Following the open Student Forum held on January 14 and the forum with Alex Gee on January 20, I would like to extend the campus conversation and invite you to a Faculty and Staff Forum in Upper Gwinn on Tuesday, February 2, 3-4:30 p.m. The purpose of the forum is to continue the conversation on SPU’s commitment to racial diversity and reconciliation, recap several of the things we are hearing from our students regarding the campus climate, and highlight several concrete steps to improve our efforts. I hope you are able to attend as we continue our commitment to a level of listening, dialogue, and action that shows SPU to be a grace-filled community.

The SPU Theatre Department presents this Tony Kushner play about an aging father, his estranged son, and an all-knowing magician. Performances are January 28-30 and February 4-6 at 7:30 p.m. in E.E. Bach Theatre in McKinley Hall. There will be a Saturday matinee performance on February 6 at 2 p.m. Learn more and buy tickets online. 

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Hundreds of prospective and admitted students and their families will be on campus this week for a special Homecoming SPU Friday. Undergraduate Admissions will host high school juniors, seniors, and transfer students on Friday, January 29, as they dine in Gwinn, attend academic informational sessions, and visit classes. They will also participate in various Homecoming activities around campus throughout the day. Look for these students and their families, and make them feel welcome.

Seattle Pacific Seminary’s Asian American Ministry Program, in partnership with the John Perkins Center and the Office of University Ministries, is hosting a two-part Church Leaders Forum titled “Pastoral Implications for Racial Reconciliation and the Church,” February 9 and 23, 1-3 p.m. The first event on Tuesday, February 9, features Dr. Soong-Chan Rah, who will teach the first course of SPU's new Master of Arts in Asian American Ministry degree. The second meeting is Tuesday, February 23, and features Associate Professor of Reconciliation Studies Brenda Salter McNeil as the primary speaker. Faculty, staff, and students are invited to attend. If you have questions, contact seminary@spu.edu. For more information on the forum, visit the website.

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A message from Alumni Relations: “Homecoming and Parents Weekend is the perfect time for our entire SPU community to connect with one another and parents and participate in special programming. Homecoming will feature all our Falcon fan favorites, including the annual Talent Show, basketball, theatre, Homecoming Luncheon, and more. New this year will be a pre-Talent Show Tailgater (open to the entire SPU community) and Talon’s Birthday Bash, following the women’s basketball game versus Central Washington University on Saturday, January 30. Talon’s Birthday Bash will be an epic celebration sure to go down in Falcon history! The biggest change to this weekend is that all class reunions and most affinity reunions will now be a part of the all-new Grand Reunion 2016 inaugural event October 7-9, 2016. (The 50-year reunion event will still take place on June 10, 2016, during Ivy Cutting.) For more information on Homecoming and Parents Weekend, visit the website."

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The Office of Alumni and Parent Relations is currently taking nominations for the “125 Ones to Watch” awards, which will debut with the 125^th anniversary of SPU in June. The purpose of this award is to recognize 125 GOLD (graduates of the last decade) for their accomplishments. The criteria for Ones to Watch are: graduated in the last ten years; have demonstrated significant success in their profession, ministry, or service involvements; embody the university’s mission of engaging the culture and changing the world; pursue a mature and active Christian faith; and exhibit pride and enthusiasm for SPU. All submissions can be emailed to alumni@spu.edu with a description of how the individuals fit the criteria. 

Undergraduate Admissions is hard at work recruiting next year’s new class of SPU Falcons, and they would love your help. If you know someone who was born to be a Falcon, invite him or her to apply for Winter, Spring, or Autumn 2016 quarter — then let us know. You could receive a gift! Here’s what you need to do:

First, submit the student’s name at spu.edu/referafalcon. If he or she applies and lists your name in the application, you will receive $25 in Falcon Funds.

When the student fills out the Common Application, in the SPU member section under "Contacts," tell the student to list that he or she heard about SPU from you. Once we receive your submitted form and the student's application, you’ll get $25 in Falcon Funds. The deadline is February 1, so make sure to invite students to apply before then. If you have questions, email admissions@spu.edu or call 206- 281-2021.

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Assistant Professor of Art Zack Bent has spent time visiting and photographing a parcel of forest fire land near Cle Elum, Washington, seeking to study the silence and death left by the fires. An exhibit of his photographs and sculpture pieces created to honor the landscape is now on display at the SPU Art Center Gallery until Friday, March 11.

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Professor of Education Nyarazdo Mvududu is leading a free Zumba class for faculty and staff on Fridays, 12-1 p.m. in the main gym in Brougham Pavilion. Nyarazdo is a licensed Zumba instructor, and says the class is “fun and beginner-friendly.”

Common Grounds/Academic Perks: Happier Hour!  From 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., purchase any grande drink and receive a FREE pastry! (While supplies last.)

Medley: Back by popular demand, we are offering a 5-topping salad for $5.99.

Subway: It’s tween time from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.. Get a FREE raspberry cheesecake cookie when you purchase any footlong sub. (While supplies last.)

Sandella’s: BBQ chicken fireside wrap only $3.99. Make it a meal (chips and a 21-ounce fountain drink) for only $6.99.

Einstein’s Bagels: It’s tween time from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Purchase a medium cup of coffee and a sugar cookie for $3.59.

Grill: Limited time offer – Texas BBQ pork sandwich with grilled onions and coleslaw on ciabatta bread for $5.39.

New Retail Promotion on Fridays. Stop by these campus dining retail outlets and take advantage of a special promotion every Friday.

$5 Friday Retail Promotion:

Medley: 5-topping salad

Grill: Grilled cheeseburger and 21-ounce fountain drink

Einstein’s Bagels: Bagel dog and 21-ounnce fountain drink

Sandellas: Grilled flatbread and 21-ounce fountain drink

Subway: Six-inch chicken breast sub and 21-ounce fountain drink

Normally, Sitecore/Contribute brownbags are the third Thursday of the month, but because of a conflict, this month’s brownbag is Thursday, January 28, noon–1 p.m. in the Lower Weter large conference room. If you need help in the meantime:

• If you’ve been trained in Sitecore, call Kathy Henning in University Communications at 206-281-2329, and she’ll arrange for someone on the Web Team to help.
• If you need help with Contribute, call Hope McPherson in University Communications at 206-281-2552 Monday-Friday, 6:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Sitecore Tip of the Month 
Here’s a question we get a lot: How can I turn a double return into a single return? Put your cursor at the end of the line before the double return and delete the return so that the paragraph break disappears. Then hit shift + return. Voila! Single return.

Thursday, January 28

Women's basketball vs Northwest Nazarene, Brougham Pavilion, 7 p.m.

Friday, January 29

Indoor track & field, SPU at UW Invitational, Dempsey Indoor (UW), 5:30 p.m.

Saturday, January 30

Indoor track & field, SPU at UW Invitational, Dempsey Indoor (UW), 10 a.m.

Women's basketball vs Central Washington (Homecoming), Brougham Pavilion, 5 p.m.

For the latest in Falcon sports, visit the website.

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The Faculty/Staff Bulletin is published weekly 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, January 28. The next Bulletin will be published Monday, February 1, 2016.

In recognition of his service to the SPU community, Kyle Gough, a multi-skilled tradesman in Facility and Project Management, has been nominated and selected as the January Staff Member of the Month. Congratulations, Kyle! Read more about Kyle online.

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Brad Murg, assistant professor of political science and director of global development studies, gave a talk titled "Domestic Drivers and Constraints in Russian Foreign Policy." The talk was part of the panel "Russia, Syria, and the West: Cooperation or Confrontation?" at the University of Washington on January 19. The panel was organized by the Ellison Center of the Henry Jackson School of International Affairs, where he is an affiliate professor.

The Office of Human Resources would like the SPU community to welcome the following new staff members. Contact information can be found in the SPU online White Pages.

Katelyn Fekkes, security officer II, Office of Safety and Security
Rebecca Garcia, project and budget manager, University Advancement
Amanda Willingham, gymnastics instructor, Athletics

Hubert Wash, professor emeritus of music, passed away on January 21. He was at SPU from 1951-55, 1976-79, and 1981-88. Part of a tribute for Hubert upon his retirement in 1988 stated, “The 14-year investment Hubert Wash as made at Seattle Pacific University has enriched the lives of many students, making them more disciplined and harmonious servants of Jesus Christ...his colleagues in the School of Fine and Performing Arts and throughout the University have found him a wise and affirming mentor, both encouraging and enabling continuous growth in effective service.” Hubert's wife, Georgia, passed away in 2012. Arrangements for a memorial service are still pending.

From University Archivist Adrienne Meier: "The mascot of the 1956 Homecoming basketball game opponent, the Taylor University Trojan, is carried away by the SPC Falcon in this display mounted to the outside of Moyer Hall. Taylor and SPC played a two-game series in Brougham Pavilion on Friday and Saturday nights (January 27-28), with SPC winning both games, 83-76 (in overtime) and 69-52. Other Homecoming activities included a bonfire and pep rally; an alumni reception; crowning of the Homecoming queen and presentation of the Homecoming court; open houses in the dormitories (Alexander, Tiffany, Moyer, and Watson Halls); and luncheons for returning lettermen, members of Falconettes, and members of Theta Beta (the Home Economics Club)."

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From SPU Master Gardener Jeff Daley: "Last year I wrote about Chinese witch hazel, Hamamelis mollis in this column, and its grown since then and now it's more photogenic. The one near Eaton Hall in this photo is more fragrant because there are many more blossoms. On a dry day, you can smell it all the way from Bertona Street.” Select the link for more images.

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