The Daily Bruin

We know you’ve heard about Taylor Swift, but have you ever heard about how her music interacts with  literature? Or how her pop culture world intersects with political, religious and cultural academia?

Students and faculty here at George Fox have had these same questions, and so we’re dedicating two days this October to host a conference on all things Taylor Swift.

Register now for the “Taylor Swift: The Voice of an Age” conference Friday and Saturday, Oct. 25-26. Join faculty and students as they lecture and present papers on how Swift’s voice breaches both the popular and professional academic realms.

Registration is available now for only $5! Buy a ticket, tell a “Swiftie” and spread the word! The deadline for registration is Friday, Oct. 18.

If you have any questions, please reach out to gfu-english@georgefox.edu. We can’t wait to see you there!

We invite you to participate in The Great Oregon ShakeOut, an annual event that gives everyone the opportunity to practice how to be safe during an earthquake. On Thursday, Oct. 17, George Fox will take a few minutes to participate in the largest-ever earthquake drill at 10:17 a.m.

We are asking participants to drop, cover, and hold on. During the days leading up to the event, we will be sharing additional information and resources on what to do during an earthquake.

Thank you all for your incredible participation in the Miles for Meals challenge! Your dedication to logging your activities and your generous donations make a real difference in supporting the Bruin Pantry.

If you haven’t marked your donations as part of the Miles for Meals challenge yet, please do so! This helps us track our collective impact. If you’ve already donated but didn’t indicate it was for the event, don’t hesitate to reach out to Jere Witherspoon at 503-554-2316 or jwithers@georgefox.edu.

For those experiencing delays with device syncing, please remember not to enter steps manually to avoid duplicate activity tracking. If you encounter any technical issues, reach out to Aga Kasprzyk at akasprzyk@georgefox.edu for assistance.

Together, we’re making strides not only in our wellness goals but also in supporting our community. Keep up the fantastic work – every step counts, and your efforts are truly inspiring! Let’s keep pushing forward and showing what we can achieve together!

Richter Scholars proposals will be due Monday, Jan. 27, 2025. The Richter Scholars program 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.

The purpose of these funds is to support educational research opportunities that encourage the practices of independent thought, leading to independent achievement and personal responsibility. For the purpose of this program, research is defined as a knowledge-generating activity that is designed to provide new information on a topic, tool or process, and that proceeds according to established and accepted research methods.

Before preparing a proposal, please read through the full proposal guidelines, eligibility requirements, and review criteria at georgefox.edu/academics/richter.

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.

All Champion-brand clothing will be on sale today (Thursday) through Tuesday, Oct. 15, at the Bruin Bookstore. Get your Champion items for 20% off in store and online!

Thomas Paulson, a former vice president of ConocoPhillips, will address the leadership practices that guide his work and how his Christian faith shapes his leadership approach. His talk is scheduled for tonight (Wednesday) at 7 p.m. in Canyon Commons.

Paulson graduated from Kansas State University with a degree in civil engineering. He retired in 2008 as vice president of Canadian capital projects for ConocoPhillips, where he had executive responsibility for the planning and execution phases for major projects in Canada.

In his 33-year career with ConocoPhillips, Paulson worked in refining, chemicals, exploration and production at multiple U.S. and international locations in project management. He currently serves on the Kansas State University College of Engineering Dean’s Advisory Council and the George Fox Industrial Advisory Board.

If you have questions, contact Carly Reumann at creumann@georgefox.edu.

Please be aware that the university has extended the class withdrawal deadline for the benefit of our students. The new deadline is the Sunday before the last week of class.

For full semester classes this is the end of week 15 rather than week 10. For this fall semester the deadline is Sunday, Dec. 8. For classes that meet in shorter sessions within the semester you can find their specific withdrawal deadlines listed in the class details on class.georgefox.edu.

The George Fox Library invites faculty to join the librarians for a brown-bag conversation about AI tools in library platforms at noon on Tuesday, Oct. 15, in Hoover 250.

We will share about four platforms in our library that either already have an AI integration or are expected to launch one soon, and then open the floor to have a conversation about how we as a campus want to talk about these tools as part of an efficient, wise, and ethical research methodology.

If you have questions, email Kate Wimer at kwimer@georgefox.edu.

President Baker recently returned from the Fourth Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization in South Korea. This is the second Lausanne meeting he has had the privilege of attending since the movement began in 1974. At that time, Billy Graham, John Stott, and others gathered global leaders of the Christian Church to advance the work of evangelism and emphasize the importance of the Great Commission.

As President Baker describes, the gathering reignited his awareness of the global church’s dynamic growth and the incredible courage of believers in places where following Christ can cost them everything. You can read more about his experience on his blog, “Reflections”.

The university’s Doctor of Physical Therapy students are hosting an older adult annual physical therapy visit on Friday, Nov. 15, by appointment. Volunteers will be screened for blood pressure, circulation, sensation, balance, flexibility, endurance and posture. Visits will be at the Medical Sciences Building at 448 Werth Blvd. in Newberg.

Please contact Lyndsay Stutzenberger at lstutzenberger@georgefox.edu or at 503-554-2463 with questions or to sign up.

The Center for Peace and Justice invites you to a presentation by Elio Constantine, entitled “Journey of Hope,” on Thursday, Oct. 17, at 7 p.m. in Hoover 105.

In his presentation, Constantine will explore how we are called to live in justice and how a biblical approach to justice is applicable anywhere in the world. He will also address the root causes of injustices in Lebanon and the surrounding region.

Constantine is a Lebanese business professional working for Heart for Lebanon, a Christian organization focused on helping under-resourced families and children in Lebanon grow spiritually. He oversees the Middle East Center for Justice and Missions, which advocates for justice through Christian missions and provides training for future leaders.

The Middle East Center for Justice and Missions promotes a Christ-centered approach to injustice, advocacy, and hands-on training. It highlights Lebanon’s chronic injustices, arguing that true justice can only be found through faith in Jesus Christ.

Elio will be on campus all day on Thursday, Oct. 17. If you are interested in having him visit your class for a Q&A or to guest lecture, please contact twytsma@georgefox.edu for more information.

The Bruin Bookstore is having a BOGO hat sale, starting today (Tuesday) through Friday, Oct. 11! Buy one and get the second one at 50% off, in store and online. Use the code TWOHATS24 at checkout for online purchases.

Feel free to contact Kristin McGuirk at kmcguirk@georgefox.edu with any questions.

We’re thrilled to see the incredible momentum building for Miles for Meals! With more than 120 participants and over 30 teams, your enthusiasm is truly inspiring. Keep up the fantastic work, and don’t forget to log those miles!

Remember, all types of movement count, so feel free to convert different activities using our handy chart or directly on the platform.

As a reminder, each team’s collective total is averaged, but you can still track individual progress. If you notice any significant steps syncing delays, don’t hesitate to reach out to Aga at akasprzyk@georgefox.edu for assistance.

Also, if you haven’t yet donated to the Bruin Pantry, now is a great time. Last week, we focused on fresh produce, and this week we’re encouraging donations of soups and canned or boxed meals. All items from the list are welcome, and you can also contribute financially or set up regular donations through employee giving.

And don’t forget our weekly raffle! Congratulations to this week’s lucky winners of the $50 Fred Meyer gift cards: Wayne Gardner and Saurra Heide. Please come by the Office of People and Culture to claim your prizes.

Let’s keep the momentum going! Together, we’re making a difference for our own well-being and the community!

Best,
The Wellness Committee

Tickets are now available for the performing arts department’s fall production of The Hiding Place, scheduled for eight performances in Wood-Mar Auditorium in mid to late October.

Dates for the shows are as follows:

• Thursday-Saturday, Oct. 17-19, 7:30 p.m.
• Sunday, Oct. 20, 2 p.m.
• Thursday-Friday, Oct. 24-25, 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 26-27, 2 p.m.

For a synopsis of the play, visit the theatre website. Students and staff are entitled to claim one free ticket for themselves by visiting georgefox.edu/box-office. Additional tickets may be purchased on the site. Free student tickets are available for Thursday shows only.

When selecting your complimentary tickets, please do so using your own George Fox email address, and please note that each person is instructed to claim only their own ticket.

If you have any questions, contact Kathy Harris at kharris@georgefox.edu.

Newberg campus offices will be closed tomorrow (Friday) for the mid-semester holiday. The Murdock Library will be closed, but the 24-hour space will remain open. The library will resume regular hours of operation over the weekend.

The Bruin Store will also be closed on Friday.

George Fox staff and students: Complete this survey for a chance to win a gift card! This research is about experiences (specifically positive and negative experiences) of receiving encouragement. Your thoughts on the subject would be greatly appreciated.

No personally identifying information will be collected, and your answers will be kept confidential. Once you have completed the survey, you will have the option of entering your email into a drawing for one of 10 $25 gift cards.

If you have any questions, please contact Paige Tobias at ptobias17@georgefox.edu.

The Center for Peace and Justice invites you to a presentation entitled “Journey of Hope,” featuring Elio Constantine. Constantine oversees the Middle East Center for Justice and Missions, a ministry of the charity Heart For Lebanon.

Don’t miss this powerful message on transforming lives through faith and action. Join us on Thursday, Oct. 17, at 7 p.m. in Hoover 105.

In his presentation, Constantine will explore how we are called to live in justice and how a biblical approach to justice is applicable anywhere in the world. He will also address the root causes of injustices in Lebanon and the surrounding region.

If you have questions, contact Tamara Wytsma at twytsma@georgefox.edu.

Sign up for a one-on-one consultation with our dedicated retirement specialist from Nationwide, Phillip Carbajal!

At these sessions, you will be offered tailored advice that takes into consideration your unique life circumstances and retirement aspirations. This way, you can address your specific concerns and questions. This personalized approach will help you make more informed and confident financial decisions.

Consultations will be held on Monday, Oct. 14, in Room 295 at the Portland Center. There are slots available between 8 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Sign up for an appointment here!

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

The women of the George Fox community (staff, faculty and administrators, as well as female spouses) are invited to the Fall Ladies’ Luncheon tomorrow (Thursday). Ruth Baker will be hosting this come-and-go event from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in Canyon Commons.

A short devotional and prayer will be held at noon. Come and connect with other women in our community over a delicious meal. There is no cost to attend.

If you plan to attend, please RSVP using this link. We look forward to seeing you there!

Tickets are now available for the performing arts department’s fall production of The Hiding Place, scheduled for eight performances in Wood-Mar Auditorium in mid to late October.

Dates for the shows are as follows:

• Thursday-Saturday, Oct. 17-19, 7:30 p.m.
• Sunday, Oct. 20, 2 p.m.
• Thursday-Friday, Oct. 24-25, 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 26-27, 2 p.m.

For a synopsis of the play, visit the theatre website. Students and staff are entitled to claim one free ticket for themselves by visiting georgefox.edu/box-office. Additional tickets may be purchased on the site. Free student tickets are available for Thursday shows only.

When selecting your complimentary tickets, please do so using your own George Fox email address, and please note that each person is instructed to claim only their own ticket.

If you have any questions, contact Kathy Harris at kharris@georgefox.edu.