Covenant College 50th Anniversary

The book even mentions in its "Student Development" section a certain Chapel Prank orchestrated by yours truly involving the removal of all the chairs/rows in the chapel and their replacement by all the tables and chairs from the Great Hall. Unfortunately I did not get overt credit for this prank, and sadly they did not have any images of the even which could have been easily provided to the book's designers, if only anyone known to ask.

"Is The Book Worth $50?" is the question I've heard posed from a number of alumni. I have a hard time saying no. The design of the book (cover, paper, type, etc.) is superb, the content deals with someone rather near to my heart, and I learned a ton of things about the College of which I was previously unaware. So I'm inclined to answer the question with a hearty "yes". The money goes to a good 'cause (The Covenant College Foundation) working to increase the college's endowment so tuition can be lowered back down sane rates and so we can pay our professor's and staff something approaching market rates. Those are a couple of things I find somewhat impossible to argue against.

In my mind I'm treating this expense as the donation I should have given the college two years ago, but was too busy doing jello shots at Senor Frogs to remember.

If you'd like to purchase the book, do this:

send a check for $50 ($55 if you would like the book mailed to you) made payable to The Covenant College Foundation and designated for the 50th history book to:

The Covenant College Foundation
534 Chestnut Street
Suite 100
Chattanooga, TN 37402

I'm glad to hear that the chapel prank made it into the book of record. That's still one of my favorite stories. But seriously, thanks for the review--I keep hearing about this book via official college communications, but wasn't sure what it was actually like.

Justin, speaking very frankly: I really, really, really liked the book. The cover, the texture of the paper, the type, and the content were great. Wil Barker can really write well, its almost as if the book were a intimate encyclopedia of the college. I know the average Covenant Alumni isn't exactly pulling down huge dollars, hence why I'm somewhat restrained from saying "everyone buy this!".

I certainly love the book and read it cover to cover last night. And its got so much stuff in it I plan on looking at it again tonight just to enjoy some of the little nooks n' crannies of Covenant goodness.

Ok, enough.

Justin: Which chapel prank?
Josiah: Concerning the Covenant Wiki, what are you waiting for, you know that "If you build it, they will come"? There's nobody out there better suited to start something like that.

Kyle THE chapel prank. Best. Prank. Ever.

Josiah, I am glad that I had the privilege of being your roommate that semester, which meant that I had the privilege of witnessing Jeremy Jone's reaction when he came into our room the morning of the prank to get you out of bed. I also believe that you, Justin, and I were the final three still up at 5 in the morning to gloat over our final product. And to take some credit for the event, I was the guy with the Great Hall keys. Josiah deserves special commendation for convincing the security guard that we were "setting up for an event." I wouldnt leave Josh Wise out of the conversation either. He had a lot to do with orchestrating the whole thing as well. Ghetto, Catacombs, and Sutherland were all exhibiting greatness that night.

Ah yes Todd. My apologies. I forgot about your keys. And Josh Wise, that guy was a hero. I just glad he didn't get electrocuted. I think I have the video somewhere of DP walking around videotaping the thing.

Boy, what a glorious night. Probably the best 5 hours of back breaking work ever.

And boy, did I tick of Jeremy Jones. I just unplugged my phone: "Roe! I swear you'd better have had NOTHING to do with that."

Poor Jeremy. You know, I never officially admitted to anyone other than Barb I think that I had anything to do with it. Can you believe she took the heat for us? Best. Associate. Dean. Ever.

I'm not sure what chapel prank you have in mind, but *I* thought the best chapel prank ever was when the pews were all turned around and chapel was cancelled.

No Kyle, that was a mediocre chapel prank. The best chapel prank ever was when every row in the chapel was removed, setup in the Great Hall, and the Great Hall (tables, chairs, table cloths, etc.) were setup on the now bare floor of the Chapel.

'causing chapel to be cancelled

The Craig Lyons Chapel & The Dora Maclellan Brown Great Hall

Took 5 hours and 50 guys working in shifts.

You know Josiah, if possible, I believe I took more heat from that prank than you did. See, there's this guy that I know - I'm related to him in fact - who was one of the people in charge of the chapel facilities at the time the prank took place. When he discovered that I had been one of the artists involved I was immediately summoned to his place of residence. It was so ominous that the guys on my hall were saying goodbye to me like I wasn't going to be coming back.

Oh, and then Dale Lee found out.

Ooo Steele. I feel for you on that one. That's rough. If it makes you feel any better, you relative brought up certain....events during my membership interview at C-Stone. One of them 'bout me being a "ringleader in nudity" or something.

Ok, I vaguely remember that now... but only second-hand. I didn't make many chapel appearances during my career at Covenant.

Sutherland was involved?? They were involved with us (2nd Central) when we did our prank. Was Gerald the RA then?

all of this, of course, overshadows the year prior where we took all of the furniture out of the great hall with ghetto's help and built a pyramid on the lawn. and i believe i didnt sleep either of those nights, in contrast to todd's statement. and finally, you should post that video if you can. that's history, apparently.

noel and i took the plunge and bought the book when it first came out, so we even got our signed and numbered. ooh. also, i believe that $25 of what you pay is tax deductible which always helps. it is a gorgeous book, and definitely worth the money.

dp: i, for one, was so glad that i had an 8:00 class the morning that you all built the pyramid of great hall tables and chairs. it was beautiful, sparkling with dew in the morning mist.

Reading all these comments really brings back the memories. Remember the little Catacombs/Sutherland prank war that led up to the greatest chapel prank ever? Back when we were young and innocent...or something like that. I remember waking up the next morning and finding all the other RA's carrying chapel seats and tables and giving me looks of death. Good times.

Hey, I helped out in that prank. I was the official Ghetto photographer for the night. That gives me the warm fuzzies all over.

I remember passing up this prank in favor of sleep.

I did, however help carry everything back in place the next day along with various pranksters and what seemed like every single non-teaching Covenant employee.

All of these prank memories are giving me warm fuzzies.

Greatest chapel prank? You guys are sure full of yourselves (meaning a lot never changes, I guess! :-) ).

I vote for the "Eutychus incident" as the greatest... but then I wasn't there for the Tony Campolo chapel.

Of course, I've come into this discussion so late that nobody will care, but...
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RDS

Eutychus incident? do tell.

Board member began the year with a *FIVE* sermon series of chapels. Given the length of his stay, he suggested everyone stay alert, and not do like Eutychus, falling asleep and falling out of the window when that other longwinded guy (Paul) preached (in Acts).

On Friday, as he began, there was a scream from the catwalk at the top of the chapel, and a body plummeted to the floor. *Very* realistic! Simple. Effective. Relevant. All the aspects of a good chapel prank.

Oh yeah, there was the minor matter of the announcement that had just taken place. The guys in the catwalk had not heard the prayer request that had occurred just before the prank for the former student who had attempted suicide.

Kinda put the prank in a less-favorable light.
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RDS

That was is rightfully legendary. The Campolo bit is rather wonderful too.

"That was is"? Dreadful. Sorry. I meant "that one is," of course.