The Daily Bruin

The Oregon legislature has levied a 1 percent tax on health insurance premiums, effective Oct. 1, to provide access to health care coverage for low and moderate income Oregon children currently without health insurance. The tax is matched 2-to-1 by the federal government. To offset this 1 percent premium tax, Kaiser has raised its premiums to George Fox and all of its other employer groups by a corresponding 1 percent.

The university has agreed to absorb this increase for the remainder of this plan year in addition to the 80 percent contribution it already makes, so employees with Kaiser coverage will not have to pay this premium increase until any change in premium for the new plan year (March 31, 2010 payroll deduction).

Because the Pioneer Educators Health Trust plan is a self-insured multiple employer welfare trust rather than an insurance company, it was not subject to this new 1 percent premium tax.

Tilikum is looking for a very part-time computer technician to work a few hours per week over the next year to set up and maintain its computer network. Besides the standard technical qualifications, they are looking for someone with working familiarity with the university’s network system, servers, etc.  Please e-mail hr@georgefox.edu if you are interested in this position and/or would like to see the job description and make a transfer request.

This position is currently open only to internal applicants (employees and students). Unfortunately, full-time support staff employees cannot be considered because additional hours (over 40 per week) would require overtime pay, which is cost prohibitive for Tilikum’s budget. A completed transfer request, cover letter and resume should be submitted to HR by 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2.

Do you know a senior student who displays great servant leadership qualities? Let us know! We are still looking for nominations for the C.W. Perry Servant Leadership Award. Only senior students are eligible.

Please visit georgefox.edu/offices/student_life/leaddev/scholarship.html to find out more and to download the nomination form.

Please mail your nomination forms to Kristina Findley, associate dean of student leadership, by Friday, Oct. 23.

Saturday, October 24, 2009.
9:00 am
Meet at the Steven’s Parking Lot with your friends and a vehicle for the caravan to Corban.

Flag Football Game
George Fox vs. Corban (At Corban)
Game begins at 10:30am

For more information contact Valerie Rogers – vrogers@georgefox.edu

The university’s “Week of Living Light” will culminate Saturday, Oct. 24, with a gathering at 3:30 p.m. in the campus quad. Those who turn out will organize themselves into a large number “350” at exactly 3:50 p.m. A picture will be taken, and it will be sent to Times Square in New York. After the picture, participants plan to march down Highway 99W holding signs and wearing their recycled T-shirts to show their support of the cause.

The event is planned in conjunction with the 350.org campaign, an effort to alert political leaders in advance of the crafting of a new global treaty on cutting carbon emissions in Copenhagen, Denmark, in December. The scientific community has designated 350 (parts per million) as the safe upper limit for CO2 in the atmosphere.

A George Fox faculty art exhibit will open in the Lindgren Gallery with an opening reception from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27. The exhibit will remain up until Jan. 14.

Featured artists include John Bennett, Karen Bowdoin, Bob Bredemeier, Gary Buhler, Doug Campbell, David Kerr, Lori McLaughlin, Don Sprague and Tim Timmerman. Mark Terry also will have pieces on exhibit, but they will be added later in the show.

The DVD “How Great is Our GOD” that was shown at the fall staff conference will be available for sale at the Bruin Bookstore once they are back in stock from their Christian supplier’s warehouse. After the university employee 20 percent discount, the price is $10.39. Another e-nnouncement will follow upon their arrival at the bookstore.

The university will host a conference to abolish sex trafficking and prostitution in Portland, The New Abolitionists, this Saturday, Oct. 24, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Bauman Auditorium.

Sponsored by George Fox and the Northwest Yearly Meeting, the event will feature James Pond from Transitions Global and musical guest Jeff Greer. Suggested donation is $20, $10 of which will go to a Portland-based activist agency of the donor’s choice.

Spiritual Life credit is available for students. To learn more, visit The New Abolitionists page on the university’s website.

Please take a few minutes to take the following short poll for The Crescent:  http://bit.ly/9GxAh

Your participation is appreciated. 

– The Crescent Staff

Due to an unexpected medical condition, Dr. Joseph Ha will not be able to speak in chapel Monday, Oct, 26, as planned. Speaking in his place will be Shelley Yonemura, director of Multicultural Services; Alex Pia, director of International Student Services; and Dianna McIntyre, associate director of International Student Services. Each of the speakers will share of their cultural heritage and how that influences how they approach their roles here at George Fox.

There will be a meeting for all commuter students who are interested in having their voice heard in regards to changes to the commuter lounge.

Student Union Building – Bruins Den Annex.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
4 pm to 5 pm

For more information contact Jere Witherspoon – jwitherspoon@georgefox.edu

Thursday, Oct. 22, is the official “Vegetarian Day” as a part of the university’s “A Week of Living Light.” Students who have signed up to participate in this event will have the opportunity to eat vegetarian meals in Klages Dining Hall. All students and employees are encouraged to consider how much energy and resources are involved in the raising, feeding, and transportation of livestock — and the eventual preparation of meat products — and reflect upon how this lengthy process affects our planet.

Also, Friday is “Au Naturale Day” so be sure to skip those morning showers and embrace the satisfaction of knowing that the numerous gallons of water, and the energy used to heat that water, has not gone to waste. Please also take this opportunity to reflect on how much water you use to wash dishes, flush a toilet, or to wash your hands.

Do you enjoy working with kids?  Do you want to serve your community outside of George Fox?  Join Homework Club every Tuesday from 3-4 p.m. 

We are looking for volunteers who are willing to give up one hour a week to tutor and mentor elementary school students.  Many of these kids do not get the help they need on their homework at home, but we are here to support them. 

If you would like to help, please email Jessica Pryor at jpryor06@geogefox.edu or Jessica Guiducci at jguiducci07@georgefox.edu.  We would love to hear from you!

Come join us in the Klages Dining Room for Bon Appetit’s annual Octoberfest dinner, scheduled from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22. This year we’ll be featuring chicken jager schnitzel, roasted pork loin, German sausages and potato pancakes, along with some tasty desserts. By popular demand, we’ve also brought back the “Oompah Boys” to perform live polka music — and don’t forget the always-popular “Chicken Dance.”

Free to students on meal plans and only $8 for everyone else. For more information on this event or to see our weekly menus, visit cafebonappetit.com/georgefox.

An all-employee meeting is set from 3:45 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, in Hoover 105.

For those at the university’s regional sites, the meeting will be available for viewing at stream.georgefox.edu/live/commmtg.sdp. For best results, use Mozilla Firefox for your web browser, and your computer must have QuickTime Player installed. Simply copy the link into the address bar of your browser. If you have any problems, contact the Service Desk at ext. 2569.

In addition, a chat room has been set up to allow for interaction. A video recording of the meeting will be available for viewing the following day at itunesu.georgefox.edu.

On Thursday, Oct. 22, at 8:30 a.m. the city of Newberg will close North Street between the Newlin parking lot entrance and Center Street to conduct  a sewer repair to their mainline. They plan to be through with their work shortly after noon. Please notify your delivery people to use an alternative campus entry.

Want information about graduate school admissions? 

Join us on our blog at www.careers.georgefox.edu.  Read and comment on posts by your career office professionals and current graduate students.  There is discussion and information on what not to do in the process, best websites, how to get past the one application syndrome, and other first hand accounts of being in graduate school.  Bring your questions to be answered.

Contact Career Services at ext. 2330 for more information.

The university community is invited to get free water and watch a free film, F.L.O.W. (For Love of Water) beginning at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21, in EHS 102. Come see a film about what people will do for the love and lust of water. Sponsored by Sophilo (Love Wisely).

Wednesday, Oct. 21, is the official “walk or ride your bike to school day” as a part of the university’s Week of Living Light. In an effort to decrease our dependency on fossil fuel sources and reduce our excessive carbon emissions every day, students and employees are encouraged to avoid the use of motor vehicles.

Please carpool if driving to or from school is necessary, or take advantage of public transportation. Otherwise, enjoy the exercise as you walk or ride your bike.

The Department of Performing Arts presents a concert of works by composer and music professor Brent Weaver at 7:30 p.m. this Saturday, Oct. 24, in Bauman Auditorium.

The concert will feature the world premiere of “Legends” for piano and electronic sounds performed by Portland pianist Maria Choban. Also featured will be performances by the Portland ensemble The Alder Street Sextet and George Fox faculty members Cynthia McGladrey, David Iula, Joel Tanner and Barbara Stewart. Admission is free.