The Daily Bruin

Looking for support to boost your academic success? The Academic Resource Center (ARC) has you covered!

From writing consultations to academic coaching, our team is here to help you excel. Stop by this week and make the most of our resources! To schedule an appointment, go to the TracCloud icon on your Canvas Dashboard or go to traccloud.georgefox.edu.

We are open Monday through Thursday from 1 to 9 p.m. and Fridays from noon to 4 p.m. 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.

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.

Get ready for Winter Welcome Jan. 10-12! For residential students, the residence halls will be reopening on Friday, Jan. 10, at noon. We hope you’ll join us for a host of events over the weekend before the start of the spring semester.

Winter Welcome is a time for you to get re-acclimated to campus and reconnect before the start of classes on Monday, Jan. 13. Check out the Winter Welcome schedule here. Rest up this Christmas break, and we’ll see you in January for a fun-filled weekend!

Have you thought about studying abroad? This is a great opportunity to find out more about some of our programs with Veritas.

A representative from Veritas will be on campus from 5 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 14, in Stevens 109. Veritas program locations include Costa Rica, Czech Republic, France, New Zealand, Peru, Rome, Spain and others.

Stop by for a chance to connect with our representative, get information, and ask questions.

Questions? Contact Wendi Upjohn-Hankel at wupjohn@georgefox.edu or David Martinez at dmartinez@georgefox.edu.

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.

The work order system utilized by Plant Services (TMA) is undergoing a major version update. As a result, work orders will not be processed during the conversion. For urgent work requests during this time, please email plantservices@georgefox.edu directly. We ask that users refrain from logging into the system until the update is fully complete.

The conversion process is expected to take a few days, assuming no unforeseen issues arise. Another announcement will be posted when the updated system is online. Thank you.

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!

The Office for Spiritual Life is excited to offer a SpiL mentoring program, an opportunity for students to connect in meaningful conversations about faith and life with a dedicated George Fox staff or faculty member.

Through the program, students can foster a growing relationship with Christ alongside a trusted mentor. Students will be matched with a dedicated staff or faculty member, with whom they will have weekly meetings lasting approximately one hour, spanning eight weeks within the semester.

Participants can also receive SpiL credit for joining the program. To sign up, please fill out this form by Thursday, Jan. 30.

If you have additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact the spiritual life office at spirituallife@georgefox.edu.

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.

As you rest and recover from the fall semester over winter break, make sure you save time to complete some important financial aid applications for the 2025-26 school year. Review the following resources to start building your 2025-26 financial aid package.

FAFSA
The 2025-26 FAFSA  is now available online for all students and should be submitted by Jan. 31, 2025. If you get stuck or need help, you can attend our FAFSA workshop on Tuesday, Jan. 21, from 5 to 7 p.m. in Canyon Commons 101. No registration is required; just grab some dinner and drop in!

OSAC
The OSAC State Scholarship application is open for students who are residents of Oregon. The early bird deadline to be entered into a drawing for an additional $1,000 scholarship is Feb. 18, 2025. The final deadline to apply is March 3.

Donor-Funded Scholarships
The application is now open for our George Fox donor-funded scholarships. Apply by the early bird deadline of Feb. 15 to be entered into a drawing for an additional $500 scholarship! The final deadline to apply is March 3.

The ARC will be hosting a donor-funded scholarship workshop during the second week of the spring semester. All ARC appointment times from Jan. 20-24 will be available except for Jan. 21 from 4 to 6 p.m. and Jan. 23 from 2 to 4 p.m. When scheduling on TracCloud for an appointment to have your donor-funded scholarship application reviewed, make sure to mark “scholarship essay” as the reason for your visit.

Contact the financial aid office with any additional questions about scholarships or the FAFSA.

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.