Bryan College - Commoner Yearbook (Dayton, TN)

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THE COMMONER, 1931

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H HBBn MHHHMBna Faculty Dwight W. Ryther, Jr. B.S.C. and M.A., University of Georgia. Professor of English, History, and Commerce. Coach and Director of Student Activities Julia Anna Yancey B.S., North Carolina College for Women ; Graduate, Student of Peabody Con- servatory of Music and of the University of Virginia. Instructor in Art and Alusic THE COMMONER, 1931

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ON September iS, 1930, the first class to enter the William Jennings Bryan University began its march into the unknown mysteries of col- lege work. It was at two o ' clock that several hundred people gathered at the Rhea County courthouse — a building made famous through the valiant and successful efforts of William Jennings Bryan to uphold the truths of the Bible against the theory of evolution. Wisdom, Human and Divine, was the sub- ject chosen by Dr. Guille, the president of the University, for his opening address. The classes started in the old Rhea Central High School building, and al- though the building is not in the best of condition, it has met the needs for the first year of work. During the first quarter there were twenty-seven students enrolled. At the beginning of the second quarter this number had increased to seventy-four. The Class of ' 34 has not had all work and no play. Three plays were given by the Dramatic Club with most satisfactory results. A fifteen-piece orchestra has been formed under the expert direction of Airs. C. A. Monto} ' a and has played at many of the University and municipal services. A Halloween car- nival was given during the Halloween season, and a good time was enjoyed by all who attended. The hall and two rooms of the building were decorated to represent a field of shocked corn completely surrounded by a forest in full au- tumnal color. Basketball teams were formed for both the men and the women, and several games were played with — considering the lack of material and facilities — fair success. Just prior to the closing of the University two picnics were given to the graduating classes of the neighboring high schools. It is expected that these picnics will become an annual event. Perhaps one of the high spots of the class history is to be found in the mar- riage of Miss Edwina Wing to Mr. Charles Bailey of Erwin, Tennessee, which is also the home of the bride. The marriage, taking place on the tenth of Jan- uary, was not announced until the last week of school. On June the fourth, after a week of final examinations, the University closed a very interesting and most successful year. The students in Bryan ' s first class are now looking forward to their sophomore year, when they will no longer be lowly freshmen. Amy Cartright. Historian. 14 THE COMMONER, 1931