Features
The Significance of Hess Creek Canyon for GFU
Seasons at George Fox University (GFU) can be marked by the changing appearance of Hess Creek Canyon. When students arrive on campus in late August, the canyon is green, leafy, and lush. In autumn, the many Big Leaf Maple leaves in the canyon turn beautiful shades of yellow and orange, and they slowly drop until branches are bare. Winter rains and wind soon hit and the canyon becomes less inviting. However, when spring rolls around, new buds and shoots will once again bring the canyon back to life. Along with the Crisman Crossing Bridge and the Clock Tower, the Hess Creek Canyon is arguably one of the most distinctive nonacademic locations around campus.
Rebecca Sandberg: Stories Fueling Passion
Professor Rebecca Sandberg has been a pillar in the George Fox University (GFU) community since she began working at GFU in 2021. Sandberg has traveled the world, worked for multiple nonprofit organizations, and now works for GFU as the Assistant Director of the Cultural Enterprise and as a faculty fellow in the Honors Program.
Minthorn’s Namesakes: Proponents of Oregon’s Indigenous Assimilation Campaign
Minthorn is the oldest building on the George Fox University (GFU) campus and was built 138 years ago in 1885. Though it now houses the Spanish Program, the Center for Study Abroad, and the International Students office, the individuals for which it is named were closely involved in the effort to marginalize, control, and indoctrinate Native Americans in Oregon.
Little+Big Bruins: Caring for the Newberg Community
George Fox University (GFU) has been partnering with local Newberg elementary and middle schools to connect college students with children in the community through the Little+Big Bruin program. GFU students spend a minimum of one hour per week during October, November, February, and March with their Little Bruin. After a few years on hiatus due to COVID-19, the program returned in full force this fall.
Dr. Caitlin Corning: Protestant Monasticism and Integrating Faith and History
Caitlin Corning is a central figure in the George Fox University (GFU) history community. She is the chair of the History and Politics Department, director of the GFU Archives and Museum collections, and is in charge of overseeing public history internships. Corning is also a committed person of faith who has a unique background in Protestant monasticism.
Newberg’s Marvel Illustrator: Alex Schomburg
Dubbed the “Golden Age of Comics,” the World War II era in America produced the most iconic comic heroes like Captain America, Superman, Captain Marvel, Batman, and Wonder Woman to name a few; these were characters that solidified the superhero stereotype.
Abroad in Newberg: GFU’s International Student Program
Brian Abine comes from a village in rural Rwanda, but he lived in the slums of Rwanda's capital, Kigali, while he attended a private school. Alison Gamboa spent her childhood in the suburbs of the metropolis of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Alejandro Del Cid grew up in the bustling city of La Esperanza Intibucá high in the mountains of Honduras. Traveling thousands of miles from their home countries, these three students decided to attend George Fox University (GFU) in Newberg, Ore., immersing themselves in a foreign environment and culture.
Holidays or Heresy
It is a common belief in the Christian community that there are certain holidays that may be viewed as inherently evil. As a Christian college, George Fox University (GFU) has learned how to delicately balance such holiday celebrations in a way that not only allows people to have fun but also shows the love of Christ.
The League of Lightsabers
A new club has hit the George Fox University (GFU) campus. The Lightsaber Dueling Club is new as of this year and is growing fast. Led by President Seth Baker, the club not only duels, but practices different styles of fighting.
Jani King and the Workers Who Keep Our Campus Clean
Jani King employees haul out students’ food waste, vacuum hallways, remove hair and grime from showers, scrub toilets, mop bathroom floors, and unclog sinks. Inconspicuously and quietly, they keep George Fox University (GFU) functioning and tidy for its students and staff.
The Man Behind It All
Logan Russell is a well known student on the George Fox University (GFU) campus. Whether it's from seeing him help out with Student Activities, lead events, or even host the talent show, most students know of him. But why is Russell involved in Student Activities, and what makes him so passionate about what he does?
Domestic Violence Awareness Month
While most people are aware that the problem of domestic violence exists, the scope of the problem may surprise many. According to the National Coalition of Domestic Violence (NCADV), 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have experienced some form of intimate partner violence, and approximately 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner.
War in a Holy Land: Israel and Palestine Plunge into Crisis
On Oct. 7, years and decades of simmering animosity in the Israeli controlled region of the Middle East blew up–again. The crisis that began this October follows a long and deeply fraught line of conflicts plaguing this region of the world for close to a century.
In Memoriam of the Health and Counseling Center
During the summer of 2023, the Student Life department at George Fox University (GFU) announced to students that the Health and Counseling Center (HCC) would be changing its model for medical care. GFU decided to switch from providing its own private care to instead having the staff and practice of Providence Medical Group (PMG) provide care for students. GFU students will always remember the convenience and affordability of the past and now deceased HCC model. Before embracing a new model, we must look back and remember the life of our old friend, the bygone HCC model.
Baptism or Business
George Fox University (GFU) recently performed public baptisms for students on campus. Questions have arisen about whether this is an act driven by the Holy Spirit, or whether it is driven by a desire for publicity.
Empowering Servant Leaders: The Act Six Program
According to Roserina Chipen, becoming an Act Six Scholar was something of a divine act by God. Chipen missed essay prompts and submitted components of her application passed the deadline; yet somehow, she was selected to be an Act Six scholar amidst a wide and competitive pool of applicants.
Back to the Landfill: A Look at Bon Appetite’s Food Waste Practices
On their website, Bon Appetit discusses their concern about the environmental, economic, and moral tragedy of wasted food across the nation, and cites a variety of strategies they employ to reduce their production of waste.
Ryan Dearinger: On Doing History Differently
Ryan Dearinger, a well-known and loved member of the George Fox University (GFU) history department, was named undergraduate professor of the year for the 2023-24 academic year. He only joined the GFU history faculty in 2021, but he is now a pillar of the department. Though he has had to navigate through significant professional changes, he has become a fixture in a GFU history education.
Kara Martin: Ushering in GFU’s New Era with HSCI
One of the most memorable events at George Fox University (GFU) in the last five years was the infamous lip sync performance where former student Reid Arthur publicly came out as gay to the whole student body. This launched GFU into a period of dramatic change as the campus became more vocal about the hardships of LGBTQ+ students. One of the fruits of this turmoil is The Human Sexuality Care Initiative (HSCI).
Nathaniel Ankeny’s “Joy in the Making”
Nathaniel Ankeny, an associate professor of Music and Director of Jazz Ensemble at George Fox University (GFU), recently wrote and performed his own album titled “Joy in the Making.” Though it was performed in Bauman Auditorium on Sept. 15, the writing of the album began on Patreon during the Coronavirus lockdown, and it developed into a complete jazz album filled with catchy, bluesy songs guaranteed to set the perfect mood and get people dancing.