The Daily Bruin

Looking for the best ever summer campus job? Check out our job posting on Handshake: “Summer 2020: Event Services Team.” Questions? Contact Lisa Leslie at lleslie@georgefox.edu.

The whitewater rafting trip with OREC, originally scheduled for this Saturday, March 21, has been canceled. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Contact Keith Schneider at kschneid@georgefox.edu with questions.

Dear Newberg students, parents, faculty and staff,

George Fox University continues to have zero confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19), although the Oregon Health Authority has announced Yamhill County has a (presumably unrelated) case. We are in daily contact with Yamhill County Public Health, and we have been informed they will notify us if they become aware we have a confirmed case on the Newberg campus. 

The Oregon Health Authority and the Higher Education Coordinating Commission have issued new guidelines for universities regarding sharing information about student health involving coronavirus. Under these new guidelines, information about students with a confirmed case of coronavirus will be communicated by the local public health agency (Yamhill County Public Health for the Newberg campus, Washington County Department of Health and Human Services for Portland Center, Marion County Public Health for the Salem site, and Deschutes County Public Health for Redmond site). 

These new guidelines restrict our ability to share personal student health information, including symptoms, test status or test results. Any sharing of information must come from the public health agency or the individual. We realize this may be frustrating to our whole community, especially those with health concerns and those in close contact with others who have health concerns. We believe anyone who has been in close contact with a confirmed case will be notified by public health officials. 

We will continue to update our coronavirus response page with whatever public information is available. Please direct any questions to health@georgefox.edu.

We know these are uncertain times, but we are a Christ-centered community that cares for and supports one another, and we will continue to do so. The safety and well-being of our students and employees remains our top priority, and we will continue to update you as we receive new information. 

Sincerely,
Brad Lau, Vice President for Student Life

In light of recent events, the following are some study health tips for those who need to be on campus for labs or other required work.

• Try to do any group studying using remote collaboration tools, even if you are just down the hall from classmates
• Use phone and email to communicate instead of in-person conversations
• If in person, disinfect your study area, don’t touch anyone else’s belongings, and remain six feet apart
• Disinfect any shared tools – keyboards, pens, etc.

Flu season is in full swing and the health center still has flu vaccines available for $20. If you have the student health insurance with the university (PacificSource), then it’s free! Call the Health and Counseling Center to schedule an appointment today.

Questions? Contact Molly Hickok at mhickok@georgefox.edu.

In line with changes to the university’s schedule, the Hadlock Student Center has updated services and hours of operation. All intramurals, group fitness, and climbing classes are being suspended at this time. The updated hours are as follows:

• Today (Tuesday) through Friday, March 20 – Open from 6 to 9 a.m., 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 to 7 p.m. Reduced rope climbing hours will be from 5 to 7 p.m.
• Saturday and Sunday, March 21 and 22 – Closed
• Monday, March 23, through Thursday, March 26 – Open from 6 to 9 a.m., 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 to 7 p.m. Reduced rope climbing hours will be from 5 to 7 p.m.

During this time, HSC staff will provide additional cleaning of high-touch areas in the facility. We ask for your help in maintaining the function of this space and the health of users by taking the following steps:

• If you’re not feeling well, please stay at home. 
• Wash your hands thoroughly before and after your workout. Avoid touching your face, eyes, nose and mouth. 
• Wipe down equipment after use and practice social distancing during your activity (three feet or more from others and avoiding unnecessary contact).

Questions? Contact studentcenter@georgefox.edu.

Effective today (Tuesday) through Friday, April 10, the following will be implemented at the IDEA Center:

• There will be no drop-in hours held for CAP coaches to reduce the amount of in-person contact.
• All CAP coach and career coach appointments will be held via phone call or on a virtual platform (e.g. Zoom). The staff member you are meeting with will email you to confirm the medium for your appointment with additional instructions.
• CAP coaches are available during your spring break from Monday, March 23, through Thursday, March 26, for phone/virtual appointments, and via email.

We also have many resources to assist you during this time:

• You can view the 2020-21 course offerings here.
• If you are trying to enroll in a course with missing prerequisites or a time conflict, use this form.
• Use course plans as a guide to stay on track with your major. 
• See your remaining requirements by looking at your advisement report. From your student homepage, select the icon for “Academic Progress,” then click on “My Academic Requirements.”
• Having difficulty navigating MyGeorgeFox? This video shows how to enroll in courses for 2020-21.

For any questions or concerns, reach out to our office at 503-554-2330 or idea@georgefox.edu. If any of the above information changes, we will make sure to inform you to the best of our abilities.

Due to the low number of residents on our campus over the next few weeks, we are modifying the card lock access to residence halls. Fewer people in an area makes a building more vulnerable, so we are limiting access.

Card lock access to the residence halls will be limited to residents. This does not restrict visitors but limits card lock access. Our hope is that this will increase security in those locations.

Some universities have eliminated visitors in their halls. We have chosen to not go this route.

Please email Dave Johnstone (djohnsto@georgefox.edu) if you have any questions.

The following information details changes at the Academic Resource Center:

Because many students have projects due this week, the ARC is offering limited drop-in hours from 1 to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, March 16-20. If you would like to come to the ARC for help with a writing project or for academic coaching, please stop by; no appointment is necessary. If you are sick, please email us (the_arc@georgefox.edu) so we can discuss your project with you virtually.

During the originally scheduled spring break dates, March 21-29, the ARC will be closed.

The ARC will reopen on Monday, March 30. We will offer in-person and online consultation options through Friday, April 10. If students feel safe doing so, they will be able to come in for one-on-one appointments.

We are working on making an online option for students who do not wish to or cannot meet in person because of distance or illness. Watch future Daily Bruin posts for instructions on how to make online appointments.

Contact Julia James at jjames@georgefox.edu with any questions.

The Bruin Store will be open during its normal hours this week: Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Any changes in those hours will be posted in a second Daily Bruin announcement. Questions? Contact Paige Jacobs at pjacobs@georgefox.edu.

The Office for Spiritual Life will be offering opportunities for prayer this week.

• Today (Monday) at 4 p.m. in the amphitheater (weather permitting)
• Tuesday at 9 p.m. in the Canyon Commons dining room
• Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. at the Prayer Chapel

Please note that each of these gatherings will be designed in such a way that if location or group size pose any kind of health concern, these gatherings can be easily adapted.

To make an appointment with a campus pastor, please contact the Office for Spiritual Life at 503-554-2320 or send an email to spirituallife@georgefox.edu.  

In light of recent events, the accounting department will be canceling its remaining free tax preparation and e-filing assistance sessions for the George Fox community. The original dates scheduled were March 19, April 4, and April 9.

This decision comes as a result of the fact student volunteers will not be on campus as they take precautions associated with the coronavirus. We apologize for any inconvenience.

If you have questions, contact Seth Sikkema at 503-554-2813.

The luau scheduled for tonight (Monday) is still on! Come out for dinner and watch the show. We’d love to see you there!

Join us from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in Canyon Commons. Contact DJ Woo (dwoo17@georgefox.edu) with any questions.

Hello fellow Bruins! We are getting ready for the Georgies this April, and we need your help! As part of our athletic awards ceremony, we will be giving out the Bruin Award to the student-athlete who best exemplifies service to their fellow students, works hard in the classroom, and is active in community service.

Use this link to vote for an athlete you feel best fits this description, and state why. The winner of this award will be announced at the Georgies ceremony on Monday, April 20.

Questions? Contact Emily Davis at edavis@georgefox.edu.

This June, the university’s physical therapy department is taking a medical service trip to Ghana and Uganda to team up with local healthcare organizations to treat diverse conditions in underserved communities.

To help raise funds for the trip, a banquet will be held on Saturday, April 11, at 5 p.m. in Canyon Commons. Tickets are $30 and include dinner and a silent auction of various basket items!

If you are interested in joining us, contact Ariana Blondo at ablondo@georgefox.edu, or come by the physical therapy department in the Roberts Center and ask for Ariana.

Do you need some adventure for spring break? Come whitewater rafting with OREC on the Clackamas River on Saturday, March 21. This will be an awesome day on the water surrounded by iconic Pacific Northwest scenery.

YD Adventures will facilitate the trip and provide all river equipment. The trip cost is $35 and includes transportation. Sign up through IMLeagues.com.

This will be an all-day outing, so participants will need to pack a lunch and bring a change of clothes. Wetsuits and other river gear will be provided. Contact Keith Schneider at kschneid@georgefox.edu with questions.

The Wednesday, March 18, session featuring Discovery Institute Research Fellow Christopher Rufo, producer of the documentary America Lost, has been canceled. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Questions? Contact Anna Marshall at amarshall17@georgefox.edu.

Are you planning an adventure for spring break and need some gear to make it happen? The Hadlock Rental Center can help you out without breaking the bank.

Rentals of $10 or more will be eligible for a 20 percent discount from now through Sunday, March 29. Reserve gear online through the rental center’s webshop. Questions? Contact studentcenter@georgefox.edu.

Please join Julia Wenndt at her senior vocal recital today (Sunday) at 2 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church in Newberg (301 S. River St.).

This hour of music will include a variety of pieces, including famous soprano arias, an arrangement of a hymn, and selections from Broadway productions. A small reception will follow.

Questions? Contact Julia Wenndt at jwenndt16@georgefox.edu.

The Murdock Library will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and the 24-hour space will remain open when the library is closed.

The Portland Center Library will be open Monday, Wednesday and Friday, from noon to 5 p.m. The hours are subject to change based on student employee availability. Visit the Portland Center Library page for updates.