Written by Erin Speed and Rob Speed
Photographed by Erin Speed and Rob Speed
Hundreds of students, faculty, and guests swarmed the Triangle in anticipation for an integral moment in Bryan College’s history. After much anticipation, Dr. Mann cut a bright red ribbon and released a flood of excited students into the brand new campus area: The Overlook.
What was once the dingy remnants of a swimming pool surrounded by cracked concrete and a rusted chain-link fence is now the most exciting student hang-out spot – complete with firepits, swinging benches, a clean and shady pavilion and a breathtaking view of the valley that surrounds the college on Bryan Hill. Students rushed to grab free Bryan College baseball caps while happy chatter and laughter almost drowned out the loud, celebratory music.
“I’m super excited for the students,” Dr. Mann said. “I believe this will bring the student community together.”
Prior to the unveiling of the new location’s name, students submitted suggestions for its title. A couple days before the event, students voted on which of four suggestions to name the location, including suggestions such as “Lion’s Overlook” and “Mane’s Pavilion.”
In the end, the college decided to bypass the students’ suggestions and go with the name that the location was already colloquially known as – the Overlook. While the name had been suggested multiple times, the first recorded suggestion of this name was by student Libby Adams.
The area beside Summer’s Gymnasium used to house a full swimming pool, but for years, the pool has laid dry and empty. For the past year, workers have performed construction on the area, developing its stability and transforming it into a multifaceted location for students’ recreation and enjoyment. This was largely made possible by unnamed donors helping fund the school. While the Overlook had already been accessible to students for the beginning of the semester, this event was the first time it was officially named and honored as part of campus.
Many of the Bryan’s staff agree that the opening of the Overlook is a positive one for the school. While watching his kids play nearby, Dr. Gleason said of the event, “I think it is awesome. Yeah, I think it’ll bring people together.”
While food trucks were set up outside the Overlook to hand out free lemonade and ice cream, several inflatable playsets swayed on the grass, attracting children and college students alike. One of these was a large waterslide, which was one of the most popular attractions. When asked if he would try out the waterslide, Dr. Ricketts responded, “Probably not. Not dressed for it.”
That didn’t stop many college students who also did not have a swimsuit to wear. Many were hollering as much as the children were, slipping and stumbling up the rubber steps and screaming down into the inflatable pool of water at the bottom. Some had races through the rubber obstacle course, while their friends watched and cheered as they clung to melting ice cream cones.
Dr. Ricketts spoke fondly of his own experiences where staff and mentors made a space for students to get together and talk to each other. “I’m really thankful for that experience… And I really hope this will help develop relationships between the students here.”
