The Daily Bruin

Thank you to all who participated in marketing communications’ annual Deck the Halls Christmas Decorating Contest. We were so moved by the Christmas spirit throughout campus! This year brought in 18 participating departments.

Congratulations to our winners! The top three placers were:

• First place: Advancement (The “Rootin’ Tootin’ Best in the West” Award)
• Second place: Finance (The “Internationally Acclaimed Christmas” Award)
• Third place: Financial Aid (The “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Financial Aid Secrets” Award)

There were several honorable mentions across campus, including the Department of Education (The “Jim Henson Would Be Proud” Award), the Department of Social Work (The “Cozy Christmas” Award), the Maker Hub (The “Santa’s Workshop” Award), and many more.

And a huge shoutout to plant services for keeping all of campus merry and bright!

Be sure to swing by the various departments to get a look at all the work that went into making their spaces so festive.

Thank you!

Amanda Howard, Marketing, and the Christmas Committee

Today (Tuesday) from 5 to 9 p.m., the Chipotle in Newberg will be hosting a fundraiser to support George Fox’s physical therapy service trip to Uganda!

There are a couple of ways you can support us. If you tell the person at the register you are there for the George Fox DPT trip to Uganda, your order will contribute. Another way is to order for pick-up online using the code EXC4LTL.

If you use one of these avenues, then Chipotle will donate 25% of your sale to our trip! Please tell people you know that every order helps!

Contact Evan Robinson at evanr24@georgefox.edu with any questions.

If severe weather makes travel to or from campus unsafe this winter, the provost will make the decision to announce a shift to remote classes. In nearly all cases, classes will continue to be offered online.

In the case of a delayed in-person start, university offices will not open until an announced time in the day, most often 10 a.m. or noon. Students are not required to report to campus prior to the announced start time, but are expected to attend class online before the start time. If in-person classes are not held that day, students are expected to attend class online. You should expect to receive information from your professors on how to access remote learning.

The following is our process for announcing when there is a delayed in-person start or a shift to remote classes and work. The provost will make the decision by 6:30 a.m. for the Newberg campus and Portland Center for daytime classes or 2:15 p.m. for evening classes. Decisions on weekend classes and at the Redmond site will be made by the professor.

Stay notified: Here’s how to find out if a decision has been made when severe weather occurs:

• Visit the George Fox flashalert.net page. This is the first site updated. Enter your email address to create an account and receive notifications from FlashAlert Messenger.
• If you wish to receive a notification on your mobile device, download the FlashAlert smartphone app for iOS or Android. Either log in or create an account if you haven’t already.
• Listen to local radio and television stations or visit their websites (this info comes via FlashAlert).
• Call the George Fox University switchboard at 503-538-8383.

More information on this change in procedure can be found on our winter weather policy page.

Want to get involved and feel connected this spring? Join a vital part of our campus community by volunteering with the Bruin Community Pantry!

We are welcoming new volunteers for the upcoming semester. There are a variety of meaningful opportunities that you can choose from to match your interests. If you are interested in lending a hand and becoming part of our supportive pantry family, we invite you to take a look at the available roles:

• Food bank: Volunteer for shifts at the food bank!
• Food bank substitute: Sign up to substitute at the food bank when the regular volunteer is unable to make their shift.
• Food drive organizer: Work with Jere Witherspoon to find ways to implement food drives across campus (flexible hours).
• Fundraising: Work with Jere to find ways to raise money for the pantry (flexible hours).
• Social media: Work with Jere to create informative messaging for the community on Instagram and Facebook (flexible hours).
• Leftovers pick up and distribution: As needed, work with Jere when leftover food is available from Bon Appetit or Friendsview (flexible hours).
• Weekly cleaning: Flexible hours
• Restocking and facing products on shelves: Flexible hours

If you’re interested in volunteering with the Bruin Community Pantry, please fill out this form. More information can be found on the website.

You are welcome to contact Jere at jwitherspoon@georgefox.edu if you have any questions.

Christmas break is almost here! If you plan to leave your vehicle on campus over break, please do the following:

• Fill out the “Vehicles Left on Campus Policy” form
• Remove any personal belongings from your vehicle
• Park in a lot designated by Campus Public Safety personnel
• Leave a vehicle key at the CPS office located at 212 Carlton Way

The policy agreement form can also be filled out at the Campus Public Safety office.

Questions? Contact Karen Toohey at 503-554-2090 or email us at campussafety@georgefox.edu.

The holiday season represents one of the highest-risk periods of the year for cybersecurity, and new AI-generated attacks can be expected. With the increase in online shopping and package tracking, attackers are actively disguising malicious links as shipping notifications and invoices.

Your diligence remains our first and strongest line of defense. Taking a moment to verify a sender or an unusual request can prevent a major security incident for our community.

Email Safety Do’s: Verify and Protect

• Do hover your mouse over the sender’s name/address to see the full, actual email address. Watch for subtle misspellings (e.g. acme.co instead of acme.com).
• Do inspect links before clicking. Hover your mouse over the link to see the destination URL displayed, usually in the corner of your browser. If it looks suspicious, don’t click.
• Do verify any unexpected or urgent requests for confidential data, password changes or fund transfers by using a different method of communication (e.g., call the sender on a known phone number or message them on an internal chat system).
• Do treat any email requesting your password or sensitive personal/company information with maximum suspicion.
• Do report all suspicious emails immediately by using the “Report Phishing” button in the three-dot stack menu within the email, or contact servicedesk@georgefox.edu.
• Do check the time and tone of the email. Is it demanding, overly urgent or coming at a strange hour? This is a common tactic used by scammers.

Email Safety Don’ts: Avoid Risk and Reactivity

• Don’t click on links or download attachments from senders you do not recognize or from emails that seem “off,” even if they appear to come from a known colleague.
• Don’t reply to an email asking for sensitive information like passwords, credit card numbers or internal account details.
• Don’t assume an email is legitimate just because it uses company logos or appears to come from an executive (CEO, CFO, etc.). This is known as “spoofing.”
• Don’t be pressured by threats or urgency (e.g. “Your account will be suspended in five minutes!”). Scammers use fear to make you act without thinking.
• Don’t forward suspicious emails without first checking with servicedesk@georgefox.edu. We need to be able to investigate and take action.

Thank you for your partnership in keeping our community secure. Your vigilance makes all the difference.

The Office of Spiritual Life would like to invite students and employees to join together for a day of service, learning and reflection. The event is set for MLK Day on Monday, Jan. 19, from 9 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.

Fill out this form to register and view the tentative schedule! Undergraduate students who participate will be eligible for elective chapel credit.

Contact spirituallife@georgefox.edu with any follow-up questions.

On Tuesday, Dec. 9, from 5 to 9 p.m., Chipotle will be hosting a fundraiser to support our Doctor of Physical Therapy’s service trip to Uganda! There are multiple ways to get your order to support the cause:

• Tell the person at the register you are there to support the George Fox DPT trip to Uganda
• Order for pickup online using the code EXC4LTL.

If you use one of these avenues, Chipotle will donate 25% of your sale to our trip! Please tell people in the area that you know, because every order helps!

A George Fox student author has released a short self-help devotional as part of a psychology writing project. He is looking for 10 students willing to read it and provide optional feedback. Free digital copies are available.

If you’re interested, please fill out this short form. Responses needed by Monday, Dec. 8, at 11:59 p.m.

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.

Need a study break? The DAS office invites you to come pick up hot chocolate today (Wednesday) in the Murdock Library anytime between 4 and 5:30 p.m.

Are you interested in pursuing independent study or research this summer? The Richter Scholars program at George Fox distributes funds to support student projects and research activities that are devised, initiated and carried out by individual student scholars, with mentorship, guidance and expertise provided by a faculty mentor.

If you are interested in participating, connect with a faculty mentor now to consult with them on your proposal application. Please review the full proposal guidelines, eligibility requirements and review criteria at georgefox.edu/academics/richter.

The submission deadline is Jan. 26, 2026. All applications must be submitted through our Google Form. The link to the form will be activated on the website when the spring semester begins.

For more information, contact Hannah Greene at hgreene@georgefox.edu.

Now that December is here, it’s time to start celebrating Christmas! To commemorate the occasion, the marketing communications department has created a special webpage – complete with information about this week’s Christmas-related events, reflections on the significance of the holiday, and videos that capture the spirit of the season.

Be sure to check it out!

Get ready to spread some holiday cheer! In the spirit of the season, we’re holding a Bruin Pantry Drive at this week’s annual Christmas Extravaganza.

While we are grateful for any donation, the pantry is currently running low on several essential items that keep our students nourished. Please consider bringing one or more of the following to the Extravaganza:

• Shelf-stable milk and alternative milk products
• Gluten-free and dairy-free items
• Ramen
• Boxes of cold cereal
• Canned protein and any kind of canned meals
• Cooking and baking essentials like spices, baking soda/power, etc.
• Individual snacks

Drop off any donation at the Pantry Drive booth at Thursday’s Christmas Extravaganza and receive an extra festive treat! Thank you for making the Bruin community stronger this Christmas season!

The annual campus-wide Christmas Extravaganza is taking place this Thursday, Dec. 4, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. All staff and faculty are invited, and families are welcome!

A Christmas tree-lighting service with carols and Scripture reading will be held inside the chapel from 4:30 to 5 p.m. A countdown to light the Christmas tree outside the chapel will follow the service.

The extravaganza begins at 5 p.m. with seasonal activities for the whole family, including “Santa’s Workshop” in the Maker Hub, horse-drawn carriage rides, music performances in the chapel, festive treats and more!

Help spread health and wellness across the globe by supporting students and faculty from the university’s School of Physical Therapy as we travel to Uganda, Africa, this May.

We will be partnering with local leaders and advocacy groups to provide training, education and instruction in the treatment and management of children/people in need of physical therapy, working with patients in rural communities.

So, grab your friends and sign up for the 2025 Christmas Jingle 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, Dec. 6, at 9 a.m.! The run will be around the George Fox campus, starting in Stoffer Stadium. Come join us dressed in your holiday cheer!

The cost is $20 for students, $30 for community members, and $10 for children under age 10. This includes a free T-shirt! Sign up at this link. All proceeds will go toward our trip.

Questions? Contact Carleigh DeLapp at cdelapp20@georgefox.edu.

This is a friendly reminder that all Bruin Bookstore rentals are due on Friday, Dec. 12. If you have any questions, please email Kristin McGuirk at kmcguirk@georgefox.edu.

Our senior kinesiology majors will be presenting their research from 12:45 to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 9 in Roberts 117. If you are interested in what the kinesiology program has to offer, or are curious about the major, this is a great time to meet professors, students and alumni. Following the presentations we will have light snacks and community time.

Some study topics include:

• Barriers to Exercise in the Newberg Area
• Ruckings’ Effect on Running Performance
• Weight Training vs. Running Effects on Body Composition

Would you like to sell your art at the Christmas Extravaganza Holiday Hangout on Thursday, Dec. 4? It only costs $10 to rent a table to sell your art to students, staff and the local community.

This year, Holiday Hangout is combining with the Christmas Extravaganza, which will feature a tree-lighting ceremony, carriage rides and lots of other fun activities. The art market will take place in Klages with tables for students and staff to sell their work. This event is attended by students, staff and Newberg locals, so all tables will receive lots of traffic.

Fill out this form to rent a table.

Do you want your student employment paycheck to be deposited in your bank account automatically on payday? Come by the People and Culture office to sign up for direct deposit before you leave for Christmas break!

Fill out this form and bring either a voided check or a printed direct deposit form from your bank with your name, account number, and routing number. Many banks have these forms available to print through their online banking websites. If you can’t make it into our office, you can sign up using our Paperwork Drop Box.

If you aren’t able to sign up for direct deposit, remember that your paycheck will be in the mailroom unless you have put in a request with Mail Services to have your mail forwarded. Be sure to update your mailing address in MyGeorgeFox under the Profile tile if this is the case.

Questions? Contact our payroll team at payroll@georgefox.edu.