The Daily Bruin

Navigating Medicare can be complex. To help you and your loved ones understand your options, Providence is hosting free “Medicare 101” educational webinars on Oct. 13 and Nov. 10.

These one-hour online sessions are a great opportunity to learn the basics of Medicare – including the different parts (A, B, C, and D) and the differences between plan types – in a no-pressure, sales-free environment. Feel free to invite your spouse, parents, or any family members who could benefit.

Choose the session that works best for you: Monday, Oct. 13, at 5 p.m (register here) or Monday, Nov. 10, at 5 p.m. (register here).

Come celebrate Hispanic and Filipino Heritage Month in Klages tomorrow (Thursday) from 6 to 8 p.m. with the Women of Color Collective and Latino Heritage Club! Enjoy delicious traditional food, live music and dancing, and learn more about both cultures!

Click this link to RSVP!

Do you long for time and space to be still and experience Christ’s presence with others? All are welcome to join Quaker worship in the chapel from 11 to 11:30 a.m. today (Wednesday). Elective chapel credit is available for students.

Contact Jay Miller at jaym@georgefox.edu with any questions.

We are excited to welcome George Fox families to campus Friday, Oct. 24, through Sunday, Oct. 26, for Family Weekend!

Thank you for putting on your best George Fox welcome and helping families navigate campus as needed. We want to provide the most hospitable and fun experience possible for visiting families.

Also, take great care in encouraging those students who may not have a family member who can attend. Anyone is welcome to register for Family Weekend and join students for the weekend’s activities.

To register and view the schedule, follow this link. Questions? Email parents@georgefox.edu.

Remind your families to register for Family Weekend, Oct. 24-26! Registration is open until Friday, Oct. 17. There will be events, games, prizes, and many additional opportunities to spend quality time with your family on campus!

Family can’t make it? No problem! “Family” can be a spouse, friend, grandparents, or anyone that you consider family. Gather a group of friends and register together. We would love to have you join the festivities even if your family can’t come.

The registration link can be found here.

Questions? Email us at parents@georgefox.edu.

In an era defined by perpetual connectivity, our digital devices have become near-permanent extensions of ourselves, fostering a pervasive and often unhealthy attachment. With a staggering 84% of users admitting they couldn’t last a day without their phone, it’s clear we’ve become tethered to screens.

This constant digital engagement means that life’s most authentic, unfiltered moments – the spontaneous conversations and fleeting experiences that will never be repeated – are often missed. As we stare down at our glowing rectangles, our attention perpetually divided, we risk becoming passive spectators to the very lives we are meant to be actively living.

The antidote to this digital deluge lies in the intentional act of unplugging. By powering down, we create space for solitude, a grounding stillness that allows us to reflect on our lives away from the constant noise of external notifications and opinions.

This deliberate disconnect shifts our focus from passive consumption – the endless scrolling, streaming, and browsing – toward active creation, unlocking our unique passions and solutions.

Choosing a specific period each day to put devices away isn’t about rejecting technology, but about resetting our focus, combatting the dissatisfaction often bred by social media, and rediscovering our gratitude for the world and the people right in front of us.

Looking for a meaningful way to give back while enjoying an elegant evening off campus?

Join with fellow George Fox students in an ongoing partnership with Habitat for Humanity by volunteering for the inaugural Building Hope Gala this Friday, Oct. 10.

This fundraising event, taking place at the Sherwood Center for the Arts, will bring together donors, volunteers and homeowners for a night of community, generosity and inspiration.

Volunteers are needed for:

• Set-up: 3:30 to 5 p.m.
• Event Support: 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
• Clean-up: 8:30 to 10 p.m.

What to wear: Business formal or cocktail attire (it’s a semiformal event!)

Bonus opportunity: If available, please attend a volunteer training session today (Wednesday) from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Sherwood Center for the Arts.

This is your chance to escape midterm stress, dress up for a great cause, and support the incredible work Habitat is doing in our community. Ready to volunteer? Fill out this Google Form or learn more about the event here.

Bon Appetit will have adjusted hours for the mid-semester break on Friday, Oct. 10.

• The Maker’s Market will be closed.
• The Bridge Cafe will be open 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• In Canyon Commons, we will be opening breakfast at 8 a.m.

All other hours for the weekend will remain the same.

Please visit georgefox.cafebonappetit.com for the most up-to-date hours.

In case you missed our recent IT security announcement, we’re answering the most important questions about the upcoming changes to your George Fox account login.

Q: What is happening to my login? A: We are retiring SMS (text message) and phone call verification methods. Soon, you will no longer be able to use a text message code to log in.

Q: Why is this change being made? A: Text message-based authentication is vulnerable to modern cyberattacks. This change is essential to better protect your account and university data.

Q: What do I need to do? A: You must set up the Okta Verify mobile app as your primary method for multi-factor authentication (MFA). This will allow you to approve logins securely from your smartphone or tablet.

Q: What if I don’t switch in time? A: You will experience an interruption to your login, and you will need to contact the Service Desk by phone for assistance. Please act now to avoid this!

Q: I already use Okta Verify or Google Authenticator. Do I need to do anything? A: Nope! You are all set, and no action is required.

Need help getting started? The IT Service Desk is here for you! Contact them at 503-554-2569 or servicedesk@georgefox.edu.

Elective chapel credit is available for students who volunteer as an overnight host for Bruin Preview! Sign up to host a prospective student overnight and show them what it’s like to be a student at George Fox.

For more specific details, click into the form to learn more. If you have questions before signing up, reach out to visit@georgefox.edu.

AirPods Pro 2 are going on sale at the Bruin Bookstore for one day only, tomorrow (Wednesday). Get $50 off the original retail price in-store or online while supplies last!

Have a big research paper coming up? Don’t stress! The George Fox research librarians are setting up shop right in the ARC to provide one-on-one help. They can assist with finding and evaluating sources.

Stop by the ARC from 1 to 4 p.m. this week. No appointment needed—just drop in and get the support you need!

Don’t let distance be a barrier to your academic goals. The Virtual Learning Center (VLC) offers online appointments (Zoom or asynchronous) for writing consultations and academic coaching. Whether you need feedback on an assignment or a strategy session about time management, the VLC is ready to help you conquer your academic challenges.

If you have questions, please email Heather Harney at hharney@georgefox.edu.

We are looking forward to our next Students for Life meeting today (Tuesday) at 5 p.m. in Hoover 209. Our discussion this week will be focused on dissecting one of the three main pro-choice arguments. We will be using videos from ERI to add to our discussion.

We will also be discussing the details of our tabling event in a few weeks. If you’re interested in helping with the tabling, you must attend this meeting. If you’re unable to attend today, reach out and we will connect you with one of our officers prior to the event.

We hope to see you there, and if you would like to come but have scheduling conflicts, please reach out. Thanks from the Students for Life officer team.

If you have questions, feel free to reach out to Della Gratsinger at dgratsinger24@georgefox.edu.

LifeBalance is hosting a fall contest from Oct. 1-31. As a member of the Providence Health Plan, you have access to the LifeBalance program and this fun, easy way to get entered for a chance to win.

Entering is simple: Just visit the LifeBalance website and log into your account (or sign up if you haven’t yet!) and you’ll automatically receive your first contest entry. After that, you can earn an additional entry every day in October that you visit the LifeBalance website while logged into your account. The more you visit, the better your chances of winning!

Each week, LifeBalance staff will randomly select 10 winners from all contest participants. Winners will be notified by email and their names will also be posted on the LifeBalance contest page by 1 p.m. on Oct. 13, Oct. 20, Oct. 27, and Nov. 3.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity! If you have any questions, you can contact LifeBalance Member Services at 888-754-5433 or info@LifeBalanceProgram.com.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month! Stand with several George Fox social work students and community advocates at the Newberg flagpole this Thursday, Oct. 9, at 4 p.m. as we rally with Henderson House Advocacy Centers to raise our voices against domestic violence.

Bring signs, friends and a smile. We’d love to have you!

Feel free to reach out to Emma Jablonski at ejablonski22@georgefox.edu with any questions.

Doctor of Physical Therapy students are seeking participants for a research study, “Upper Extremity Role During a Floor Transfer in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.” We are interested in how older adults use their arms to get up from the floor.

To participate, you must:

• Be at least 50 years of age
• Live independently or in an assisted living facility
• Be able to walk independently at least 15 feet with or without an assistive device
• Take a cognitive test
• Be willing to attempt to get up from the floor multiple times with and without using your arms

In order to participate, you must not have a diagnosis of a neurological condition or a current illness or health issue that would make performing study activities unsafe.

If you’re interested in participating and meet the above criteria, you will come to the university’s Medical Sciences Building on Werth Boulevard, where we’ll ask you to sign an informed consent form, answer questions on a questionnaire, perform a short mental status examination, and have your vitals (blood pressure and heart rate) taken. Depending on the results of these assessments, you may or may not be eligible for the study.

If you’re eligible, you will continue the single testing session that will last up to approximately one hour. During this session you will be asked to answer additional questions and get up from the floor multiple times, first without using your arms and then using one of your arms.

We may ask you to change into clothing necessary for the study if you are not already dressed in spandex shorts or leggings, a sleeveless shirt, athletic shoes that do not cover the ankles, and short socks.

You will not be paid for being in this study or reimbursed for any costs associated with traveling to/from the George Fox campus.

You are able to stop participation in the study at any time and for any reason. No information that would identify you will be made public, and we do not feel there is more than minimal risk associated with this study.

If interested in participating, schedule an appointment for testing by calling 503-554-2463 or emailing Lyndsay Stutzenberger at lstutzenberger@georgefox.edu.

The Bruin Bookstore will be closed this Friday, Oct. 10,  for the mid-semester holiday. There is also a mid-semester Champion sale for 25% off Champion-brand clothing, online and in-store, Oct. 9-16. Clearance is on sale now for 50% off.

This time of the semester can be difficult for students as the excitement of a new term is waning, exams and assignments pile up, and the demands of college take a toll on physical and mental health.

If you have concerns about a traditional undergraduate student, log into Fox360 (Fox360.georgefox.edu) to submit an “alert” for the student. Submit alerts for concerns in the following areas:

• Academic: Missing multiple classes; consistently poor academic performance
• Behavioral: Concerning or disruptive behaviors in or outside of class, frequent absence from scheduled work shifts
• Emotional: Mental health concerns (e.g., depression, anxiety); unusual emotional expression; suicidal ideation
• Physical: Medical concerns; extreme changes in grooming, personal care
• Social: Personal, social, or family concerns that are affecting well-being and performance

A few notes about alerts:

• If a student is enrolled in your course but hasn’t attended class or engaged in GFD online activity, submit an alert.
• Student employee supervisors and other non-faculty are invited to submit alerts for the reasons above.

The Student Support Network will assign a “case manager” to follow up with students. Case managers will do our best to give updates to faculty and employees who submit alerts or provide feedback. You are welcome to contact Jere Witherspoon at jwithers@georgefox.edu to inquire about the status of a student.

This Fox360 Quick Guide provides a visual overview of the Fox360 system; more details about using Fox360 are available in this Google Doc.

Concerns about graduate and AOD students should be communicated to department chairs.

If you have questions or would like more information regarding Fox360, contact Rick Muthiah at rmuthiah@georgefox.edu.

Looking for a meaningful way to give back while enjoying an elegant evening off campus?

Join with fellow George Fox students in an ongoing partnership with Habitat for Humanity by volunteering for the inaugural Building Hope Gala this Friday, Oct. 10.

This fundraising event, taking place at the Sherwood Center for the Arts, will bring together donors, volunteers and homeowners for a night of community, generosity and inspiration.

Volunteers are needed for:

• Set-up: 3:30 to 5 p.m.
• Event Support: 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
• Clean-up: 8:30 to 10 p.m.

What to wear: Business formal or cocktail attire (it’s a semiformal event!)

Bonus opportunity: If available, please attend a volunteer training session from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 8, at the Sherwood Center for the Arts.

This is your chance to escape midterm stress, dress up for a great cause, and support the incredible work Habitat is doing in our community. Ready to volunteer? Fill out this Google Form or learn more about the event here.