The Daily Bruin

Bon Appetit is issuing an “Eat Local Challenge” on Tuesday, Sept. 30. To commemorate the event, lunch in the Klages Dining Room will feature ingredients from within a 150-mile radius of Newberg. This act, while seemingly simple, has far-reaching implications.

For starters, food grown locally is fresher and more flavorful than food that is harvested early so it can be transported great distances. Tuesday’s greens will come from Mustard Seed Farms, the beef from The Dalles, the vegetables from throughout Yamhill County, and the mushrooms from the coastal range. Secondly, eating local invests in our own community and helps to preserve local farmers and artisans.

If you are not on a meal plan, you can enjoy the meal for $6. For more information on sustainability, visit CircleofResponsibility.com.

This Friday, Oct. 3, an art exhibit by Mary Saunders will open in Brougher Studio 3 at 4 p.m. The series of self-portraits, titled “How Am I Not Myself?,” will be on display all month, so if you can’t make it to the opening, stop by later. Refreshments will be served at Friday’s opening.

The university’s health fair is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 8, in the Duke Atrium of the Stevens Center. Come and discover what it means to be truly healthy, with special guests Portland Running Company, Providence Newberg Medical Center and local massage therapists.

Kambiz GhaneaBassiri, an associated professor of religion and humanities at Reed College, will speak about the complex issues surrounding Islamic extremism in the Middle East at a Liberal Arts Critical Issues event from 4:40 to 5:30 p.m. and from 7 to 7:50 p.m. Monday, Sept. 29, in Hoover 105. For more information, contact Caitlin Corning (History) at ext. 2673 or ccorning@georgefox.edu.

Cathie Smith from Entertainment Publications is once again offering George Fox employees a discount on Entertainment Books for 2009. Books are $15 (normal retail is $25). You may place your orders by contacting her at 503-381-4353 or e-mail at csmith@entertainment.com.

It has come to our attention that some employees did not receive a fall 2008 spiritual life calendar. If you would like to have one sent to you, please contact Kayin Griffith at kgriffith@georgefox.edu or stop by our office located on the corner of Sheridan and Meridian streets and pick one up.

– Office of Spiritual Life

Did you enjoy Matt Maher, guest worship leader for Christian Life Week? If so, CDs are available in the Office of Spiritual Life, located on the corner of Sheridan and Meridian streets. The price for the CD is $10. Checks or cash accepted.

Starting Tuesday, Sept. 30, Bon Appetit will be holding “Trayless Tuesdays,” a day each week when trays won’t be used in an effort to help students avoid wasteful practices and be good stewards of our natural resources.

Research shows that eliminating trays in a dining room reduces the temptation to take more food than actually will be eaten. Other Bon Appetit cafes have reported that food waste decreased by nearly 30 percent at those schools that have eliminated trays with traditional meal plans similar to George Fox’s. This can have a huge impact to our environment because as uneaten food breaks down in landfills, it releases methane gas — a greenhouse gas 23 times more damaging to our environment than carbon dioxide.

In addition, we estimate that the water savings could exceed 5,000 gallons daily which, over the course of the entire school year, could reduce water usage by more than 200,000 gallons.

Please join us in making food choices that help our environment by supporting going trayless every Tuesday.

A faculty teaching forum, “Finding the Sweet Spot: Creating Assignments Your Students Want to Write — and You Want to Read,” will be presented by Melanie Mock (Writing/Literature) from 3:40 to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1, in Hoover 104.

Writing assignments can often times be tedious exercises: both for the students who have to complete them, and for the professors who have to grade them. The forum will consider how writing assignments can engage students while also meeting course objectives; how assignment presentation influences student engagement with the assignment; and how we can construct creative writing assignments that might actually be a pleasure to read. Participants should bring one of their “favorite” writing assignments to share.

Refreshments will be served. No R.S.V.P. is required.

All faculty — full time, part time and adjunct — are invited to attend faculty teaching forums. Video podcasts of the forums will be available at the “Events and Resources” link on the Center for Teaching and Learning website.

PrayerNet strengthens the university community through intercessory prayer. If you have a prayer need, please know that there are people on campus who would like to pray for you. You can send your prayer requests through the Staff Development Committee website. Submit your requests anonymously or let us know who you are.

Also, a prayer request box is located in the chapel on the Newberg campus; one will be available in the Portland Center chapel shortly. Prayer is effective and powerful!

A faculty business meeting is scheduled from 10:40 to 11:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 26, in the Cap and Gown Room.

Get the latest updates on the Peace Corps and on all available assignments around the globe at an informational meeting from 3 to 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25, in Hoover 104. Peace Corps service allows you to get two years of international experience upon graduation and pursue a graduate degree while serving.

Don’t forget about the Staff Development Committee’s non-food pantry drive on behalf of Love INC. The local community has a high demand for necessities not covered by food stamps. Please help meet those needs. Look for Love INC donation barrels on the Newberg campus in the SUB (outside the University Store), Stevens Center lobby, Hoover Atrium, Mail Services and the VAC. The Portland Center also has a barrel available for donations. The donation drive ends Oct. 22.

Needed items include toilet paper (this is the highest need), laundry detergent, dish soap, dishwasher soap, bar soap, body wash, shampoo and conditioner, razors, shaving cream, feminine products, Saran Wrap, Zip bags, garbage bags, paper towels, deodorant, lotion, toothpaste, toothbrushes and dental floss.

Employees are invited to attend an all-community meeting from 4 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25, in Hoover 105. The meeting will provide employees an opportunity to receive campus updates. Your participation is strongly encouraged.

Please join the chemistry department to celebrate its new 400 MHz Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectrometer. The celebration will be on the third floor of EHS and will last from 5 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25, with the official dedication at 5:15 p.m. Light snacks and cake will be served.

Don’t forget to register for Selah, the university’s women’s conference scheduled from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. this Saturday, Sept. 27, in Bauman Auditorium. Online registration will be available through Thursday, Sept. 25. For more information, visit selah.georgefox.edu or call Amy Lorenz (University Relations) at ext. 2134. We hope to see you there!

– University Relations

Faculty members: Please remind students about Career Services’ Internship and Volunteer Fair on Wednesday, Sept. 24, in the Hoover Atrium. It runs from 9:30 a.m. to noon, and refreshments will be served.

The deadline to order Bruin Directories is Sept. 29. Submit your order online at tinyurl.com/bruindirectoryform. Please submit a single order for your entire department. Questions? Contact Rob Leslie at rleslie06@georgefox.edu.

The second annual Bruin Heritage Week, sponsored by the Bruin Heritage Society, is coming Sept. 29 through Oct. 3. More information will be provided soon.

Please join the chemistry department to celebrate its new 400 MHz Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectrometer. The celebration will be on the third floor of EHS and will last from 5 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25, with the official dedication at 5:15 p.m. Light snacks and drinks will be served.