The Daily Bruin

The Portland Center Bookstore will be closed for administrative meetings on Thursday, May 7.

You can still order books online at pcbookstore.georgefox.edu.

The university will host two commencement ceremonies on the Newberg campus Saturday, May 2. The traditional undergraduate ceremony will take place in Miller Gymnasium/Wheeler Sports Center at 2 p.m., with audience seating at 1 p.m. Tickets are required for the traditional undergraduate ceremony.

The graduate, seminary and School of Professional Studies ceremony will take place in Miller Gymnasium/Wheeler Sports Center at 7 p.m., with audience seating at 6 p.m.

In addition, the baccalaureate service is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Saturday in Bauman Auditorium. Baccalaureate is an undergraduate worship service providing graduating seniors, their families, faculty, administrators, staff and other guests the opportunity to worship.

For more information, visit the commencement website.

The university’s library has added texting as part of its “Ask Us” service. Now George Fox students, faculty and staff can send questions and receive answers from librarians by using their cell phones. More information is available at georgefox.edu/offices/murdock/text.html.

The university’s undergraduate admissions website was recently redesigned and enhanced to include new information, additional features and improved navigation and graphics. Check out the site at admissions.georgefox.edu and be sure to tell colleagues and prospective students about it.

Have a laptop you could donate or sell for a low price?

A group of men and women being trained for pastoral work and other leadership positions in their churches in Rwanda would like to learn the basics of computer operation to help them get jobs to support their ministry. For this training, at least two laptops are needed with Windows and Office on them.

If you have such a computer you’re not using, the Juniors Abroad group going to Rwanda in May could deliver it. If interested, contact Lon Fendall (Center for Global Studies/Center of Peace and Justice) at ext. 2685 or lfendall@georgefox.edu.

The next textbook buyback at the Portland Center bookstore will be:

Tuesday – Thursday
April 28 – 30, 2009
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

If you are unable to come in during these hours, consider having a friend bring your textbooks in for you.

Books being used for upcoming semesters will be purchased at 50 percent of the new price (regardless of whether the book was purchased new or used). You may check buyback prices by logging on to: store.georgefox.edu and using the “Student Textbook Orders” link and selecting the “SELL” link in the Portland Center header.

Books not needed for the Portland Center Bookstore will be purchased at the price set by the wholesaler.

The School of Management is hosting guest speaker Lisa Brooks to share on the topic “Investigating the Power of Social Networking” from 7 to 9 a.m. Friday, April 24, in Room 155 of the Portland Center.

Today, corporate and public Internets are used more for social networking than e-mail. This interactive workshop explores the power of social networking, which goes far beyond interpersonal collaboration. Join us for a couple hours of social networking and learn how social networks are used to leverage resources of the world to speed processes, resolve complex issues, and build relationships.

There is no registration cost, and a light breakfast will be provided. Alumni, current and prospective students and employees are welcome to attend. R.S.V.P. to georgefox.edu/som/events.html.

We will have a table of “Lost and Found” items in the 1st floor lobby of the South Building from Monday, April 27 to Friday, May 1.

All unclaimed items will be donated a local charity thrift store.

For more information, contact Barbara Lybarger, Front Office Coordinator at 503.554.6100 or by email.

As many of you know, we have received budgetary approval to build a coffeehouse in the current student lounge on the 2nd floor of the South building on the Portland Center campus.

Demolition has started and the project completion date is targeted for mid-August 2009. We are currently taking proposals from potential vendors and a vendor will be chosen by a committee based upon quality product, customer service and fit with our student needs and population.

We are requested the vendor to provide espresso, snacks, and a light lunch and dinner menu as well as bakery items.

For questions about the process or about the coffeehouse, please email Janis Sanford, Site Supervisor at GFU Portland Center .

 You will notice new locations for the vending machines in the South building of the Portland Center.

The cold food and coffee vending machines have been removed due to low use.

The snack and one of the Pepsi/cold drink vending machines have been moved to the Information Commons  in the front section of the library.

Another Pepsi/cold drink machines has been relocated to the long hallway/study area on the 2nd floor south quadrant.

The paper plates, cups, plastic ware, refrigerator,  microwaves and convection oven has also been moved to the hallway/study area as we prepare the old student lounge area into a coffeehouse-due to open mid-August 2009.

The semester is coming to an end.  What do you do with your mailbox key?

Graduating Students:
Put your key in an envelope with your name and Box # on it and return it into the Front Desk or Drop Box by Friday, May 1 to avoid a $15.00 key fine.

Withdrawing Students:
Put your key in an envelope with your name and Box # on it and return it into the Front Desk or Drop Box by Friday, May 1 to avoid a $15.00 key fine.

Leave of Absence Students:
Put your key in an envelope with your name and Box # on it and return it into the Front Desk or Drop Box by Friday, May 1 to avoid a $15.00 key fine.Returning Students:
Keep your key over the summer.

Questions? Contact Barbara Lybarger, Key Coordinator at 503.554.6100 or by email.

When it comes to climate change, many people only think about cars and light bulbs. However here’s a shocking fact — the food system is responsible for one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Did you know that:

• Fossil fuels used to provide electricity for refrigerators, stoves & ovens produce carbon dioxide?
• Over-use of fertilizer on our ball fields and excessive irrigation on farms contributes nitrous oxide?
• Ruminant animals (cows, sheep, goats) emit methane gas through their digestive process and their waste?
• The energy used to produce food that is wasted in the U.S. roughly equals the total carbon footprint of Bangladesh, a country of 150 million people.

On Earth Day, Wednesday, April 22, at lunchtime, Bon Appetit will be celebrating Low Carbon Diet Day. Klages Dining Room will be featuring more than 10 menu items highlighting low-carbon food choices. Each food area will illustrate a key principle of reducing climate change. You will have extensive choices but will be encouraged to taste new items that are more climate-friendly than some regular features. Check out our featured menu.

We also will showcase Bon Appétit’s online Low Carbon Diet Calculator to help you determine the impact of your individual food choices. This fun, interactive calculator is based on best-available science developed by a multi-disciplinary team of experts.

Please join us on April 22 to learn how you can easily lower your carbon impact. For more information, visit CircleofResponsibility.com.

Just a reminder: George Fox will host a national leadership conference, “Spiritual Discernment As Christian Leadership,” May 31 through June 3. The full conference cost of $349 is discounted to $199 for those registering before April 18 and qualifying for a group discount. Register now and save; also, invite church leaders to take advantage of this special opportunity.

See the conference website for more information.

A special price for George Fox students (graduate and undergraduate, no meals or lodging) is $100, and Paul Anderson (Religious Studies) is offering a May Term independent study (1-3 hours) for any interested in attending the conference for credit.

You are invited to come listen to Eric Middleton as he lectures on his book The New Flatlanders at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 16, in EHS 102 on the Newberg campus. Eric is a British teacher/lecturer with master’s degrees in natural sciences, psychology and philosophy. In The New Flatlanders, he challenges traditional ways of looking at reality by engaging readers in a “voyage of discovery starting with questions.”

Join us in Room 160 on April 23 from noon to 1 p.m. for a brown bag ‘Lunch & Learn’ to hear about Jeff VandenHoek’s recent mission trip to India.

He spent 17 days providing “train the trainer” sessions that will ultimately impact 500k children in rural villages. Jeff describes the trip as a continuous “WOW!”, and will share stories and a fascinating PowerPoint — and maybe a few Indian treats.

Bring your lunch and enjoy an hour-long trip to a different world!

The university’s annual Engineering Expo is scheduled at 4:30 p.m. Friday, April 24, in the Ron Gregory Atrium in EHS. The event will feature high school design projects as well as our own engineering class projects and senior design presentations. Lab tours and refreshments provided!

Due to the cost of materials, the pricing for color wide-format printing (posters/banners) has changed in some instances. Many of the prices have been reduced, but some of the basic prices have been raised. Prior to creating your project, please call Elizabeth Holme (Print Services) at ext. 2550 or send your e-mail to eholme@georgefox.edu.

If you have a card that you purchased to make copies in the Info Commons at the Portland Center, please return it to the Library Desk for a refund. We are no longer able to use this card reader system. The last day to turn in your card for a refund is Friday, April 24.

Richard Twiss, cofounder of Wiconi International, will speak and perform with members of the Sicangu Band of the Rosebud Lakota/Sioux Tribe in chapel at 10:40 a.m. Wednesday, April 15, in Bauman Auditorium. For more information, visit wiconi.com. All are welcome!

Tilikum Center for Retreats and Outdoor Ministries will host its seventh annual run/walk event to raise funds to get under-resourced children and youth to summer camp. The event is scheduled for 10 a.m. this Saturday, April 18, at Champoeg State Park.

Participants raise donations per kilometer that they run or walk, with a minimum donation of $35 required to participate in the event. For children 12 and younger, a $5 minimum is required. Participants will receive a T-shirt and prizes will be awarded. This year, there will be special prizes for teams. Gather people from your department, your floor, or any group.

If you are interested in competing as a team of five or more, please call Tilikum at 503-538-2763. Check out 10K information at camptilikum.org.