Bryan College - Commoner Yearbook (Dayton, TN)

Page 30 text:

The Seventies CHRIST ABOVE ALL Actualization was the theme of theSev- enties-the true realization of the dream of William Jennings Bryan. With needs for dormitory space increasing, the Col- lege, in 1971, bought Arnold Village, apartments previously built as married students ' homes, and turned them into men ' s housing. The year 1972 was noted for building. The beloved Octagon was removed to make room for a newer dorm. Ground- breaking and construction began on a new women ' s dormitory to house 105 women. The administration named this new residence hall for Mr. and Mrs. E.B. Arnold, founders and longtime trustees. Bryan ' s upperclass women joyously moved in on January 28 after only a year of waiting. Symbolic construction began on Rudd Memorial Chapel with the erection of a seventy-five foot high white aluminum and acrylic cross in 1972. Designed by Bryan art instructor Wayne Hook, the four-armed cross with corresponding tip symbolized Bryan ' s motto, Christ Above All. Actual construction of the chapel began in 1975. Originally conceived in 1970, the fine arts complex would hold eleven practice rooms, six classrooms, two art studios and seat 1,159 people. In 1976, Equitable Church Builders of Nashville completed the new chapel at a cost of $1,095,000. Student attractions became the popular pastime on campus. The renovated stu- dent center, the Lion ' s Den, provi ded the ideal place for relaxation and inter- collegiate fellowship. The 1975, 1976, and 1977 soccer teams spread the repu- tation of Bryan College all over the United States with their three con- secutive national championship titles. Almost as if to acknowledge Bryan ' s fruition of a dream, a memorial road sign giving the basic history and stand of the school was erected by the Ten- nessee Historical Committee in the 1979-1980 school year-Bryan ' s fiftieth anniversary.

Page 29 text:

Bryan Begins Building Expansion 1. Two new dormitories, Huston and Long, fot women and men respectively, were put into use in March 1964 after a short construction period of one year. 2. After a five-year process of appli- cation, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools accredited Bryan College in the fall of 1969- Pictured are Dr. Mercer (center) with Academic Dean Dr. Donald Scott (right) greeted by Director of Public Relations E.M. Steele (left) as they joyously return from Dallas. 3. The Chamber of Commerce erected two Welcome to Dayton-Home of Bryan College signs at the outskirts of town on Highway 27. 4. The new dormitories, the Administration building, and the Octagon are pictured as seen from the air. 5. Funds provided by the bequest of a Chattanooga businessman resulted in the building of the Summers Gymnasium which was completed in 1969. PP The Sixties 2

Page 31 text:

The College Continues to Grow MmBMHnHmnBHHHMcamMmHHBi 1. Workmen erected the spire for the Rudd Me- morial Chapel in 1972. 2. Construction of the chapel continued throughout the majority of the 1975-1976 school year and was finally com- pleted in the spring. 3. The student center, the Lionette, became the Lion ' s Den with a com- plete 1973 carpeting and renovation. 4. Bryan College soccer teams remained the NCCAA champions for three years in a row, starting in 1975. 5. The Tennessee Historical Committee, in 1979, erected a memorial marker, with word- ing composed by President Mercer, on Highway 27 bypass in front of Cedar Hill dormitory. 6. Available women ' s luxury housing increased with the addition of spacious Arnold dorm in 1972. 28 27 BRYAN COLLEGE candidate, former .ecratary ct «. •pok««m«n for religion imodornlnWgnd.memoll.t conic. i j j dlod hare five d«y« offer the Scodci E Trial of 1925. In tut.d u projection. Open sectarian, indep. ,.„„ committed lo Bib ' - ' The Seventh s