Three men in a cabin space six feet in diameter.

Two and a half hours to cross a distance of two and a half miles.

It may sound like a miserable trip, but when the destination is the wrecked Titanic that lies in the depths of the Atlantic, where the pressure reaches 16,000 pounds per square inch, the time commitment is worth it.   

John and Mary Joslyn spoke at the Titanic gala Thursday, March 14, about their experience helping lead an expedition to the wreck of the Titanic and owning the two Titanic Museum Attractions in Branson, Missouri, and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

The purpose for the gala was to support BJU’s performing arts and build excitement for the new Patron of the Arts program.

BJU launched the Patron of the Arts program with a two-fold purpose of supporting the performing arts and music scholarships. Supporters can donate through bjualumni.com and receive benefits that correlate to their level of contribution. These benefits include free tickets, invitations to special events, behind-the-scenes tours and even meeting guest artists.

The University has hosted galas in the past. However, this gala was the first that supported the performing arts.

Tickets for the event cost $200, which included hors d’oeuvres, seating for the opening Titanic performance and a short informational session with John and Mary Joslyn.

During the informational session, the Joslyns showed footage from their expedition to the Titanic. Cramming into the submersible, the three-man crew descended to the ocean floor before spending eight hours searching the wreckage.

In all, John Joslyn and his crew dove 32 times to the ocean floor, collecting hundreds of artifacts that were sent to Paris for restoration. Now, those items can be seen at the two Titanic Museum Attractions.

At the end of the time, the attendees were reminded of the reason for the night. Mary Joslyn said, “By having Titanic musical here, you honor the 2,208 that were aboard the ship.”

Jennifer Bidwell, manager of advancement services and special events, said the event drew 73 attendees who were all engaged in the activities. “I actually bumped my schedule back a couple of times during the evening because everybody was visiting and talking and still eating,” Bidwell said.