The Daily Bruin

Since the start of spring semester, several bikes have been reported as missing or stolen. Please invest in the strongest bike lock you can buy, and always lock your bike!

– Security Services

Two years ago, effective Jan. 1, 2011, the payroll (Social Security) tax was temporarily reduced by 2 percent. Although it stayed in effect a year longer than originally intended, that reduction came to an end on Dec. 31.

As a result, and all other things about your pay being equal, your net pay today will be at least 2 percent less than it was in December. Income tax rates were also revised, so you may see a change in your net pay due to that as well.

It is time to think about someone to nominate for February Employee of the Month. Is there someone you love having for a colleague, whether in your department or another department? If someone comes to mind, please consider submitting a nomination via e-mail to Peggy Kilburg by Wednesday, Feb. 20, with a summary of this person’s recent contributions and any other information that makes this person deserving of this award.

The President’s Executive Leadership Team will select a recipient from among the nominees. The winner will be honored with a citation and a $100 VISA gift card at our next community meeting scheduled for Feb. 28.

Congratulations again to Mark Pothoff on being named December Employee of the Month and to Emily Maynard as the choice for January Employee of the Month.

Find out what Marketing Communications is up to and how we can work together to make George Fox the “Christian university of choice in the West.” The department will present at the next “Let’s Work Together” series on Monday, Feb. 11, from noon to 1 p.m. in the Cap and Gown Room.

The Staff Development Committee’s “Let’s Work Together” series features a different university department each session. In a brown-bag lunch setting, you’ll receive a fun and interactive presentation from the highlighted department addressing what they do, what they can do for us, and what we can do for them.

Watch your E-nnouncements for more information and reminders about this great series! Hope to see you Feb. 11.

Questions about the series itself? Contact Molly Hickok at mhickok@georgefox.edu.

Tests are one of the most common stressors for students. Rick Muthiah (Dean of Learning Support Services) will share tips for mastering course content, preparing for tests, and developing tools for taking tests at a session, “Effective Test-Taking and Other Secrets to Success,” tomorrow (Friday). Join us from 10:40 to 11:30 a.m. in EHS 102.

Faculty members, please let your students know about this opportunity.

Questions? Contact Rick at rmuthiah@georgefox.edu.

If you did not give permission to receive your W-2 online, it will be in your campus box today, Thursday, Jan. 31 (unless you normally receive your pay statements at your home address).

Most of the information on the form is fairly easy to understand or explained in the fine print on the reverse; but you can find additional, helpful information at this link.

Join us for the second installment of the spring Liberal Arts and Critical Issues series this Monday, Feb. 4, in Hoover 105. The theme of this spring’s lecture series is “State of the Union.”

Monday’s session runs from 7 to 8 p.m. and features Donna Beegle, president of Communication Across Barriers. Donna will present “The Future of the American Dream … Fact or Fiction: Poverty Realities,” in which she will share her journey out of poverty along with the insight she’s learned from conducting 20-plus years of research and work on breaking poverty barriers.

The same session is presented from 4:40 to 5:40 p.m.; however, it is recommended that the general public attend the evening session, if possible.

Questions? Contact Paul Otto at ext. 2676 or potto@georgefox.edu.

The Missions Fair is back on campus this Monday, Feb. 4, in the Cap and Gown Room. It will start at 11:30 a.m. (right after chapel) and go until 2:30 p.m. This is a great opportunity to connect with organizations that love working with people and sharing God’s love.

Make sure to check it out!

Also, I would really appreciate it if there could be some people willing to volunteer to help me set up at around 8 a.m. If you can help, please e-mail me at jarcigaolvera12@georgefox.edu. You can also contact me if you have questions about the fair.

Blessings!
Jorge Arciga

Friday, Feb. 1, 4 p.m. – Men’s tennis vs. Cal-Davis (Tualatin Hills Tennis Center, Beaverton, Ore.)
Friday, Feb. 1, 6 p.m. – Women’s basketball vs. Willamette (Wheeler Sports Center/Miller Gym)
Friday, Feb. 1, 8 p.m. – Men’s basketball vs. Willamette (Wheeler Sports Center/Miller Gym)
Saturday, Feb. 2, 6 p.m. – Women’s basketball vs. Linfield (Wheeler Sports Center/Miller Gym)
Saturday, Feb. 2, 8 p.m. – Men’s basketball vs. Linfield (Wheeler Sports Center/Miller Gym)

These are the final two regular-season home games for the Bruin basketball teams. Senior players will be honored in pre-game ceremonies on Saturday.

On Friday and Saturday, the Student-Athlete Advisory Council will hold a “coin drive” during the basketball games to raise funds for the Women’s Athletic Performance Foundation, a support organization founded by former Bruin athlete Josh Priester. This is part of a competition among all the S-AAC groups in the Northwest Conference.

Saturday is the third annual “Bruin Madness” event at the basketball games. In addition to the featured games, the event includes an Indoor Tailgate Dinner Party, a KidZone, a Young Alumni Night at Abby’s Pizza, and a students’ “Postgame Blow Out.” Also, the Brewin’ Grounds Coffee Shop will be open. For complete details and to purchase tickets, visit this page or contact the alumni and parent relations office by calling 503-554-2134 or e-mailing alumni@georgefox.edu.

For more information, contact the sports information office at ext. 2926 or visit the athletics website at gfubruins.com.

Over the years, many of our friends among faculty and staff have expressed an interest in learning to do pottery. For a limited time this spring, the art department will be offering small-group lessons at a time and price intended to make it both possible and affordable for our colleagues to explore this artistic medium.

Classes will be taught by our studio intern, Josie Silberbach, whose work many of you admired at the Christmas sale in the Bruin Den. Aspiring potters may elect to take as few as half a dozen lessons, or to work weekly through the end of the semester, depending on your budget, time and interest.

Space will be limited, so if interested, don’t wait to contact Josie directly via e-mail. For answers to any questions, or to arrange for a place in class, write to jsilber22@gmail.com.

If you are a benefits eligible employee and there is any possibility that you will use tuition remission during next academic year (fall 2013, spring 2014 and/or summer 2014 semesters), whether for yourself, a spouse, and/or dependent(s), a Tuition Remission Request Form for each person needs to be submitted no later than Friday, Feb. 1.  

Please go to this page for the link to instructions for completing the Tuition Remission Request Form(s) and to the forms themselves. Please note:  There is a separate form for the Adult Degree Program and the Elementary Education Degree completion program.  nd finally, please be sure to read the instructions page before you begin completing a Tuition Remission Request Form.

There is still time to register to take a Science Outreach class this semester! Classes begin the week of Feb. 4. To read about the classes being offered and to register, visit our website at this link.

The Bruin Grounds Coffee Shop is now open in the Student Union Building from 4 to 11 p.m. every day! As you get off of work or need a place to meet, enjoy 25 percent off any food or drink item courtesy of ASC.

Come enjoy our entertainment options which include TVs, foosball, ping pong and pool. Hope to see you there!

– Bruin Grounds Staff

Join us during the Friday chapel hour (10:40-11:30 a.m.) for a prayer walk through Newberg. We will meet in the quad outside the Bruin Den this Friday, Feb. 1. Dress warmly!

Questions? Contact Mary Owen at mowen10@georgefox.edu.

The Swaziland summer serve team is setting aside Saturday, Feb. 23, to serve the employees of George Fox in whatever way they may need: yard work, around-the-house projects, cleaning, childcare, etc.

We are doing this as a donation-based fundraiser to help raise support to send our team to Swaziland. If you are interested, please contact Kimmee Hoecker at hoeckerk10@georgefox.edu.

For those of you who have been giving via payroll deduction, your 2012 giving information for tax purposes is noted on your December pay stub in the “Self Service” section of PeopleSoft.

If you have made a gift separate from payroll and would like a 2012 charitable gift receipt, please contact Kristi Hagen via e-mail at khagen@georgefox.edu or via phone at ext. 2111.

Thank you for your generous giving to George Fox’s mission where, in a Christ-centered community, you participate with students being prepared spiritually, academically and professionally to think with clarity, act with integrity, and serve with passion.

Be encouraged by what your giving means, not only to our students today, but also to those who will benefit from our students’ service and leadership tomorrow.

Tests are one of the most common stressors for students. Rick Muthiah (Dean of Learning Support Services) will share tips for mastering course content, preparing for tests, and developing tools for taking tests at a session, “Effective Test-Taking and Other Secrets to Success,” this Friday, Feb. 1.

Join us from 10:40 to 11:30 a.m. in EHS 102. Faculty members, please let your students know about this opportunity.

Questions? Contact Rick at rmuthiah@georgefox.edu.

The first Chinese class in this semester is set for tonight (Tuesday) from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the International House. Usually we spend the first half hour reviewing what we learned in the last session, and the following hour learning new things. So don’t worry if you cannot come until 7 p.m.

In the first class, you will have the first half hour to tell me what you want to learn and how you would like me to teach, and I will try to make this Chinese-learning experience as fun as possible. Free snacks will also be provided.

Hope to see you!
Yali He (yhe11@georgefox.edu)

Do you enjoy baking and want to help support the Swaziland summer serve team? We are looking for anybody who is willing to make and donate any sort of yummy treats for a fundraiser we are doing.

We willing be selling the treats in the Bruin Grounds Friday, Feb. 1, and Friday, Feb. 8. Any donated treats can be brought to the Spiritual Life House by 5 p.m. on either Friday. Any contributions would be greatly appreciated!

Questions? Contact Kimmee Hoecker at hoeckerk10@georgefox.edu.

Please join us in chapel this morning (Monday) to hear Campus Pastor Sarah Baldwin at 10:40 a.m. in Bauman Auditorium.