"Plato" will soon visit Lyon College to engage in dialogues with people who are interested in applying the great philosopher’s lessons to their own lives and societies.

On Thursday, Aug. 30 at 4 p.m., the Mabee-Simpson Library will host Dr. Martha Beck, associate professor of philosophy, as she presents her talk, "The Rise and Fall of Athenian Democracy."

Beck will dress in a toga like one worn by Plato and talk about "her" life experiences growing up in Athens. Audience members will ask her questions and she will try to answer them as Plato would have.

She will talk about Athens during the Golden Age when it prided itself on being the city that encouraged people to think for themselves, to study the natural world, to become educated about public policy, and to cultivate the good life for themselves and their fellow citizens.

Plato started a school, the Academy, so he could teach young people about what happened in Athens, how the Athenians lost political and intellectual freedom. He tried to educate young people to want to develop professional expertise and to use the authority they would have as adults to promote the common good.

The event free and open to the public. For more information, call (870) 793-1774.

Miss Arkansas Teen USA – and Lyon College freshman – Tiffany Greenstreet will soon return from her trip to Pasadena, Calif., where she competed in the Miss Teen USA competition.

The event was aired on NBC Universal Television on Aug. 24. Hilary Carol Cruz, Miss Colorado Teen USA, won the title of Miss Teen USA 2007.

Tiffany is spending her year as Miss Teen Arkansas championing the official causes of Miss Teen USA, which includes raising awareness for the D.A.R.E. Program, the Sparrow Club, Best Buddies, Do Something and MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving).

Her prize package included an all expense paid opportunity to represent Arkansas in the Miss teen USA competition in Pasadena.

Lyon College’s Kresge Gallery is exhibiting the work of an artist who paints about her world and the various influences that affect it. in her first solo exhibition.

Janelle Wisehart’s first solo exhibition, "Recent Work," is on exhibit from Aug. 27 —Sept. 27, and a closing reception is scheduled for that final day at 6 p.m.

"My emotions, ideas, people encountered, childhood memories, and religious beliefs all become a part of the catalyst that determines my work," she said.

Her paintings are autobiographical in nature. The content appears to be that of random pages taken from a private diary. The figures seem unaware they are being watched, and so they remain content and safe in their environment. Each painting reflects a state of fragility, which she uses as a strength to enhance their attractiveness within the surroundings they exist.

"The process involved in creating my paintings is the most vital and satisfying aspect of the works themselves," she said. "Starting with a quiet negative space, I introduce physical yet sensitive materials that give the satisfaction of immediacy. The figure is rendered and destroyed only for the purpose of giving it life again. Open white spaces bring silence to an already calm but awkward setting."

The small scale on which some of the paintings are rendered literally forces the viewer to come face to face with them. It is at this level of close encounter that causes an intimate connection of dialogue to form between the painting and the viewer.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Chris Valle, assistant professor of studio art, at (870) 698-4336 or by e-mail at: cvalle@Lyon.edu.

A Lyon College English professor well known for her expertise in the work of Flannery O’Connor by will give a lecture on Sept. 18 at 11 a.m. in Nucor Auditorium in honor of her receiving one of the College’s prestigious endowed professorships.

In April 2006, the Board of Trustees announced that Dr. Virginia Wray had been named the new W.C. Brown Jr. Professor of English. The Brown Professorship was established in 1980 by a gift from the late W. C. Brown of Hot Springs, a former trustee of the College and a member of the Class of 1915.

The focus of Dr. Wray’s scholarship is the life and work of the renowned writer Flannery O’Connor. The expertise she’s acquired has earned her a deep reservoir of respect among her colleagues and peers, but she said being honored by Lyon College in this way means more to her than all the praise she’s received from others.

"I’ve been working on O’Connor’s fiction for over 30 years now," she said at the time of her appointment. "In the process, I’ve gotten to know numerous other O’Connor scholars across the country and abroad. I cherish professional friendships with many of them and relish the respect and support they have given me over the years – and continue to give me – for my work. But as O’Connor would say, there’s nothing quite like ‘gettin reckernized at home!’ I’m honored by Lyon’s giving me the Brown professorship."

Wray’s lecture, "Flannery O'Connor and Lillian Smith: A Missed Opportunity?", has just been published in the new Flannery O’Connor Review. She hopes the lecture will engage Flannery O'Connor devotees as well as make some new O'Connor fans.

"She’s a great read who makes her readers laugh uncontrollably even as she leads them to deeper and often painful understandings of the world and of themselves," she said.

Wray’s "hidden agenda" is to introduce Lillian Smith to readers unfamiliar with her.

"Far too many people don't know her work and its formative effect on some of us baby boomers who came of age with the Civil Rights Movement," Wray said. "Every young woman -- especially in the South -- should still read ‘Killers of the Dream’."

Dr. Wray holds a Ph.D. from the University of South Carolina, an M.A. from Bryn Mawr College and a B.A. from Westhampton College, University of Richmond. She joined the Lyon faculty in 1986 and has served as associate dean of the faculty and as coordinator of Academic Support Services.

The newly formed Batesville Choral Society will begin rehearsing on Sunday, Sept. 9. Under the direction of Joel Plaag and Ceil Smith, the choir will rehearse on Sunday nights, from 7-9 p.m., in the sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church of Batesville, 775 E. Boswell St, and is open to any adult with a love of singing, regardless of experience. The choir will perform Franz Schubert's Mass in G on Sunday, Nov. 11, at 7:30 p.m. in the sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church.

"It's a chance to not only bring the community together to sing, but also supports the arts in Independence County," Plaag said. "A community chorus gets more people involved in singing and going to concerts because it's home-grown music made by our friends, our neighbors, and our families."

Plaag is the former conductor of the Brenham Chorale, a community chorus he founded while living in the small farming community of Brenham, Texas. Under Plaag's direction, the all-volunteer chorus grew to more than 100 people to present works like Brahms' Requiem, Haydn's Nelson Mass, and Dello Joio's A Jubilant Song. In 2003, Plaag brought 75 members of the Brenham Chorale to Carnegie Hall, where they sang Mozart's Requiem with two other choirs from New York and New Jersey. The Brenham Chorale is pictured above, as they gave a concert in preparation for their Carnegie Hall debut.

For more information, contact Plaag at (870) 698-4259 or come to the first rehearsal at First Presbyterian Church on Sunday, Sept. 9.

A new display shelf in the Mabee-Simpson Library honors a man with deep ties to Lyon College, and will host a rotating series of topics, themes and subjects. The Dahlquist Shelf is located by the videocassette collection in the front lobby.

The sign next to the shelf describes its importance in the following words:

"John Dahlquist was Academic Vice President and Dean of the Faculty at Lyon College from 1978 until 1992. His support of the Mabee-Simpson Library was crucial in its development. Dr. Dahlquist was the driving force behind increased college funding dedicated to the library’s physical and electronic resources. In addition, he donated more than 1,000 books to the library during the years he lived in Batesville. As the Dahlquists prepared to move to New Hampshire in 2007, he donated this small shelf along with more of his personal book collection. In honor of his commitment to the library, this shelf is now the Dahlquist Shelf, and will be used for rotating displays of materials from the wonderful collection that John and Diana Dahlquist helped build."

"The first display is a selection of books that Dr. Dahlquist actually donated. You can see the diversity of his contributions," Dean Covington, library director, said. "The displays of books from our collection will change every fortnight and focus on special subjects."

Covington urges the entire Lyon community to visit our new Dahlquist shelf often to take advantage of the rotating displays.

Sports

Garner elected to NAIA Hall of Fame

The NAIA Hall of Fame Committee has elected Former Lyon College head basketball coach and athletic director Terry Garner to the NAIA Hall of Fame in the Meritorious Service Category.

From 1980-1995 Garner served as head men’s basketball coach at Lyon and from 1986 to 2007 he was the school’s director of athletics. Garner stepped down as Lyon’s director of athletics June 30, to be closer to his family in Little Rock and to pursue other professional opportunities.

"For more than a quarter century, Coach Garner has provided a strong hand at the tiller," said Lyon College President Walter B. Roettger. "He has also provided a generous perspective of the role of athletics at a strong liberal arts college and strong leadership for our athletic programs. He is widely respected by campus and community and I am pleased to learn of his election to the Hall of Fame. It is very well deserved."

Over his illustrious career, Garner has earned numerous honors and recognitions for his work at Lyon, including TranSouth Athletic Director of the Year, NAIA District 17 Coach of the Year, NAIA Area V National Coach of the Year and AIC Coach of the Year. The former coach and athletic director has also been named to the athletic halls of fame at both the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and Lyon College.

"These recognitions not only reflect Coach Garner’s coaching and administrative skills," said Roettger, "but also the respect that he commands from his fellow coaches and athletic directors."

At Lyon, Garner took a leadership role in the construction of Scots Baseball Field, the Kelley Complex and Huser Soccer Field, and witnessed the student athlete population grow from just 35 student athletes to more than 170. He has also overseen the addition of men’s and women’s soccer, women’s golf and women’s fast-pitch softball programs as well as the restart of baseball, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s tennis and women’s volleyball.

"Coach Garner has overseen the growth of our varsity, physical education and intramural programs," said Roettger, "and the creation and maintenance of new programs knitting them nicely into the fabric of the existing team sports."

Garner is scheduled for induction into the hall of fame at the NAIA Convention April 11-15, 2008, at Louisville, Ky.

Eight different Lyon College Pipers scored goals in a 10-2 rout of the Central Baptist College Lady Mustangs Friday in the Pipers' season opener at Lyon College's Huser Soccer Field.

The Pipers (1-0-0) roared to an 8-0 score at halftime and coasted through a 2-2 second half to collect a victory in the first game of the season.

Pipers' senior forward Angelique Armenta scored two goals and assisted on another in the victory, while freshman midfielder Jamie Price added two more goals.

Lyon's Katy Smith, Sarah Ruegger, Cethlinn Cunningham and Marisa Browne scored a goal and had one assist apiece. Elaine McCaulley and Megan Rossee each had a goal and Nicole Brinkman also earned an assist for the Pipers.

Erica Cox (1-0-0) played both halves in goal for Lyon to earn the victory and had five saves.