The Daily Bruin

Serve Day 2026 is set for Wednesday, Sept. 16, and preparations are officially underway! Please help us prepare by completing this SD ’26 Employee Info Gathering Survey for all of our regular Newberg employees part time and above (and any Portland employees who would like to join in on the fun!).

We want to do our best to prioritize making serve site connections for employees that encourage longer-term, ongoing community service partnerships. Also on the form, you can note any limitations and previous serve site connections or questions you might have, and we’ll take it all into consideration when coordinating this summer.

If you’re planning to be on sabbatical, family leave, or know of a significant change that will keep you away from campus during the week of Sept. 16, you can let us know using the form, which is essential for our preparations.

The next 110 days of summer will breeze by, and before you know it, it will be time for our next highly anticipated, university-wide day of service together!

Contact serveday@georgefox.edu with all of your questions and feedback.

Greetings! The annual Day of Prayer is on Wednesday, June 10, this year, and the Office for Spiritual Life is glad to share with you this resource to guide your time.

May we seek the Lord together on this Day of Prayer! The Office of People and Culture will be sending out more information about it, so stay tuned!

This fall, George Fox is launching a redesigned MBA experience built for today’s rapidly changing business landscape. We invite you to take a closer look.

With 12- and 24-month degree pathways, the updated MBA offers greater flexibility for working professionals while integrating AI throughout the curriculum. Students learn how to lead with wisdom and ethical discernment while applying the latest AI tools, culminating in a portfolio of practical business deliverables.

Whether you are thinking about advancing your own education or know someone who may benefit from the program, this is an exciting new chapter for business education at George Fox.

Please consider:

• Exploring the program for your own professional development
• Sharing the opportunity with colleagues, alumni, friends or family members
• Referring prospective students who want to lead ethically in an AI-shaped future

For more information, contact Sean Aker at saker@georgefox.edu.

The Bridge Cafe is open for summer hours this week, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

This week, we will be at the Bridge Cafe Monday through Wednesday, and at the Maker’s Market cooking on the patio on Thursday. Lunch specials will be available starting at 11:30 a.m.

This week’s menu is as follows:

• Monday: Butter chicken plate
• Tuesday: Fried fish tacos
• Wednesday: Beef and broccoli stir fry
• Thursday: Grilled hamburger

See the full menu at georgefox.cafebonappetit.com.

We invite you to bring your family and friends (and something to sit on) and join us on Saturday, Aug. 15, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. for our third annual Prayer for Oregon Schools event, where we will pray for the upcoming school year.

During our time together on the university’s quad, we will engage in worship, small-group and/or individual prayer, and fellowship. We’ll pray for our K-12 and higher ed students, faculty, staff, parents, school communities, boards, leaders, and more. A guided prayer booklet will be available for those interested in additional points of prayer.

It’s our hope that people will join us as we step out in faith as the church and prayerfully invite the Lord into this area that needs more light – our Oregon schools. The event is open to anyone who desires to come together in prayer and bring our schools and the people in them to the feet of Jesus.

If you have questions or would like more information, contact Sara Hahn-Huston, assistant professor of educational leadership, at SHahnHuston@georgefox.edu.

Consensus has ingested 80 to 90% of the world’s total academic output. It’s a very powerful research tool, with less fluff than Google Scholar and almost no hallucination.

To try it out, create an account with your George Fox email address. Please share your thoughts about it with your librarian or with Alex Rolfe. The trial ends Saturday, July 18.

Nearly half of Americans experience a noticeable lack of joy in their daily lives, with some unable to remember their last full day of recreation and others estimating they need more hours a week to satisfy their desire for fun.

More than half of us find it harder to find joy now than a decade ago due to major obstacles like rising costs, demanding schedules and adult responsibilities, shrinking social circles, and general burnout.

Playfulness can be seen as a vital component of wellness rather than a luxury. It drastically reduces stress, increases motivation, and is essential for building and maintaining close relationships. When looking for leisure, we prefer simple, low-cost activities like watching TV, spending time with loved ones, dining out, and being outdoors.

Integrating more levity or play into your day doesn’t require a lifestyle overhaul, a massive budget, or hours of free time. If you are experiencing a “fun drought,” the secret is to shift your mindset from waiting for fun to happen to actively weaving small, playful moments into your existing schedule.

Here are some realistic ways to integrate play into your day:

1. The “Beat the Clock” Challenge

Set a timer for 10 minutes and see how much of the kitchen you can clean, turning a mundane chore into a fast-paced game. Get your family involved too! By adding a timer, upbeat music, and a competitive element, it turns a boring chore into a high-energy game.

2. Turn walks into a scavenger hunt

When walking the dog or heading to your car, actively look for three beautiful or new things you’ve never noticed before. When you approach a day with curiosity, you train your brain to hunt for novelty and micro-moments of delight.

3. Watch or read something purely hilarious

Dedicate 10 minutes of your lunch break to watching a stand-up comedy clip, rather than scrolling the news. Physical laughter lowers cortisol and epinephrine, while triggering the release of endorphins and dopamine.

4. The “Non-Negotiable Hour”

Block out just one hour a week (e.g., Tuesday nights from 7 to 8 p.m.) that is strictly dedicated to something you want to do purely for the sake of enjoying it. No chores, no structure, no work, no guilt.

The Bridge Cafe is open for summer hours this week, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

This week we will be at the Bridge Cafe Tuesday and Wednesday, and cooking at the Maker’s Market out on the patio on Thursday.

Lunch specials will be available starting at 11:30 a.m.

This weeks menu is as follows:

• Tuesday: Mediterranean bowl with turkey meatballs
• Wednesday: Al pastor tacos
• Thursday: Grilled teriyaki chicken sandwich

See the full menu at georgefox.cafebonappetit.com.

Need help with a paper? The Virtual Learning Center is open for the summer. We offer virtual and asynchronous meetings.

To schedule an appointment, go to the TracCloud icon on your Canvas dashboard. If you have any questions, please email Heather Harney at hharney@georgefox.edu.

All university offices in Newberg and regional sites, as well as the Murdock Library, will be closed this Monday, May 25, to observe the Memorial Day holiday.

Plant services has acquired a lot of surplus items that are up for grabs! Office furniture, tables, file cabinets, lamps … and more!

If you’re interested in taking a look, please make an appointment with Jan Balzer by calling 503-554-2072 or emailing her at jbalzer@georgefox.edu. Pick-up only, with no deliveries and no returns. Come and see what we have!

Local police departments will be conducting training exercises with canines in the Roberts Center and Hadlock parking lot tonight (Thursday) from 7 to 11 p.m. Please avoid these areas while they are on campus. There will be signs posted.

Contact Karen Toohey at kthoohey@georgefox.edu with any questions.

Are you looking to deepen your understanding of justice, community, and restorative work this summer? We warmly invite you to join us for “Roadmap to Reconciliation,” an engaging and transformative summer development course.

Sessions will meet from 1 to 2 p.m. in Stevens 208 on the following dates: June 5, June 12 and June 26.

Together, we’ll explore what it means to move beyond simply “being polite” to actively participating in true justice and healing.

How the course works:

• Learn from an Expert: Each week, you’ll watch about an hour’s worth of video-on-demand mini-lessons hosted by Seminary Now and taught by renowned speaker and author Brenda Salter McNeil.
• Grow Together: After absorbing the weekly lessons, you’ll join a practical, welcoming group discussion led by Crystal McGowen from the Office of Inclusive Excellence.

Whether you are just beginning your journey or looking to deepen your ongoing work in this space, this course provides a supportive environment to learn, reflect and grow alongside your peers.

Email Crystal to register at crystal@georgefox.edu.

Are you an emerging adult (between 18 and 40 years old) with a diagnosis of an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)?

Lizzie Pierce, a doctoral candidate of clinical psychology, is continuing to gather firsthand perspectives from individuals with ASD about their experiences learning about and navigating romantic relationships. This is a part of her dissertation project with the Graduate School of Clinical Psychology at George Fox.

Interested in being a participant? Email Lizzie at lpierce22@georgefox.edu, or click this link to learn more!

Please take five minutes to complete this anonymous survey to help us provide the best service to our clients at the Bruin Community Pantry. When you do so, you’ll be entered into a drawing for one of four $50 gift cards to Grocery Outlet!

Please make sure you click on the link at the end of the survey to type in your email to be entered into the drawing. This survey will be open from now through August. Recipients of the gift cards will be notified the first week of September.

Questions? Please contact Jere Witherspoon at jwitherspoon@georgefox.edu.

Take advantage of a uniquely rare opportunity to meet face-to-face with Providence Health Plan representatives who have direct, on-site access to your personal member account and claims history, allowing you to resolve complex authorization issues on the spot without the hassle of phone hold times.

A few private, individual appointment slots are still open today (Wednesday) and available for you to secure right now, but walk-ins are also welcome!

Whether you reserve a remaining spot or simply drop by Canyon Commons 101 between 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to speak with the second representative on standby, make sure to stop by today for this high-level, personalized assistance.

How we care for ourselves and show up for others deeply affects our health. Finding true balance starts from within – by looking at our day-to-day habits, stress, emotions and aspirations.

To support you on this journey, we are highlighting a collection of free wellness resources available to the entire George Fox community and your families. Through Providence Basecamp, you can access free programs designed to help you manage stress, build healthy habits, and support your daily routine.

We encourage you and your loved ones to explore these tools and find a session that fits your lifestyle by visiting Providence Basecamp’s The Way We Live.

The Disability and Accessibility Services office is offering a summer series, “Adulting 101,” in which all students are invited to engage in conversation and develop skills, resources and strategies for key daily living functions.

Join us today (Tuesday) for our first topic, grocery shopping and meal planning. We’ll meet at 4 p.m. in the Murdock Library (in the ARC). Contact Jocelyn Day at jday@georgefox.edu with any questions.

The Bruin Store will be closed tomorrow (Wednesday) for our yearly physical inventory. We will be fulfilling online orders and be back open on Thursday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thank you for understanding.

Please be aware that plant services will close the Wood-Mar parking lot tomorrow (Tuesday) to crane equipment onto the roof of Wood-Mar/EHS.

When parking, please use the Hoover or Stevens Center parking lots, and use the south entrance when entering the building.

Thank you for your cooperation and patience!