The Daily Bruin

The theatre department’s fall production of The Diviners will be showing in Wood-Mar Auditorium on Nov. 5-7 and Nov. 12-14 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 15, at 2 p.m. The production is a redemptive tale of a charismatic but backsliding preacher and his close newfound friendship with the eccentric Buddy Layman as they help each other divine for truth, faith and hope.

All university employees will receive one complementary ticket for any night. Your complimentary ticket is only available at the Box Office in the Bruin Bookstore. Additional tickets are available for purchase at theatre.georgefox.edu.

Employees who still have their name badge holders from last week’s staff conference, please return them to Laura Klaus at Box 6229.

LINK (Liberty in North Korea), a team bringing awareness to the plight in North Korea, is on a tour throughout the country. They’ll be on campus to showcase their latest documentary, Seoul Train, at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28, in EHS 102.

The documentary is the story about North Korean refugees who have braved the underground in search of freedom. Come watch, discuss, and help support the modern-day underground railroad.

It is time once again to order university stationery. For detailed order instructions, go to the university communications website.

Elizabeth Holme (Print Services) will work with the Office of Marketing Communications in ordering general university (i.e. non-departmental stationery) letterhead and envelopes. You will continue to purchase all non-departmental stationery (including “second-sheet letterhead”) through her.

Orders are due by Wednesday, Nov. 4.

It’s not too late to apply or renew your passport. The U.S. Postal Service representative will be on campus Wednesday, Oct. 28, from 10 a.m. to noon. The location has been changed to the Cap & Gown A section of the SUB.

Don’t forget your original or certified copy of your birth certificate, along with your driver’s license that has a current last name on it for identification purposes. Also, remember that children under 16 must have both parents present.

No debit or credit cards will be accepted. Checks are preferred, and two checks are required. The cost is $75 for the application fee, $15 for pictures and $25 for the U.S.P.S. processing fee. Children will be $15 less.

A U.S. Postal Service representative will be on the Newberg campus to accept passport applications or renewals on Tuesday, Oct. 27, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Wednesday, Oct. 28, from 10 a.m. to noon in the Executive Dining Room in the Student Union Building.

The ID required is a driver’s license with current last name and an original or certified copy of your birth certificate. Children under 16 years of age must have both parents present.

No debit or credit cards will be accepted. Checks are preferred, and two checks are required. The cost is $75 for the application fee, $15 for pictures, and $25 for the U.S.P.S. fee. Children will be $15 less.

David Niyonzima will speak at the next Liberal Arts and Critical Issues Forum Monday, Oct. 26, from 4:30 to 5:35 p.m. and from 7 to 7:55 p.m., in Hoover 105.

David will speak on the church in Burundi, Africa. He is a pastor and director of THARS, a program that promotes healing and rehabilitation for traumatized people (ex-combatants, victims of torture and sexual violence). He is the coauthor of Unlocking Horns: Forgiveness and Reconciliation in Burundi.

The Oregon legislature has levied a 1 percent tax on health insurance premiums, effective Oct. 1, to provide access to health care coverage for low and moderate income Oregon children currently without health insurance. The tax is matched 2-to-1 by the federal government. To offset this 1 percent premium tax, Kaiser has raised its premiums to George Fox and all of its other employer groups by a corresponding 1 percent.

The university has agreed to absorb this increase for the remainder of this plan year in addition to the 80 percent contribution it already makes, so employees with Kaiser coverage will not have to pay this premium increase until any change in premium for the new plan year (March 31, 2010 payroll deduction).

Because the Pioneer Educators Health Trust plan is a self-insured multiple employer welfare trust rather than an insurance company, it was not subject to this new 1 percent premium tax.

Tilikum is looking for a very part-time computer technician to work a few hours per week over the next year to set up and maintain its computer network. Besides the standard technical qualifications, they are looking for someone with working familiarity with the university’s network system, servers, etc.  Please e-mail hr@georgefox.edu if you are interested in this position and/or would like to see the job description and make a transfer request.

This position is currently open only to internal applicants (employees and students). Unfortunately, full-time support staff employees cannot be considered because additional hours (over 40 per week) would require overtime pay, which is cost prohibitive for Tilikum’s budget. A completed transfer request, cover letter and resume should be submitted to HR by 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2.

The university’s “Week of Living Light” will culminate Saturday, Oct. 24, with a gathering at 3:30 p.m. in the campus quad. Those who turn out will organize themselves into a large number “350” at exactly 3:50 p.m. A picture will be taken, and it will be sent to Times Square in New York. After the picture, participants plan to march down Highway 99W holding signs and wearing their recycled T-shirts to show their support of the cause.

The event is planned in conjunction with the 350.org campaign, an effort to alert political leaders in advance of the crafting of a new global treaty on cutting carbon emissions in Copenhagen, Denmark, in December. The scientific community has designated 350 (parts per million) as the safe upper limit for CO2 in the atmosphere.

The DVD “How Great is Our GOD” that was shown at the fall staff conference will be available for sale at the Bruin Bookstore once they are back in stock from their Christian supplier’s warehouse. After the university employee 20 percent discount, the price is $10.39. Another e-nnouncement will follow upon their arrival at the bookstore.

The university will host a conference to abolish sex trafficking and prostitution in Portland, The New Abolitionists, this Saturday, Oct. 24, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Bauman Auditorium.

Sponsored by George Fox and the Northwest Yearly Meeting, the event will feature James Pond from Transitions Global and musical guest Jeff Greer. Suggested donation is $20, $10 of which will go to a Portland-based activist agency of the donor’s choice.

Spiritual Life credit is available for students. To learn more, visit The New Abolitionists page on the university’s website.

Thursday, Oct. 22, is the official “Vegetarian Day” as a part of the university’s “A Week of Living Light.” Students who have signed up to participate in this event will have the opportunity to eat vegetarian meals in Klages Dining Hall. All students and employees are encouraged to consider how much energy and resources are involved in the raising, feeding, and transportation of livestock — and the eventual preparation of meat products — and reflect upon how this lengthy process affects our planet.

Also, Friday is “Au Naturale Day” so be sure to skip those morning showers and embrace the satisfaction of knowing that the numerous gallons of water, and the energy used to heat that water, has not gone to waste. Please also take this opportunity to reflect on how much water you use to wash dishes, flush a toilet, or to wash your hands.

An all-employee meeting is set from 3:45 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, in Hoover 105.

For those at the university’s regional sites, the meeting will be available for viewing at stream.georgefox.edu/live/commmtg.sdp. For best results, use Mozilla Firefox for your web browser, and your computer must have QuickTime Player installed. Simply copy the link into the address bar of your browser. If you have any problems, contact the Service Desk at ext. 2569.

In addition, a chat room has been set up to allow for interaction. A video recording of the meeting will be available for viewing the following day at itunesu.georgefox.edu.

The university community is invited to get free water and watch a free film, F.L.O.W. (For Love of Water) beginning at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21, in EHS 102. Come see a film about what people will do for the love and lust of water. Sponsored by Sophilo (Love Wisely).

Wednesday, Oct. 21, is the official “walk or ride your bike to school day” as a part of the university’s Week of Living Light. In an effort to decrease our dependency on fossil fuel sources and reduce our excessive carbon emissions every day, students and employees are encouraged to avoid the use of motor vehicles.

Please carpool if driving to or from school is necessary, or take advantage of public transportation. Otherwise, enjoy the exercise as you walk or ride your bike.

Tuesday, Oct. 20, has been designated “A Day Unplugged” during the university’s “Week of Living Light,” sponsored by members of Lisa McMinn’s social change class. Remember to turn off the lights as you leave a room, unplug your appliances or computer/cell phone chargers if you aren’t using them, and consider ways you can contribute to reducing energy demands and live more sustainably. Check out 350.org for more ideas.

Eloise Hockett (Education) will present a session titled “Taking a Step Backwards in Course Planning” at a Faculty Teaching Forum scheduled from 12:40 to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21, in Cap and Gown A (note the different location than on the academic calendar). The session will explore an effective adult learning methodology in planning courses and curriculum. Come and learn about the four “I’s.”

To reserve a lunch, e-mail Jere Witherspoon (jwithers@georgefox.edu) by 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 20. Everyone is welcome to attend the session, whether bringing a lunch or reserving a lunch. Please have your lunch ready so we can begin the conversation at noon.

All faculty — full time, part time, and adjunct — are invited to attend Faculty Teaching Forums (FTFs). Video podcasts of FTFs will be available on iTunesU.

Journalist and author Elizabeth Grossman will discuss trash, recyling and the promise of Green Chemistry as part of the Liberal Arts and Critical Issues lecture series from 4:40 to 5:35 p.m. and from 7 to 7:55 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19, in Hoover 105.

Elizabeth has been published in numerous publications and has two recent books: High Tech Trash and Chasing Molecules. Both these books will be available to those who are interested.

For those attending next Tuesday’s staff conference, please do not use any perfumes or fragrances, as some members of our staff have allergic reactions to these scents. Also, specialty coffees will be available for purchase in the morning at the church’s coffee shop. Prices range from $1.25 to $3.50.

The conference is scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Family Life Church in Newberg.