The Daily Bruin

Come join us for two of our favorite theatre events of the year! Tomorrow (Thursday), come to the amphitheater at 7:30 p.m. to enjoy Shakespeare Under the Stars, a fun community performance celebrating William Shakespeare’s birthday!

Then, at 8:30 p.m., stick around for Epiphany Presents, a 35-minute original show by George Fox students exploring their experiences of God, faith, trust and discovery!

Both events are free. Be sure to wear warm clothes and bring a blanket or chair for seating. If actively raining, both events will be moved to Wood-Mar Auditorium.

Questions? Contact Ben Tissell at btissell@georgefox.edu.

Music is a versatile tool that can transform both your mood and your workflow. Beyond just filling the silence, listening to music you enjoy triggers the release of dopamine, providing a natural emotional lift and helping to lower stress during a busy day.

From a practical standpoint, background music is most effective during routine or repetitive tasks, where it helps maintain a steady rhythm and provides a “sound shield” against office distractions. By intentionally choosing your soundtrack, you can create a personal sanctuary that nurtures your mental well-being while keeping your energy levels high.

The Art of Mindful Listening: Protecting Your Mental Energy

To get the most out of your workday audio, it’s important to recognize when your brain needs a different kind of support. While upbeat tracks are great for energy, tasks requiring deep concentration or complex problem-solving can be hindered by lyrical music, which competes for your brain’s processing power and leads to mental fatigue.

To support your cognitive well-being, practice matching your audio to your mental state: opt for calming instrumental tracks or ambient “pink noise” when you need to focus, and don’t be afraid to embrace silence to prevent overstimulation. Being mindful of what you listen to ensures that your environment supports your productivity and well-being without draining your mental reserves.

Questions? Contact Aga Kasprzyk at akasprzyk@georgefox.edu.

We’ve successfully pushed the latest round of essential security and performance updates to all systems. These updates are crucial for maintaining a secure and efficient computing environment.

However, these changes will not take full effect until your computer has been properly restarted.

What you need to do:

1. Save your work: Ensure all open documents and projects are saved.
2. Restart your machine: Click the Start menu, select Power, and choose Restart. (Note: Simply logging out or shutting down the lid is not enough.)

A quick restart ensures the installation is finalized, patching vulnerabilities and activating important system enhancements. A restart can be done at the end of your day. Best practice is to restart once a week.

Thank you for helping us keep our systems running smoothly and securely! Questions? Contact Amy Yates at ayates@georgefox.edu. 

Need a reason to get takeout? Now you have one! This Monday, April 27, Panda Express will be donating 28% of all online orders using the code 9014720 to George Fox DPT’s medical service trip to Uganda.

This fundraiser will occur all day on Monday and is a nationwide fundraiser, so friends and family can contribute as well. Feel free to spread the word. The trip is fast approaching, and every contribution helps!

Questions? Contact Evan Robinson at evanr24@georgefox.edu.

Please consider participating in our Doctor of Physical Therapy pelvic health research project if your first or primary language is Spanish, you are 18 years or older, and experience or experienced Pelvic Floor Dysfunction (PFD), meaning “any departure from normal function of the pelvic floor muscles that is of bother to the patient.”

To participate, complete this survey. Questions? Contact Tess Swake at tswake@georgefox.edu.

Need a reason to get takeout? Now you have one! Next Monday, April 27, Panda Express will be donating 28% of all online orders using the code 9014720 to the doctor of physical therapy’s medical service trip to Uganda.

This fundraiser will occur all day on Monday and is a nationwide fundraiser, so friends and family can contribute as well. Feel free to spread the word; the trip is fast approaching, and every contribution helps!

Questions? Contact Evan Robinson at evanr24@georgefox.edu.

Google continues to provide new features and improved functionality for a more seamless access to Gemini in both the Plus license that all students, staff and faculty have, and the Pro license.

Here are the most recent updates:

• In the Gemini app and beyond:
  • Add notebooks from NotebookLM as a data source in the Gemini app. This will provide more relevant responses that are grounded in the sources in your notebook. Click the Plus icon in your Gemini chat window.
  • Google Chat is now available as a data source in the Gemini app.
  • Conversation history in the Gemini side panel in your apps. View and resume your saved conversations in the History section. Smart features must be enabled in your Gmail settings.
  • Available in Docs for everyone.
  • Pro version also available in Gmail and Sheets

• Expanded NotebookLM capabilities for Education Plus:
  • Increased source context: Support for more sources in each notebook.
  • More engagement: Send more chat queries per day.
  • Expanded study tools: Create more flashcard sets and quizzes.
  • More multimedia generation: Create more Video Overviews, Audio Overviews, infographics and slide decks.

Do you have a Mac computer? Click here to download the new Gemini for Mac app. (If you’re familiar with Anthropic’s Claude CoWork, this will be similar.)

• Sign in with your George Fox account. This provides the same privacy protection as the rest of our Workspace apps.
• Opens a Gemini Chat window anywhere on your Mac computer without opening a browser.
• All chats are saved and will appear on your Gemini app webpage.
• Works best if you have turned on your connected apps. This allows Gemini to search your email, docs, other files, etc. and give you the best response using data you already have.

Tip: To get more personalized responses, you can share your window with Gemini. In Gemini, click the Plus icon to see the option to share your window.

Contact us at servicedesk@georgefox.edu with any questions, or check the IT AI website.

Don’t miss the final chapel of the academic year, also known as Awards Chapel!

Please join us tomorrow (Tuesday) at 10:50 a.m. in the chapel as we celebrate our faculty award winners and the upcoming end of the academic year!

We’ll have a time of worship, hear from President Baker and Joseph Clair, associate provost for the Division of Humanities & Honors, and present faculty awards. Faculty winners of the Undergraduate Teacher of the Year, Undergraduate Research & Scholarship, Outstanding Service, and Outstanding Faith and Integration awards will be announced.

Come celebrate with, and congratulate, our winning faculty members!

Questions? Contact Laurie Fair at lfair@georgefox.edu.

Current events and news regarding ICE-related activities can cause significant stress, fear and trauma. We want you to know that you are not alone. For Our Neighbor is a dedicated online resource hub created specifically to support George Fox students and staff navigating these heavy anxieties.

If you or someone you know is feeling impacted, please utilize these resources or reach out to forourneighbor@georgefox.edu.

George Fox will celebrate Dr. Pam Fifer’s memory with a service held in Bauman Auditorium tomorrow (Saturday) at 10 a.m. All are welcome to join us in honoring Dr. Fifer, who lost her battle with cancer on March 27.

As dean of the College of Nursing, she was a visionary leader who transformed the program through her pursuit of academic excellence, her commitment to mentorship, and her advocacy for the future of nursing education.

In lieu of flowers, her family kindly requests that donations be made to the Pamela J. Fifer Memorial Endowed Nursing Scholarship at George Fox, ensuring her passion for nursing education continues to inspire generations of students. Click here to donate.

Questions? Contact Carly Reumann at creumann@georgefox.edu.

Cybercriminals are surprisingly resourceful, often using data leaked elsewhere to set up accounts in your name before you even think to. By establishing your online access now, you’re effectively locking the door first and building a digital wall of security around your hard-earned savings.

Beyond just fraud protection, registering gives you immediate access to a suite of planning tools and resources designed to help you stay informed and in control of your retirement journey. Find out more here.

Don’t miss the final chapel of the academic year, also known as Awards Chapel!

Please join us Tuesday, April 21, at 10:50 a.m. in the chapel as we celebrate our faculty award winners and the upcoming end of the academic year!

We’ll have a time of worship, hear from President Baker and Joseph Clair, associate provost for the Division of Humanities & Honors, and present faculty awards. Faculty winners of the Undergraduate Teacher of the Year, Undergraduate Research & Scholarship, Outstanding Service, and Outstanding Faith and Integration awards will be announced.

Come celebrate with, and congratulate, our winning faculty members!

Questions? Contact Laurie Fair at lfair@georgefox.edu.

What does it look like when two of America’s most brilliant and outspoken minds — one a conservative lion of natural law theory, the other a prophetic voice of the Black radical tradition — sit down not as opponents, but as brothers in Christ?

Tonight (Thursday), at 7 p.m., the university invites you to “Civic Friendship in a Polarized Age,” a rare and remarkable dialogue between Princeton’s Robert George and Union Seminary’s Cornel West.

Students have the option of receiving elective chapel credit for attending. The event, originally scheduled for Canyon Commons, has been moved to Bauman Auditorium. There is no fee, but we request you please reserve your spot using this form.

Rooted not in the tired theater of political debate but in a shared Christian faith that calls all people to love their neighbors across every divide, this conversation will explore what genuine civic friendship demands of us in this fractured moment. Come expecting not a clash, but a covenant — a living demonstration that the gospel has always been, at its heart, a politics of reconciliation.

For more information, contact Carly Reumann creumann@georgefox.edu.

The Pre-College Summer Institute is a college immersive experience for high schoolers who have completed at least one year of high school. Students will stay overnight in the dorms, take classes during the day, and have evening activities available with other students. Visit this website for more information and to register your high schooler.

If you are a part of the George Fox community, use one of these discounts:

• Employees: Use discount code BRUIN for a $400 discount.
• Graduate Students: We invite you to also use the BRUIN discount code if you have kids who want to attend.
• Undergraduate and Graduate Students: If you have a high school-age sibling, use the discount code SIBLING for a $400 discount.

Questions? Contact summercamps@georgefox.edu.

This Financial Literacy Month, make the most of your benefits by connecting with our Employee Assistance Program Canopy’s free financial coaching. Whether you’re navigating daily expenses or planning for the long haul, expert coaches are here to provide personalized, strictly confidential guidance at no cost to you.

How Canopy can help:

• Budgeting & Debt: Create a plan to manage daily spending and pay down balances
• Credit & Loans: Improve your credit score or find smart student loan solutions
• Future Planning: Get a head start on your long-term retirement goals

Getting professional advice is straightforward and secure:

• Online: Register or log in here.
• Call: 800-433-2320
• Text: 503-850-7721

Learn more on the Canopy website.

Note: These services are 100% confidential, ensuring a private and supportive environment for your financial health.

Be sure to take note of these upcoming Bruin Store events and deadlines:

• April 15-16: All discontinued Stanley and Hydro flask items are just $17.98.
• April 23: Our Grad Appreciation Event, when we offer 20% off diploma frames, gifts and clothing
• Now until May 1: Rental books are due at the Bruin Store by May 1

Questions? Contact Kristin McGuirk at kmcguirk@georgefox.edu.

Our next “Cooking with Class” is going to be a flour-filled good time! Join us on Tuesday, May 12, from noon to 1:30 p.m. in Canyon Commons 101 and 102 to learn how to make gnocchi, Sardinia style.

This is a fully hands-on experience where you make your meal and eat it too! With a selection of savory sauces and expert tips, you’ll leave with a new skill and a very happy stomach.

Only 20 spots are available, so be one of the first 20 people to sign up by May 1!

Questions? Contact Miriam Lacy at mlacy@georgefox.edu.

This Friday, April 17, is the last day to register for the May Deep Dive Faculty Retreat at Twin Rocks Friends Camp. The Deep Dive offers the opportunity to work on a project, delve into research, or dedicate time to a course in a serene and inspiring environment.

In addition to solo work, you can collaborate, rest, and play with your colleagues. For a more reflective experience, a self-guided spiritual retreat is also available.

The retreat will start  Monday, May 11 (4 p.m. check-in) and end Thursday, May 14 (9 a.m. check-out). There is no cost to attend!

Click here to register.

• Track 1: Guided intensive to work collaboratively on your first Faculty Growth Plan
• Track 2: Guided intensive to work collaboratively on your Third-Year Review Portfolio
• Track 2.1: Guided intensive to work collaboratively on your Fifth-Year Promotion
• Self-guided: Open to all faculty to work on a professional project

Questions? Contact Michelle Kang at mkang@georgefox.edu.

The Chehalem Symphony, Chehalem Chorus, and George Fox University choirs invite you to their Spring Concert, Vaughan Williams’ Dona Nobis Pacem. This combined performance will feature the student winners of the Concerto and Aria Competition, Maxwell Ball (tenor) and Michaela Gaines (trumpet).

There will be two performances: Saturday, April 18, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 19, at 2 p.m. 

George Fox students can attend for free, and employees receive two complimentary tickets by entering their George Fox email address when making reservations.

Reserve your tickets online, over the phone, or in person at the performing arts office in Ross 200. Tickets will also be available at the venue beginning one hour before each performance.

For more information, contact the Box Office at 503-554-3400 or boxoffice@georgefox.edu.

Don’t miss the final chapel of the academic year, also known as Awards Chapel!

Please join us Tuesday, April 21, at 10:50 a.m. in the chapel as we celebrate our faculty award winners and the upcoming end of the academic year!

We’ll have a time of worship, hear from President Baker and Joseph Clair, associate provost for the Division of Humanities & Honors, and present faculty awards. Faculty winners of the Undergraduate Teacher of the Year, Undergraduate Research & Scholarship, Outstanding Service, and Outstanding Faith and Integration awards will be announced.

Come celebrate with, and congratulate, our winning faculty members!

Questions? Contact Laurie Fair at lfair@georgefox.edu.