The Daily Bruin

Due to the forecasted freezing temperatures this week, we want to remind everyone to take extra precautions when out and about.

Parking Lots: Parking lots and walkways may become slippery as freezing temperatures cause surfaces to ice over. Please drive cautiously and reduce your speed in parking areas to prevent accidents.

Shaded Areas: Be especially cautious in shaded areas, as they will freeze first and stay icy longer. These spots can be particularly dangerous, so stay alert for any hidden patches of ice.

Stairs and Walkways: Stairs, handrails and walkways are more likely to accumulate ice. Please use handrails when available, take small, careful steps, and wear shoes with good traction to avoid slips and falls.

Your safety is our priority. Please stay vigilant and take your time when moving around in these conditions. Stay warm and safe!

Beginning today (Jan. 13), the Stevens Center elevator repair will commence. The KONE elevator repair crew estimates that the work will take at least one week, barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Please note that the restrooms on the first floor will be closed during this time. Restrooms on the second and third floors will remain open. Those with limited mobility should use the Hoover restrooms or make other arrangements through their supervisor.

A construction zone will be created around the repair area on the first floor. For your safety, do not cross any construction barriers.

We expect some noise and disruption during the repair period and appreciate your understanding and patience. Please contact the Plant Services office (503-554-2010) if you have any questions. Thank you!

Need support with your academic journey? Our Virtual Learning Center (VLC) includes personalized writing consultations and academic coaching to help you succeed from anywhere. Whether it is over Zoom or asynchronously, our consultants are here for you.

To make an appointment, go to the TracCloud icon on your Canvas dashboard, choose the Virtual Learning Center, and find a time that works best for you. We are open starting this week.

If you have any questions, please email Heather Harney at hharney@georgefox.edu

Are you interested in doing research? The Richter Scholars program at George Fox distributes funds to support student research activities that are devised, initiated and carried out by individual student researchers, with mentorship, guidance and expertise provided by a faculty mentor.

Students: If you are interested in doing research next summer, connect with a faculty mentor now so they can help you with your proposal. Before preparing a proposal, please read through the full proposal guidelines, eligibility requirements and review criteria at this link.

All submissions will be electronic through Smartsheet, due Monday, Jan. 27, 2025. The Smartsheet link can be found on the website and will be activated when the spring semester begins.

For more information, contact Vetta Berokoff at vberokof@georgefox.edu.

We would like to invite you to a rare opportunity to hear from one of the most influential and respected theologians and biblical scholars of the modern era – Dr. N. T. Wright. We are pleased to partner with TogetherPDX to bring Dr. Wright to Portland for an in-person lecture at Rolling Hills Church in Tualatin on Friday, Feb. 7, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Dr. Wright is an English New Testament scholar, Pauline theologian and Anglican bishop. He has held a variety of both academic and chaplaincy posts at Oxford, Cambridge, and McGill University in Montreal. He is currently research professor emeritus of New Testament and early Christianity at St. Mary’s College in the University of St. Andrews and senior research fellow at Wycliffe Hall in Oxford.

George Fox University is able to offer half-priced tickets to students who want to attend. Register here and use the discount code “HALF” to redeem a half-price discount while tickets last.

Feel free to reach out to Gwyn Curtis at gcurtis@georgefox.edu with any questions.

Starting today (Monday), the Bruin Community Pantry food bank will be open during the following times:

• Mondays: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Tuesdays: 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Wednesdays: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Thursdays: 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Fridays: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

These hours may change a bit throughout the week as we get our volunteer hours set up. Please refer to the hours on the pantry’s website, as they are updated when changes are made.

Please email Jere Witherspoon at bruincommunitypantry@georgefox.edu if you have any questions.

We will be closed for the following holidays this semester:

• Monday, Jan. 20
• Friday, Feb. 14
• March 24 through March 28

Featuring George Fox and local Newberg students, and coordinated by university employees and local community leaders, “At the Table with Dr. King” is a one-hour dramatic presentation. Join us for it at 6 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 20, at the Chehalem Cultural Center (415 E. Sheridan St.).

Utilizing live music, spoken word, and multimedia, the event will bring to life the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Knock at Midnight” and portions of America’s Civil Rights Movement.

All are welcome to come, listen, reflect and respond to this unique call upon our lives to serve others in pursuit of the “Beloved Community.”

Contact Rusty St. Cyr at rstcyr@georgefox.edu with any questions.

Do you have questions about your finances? You can protect your assets, minimize estate taxes, and take care of the people and causes that matter to you.

We’ll show you how. Join us on Thursday, Jan. 23, from 10 a.m. to noon in Canyon Commons for a free estate planning seminar. Light refreshments will be provided.

The event is provided as a service to the community by George Fox University and Stephen C. Palmer, Attorney at Law.

Please RSVP to Tracy Fabel, associate director of planned giving, at tfabel@georgefox.edu or 503-544-2130.

On the MLK Day holiday (Monday, Jan. 20), the Office for Spiritual Life invites students and employees to join us for a day of community service and learning with SOLVE and other community partners in Portland. Space is limited, so be the first to sign up! Please complete this form to register.

Here is a tentative schedule of the MLK Day plan:

• 9 a.m.: Meet up, continental breakfast and departure from SpiL (Barclay) House; on the drive to Portland, we’ll listen, reflect and discuss a sermon by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
• 9:45 a.m.: Meet at Irving Park in Portland for orientation
• 10 a.m.: Join with SOLVE for MLK Day service project (beautification/litter clean-up
  project)
• Noon: Lunch and discussion on service as an opportunity for spiritual connection and growth
• 1 p.m.: Visit community partner organization serving Portland
• 2 p.m.: Debrief and drive back
• 2:45 p.m.: Arrive back at Newberg campus

Undergraduate students who participate will be eligible to receive chapel-elective credit for participation. RSVP on Helper-Helper.

Contact Rusty St. Cyr for more information at rstcyr@georgefox.edu.

Come learn how you can help build stronger connections across political and ideological divides in our community!

The George Fox Civility Project and United as Neighbors group will co-host “Reclaiming Our Friendly Community,” a public event this Saturday, Jan. 11, from 10 a.m. to noon in Roberts 117. If you are interested in practical, on-the-ground work to strengthen human connections and transform our disagreements into opportunities to improve our community, you should come.

The meeting will have four segments:

1. Information on current projects by the United as Neighbors group (15 minutes)
2. Information about other community-building efforts in the Newberg/Dundee area you can support and/or join (15 minutes)
3. Brainstorming together ideas for new projects and/or events that could help strengthen and enrich connections across political and ideological divides in Newberg and Dundee (30 minutes)
4. Connecting with other meeting attenders to promote stronger and richer connections across our divides (30 minutes).

For more information, visit the UasN webpage at unitedasneighbors.org or visit the information page hosted on the George Fox Civility Project website.

Sign up for spring GroupX classes in Hadlock! All are free!

Here is the schedule:

• Monday: Pilates at 4 p.m., Cycle at 5:30 p.m.
• Tuesday: Ballet Barre at 6:30 a.m. (new!), Cycle at 6 p.m.
• Wednesday: Run club at 6:30 a.m. (new!), Zumba at 4 p.m.
• Thursday: Circuit Training at 5:30 p.m. (new!)
• Friday: Power Barre at 4 p.m.

You can sign up on IMLeagues here.

Volunteers are needed at the Bruin Community Pantry food bank starting Monday, Jan. 13. We welcome both students and employees to volunteer. This opportunity allows great connections with students and others in our community, and the new space in the Lewis 1 apartment is warm and inviting.

Some faculty members set up office hours during their shifts. If you’re a student and need community service hours for a class, volunteering at the food bank is a great way to fill those hours.

Volunteer requirements:

• Must be able to serve at the time slot that they choose for the entire semester. We do have substitutes available when something unexpected arises.
• Must be able to attend an orientation that lasts about 30 minutes.
• Required to complete two training presentations (a total of 20 minutes).

If you are interested in volunteering at the food bank, please complete this form. The spring schedule must be finalized by Friday, Jan. 24.

If you have any questions, please contact Jere Witherspoon at 503-554-2316.

Got the winter blues? Join us for Newberg Game Con 2025 the weekend of Feb. 1-2 in Canyon Commons! The event will run from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. both days.

Your perfect winter gaming getaway includes:

• A massive board game library
• Scheduled RPG and board game sessions
• Open gaming tables
• All-day gaming from morning till night
• Exclusive local dining discounts
• A board game giveaway

Early Bird Special: Full weekend passes are available for just $12! Undergraduate students: Contact Paul Otto (paulandrewotto@gmail.com) about free admission!

After his father’s passing, President Robin Baker has been deeply moved by the outpouring of support from the George Fox community. This past Christmas was uniquely challenging as his mother, at age 87, underwent a risky procedure that required emergency surgery.

Her fragile state in the ICU left the Baker family unsure how to comfort her, but music became a source of healing and a reminder of Christ’s presence. You can read President Baker’s post on his Reflections blog here.

Would you like to see our local community rebuild trust and community connections across political divides? Do you want to get an update on what’s happening in our area to accomplish this? Would you like to be part of an active community-building project?

Come to the Reclaiming Our Friendly Community event from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Jan. 11, in Roberts Center Room 117 (on the south side of the building). People involved with ongoing civility-building projects in the Newberg/Dundee area will describe their plans for 2025.

We’ll also hear from people with ideas for new or expanded civility projects in our area, and we all will share ideas about what can be done. You will have a chance to connect with others who share your vision for building a healthier community that welcomes all and comes to the aid of those in need.

For more information, including a link to a short video explaining the event, go to the Civility Project webpage or contact Ron Mock at civility@georgefox.edu.

If severe winter weather makes travel to or from campus unsafe, 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 will not be held, 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. 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.

Volunteers are needed at the Bruin Community Pantry food bank starting Monday, Jan. 13. We welcome George Fox students and employees to volunteer. This opportunity allows great connections with students and others in our community, and the new space in the Lewis 1 apartment is warm and inviting.

Some faculty members set up office hours during their shifts. If you’re a student and need community service hours for a class, volunteering at the food bank is a great way to fill those hours.

Volunteer requirements:

• Must be able to serve at the time slot that they choose for the entire semester. We do have substitutes available when something unexpected arises.
• Must be able to attend an orientation that lasts about 30 minutes.
• Required to complete two training presentations (a total of 20 minutes).

If you are interested in volunteering at the food bank, please complete this form.

If you have any questions, please contact Jere Witherspoon at 503-554-2316.

The hours for the Murdock Library through Jan. 12 are as follows:

• Dec. 17-20: Open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; 24-hour space open
• Dec. 21-22: Closed; 24-hour space open
• Dec. 23: Open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; 24-hour space open
• Dec. 24-Jan. 1: Closed, including 24-hour space
• Jan. 2-3: Open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; 24-hour space open
• Jan. 4-5: Closed; 24-hour space open
• Jan. 6-10: Open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; 24-hour space open
• Jan. 11-12: Closed; 24-hour space open

If you have any questions, contact Sarah Willhite at lwillhite@georgefox.edu.

Members of the campus community will have limited access to Hadlock Student Center on Tuesday, Dec. 17.

The courts and studios will be closed today due to a private event. However, the fitness center and climbing wall will remain open as usual from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact Kelsey Cantrall at kcantrall@georgefox.edu.

Please join the Department of Social Work for our human rights poster presentation today (Thursday) from 10:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. in the EHS Atrium. You can join any time during that period.

Enjoy light refreshments while browsing posters on various human rights issues affecting some of the most vulnerable communities in the world. Please come and support your students and peers!

Questions? Please contact Young-Il Kim at ykim@georgefox.edu.