Bill Woodward, professor of history and a 25-year veteran in the Washington State Army National Guard, will be the guest speaker at SPU’s annual Veterans Day event on Thursday, November 9, 11:15–12:15 p.m. in Eaton Hall, room 112. He will talk about the history of Veterans Day and how local military presence has played a role in shaping the Pacific Northwest. The event is hosted by the Student Veterans Association and Vet Corps Navigator. Following Bill’s talk, light snacks and refreshments will be served in the Gazebo Room of the Student Union Building.

The Center for Scholarship and Faculty Development is hosting a poetry reading with Seattle Pacific poets on Tuesday, November 21, 12–1:30 p.m. in Upper Gwinn Commons. The event is open to the public. Light refreshments and beverages will be served. These poets will read from their work:

• Scott Cairns, Professor of English; Director of the MFA in Creative Writing
• Eugene Lemcio, Professor Emeritus of New Testament
• Jennifer Maier, Professor of English; Associate Editor of Image Journal
• Hannah Notess, Writer; Former Editor of Response Magazine, 2010–2017
• Doug Thorpe, Professor of English, Lingua Faculty Advisor
• Mischa Willett, Instructor of Writing

Confused on how to add your event to the SPU Master Calendar? Come to a “how to” session on Tuesday, November 14, 10–11 a.m. in the Lower Weter Conference Room. Bring your events and questions, and the SPU calendar managers will help you figure it out. Space is limited, so RSVP to Ruth Adams, associate vice president of student success, at radams@spu.edu if you plan to attend. 

Faculty and staff are invited to hear Arthur Brooks, bestselling author, social scientist, and president of the American Enterprise Institute, on Wednesday, November 15, 11 a.m.–12:20 p.m. in the Library Seminar Room. Here’s a summary of his presentation: “American free enterprise is not primarily about starting a business and generating massive financial returns. It is about seeing your own life as a dignified, exciting new enterprise with near-limitless horizons that you own to build, shape, and create. To be sure, public policy and cultural shifts would make it easier for Americans to live start-up lives. But would true entrepreneurs sit back and wait for a more hospitable climate? Of course not. All of us can rebuild our start-up society by building our own start-up lives.” 

The Gwinn Commons Dining Hall menu is updated online every week.

A message from Heather Eide, office and transportation manager: We would like to thank all of our faculty and staff who recently participated in the Commute Trip Reduction Survey. We are happy to announce that we met our goal mark, which means that SPU will not be penalized by the Washington state Department of Transportation. Thank you for taking five minutes to fill out the survey. As promised, those who completed the survey were entered in a drawing for a $50 Amazon gift certificate. The winner is Sara Koenig, associate professor of biblical studies in the School of Theology Congratulations to our winner and thank you all once again!

Amber Archibald-Sesek, adjunct professor of viola, will perform viola classics and collaborate with various other guest artists during this special concert on Saturday, November 18, at 7:30 p.m. in Nickerson Studios, located on 340 W. Nickerson St. The concert is free and wheelchair accessible. 

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A message from the Center for Scholarship and Faculty Development (CSFD): Faculty, the new student course feedback evaluation system will launch on Thursday, November 16. On this day, you will have access to add additional questions to your student feedback evaluations. CSFD and Educational Technology Media are offering drop-in hours to help you with the new system. Feel free to drop in on November 16, 8:30–11:30 a.m., or Monday, November 20, 9 a.m.–12 p.m., in Demaray 349. 

The new Office of Global Engagement invites faculty and staff to an open house on Tuesday, November 21, 12–2 p.m. in lower Moyer Hall. Along with the Study Abroad office, enjoy holiday snacks and beverages. Drop in anytime!

Staff Council cordially invites all SPU staff to join in the Christmas fun for our annual party — Thursday, December 14, 2–3:30 p.m. More information coming soon.

Last fall, the Center for Career and Calling launched the “Mega Meet-up,” a hybrid event that is part career fair and part networking event. These targeted recruiting events give students an opportunity to learn about relevant jobs and companies in particular industries while connecting with professionals in a more casual environment. The first Mega Meet-up is Wednesday, November 8, 2:30–5 p.m. It features companies in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields and will take place in the Otto Miller and Eaton Hall lobbies. Professionals (many are SPU alumni) will be in attendance from over 25 companies. Visit the website to see who is coming.

Regardless of the theme, Mega Meet-ups are great opportunities for all students to practice networking and explore careers with employers and alumni. Please encourage your students to attend! The next Mega Meet-ups are February 7, 2018 (social justice and human services), and April 11, 2018 (business and government).

Seattle Pacific’s Theatre Department will present The Hatmaker's Wife November 9–11 and 16–18 in the McKinley Hall Theatre. Performances will be held at 7:30 p.m., with a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday, November 18. Written by playwright Lauren Yee,  The Hatmaker’s Wife is about a newlywed expecting domestic bliss, but finding conflict and confusion. Her strange new home seems determined to help when former tenants come to life. Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for seniors and students with a valid I.D. Tickets are available for purchase online at the theatre box office, or by phone at 206-281-2959

SPU’s Jazz Ensemble and Percussion Ensemble will share the stage for this event led by adjunct music faculty members Dan Kramlich and Dan Adams. The concert will feature highlights of modern percussion music and a jazz repertoire in a variety of styles. This event is Tuesday, November 7, 7:30 p.m., in First Free Methodist Church. The event is free and wheelchair accessible.

You have until 9:59 a.m. on Tuesday, November 7, to have stationery orders delivered on November 13. Stationery orders are delivered once a month. Orders made after 10 a.m. on November 7 will be delivered December 15. To see deadlines and delivery dates for the remainder of the fiscal year, visit the “Create an Order” stationery page in Banner. For more information, contact Hope McPherson in University Communications at hmcpherson@spu.edu.

For the latest information on Falcon sports, visit the Falcons online. 

Thursday, November 9

Volleyball vs Western Washington, Brougham Pavilion, 7 p.m.

Saturday, November 11

Volleyball vs Simon Fraser, Brougham Pavilion, 4 p.m.

The Faculty/Staff Bulletin is published every week during the academic year. If you have information or event news, send it as soon as possible to Bulletin editor Tracy Norlen at fsb-editor@spu.edu. Submissions may be edited for clarity. The next deadline is Thursday, November 9. The next Bulletin will be published Monday, November 13. 

Professor of English Susan VanZanten recently spoke on “Mentoring for Mission Today” at the plenary session of “Mentoring Faculty for Mission,” a Lilly Fellows Program Workshop for Senior Administrators. The workshop was held at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, October 26–27.

For the 79^th Pacific Northwest History Conference in Spokane in October, Professor Emeritus of History Bill Woodward filled several roles. At a research roundtable, he delivered a summary of a longer paper on the Coast Artillery Reserve Corps — a group that in the early 20^th century augmented the manning of coast forts like Fort Casey. He served as chair and commenter for a panel dealing with a Washington infantry regiment that fought in the South Pacific in World War II (and will continue to work with the authors as they develop their studies for publication). He also served on the program committee and introduced the featured plenary speaker, the distinguished African-American historian Quintard Taylor. In September, Bill had the chance to be part of a small gathering in Indianapolis probing “The State of the Evangelical Mind.” (Bill says, “Yes, there IS one, and it’s doing OK in the academy, but needs to reach the pews.”) Speakers included historian Mark Noll, philosopher James K.A. Smith, author and theologian Lauren Winner of Duke Divinity School, Jo Anne Lyon of the Wesleyan Church, and Christianity Today editor Mark Galli. All recognized that, in many ways, scholarship by those identifying as evangelicals has moved to a stance and reach much more broadly Christian than stereotypically evangelical, in keeping with what CT calls “Beautiful Orthodoxy.”

An essay by writing instructor Mischa Willett titled “The Christological Vision of Pirates of the Caribbean” was published at Christ and Pop Culture.

Professor of European History Alberto Ferreiro gave a talk titled “Belief in God” for the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Bothell on October 29. He was also the keynote speaker for the Magna Carta Society, Western Province Chapter, in Woodinville on October 28. His lecture was on “King John and Magna Carta: The Historical Context.” 

The Office of Human Resources would like the SPU community to welcome Sarah Snelling, graduate programs assistant in the School of Education.

The current Seattle Pacific Art Center exhibit titled “Observe | Make | State: A Collection of Design Reproductions and Artifacts that Convey Issues of Social Justice” was highlighted in Print magazine on October 28. The exhibit was curated by Professor of Art Karen Gutowsky-Zimmerman in collaboration with Laura Lasworth, professor of art and gallery director, and Rolin Moe, director of the Institute for Academic Innovation

From SPU Master Gardener Jeff Daley: It's easy to be caught up in the busyness of raking leaves, tidying up perennial beds, and preparing our gardens for the winter months. As it's only November, not a lot of us are thinking forward to next spring's flowers, but indeed, when it comes to bulbs, fall is the time to plant. But don't make the mistake I have of purchasing bulbs and letting them dry out by sitting in the garage until next year!

First, buy some bulbs. Now is about the time when spring bulbs go on sale as nurseries work to move them in preparation for their Christmas inventory. For a nice burst of color in your garden, look for crocus, daffodils, tulips and hyacinths.

Next, plant your bulbs now. The window of opportunity will be closing shortly. Choose a nice location with ample sunlight. I like to recommend planting them in groups of eight to a dozen bulbs each, since groups of flowers look much better than sparse plantings here and there. Two or three-inch daffodil and tulip bulbs should be planted about six to eight inches deep, while smaller bulbs like crocus may fare better at three or four inches deep. Always remember to plant the bulbs with the point end facing upwards. Bulbs are also happy and look nice when planted in containers for your deck or porch.

Whether you are planting them in containers or directly into the ground, the addition of some kind of nutrient is always beneficial. You may consider scattering a handful of bone meal into the bottom of the hole before planting the bulb. Alternatively, some gardeners use mycorrhizal fungi. These will provide micronutrients to the plant, and encourage good root growth.  

Taking just a little time now to purchase and plant some bulbs in advance will brighten up your spring, big time. Select the link to see some of last spring's tulips on campus.

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