Oklahoma Baptist University - Yahnseh Yearbook (Shawnee, OK)

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42 seniors hang green after festive dinner Faculty and Chorale perform opera Christmas is a time for traditions, and Saturday, December 5, the OBU community participated in its annual traditions of the Feast of the Boaris Head and the Hanging of the Green. The Feast of the Boaris Head is a dinner with the atmosphere of an old English palace. Dr. Bob R. Agee changed roles from president of the university to king of the land. Jerry Cotton, assis- tant professor of speech and theatre, narrated the program which included songs and pageantry per formed by faculty and staff members wearing tradi- tional English costumes. Members of the University Chorale served as hosts and hostess at the dinner tables. After the Feast of the Boar's Head, the diners moved to Raley Chapel for the Hanging of the Green ceremony. OBU's first Hanging of the Green was in WMU dorm. Representatives from all of the dormitories lighted candles and carried the light to their own residences. Now the students who are recognized in the ceremonies represent all types of students, not just dormitory residents. Dr. Randy Wood, associate dean of students for activities and GC director, said the honorees were Chosen by the student development staff from nominations made by faculty and staff members. To be selected, the student must be worthy of recognition, but not previously honored. Wood said 'inot previously honored means that the student cannot be a member of Mortar Board, Omicron Delta Kappa, Whois Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities or Harvest Court. Other criteria for selection included students who represent dorms, commuters, Shawnee residents, international students, married students and other segments of the OBU community.n They were to also be uexemplary of the OBLl ideals. Twenty-one senior women were honored. They were Sharon Adair, Elizabeth Adegboye, Connie Bierhalter, Cheryl Bower, Karen deCordova, Vickie Dodson, Lynne Langham, Debra Heinzig, Debbie Henning, Sara McGee, Sara Martin, Shari Moore, Ellen Odie, Lauri Pearson, Ronda Robbins, Diane Shively, Sherri Stoddard, Sara Taggart, Candy Treat, Catherine Weaver and Terri Wheeler. The men who were honored were Scott Ayers, Mark Betterton, Bill Buchanan, Ron Bullard, Kent Douglas, Dennis Heinzig, John Krake, Guy Lang- ham, Andy Latta, Mark Gibson, Jerry Johnson, Phil Maull, Frank Morris, Mark Romoser, Michael Ross, Ken Windle, Darryl Sewell, Glenn Watson, Don Wright, Phil Odie, and Steve Flippo. After the introduction of the honorees, they 26 T Hanging of the Green moved to various places throughout the chapel to hang the greenery. At the same time, white Christ- mas lights were turned on along the staircases on each side of the chapel. This tradition came from an ancient English tradi- tion when the people carried branches of evergreen into their houses in winter in hopes that the spirits of the woods and streams would take refuge there from the winter storms. With Christianity, the green- ery symbolizes everlasting life made possible through Christmas. Amahl and the Night Visitor was performed after the greenery was hung. The opera, by Gian-Carlo Menotti, is about a little crippled shepherd boy named Amahl who is visited by three oriental kings on their way to see the child that was born in Beth- lehem. Amahl was played by Mary Kay Parrish, associate professor of music. Amahl's mother was played by Rhetta Mayfield, assistant professor of music. In the role of the three kings were Jim Brown and Don Clark, assistant professors of music, and Dr. William Horton, professor of music. Dr. William Mitchell, professor of English, played the page while the Uni- versity Chorale performed as the shepherds and villagers. Sarah Zimmerman Mother and son. Amahl, played by Mary Kay Parrish, convinces his mother, Rhetta MayHeld, that she is not lying in the opera, Amahl and the Night Visitor.

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Christmas activities offer break during fall finals Spirit of Christmas comes alive When one thinks of Christmas, what comes to mind? Snow, the sound of sleigh bells, the ring of carolers singing? Well, maybe up north, but at OBU, Christmas-time was characterized by the rustling of pages as students prepared for final exams. Although studies were foremost on everyone's mind, activities were planned to get students into the holiday spirit. On December 5, the first weekend after Thanks- giving break, the Feast of the Boarts Head and Hanging of the Green were held. Students in the University Chorale served as hosts and hostesses at the dinner tables for the Feast. After the dinner, the festivities moved to Raley Chapel for the Hang- ing of the Green ceremony. Students participating in this tradition included the honorees who hung the green, and members of Chorale, while other students came to join in the celebration of Christ- mas. Aweek later CAB sponsored itAn Old Fashioned Christmas in the Kerr parlor, which received a good turnout of students. Pres. and Mrs. Agee read Tree lights sparkle on the oval as a tradition on campus. GC decorations are put up by Becky Holbrook, Kelly Gordon, nary Ramsey and Jennifer Cloyde for the Feast of the Boar's ead. the Christmas Story from the Bible and told of past Christmases they remembered. intermittently stu- dents sang Christmas carols, heard stories about Christmas in another country, and heard handbell ringers. This iiOid Fashioned Christmas helped set the right Christmas mood for many. Another event that topped off OBU'S Christmas was the turning on of the lights on the trees in the oval after the Bison's basketball game December 3. At the game, Bison Mascot Bobby Dyer dressed as Santa and handed out candy canes. After the game, students filed to the oval for the lighting and then to the GC for hot chocolate. Individual students celebrated Christmas by put- ting lights up in their dorm windows and by dec- orating Christmas trees for their rooms. The fourth floor of Baxter Hall in Brotherhood pooled their efforts and spelled out Jesus in their win- dows facing Raley Chapel. Although exams were fast upon students after their return from Thanksgiving, time was still found to get in the Christmas spirit. Cheryl Milam Christmas i 25

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Honorees Catherine Weaver and Jerry Johnson are announced before the greenery is hung. Medieval faculty? Marilyn Wood, Kathy Palen and Karen Barnes host the Feast of the Boar's Head Dinner. Hanging of the Green 27