerns.”

Some concerns voiced at the forum were nothing new like who can use the pianos in Rudd or not being allowed to wear shorts in Mercer, according to Murphy.  However, there were some complaints that hadn’t been brought to SGA before.

“[Some complaints] were completely new to me,” said Murphy. “For instance, more than one person complained about the school building a new townhouse when the already existing dorms need so much work.  It’s suggestions like these that made this event worthwhile.”

Anderson believes that the forum was a good way to connect to the student body and has high hopes for another SGA sponsored forum, encouraging anyone who wants to see change to attend.

“If enough people come for the same cause, there is a better chance that things will get changed.”

Senate also has placed a suggestion box just outside of the Subzone area, which they check regularly to provide all students with a voice.

Senior Lauren Twombly is one of four Musical Theater majors that will perform in a showcase in Rudd this Friday / Photo courtesy of eStudent Directory

Timothy Baldi
Senior Reporter

Four of Bryan’s Musical Theater majors will perform their senior recital this Friday at 7:30 P.M..

Seniors Lauren Twombly, Kelsey Williamson, Ashley Boyd and Betsy Hailes are excited to perform pieces such as “Welcome to the 60’s” from “Hairspray.”

“It’s just bucket-loads of fun, we all enjoy it so much,” said Twombly. “I think we are all excited about our solos,” she added. “All of the songs that we picked really say something about our personalities.”

“[The recital is] an opportunity to showcase all the voice lessons and work we have done with Mrs. Keck, and to see how far both she and Mr. B. have helped us in becoming stronger performers,” said Twombly.

Together, the four seniors have prepared everything for the recital including the sets, the song selections and advertisements around campus.

“It’s a lot of work, but we do have a lot of help and guidance,” said Twombly.

Director of Bryan's Physical Plant Doug Schott meets an unusual amount of intentional campus vandalism this semester with prayer / Photo courtesy of eStudent Directory

Tim Baldi
Senior Reporter

I expected to interview a grumbling, old, perhaps outraged, man complaining of terrible students misusing his beloved property and ignoring his hard work. I might be exaggerating a bit, but when I entered Bryan’s physical plant, I was surprised to find a gentle soul who, although still relatively old, harbored even less anger over a shredded couch than he did spilled milk.

Director of Bryan’s Physical Plant Doug Schott contacted the Triangle requesting an article about the vandalism that surfaces on campus. Looking around campus, some of this damage is evident: eggs thrown against buildings and pool cues that have been destroyed in the Game Room. However, this semester has been different, according to Schott.

Schott described the average school year saying that litter is generally a problem for the first couple weeks of school before students get into the habit of picking up after themselves. Besides various repairs around campus, the average Fall semester has never been characterized by vandalism. During the Spring semester, when fewer activities are available, studies become tedious, there are fewer daylight hours and football season ends, property damage is a more regular occurrence.

This semester, however, a deliberate type of vandalism has surfaced on campus. According to Schott, one or more students have taken methodical effort to damage school property. In the main entrance of Summer’s Gym, an individual kicked-in all the electric outlets in the room. In Woodlee, a knife or some other sharp object was used to cut through the left arms of two chairs, causing $373 of damage. In addition, pool cues are repeatedly broken in the Game Room — this would not be significant except the damage goes beyond normal wear-and-tear use of pool cues. The heads are intentionally unscrewed and trashed where the school cameras cannot record, even when the heads are glued to the sticks.

According to Gary Cheon, a school service technician, these cues cost $25 to replace. Because of the consistent damage, Game Room maintenance has become a weekly part of his work, fixing any damage in the rooms and replacing pool cues.

Schott believes that only one student is responsible for most of this intentional damage.

“It speaks to our need to be supportive…the goal is not to hammer somebody,” he said. “I can fix stuff, but I can’t necessarily fix this guy.”

What shocked me most entering this interview was the value Schott and Cheon placed on the student’s head. Hundreds of dollars and many hours have been wasted repairing furniture that was needlessly damaged, yet these men pray for those who vandalize the school.

“We love the kids,” said Schott. The work done around campus is “done with a sense of ministry … [to] provide the best living and learning environment that we can.”

Media Specialist David Beisner shares his thoughts on Bryan's involvement in social media and the potential it may not be taking advantage of / Triangle photo by Natali Masti

Natalie Masti
Triangle Reporter

How many people know that Bryan College was one of the first colleges to join Facebook? Not many, but it’s true. Facebook began in February 2004 and that fall Bryan was already taking steps to have its own Facebook page.

David Beisner, Bryan College’s Media Specialist, remembers that during his freshmen year his friends were pressuring the IT department to get on Facebook because at that time people could only get a page with a “.edu” email address and a letter of approval from their school.

Some people have said that because of this Bryan is a pioneer in social media, but Beisner disagrees with this statement. He says that Bryan is “a pioneer for social media at schools in our area, but that is it.” There are a couple colleges around Bryan, like Chattanooga State, that use social media but not many.

David Beisner / Image courtesy of Estudent directory

Beisner says that he has not done broad searches, but thinks that Bryan is a “little behind the time.” This could all change, according to Beisner, if Bryan hired someone to work on social media full time.

Why is social media so important, then? Because it’s the number one way alumni interact with the college, according to Beisner. Bryan used to spend lots of money on another website, but then they made the alumni page on Facebook and realized that a lot more connections were made through that.

Lots of people have taken advantage of that and if you go to www.bryan.edu/websites you can see all the different primary sites that Bryan uses. If you click on the Facebook link, you will see all the different pages that Bryan has like the home page, chapel, alumni, music department, and even rugby.

Twitter has the same results and Beisner believes that Twitter has much potential, potential that’s not used “to the full extent it could or should be used [at Bryan.]” This simply comes back to the problem of not having enough manpower.

Bryan just started up a Google+ site a couple weeks ago and is working on figuring it all out. They are also working on getting more onto YouTube, but their primary video source is Vimeo for right now.