As we approach Christmas, we want to offer some reminders about living in a Christ-centered community.
Our campus single-stall bathrooms have recently been converted to allow more flexibility in use. We have visitors, guests, family members and students (undergraduate and graduate) who benefit from using non-gender-specific bathrooms when they have young children, are transgender, or when lines form for a single-sex bathroom during major events.
Two weeks ago, two restroom signs on campus were defaced during the night with “X’s” over specific gender symbols. The markings were immediately removed by university staff. In addition to being an act of vandalism, this action brought pain to members of our community. This kind of action has no place in a community like ours.
We believe that all people are of great worth and value in the eyes of our Creator God and seek to increasingly become a campus characterized by loving support of one another (even when we disagree). Cultural humility and civility means that we seek to understand and appreciate others who are different from ourselves. Language and/or behavior that relies on stereotypes or is demeaning toward individuals or groups of individuals is unacceptable for George Fox students and employees, whether it occurs in person, through social media (Twitter, Facebook, etc.) or anonymously.
