The Daily Bruin

Ensure a healthy and safe season for yourself and your loved ones by taking advantage of the free flu and COVID-19 vaccinations offered at our upcoming Health and Wellness Fair on Wednesday, Nov. 5, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Canyon Commons.

This is a convenient, on-site opportunity to protect yourself and your family with minimal hassle. The flu shot is also available for children 9 years old and up, and the COVID-19 shot is available for children 12 years old and up. Both vaccines are free with eligible insurance from these companies.

We advise you to check with your insurance provider directly regarding COVID-19 coverage ahead of time. Remember to bring your insurance card. Everyone is welcome as a walk-in.

Questions? Contact Aga Kasprzyk at akasprzyk@georgefox.edu.

Free, personalized and confidential retirement consultations are available monthly on campus with our dedicated Nationwide specialist, Phillip Carbajal. He is available to provide expert advice on financial standing, savings maximization, and long-term retirement strategies.

The next session will be held on the Newberg campus on Tuesday, Nov. 5, and employees are invited to secure an appointment here.

Celebrate “Love Your Body Week” at Hadlock. Throughout this week, we’ll be running a bunch of events to celebrate our bodies and their ability to move! Here’s what we’ve got:

Tuesday: Men’s Lifting Night at 7 p.m.

Thursday: Women’s Lifting Night at 7 p.m.

• Intro to Squatting at 7:30 p.m. (sign up on IMLeagues)
• Intro to Bench Press at 8 p.m. (sign up on IMLeagues)

Friday: Rocktober Roundup Climbing Competition (sessions all day) and Intro to Hip Hop at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday: Sunrise hike

Participating in any of these events and others will get you a raffle ticket for one of our amazing workout-focused baskets.

Contact Nate Freeman at freemann@georgefox.edu with any questions.

Hey Bruins! Whether you need fuel during a late-night study sesh, skipped breakfast before your early-morning class, or are just craving a little pick-me-up between lectures, Campus Cravings has you covered!

We’re your student-run snack service bringing you boxes filled with seven to eight yummy snacks for just $8– delivered right to your campus mailbox. Whether you’re craving something sweet, salty, or a little bit of both, we’ve got the goods.

How to order:

1. Venmo @GFUCampusCravings ($8 per box)
2. Include your name and campus mailbox number in the Venmo description or DM us!

Follow us on our Instagram @gfucampuscravings for updates and sneak peeks! Treat yourself and support your fellow Bruins – because life’s better with snacks.

Brought to you by George Fox business innovation students

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for a taste of fall at our recent “How Do You Like Them Apples?” Cooking with Class event! We hope you enjoyed the apple-inspired lunch, learned a few new tricks for a healthy low-sugar apple crisp, and enjoyed sampling the different apple varieties. For those of you wanting to make what we served, here is a link to the recipes!

As a reminder, our photo raffle is open until Oct. 30! Please submit pictures of your homemade apple crisp, created with your take-home kits, to bewell@georgefox.edu for a chance to win two tickets to “The Chef’s Table” – a nine-course meal! We can’t wait to see your culinary creations!

Great job, everyone! We are officially in week two of the Miles for Meals challenge, and the energy is incredible: 108 participants across 28 teams have logged over 6,180 miles, proving that our community is committed to healthy movement! What’s more inspiring? Our fundraising has climbed to $1,125 for the Bruin Community Pantry!

Week two winner announcement

Congratulations to our week two raffle prize winner, Casey Brooks, who has won a $50 Fred Meyer gift card!

Keep the momentum going

The team leaderboard is getting competitive: Currently leading are Too Blessed to Rest, Red Hot Chili Steppers, and Robin Shake n’ Baker, with The Mighty-Chondria right on their heels. On the individual side, David Martinez, Benjamin Wing, and Mark Pothoff are still setting an incredible pace. Challenge yourself this week and aim for a new personal best!

A quick reminder

If you’ve been moving but haven’t seen your miles update, please take a moment today to sync your fitness device or log any manual activities! Every step counts, both for your team and for the grand prize tally.

And don’t forget the fundraising element! Our pantry support relies on these efforts. If you’ve been meaning to get friends and family involved, there is still plenty of time to set up your personal fundraising page. Let’s work together to hit our next milestone and turn our miles into meals!

Today (Thursday) is the last day to get 25% off of Champion-brand clothing in the Bruin Bookstore. Take advantage of this discount while you can!

Everyone is invited to “Be Renewed” Chapel this morning (Thursday) to hear from Shelbi Shutt, a pastor, speaker, writer and disability advocate who is helping people come alive to the power of God’s presence in and through their weakness. Join us at 10:50 a.m. in the chapel.

Shelbi has been featured on John Mark Comer’s Practicing the Way curriculum, at the Alpha Conference, and many other places. You won’t want to miss her message! Everyone is invited. Email Jamie at jamiej@georgefox.edu with any questions.

The deadline to update your login method is almost here! To better protect your account and university data, the SMS (text message) and phone call methods are being deprecated. Please read the critical information below to avoid an interruption to your account access.

FAQ

Q: I’m already using Okta Verify or Google Authenticator. Am I good to go? A: Yes! If you already approve your logins with the Okta Verify or the Google Authenticator app, you don’t need to do anything. Thank you for being proactive!

Q: What happens if I don’t set up OKTA Verify? A: You will be locked out of your George Fox account. Access to Canvas, MyGeorgeFox, your email, and other services will be interrupted. You will have to call the Service Desk at 503-554-2569 for assistance.

Q: I need to switch. Where do I start? A: Go to login.georgefox.edu > settings > security methods on your computer. On your smartphone, install the Okta Verify app and add an account (+). Follow the prompts for setup and allow it to send you a simple, push notification that is far more secure than a text message.

No smartphone?

If you do not have a smartphone or are unable to use biometrics for verification, please email servicedesk@georgefox.edu. We have alternative solutions available to ensure you maintain secure access to your account.

We’re Here to Help!
Don’t wait until it’s too late! If you need help getting set up or have questions about your specific situation, our Service Desk team is ready to assist you. You can call at 503-554-2569 or email at servicedesk@georgefox.edu.

Do you long for time and space to be still and experience Christ’s presence with others? All are welcome to join Quaker worship in the chapel from 11 to 11:30 a.m. today (Wednesday). Elective chapel credit is available for students.

Contact Jay Miller at jaym@georgefox.edu with any questions.

In our busy lives it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, but finding small, positive moments can significantly improve our well-being. According to researchers like Barbara Fredrickson, these fleeting bits of happiness act like “nutrients for psychological health,” helping us become more resilient over time.

To cultivate these moments, consider these simple strategies:

• Find “reverse pet peeves”: Author Bree Groff defines these as small things that bring you a disproportionate amount of joy. While a pet peeve might be a minor annoyance like finding a sock on the floor, a reverse pet peeve could be something as simple as the satisfaction of a perfectly organized drawer or the sound of rain hitting the window.
• Do something “slo-mo”: Dr. Sue Varma, a clinical professor of psychiatry, suggests intentionally slowing down a routine task to half-speed. This practice of mindfulness can improve your psychological health. For instance, instead of rushing through making coffee, you might slowly grind the beans, savoring the aroma, and carefully pour the water, focusing on the process.
• Find “the sliver”: If a big joy like a weekend getaway isn’t possible, author Bree Groff suggests finding a “sliver” of that experience. Instead of an elaborate dinner out, you could make a fancy sandwich at home and eat it on your nicest plates. If you love long hikes in the mountains, you could take a short walk in a local park and appreciate the sounds of nature.

These small, intentional actions can improve your well-being and help you find a little more joy in your day.

These suggestions are inspired by the article “Happiness Doesn’t Have to be a Heavy Lift” in The New York Times (June 26, 2025).

Professors will be entering midterm grades in MyGeorgeFox by today (Wednesday). These midterm grades provide important insight into a student’s academic progress in your courses.

If a student’s midterm grade is a D or an F, they are encouraged to immediately schedule a meeting with their professor to discuss their path to improvement. If, after that discussion, it seems unlikely they can raise their grade, encourage them to contact their CAP coach as soon as possible to explore the implications of withdrawing from the course.

A few points to consider:

• If a student withdraws from a class, their transcript will show a “W,” and their GPA will not be affected.
• If a student receives an F in the course, their GPA will suffer.
• The last day to withdraw from a class is Sunday, Dec. 7.

At this point in the semester, students who withdraw from some but not all of their classes will not have any changes made to their financial aid or student account charges.

If a student is currently on a financial aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Warning or SAP Academic Plan, they are to check with their financial aid counselor to confirm whether withdrawing from any courses will affect their financial aid. Any questions about SAP standing or academic plan can be directed to their financial aid counselor.

Academic resources for students are easily accessible on campus, so encourage students to use them:

• The ARC (Academic Resource Center)
• Tutoring labs and centers

Additional information regarding grades and withdrawing from classes:

• Please be advised that the university has extended the class withdrawal deadline for the benefit of our students. The new deadline is now the Sunday before the last week of class. For full-semester classes, this is the end of week 15 rather than week 10.
• For classes that meet in shorter sessions within the semester, specific withdrawal deadlines are listed in the class details on class.georgefox.edu.

If a student has any questions or needs assistance, please have them contact Jere Witherspoon at studentlife@georgefox.edu.

Jason Brummit and the Faculty Scholarship and Achievement Committee invite you to join them for the Fall Faculty Lecture on Tuesday, Oct. 21, at 6 p.m. in Hoover 105.

Abraham Kang, PhD, associate professor of biomedical engineering, and winner of the 2024-25 Faculty Achievement Award for Undergraduate Research and Scholarship, is the featured faculty speaker.

Dr. Kang’s lecture, “Advancing Biomedical Engineering Through Student-Led Research and Innovation,” will showcase several student-led projects that span fundamental science, engineering, and medical devices.

Please join us as he illustrates how mentoring young investigators not only accelerates biomedical discovery but also prepares the next generation of engineers and scientists to solve challenges at the intersection of science, engineering, medicine, and human health.

The university and surrounding community are invited, and refreshments will be provided. We hope you are able to support Abraham by attending.

If you have questions, email Laurie Fair at lfair@georgefox.edu.

Join us for a webinar on Tuesday, Oct. 28, at 11 a.m. featuring Ruben Halperin, the medical director at Providence Health Plan. He’ll discuss cancer screenings, the pivotal role of preventive care, and the benefits of having a dedicated primary care provider to guide you through your health journey.

You can access the webinar here.

We live in an active seismic zone. During Emergency Preparedness Month, we practice the proper response to ensure that when a real earthquake strikes, our immediate instinct is to protect ourselves and effectively prevent injury. So this year, during the Great Shakeout, get ready to drop, cover, and hold on!

How do I participate? At 10:16 a.m. this Thursday, Oct. 16, stop what you are doing and get under a table or desk. Cover your head with your arms or hands.

If you are in the quad, move away from buildings toward the center of the quad. If you are in a lab, turn off the gas and get down. Think and practice what you would need to do if we were to experience an earthquake for one minute.

These steps increase your chances of surviving if a real earthquake strikes.

If you have questions on how to participate in the Great Shakeout, reach out to Kim Knoernschild at kknoernschild@georgefox.edu.

The “Work Safe, Be Well” initiative is focused on the vital connection between workplace safety and overall well-being. We’re asking, “What’s health got to do with workplace safety?” The answer is: everything.

Your personal health—how you manage stress, what you eat, and how much you sleep—directly impacts your focus, your energy, and ultimately, your safety and productivity on the job.

To help you understand this important connection, we encourage you to explore the valuable resources provided by SAIF on their dedicated webpage. Take a moment to browse the topics, learn the simple steps you can take to make a positive change in your own life, and share this essential information with your colleagues.

Let’s work together to make this a safe and healthy semester for everyone!

Questions? Contact us at bewell@georgefox.edu.

– The Wellness and Safety Committees

The first Providence Medicare 101 webinar took place yesterday. This free educational session covered the different parts of Medicare (the A, B, C and Ds), the key differences between Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and Medicare Supplement, and when you should enroll for Original Medicare.

If you missed this valuable, no-pressure overview, you are invited to attend the next session on Monday, Nov. 10, at 5 p.m. You can register for the next webinar here.

We also want to remind you that open enrollment for Medicare begins tomorrow (Wednesday). This is your critical window to compare health and drug plans for the upcoming year. To prepare, log in or create your Medicare account at medicare.gov/plan-compare before tomorrow. This will make comparing plans based on your specific prescriptions much easier.

Have question about Providence Medicare options? Contact Providence Medicare expert Jasmyn Sprague at 360-909-6699 or jasmyn.sprague2@providence.org.

The George Fox theatre department invites you to see its fall 2025 production, Havurah, presented through the Big Bridge Theatre Consortium.

Written by Margot Connolly and directed by Ben Tissell, the play tells the story of life at Crosby College, a small liberal arts university, where two student clubs strive for connection and comfort in difficult times.

When a tragedy occurs in the local Jewish community, members of the Havurah club are left reeling. The Christian social justice club wants to help, but struggles to know how. Deeply relevant and strikingly realistic, Havurah depicts the complexities and possibilities of connecting with others in times of grief.

The show opens on Thursday, Oct. 23, and closes on Nov. 2. Evening shows start at 7:30 p.m., and weekend matinees start at 2 p.m. Employees are entitled to one complimentary ticket, and students may attend free on either Thursday. You may reserve tickets here.

Dr. Ron Clark, a theology professor at George Fox and founder of Agape Community Ministries, will join us this Thursday, Oct. 16, at 4:30 p.m. in Canyon Commons for a conversation about healthy masculinity.

This conversation is for both men and women and will unpack how to have healthy partnerships with members of the opposite sex. Chapel credit is available.

The Maker Hub is planning its fifth annual Santa’s Workshop event! For the uninitiated, the Maker Hub and the university special events crew partner up each December to host a joint Santa’s Workshop making event during the campus-wide Christmas Extravaganza.

The Maker Hub’s portion of this event involves hosting hundreds of students, employees, families, and community members who come and make various Christmas gifts using Maker Hub equipment. It’s a blast!

As this event continues to grow in popularity, we are searching for a team of people to help plan the activities and execute the event. If you enjoy making things, teaching others how to make things, and you are overflowing with Christmas-themed ideas and visions that are begging for a creative outlet, this is the opportunity for you!

Please contact Nick at nsullivan@georgefox.edu if you are interested in joining the Santa’s Workshop team. Looking forward to an exciting time of making and fellowship this December!