Bryan students on “make-out patrol” last friday night were followed and flashed by a van of people wearing clown masks / Photo courtesy of etsy.com

Andrew Wilber
Multimedia Editor

About midnight on Friday, Sept. 2, a group of Bryan students including junior Milton Bell, sophomore Matt Bell, two other juniors and a sophomore were driving around campus in Matt Bell’s SUV on “make-out patrol,” an activity in which students with flashlights drive around looking for couples alone and preach or shout the gospel at them. When another vehicle, a gold van, with two men in clown masks appeared on the scene, the moral vigilantes got more than they had bargained for.

“We had seen the vehicle once and thought it was just another kid doing what we were doing,” said Matt Bell who was driving his SUV with the make-out patrollers inside.

I didn’t have a flashlight, so I was just kind of looking over when the van pulled alongside and [I] looked at one of the clowns riding shotgun––just this big old guy––probably 300 pounds wearing a mask,” he said. “I guess you could say I was kind of talking crap to them saying ‘Hey girl, looking good tonight!’ just kind of poking fun at them…. and I could tell that if he wasn’t wearing that mask he wouldn’t be keeping a straight face… he was just laughing and looking at his friend who was driving.”

The students on make-out patrol, who were parked next to the baseball field at this point, still assumed that the two clowns in the van were doing the same thing that they were––that is enforcing the Student Life Handbook’s PDA rules as a recreational activity––and decided to pull away to let them continue, even pointing out another group of students on the baseball field who they thought might be potential targets for make-out patrol. When Matt Bell attempted to back his vehicle up though, the van backed up with them. The clown in the front passenger seat then reached out the window and popped open the handle of the vans sliding door from the outside.

“He was like, ‘You guys gotta get a load of this,’” said Matt Bell.

The door slid open revealing an obese woman who was “messing with her top,” said Matt Bell. “I was just like, okay ‘I’m gonna get away’ and started shifting gears. Unfortunately for all the people who were looking to the right down toward the baseball field, they get done looking that way, and they just get smacked with this image right as they turn and look,” he said.

“And before we know it, out she whips the ——,” said Milton Bell, who was also in the make-out patrol vehicle.

When the students finally managed to escape, they immediately called the police.

“It wasn’t until we got on the phone with the police and were describing the… event… that we realized just how ridiculous the story sounded,” said Milton Bell.

Assistant Dean of Community Life Tim Shetter was also notified.

The other students in the make-out patrol vehicle confirmed that they were there, but had no comment on the incident for Triangle.

Student Government Association has created a new executive treasury position, seeking to ease the load of dealing with finances within Events Council.

Junior Amy Morris and senior Chad Byers, the vice presidents of on and off-campus events, appointed junior Aaron Hunt to the unofficial position of Events Council treasurer at the beginning of  spring semester.

The new position will not be official unless senate amends the SGA constitution by the end of the semester.

According to Morris, this semester is a trial run to test the effectiveness of the office.

Events Council spends more money than class SGAs, according to Morris.  Previously, the administrative assistant or a class vice president has handled the finances of events council, but the task is not officially assigned to anyone.

According to Hunt, the position is similar to the other offices of Events Council because he helps plan events and share ideas for implementing events. However, the treasurer is different because he runs the budget, gives reports to the vice presidents of on and off-campus events and turns in receipts to reimburse students who purchase items for events.

Because Events Council has been planning more events than in past years, members of SGA decided to add a treasurer position to take care of the money and function as an extra hand, said Morris.

So far, Hunt has been involved in the planning of the Talent Show, Barbarian Wars and the Midnight Cruise.

According to Morris, the position may become the third executive office purposely filled by appointment. The vice presidents of on and off-campus events will appoint a student to fill the position next year if the trial is effective.

Eager to experience more than just your average movie night, a local audience gathered in Rudd Auditorium Tuesday evening to gain new perspective on the Ten Commandments by previewing a movie that claims to “change everything.”

New movie, "I Am", previewed in Rudd Chapel last Tuesday night. Around 120 students and Dayton residents attended/Triangle photo by Krissy Proctor

Bryan students and members of the Dayton community were invited by Student Government Association to attend a preview of the 20th Century Fox film “I Am” at 9:30 pm.

The viewing was free of charge thanks to the film’s producers who decided that the initial release would be for churches and other Christian organizations throughout the country.

Corinne Livesay, director of web communications, was the original sponsor for the film’s release at Bryan, approaching many different campus departments to see if they would host the showing before SGA volunteered.

“I had watched a prerelease version on a DVD they sent me and was impressed with the message of the film and how well done it was,” she said.

Producers intended to release the film on Oct. 10 (10/10/10) in order to capitalize on the subject matter of “I Am,” a story of 10 strangers in the Los Angeles area who unwittingly live out the Ten Commandments in their day-to-day lives–experiencing successes and failures, and through it all a strange, guiding voice of love and compassion. However, since the college was on Fall Break during that time, SGA was forced to move back the premiere.

“The time was less than ideal for accomplishing one goal we had hoped to accomplish, which was to get people from off campus to attend the premiere. But we decided to take advantage of the opportunity at least for our students to be able to attend,” Livesay said.

According to sophomore Amy Morris, vice president of on-campus events, roughly 120 people attended the preview, both students and members of the Dayton community.

After the film, sophomore Wendy Krauss said she found the film intriguing, but sometimes hard to follow in the way that it was presented.

Junior Carlin Nasiatka agreed.

“I really enjoyed it, but I think that it’s one of those movies you have to see twice in order to fully understand,” she said.

Current senior Rob Franklin spent two weeks making 499 napkin roses to ask current sophomore Erin Wright to banquet last spring/Photo courtesy of Erin Wright

Oh yes, ladies and gentlemen it is that time again. The “Sherlock Holmes” themed Homecoming banquet lies just around the corner, and with it comes the overwhelming responsibility of pulling off a banquet “ask” that will be remembered for semesters to come.

From asks with sidewalk chalk to announcements in chapel, it feels like everything has been tried this year. However, here are a few tales from this and semesters past where askers really pulled out all the stops to get the answer they wanted.

Franklin/Wright ask of spring ‘10

What girl wouldn’t like to receive roses for banquet? That’s what current senior Rob Franklin asked himself last semester when planning to ask current sophomore Erin Wright to the banquet, “A Night on the French Riviera.”

However, a problem lay in acquiring a stellar amount of the expensive flowers on a poor college student’s budget. Solution? A total of 499 paper napkin roses made over two weeks and delivered during open dorm to the lady’s residence, Robinson Hall.

“I had taught her how to make them and so it was kind of an inside joke between us,” he explained. “[The napkins] actually come in packages of 500…but one day my fingers were sticky.”

Wright returned to find a trail of white napkins leading to her flower-filled room along with a note for her to receive rose number 500 in the kitchen, a real one. Of course, she said yes.

Dukes/Shannon ask of fall ‘08

It’s the most popular ask method on campus: the scavenger hunt. Present senior Seth Dukes was hard pressed to come up with an original ask idea for the “Under the Sea” themed banquet when he suddenly thought of a new twist on the old classic.

After searching for clues with the help of friends, now senior Kelly Shannon made her way to the volleyball court outside Long residence where a box lay in the sand with her next clue. Opening it, she found Duke’s head smiling up at her – literally.

On Dukes instruction, friends of the two had buried him beneath the sand before placing the box upon his head and leaving him to his fate.

“I asked her to go; she was a little surprised, but yeah, she said ‘yes,’” he said recounting the incident with a grin.

Findley/Morgan ask of spring ‘10

“It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing” – but when now sophomore Kelly Findley asked Christina Morgan, also now a sophomore, his ask definitely did.

During the Sunday evening swing dancing in Centennial Park, Findley took Morgan for a spin on the floor, stopping in the middle of the dance to get down on one knee.

“Her roommates gave me the idea, Amy Morris and Katie Ratliff,” he said. “We were talking, and there’s this move in swing dancing where it looks like you’re proposing…So we figured,’ Hey, we could get a piece of paper that said ‘banquet?’ and put it in the box instead of the ring.”

Her reaction was worth the temporary halt in the dance.

“It’s kind of hard to describe,” Findley said laughing and sitting up straight. “But it was something like,’YESSSSSSSSSSSS!!!”

Harris/Warren ask of fall ‘10

Last week, several people might have noticed the giant paper crane sitting on the pool table in the Lion’s Den. If you guessed it was a banquet ask, you guessed right.

Freshman Luke Harris wanted to be different when he asked Katie Warren, also a freshman, to this year’s banquet. So taking three of her dearest interests, he composed an idea that was sure to make her curious.

“I believe the number was a 52-inch wingspan and it was about a meter tall,” he said. “She likes Japanese culture….but it was only the second one I’d ever made.”

Harris also wrote a poem with references to “Avatar: the Last Air-Bender” for Warren in Dwarven Runes, which she can read. Her answer? Harris says it was a definite “yes.”

Mrs. Judy Olsen’s Top Pick?

As a central figure in campus life, Mrs. Judy Olsen, the administrative assistant for the Office of Student Life, has been involved with multiple asks over the years, including one where a girl insisted her asker kiss Mrs. Judy’s hand on camera. Her favorite ask, though, was one where she was not included.

“It was several years ago…the young man was the one playing the special music in chapel and at the last part he wrote a verse on the end of the song to ask her to banquet,” she said smiling. “That was a pretty good one.”

Alison Young, student body president

“SGA is more than a bunch of people who sit around a room and discuss issues of the school; it is people who are proactive about the school and have a passion for the students,” said junior Allison Young, student body president-elect.

“Servanthood through leadership” is Young’s vision for SGA next year.

Young’s biggest passion is volleyball. She is co-captain of the Bryan volleyball team and has been to several European countries including Austria and the Czech Republic to compete

She likes to spend her free time reading, playing Wii Sport and Rockband. Her favorite book is “Redeeming Love” by Francine Rivers.

Amanda Elswick, student body vice president

Senior Amanda Elswick, student body vice president-elect, grew up on a horse farm in Richmond, Va.

Elswick enjoys watching old Mickey Mouse cartoons. However, most of her free time is spent reading or playing her Taylor guitar.

“I’m kind of a bit of a coffee snob,” said Elswick describing her coffee preference, “I like to grind my own bold-flavored coffee and drink it black.”

Her favorite memories include cooking with her mom, going on mission trips with her family to El Salvador and learning to play the guitar from her Dad.

Amy Morris, vice president of on-campus events

Triangle photo by Staff Writer Lana Douglas.

“SGA’s purpose is not to dictate events; we would really like students to bring their own event ideas to SGA so that we can help coordinate them,” said freshman Amy Morris, vice president of on-campus events-elect.

One of the possible activities for next year is “Movies on the Lawn,” she said.

Some of the interesting things she has done include living in Cambodia, taking surfing lessons in Australia, jumping onto a moving train and eating a fried tarantula. She says she likes goofing off with friends and trying new things.

Her favorite Bible verse right now is 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, “‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

Morris’ favorite cartoons are “Arthur” and “The Magic School Bus.”

Chad Byers, vice president of off-campus events

Triangle photo by Staff Writer Lana Douglas.

Junior Chad Byers, vice president of off-campus events-elect, hopes to draw from his experience working for student life camp last summer to aid him in his new SGA position.

He enjoys hiking, being outdoors and playing ultimate Frisbee®. Byers said he is taking up art after attending the CLF “Arts and Missional Living” retreat last weekend.

Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 is one of his favorite Bible verses, and his favorite TV show is “Scrubs.”

Mostly, however, he said he enjoys friendly conversation and getting to know people.

Courtesy of Freshman SGA.

Freshman Class officers and SGA Events Council have combined their planning abilities for “A Night on the Riviera” spring banquet and cruise scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 27.

SGA’s Events Council wanted to bring back the midnight cruise because of its popularity last year, according to Vice President of Off Campus Events Elijah Ammen. When the weekend of the 27th became available, they checked with freshman SGA and coordinated to have the banquet and cruise on the same night.

This is the first time two large events like this have been planned for one night, according to freshman Vice President Amy Morris.

The banquet will begin at 6 p.m. with “A Night on the Riviera.”

“We want people to see and smell the river,” said Morris. The decorations and atmosphere will create an outdoor European restaurant atmosphere.

“We plan on this banquet being classier than ordinary banquets,” said freshman Treasurer Kelly Findley. People will be able to focus on table conversation instead of the stage events.

A significant portion of the budget is being spent on providing good food, according to Findley.

“The food is going to be awesome,” said Morris.

At 10:30 p.m. after the banquet, students will begin boarding the midnight cruise, according to Ammen. The ship will leave the dock at 11 p.m. and return at 1 a.m.

There will be a wider range of activities on the two-hour cruise this year. According to Ammen, the cruise will have all the same activities that students enjoyed on last year’s cruise, in addition to a video game arcade, card games and possibly karaoke; events council is also currently searching for a jazz band to provide music for the cruise.

What defines talent? Is it a natural ability? A unique quirk? A practiced skill? Or, is it the ability to evoke laughter for the purpose of drawing together a group of people?

Saturday night, the Freshman Class held auditions for the annual Freshman Talent Show, which is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 21 at 8 p.m.

“We wanted to start auditions early so we would have time to get all the technical issues worked out– make sure CDs are in the right format, mics are hooked up properly, jacks for guitars are correct, etc.,” said Freshman Vice President Amy Morris.

“You never know what might come up, and we want to have time to deal with anything.”

As of the Saturday auditions, there are 18 acts scheduled to perform in the show.

“There were 17 last year, and even though I was told that was a bit long, I really don’t want to have to cut anyone,” said Morris. “We want to keep it as open as possible.”

Acts will vary from singing, to juggling, to dancing, to improv, and will incorporate upperclassmen as well as freshmen, and even family members.

“As long as a freshman’s talent is being shown, we are okay with whoever they want to incorporate,” said Morris.

“This one is going to be different from previous years in that there is much more singing, but still a wide range of talent. However, the genres vary, and the freshmen have done a great job with the order and layout of the overall show,” said Tim Shetter, who was one of the staff members approving the auditions.

Though a bit apprehensive about the show being repetitive due to all the singing, Morris seems to be very confident about how well the show is coming together.

“After watching the Junior Class’ freshman show DVD, I was very impressed. If I can get ours to be half as well pulled together, I will be happy,” said Morris. “But, it’s okay even if it doesn’t run perfectly, because we are just doing it to have fun and to bring our class together.”

“If there is one thing I’m not worried about in the least, though, it is that Chad Byers and Trent Gay are going to be emcee-ing,” said Morris.