75th Anniversary Weekend: Sept. 16-18
Briar Cliff to hold various activities to mark 75th

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
September 8, 2004

To mark the 75th anniversary of Briar Cliff University in Sioux City, a wide array of events have been scheduled throughout the year.

"We believe that the 75th anniversary is an important milestone for Briar Cliff University and we do want to celebrate this so we are using activities throughout the year that we believe will be a meaningful way to reflect upon our history and also look forward to the future," said Beverly Wharton, president of Briar Cliff.

She pointed out that a Briar Cliff student, Steve Strait of Sioux City, developed the theme and logo for the 75th anniversary year. (The logo appears on page 1.)

"We had a contest and he was the winner," noted Wharton. "Our theme is A History of Forward Thinking, A Legacy of Commitment. As I think of the events that we have planned, they tie into that theme."

The president explained that about 30 people volunteered to serve on a committee to plan the activities for the coming year. These individuals brainstormed about ways the anniversary could be celebrated and asked for the input of others from the university community.

As a group, they narrowed down the selections to what they felt were the best ways to recognize the anniversary and appeal to the vast interest of the graduates.

"Once we narrowed the list of activities down, we had individuals on campus volunteer to chair that event and we began the planning process," noted Wharton.

To kickoff the anniversary year, a St. Anthony's Walk was held Aug. 29. The walk was intended to reenact the original walk that the Sisters of St. Francis took back and forth from Briar Cliff to their home at St. Anthony's Orphanage. Students, faculty, staff, administrators and others participated in the mile-long walk.

"That was a wonderful success - hundreds of people were there," said Wharton. "It truly was a way for us to recognize the passion and the commitment of the Sisters of St. Francis. For us to retrace those steps with them was a meaningful way for us to start this upcoming year."

Several activities are slated for the weekend of Sept. 16-18, the 75th Anniversary Weekend. It begins Friday, Sept. 16 with the 75th Anniversary Dinner Celebration - a salute to the history of Briar Cliff University and recognition of the Mother Dominica Society - at the St. Francis Center on the campus of Briar Cliff University.

The weekend celebration continues on Sept. 17 when Briar Cliff University hosts the University of Sioux Falls in a football game at Memorial Field. Prior to the 1 p.m. kick off, there will be a tailgate party at the Memorial Field Shelter at 17th Street and Hamilton Boulevard.

At 8 p.m. that evening, Briar Cliff University faculty member Dr. Richard Steinbach will headline with the Sioux City Symphony performance of Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" at the Orpheum Theatre, located at 6th and Pierce Streets. There will be a post-concert reception for Dr. Steinbach in the Orpheum Theatre Green Room beginning at approximately 10 p.m.

The 75th Anniversary Weekend concludes on Sunday, Sept. 18 with a liturgy at Our Lady of Grace Chapel on the Briar Cliff campus at 10 a.m.

"That is a weekend that has a variety of activities, reminds us of our history but also celebrates where we are today," said Wharton.

If people are interested in participating in any of the 75th Anniversary Weekend activities, they should contact Christopher Mueller, vice president of institutional advancement, at (712) 279-5408 as soon as possible.

Wharton noted that other liturgies have been planned throughout the year that tie into the 75th anniversary celebration. For instance, on Oct. 3 the university will hold an all-campus commemorative liturgy on the day before the Feast of St. Francis.

"We honor St. Francis on an annual basis, but it will be special this year because of the 75th anniversary," she said.

Other special activities are slated for April 8, the Saturday before Palm Sunday.

"We are going to dedicate a statue of St. Clare. We already have a statue of St. Francis," said Wharton. "St. Clare is very important to Franciscans and the Sisters of St. Francis. We picked that weekend because it was on Palm Sunday that Clare left her family and went on to follow St. Francis."

The dedication will include a presentation by Sister Joanne Schatzlein, OSF, a Franciscan scholar. Later that day, a special liturgy is planned.

Another major activity is slated for May 18 when the university will host an afternoon tea for all of the graduates of Briar Cliff from 1932 (the first graduating class) to 1966 (the last graduating class when the school was all-women).

"It will be reminiscent of the formal evenings that occurred on this campus when the students were expected to dress for dinner. We thought it would be a chance for them to get back together at a time when they had the uniqueness of being an all women's college," said Wharton. "We felt it was important to have an event that recognized that part of our history."

The Sisters of St. Francis are exploring the options to have a Clare Fest at that time.

She pointed out that throughout the year, other activities would tie into the anniversary celebration.