The Office of Undergraduate Admissions is, once again, excited to welcome another large group of admitted students to campus this Saturday, April 9. This special event, in addition to the one held on March 11, is a key strategy in our new student enrollment efforts for this upcoming fall.

Since we are hosting this event on a weekend day, we want to enthusiastically thank all of the staff, faculty, and current students who will be engaging with these students and their family members while they are on campus. How can YOU help, you ask? We do still need some extra assistance to help us, if you have capacity to do so. You can find available time slots, duties, and a sign-up form here.

If you happen to be on campus this Saturday, and you see visiting students (wearing lanyards), please help us by greeting them and offering a “Welcome to SPU!” A smile, an offer to help with directions, and a warm welcome go a really long way!

Thank you in advance for helping us welcome our guests this weekend!

It’s almost here! Giving Day is this Wednesday, April 6, and we hope you’ll join this digital event. From scholarships and aid, to academics, athletics, Christian faith formation, and so much more, Giving Day shows the impact our global community can have when we join together.

The first 250 gifts of $60* or more will receive an exclusive pair of SPU socks! (*Gifts to Athletics funds are not eligible to receive socks. Check out the Athletics Giving Day website for more information on their Giving Day giveaways.) 

Written by Charles Mee, Big Love is a dark modern comedy of love and struggle based on a Greek classic. It is a part of Mee’s (re)making project which allows theatre artists wide latitude to interpret his script.

In a modern Italian villa, Giuliano is shocked to discover Lydia in his bathtub. She is a refugee, one of fifty brides who have fled marriage to their fifty cousins and are seeking asylum. With the grooms in hot pursuit (via helicopter), it is only a matter of time before the serenity of the villa detonates in a darkly comic explosion.

The play includes both a Light Warning and Content Warnings and is recommended for ages 16+. For more detailed information, please visit the website.

As per previous shows, all SPU faculty and staff members can redeem seats for two free tickets on the night of their choice by emailing the Box Office at boxoffice@spu.edu or calling 206-281-2959.

If you are interested in having our director or dramaturg speak with your class about Big Love, please contact rlorig@spu.edu to arrange a visit!

COVID-19 Mask/Vaccination Policy
For the performers’ safety, we are maintaining our current mask and vaccination policy. All patrons will be expected to remain masked at all times and show proof of vaccination or a recent (past week) negative PCR test. This sacrifice is making it possible for us to do live theatre with confidence. We thank you for your understanding!

SPU students, staff, and faculty simply need to show their Falcon Card.

To stay updated on the production, follow us on Instagram/Facebook at @sputheatre.

Join us for the 16th annual Social Venture Plan Competition Showcase Wednesday, April 13, 2–6 p.m. in Upper Gwinn. Hosted by the Center for Applied Learning and the School of Business, Government, and Economics, the SVPC invites you to come engage with entrepreneurial projects presented by innovative students passionate about addressing social issues through sustainable business models, and vote for the People’s Choice Award!

Sign up for In Context, a discussion series on racism and capitalism run through Catalyst, a leadership team working with the Associated Students of Seattle Pacific (ASSP) vice president for intercultural affairs to address the issues of race, ethnicity, and justice through discussions, collaborative programming, and support of campus events. Their goal is to equip SPU community members to work toward a better world by thinking critically about systems of exploitation. All SPU students, staff, and faculty are welcome! This quarter we will be meeting consecutively from weeks 4 to 9 on Mondays from 4:30–6 p.m. The specific dates are April 18, April 25, May 2, May 9, and May 16. Register here and contact Patti Fong with Catalyst at fongp@spu.edu if you have questions.

The 16th Annual John Perkins Lecture Series welcomes the CCDA Pacific Northwest Regional Conference, “Imagine CCDA,” to campus on Tuesday, April 26. At 11 a.m. in Upper Gwinn Commons, Dr. Joyce del Rosario will speak, and the evening plenary at 6:30 p.m. in Upper Gwinn welcomes Lenore Three Stars. The CCDA, a national organization co-founded by Dr. John Perkins, is a network of Christians committed to seeing people and communities holistically restored. The morning plenary and evening plenary sessions are free and open to the campus community. The full conference is also open to the public at a cost of $49 per person, which includes workshops and lunch. You can find more information and register for the full conference online.

Upcoming lunch and dinner specials in Gwinn Commons.

Wednesday, April 6: Gwinn picnic-themed meal at lunch.

Tuesday, April 12: Grilled Cheese Day. Grilled cheese bar at lunch.

Friday, April 15: Good Friday Seafood Pop Up. For an extra swipe, enjoy the Seafood Bar at dinner.

As we continue to pray for peace in the Ukraine, the School of Business, Government, and Economics, School of Theology, Department of History, and University Ministries invite you to “The War for Ukraine: A Geographical and Theological Conversation,” on Thursday, April 7, 4–5 p.m. in Demaray 150. Come to listen, converse, and pray together about the events taking place in Ukraine. Professor Emerita of Geography Kathleen Braden and Professor Emeritus of Theology Eugene Lemcio will be speaking. This event is open to the public, and will be recorded and livestreamed. Here is the YouTube link. https://youtu.be/ja9RFX1DOls

You are invited to “No Limits, No Boundaries” on Monday, April 11, 5:30–7 p.m., in Nickerson Studios, a biannual event presented by SPU’s Disability Support Services. Jason Thornberry, School of Education receptionist and adjunct professor, will read from his poetry and nonfiction. Light refreshments will be provided. Jason’s work has appeared in The Los Angeles Review of Books, North Dakota Quarterly, Soundings East, Broadkill Review, Sledgehammer Lit, and elsewhere.

The Office of Inclusive Excellence invites you to join us Thursday, April 14, 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m. for Diversity 101: Exploring the What, Why, and How of Diversity at SPU. This workshop is required of all new employees. Learn more and register here.

The Faculty Life Office is pleased to invite you to the spring Winifred E. Weter Lecture on Tuesday, April 12, at 7p.m., in Upper Gwinn Commons. Join us as Michael Paulus Jr., dean of the library, assistant provost for educational technology, and associate professor of information studies, presents his topic — “Artificial Intelligence and the Apocalyptic Imagination: The Ends of Artificial Agency.” Entry is free, and refreshments will be provided.

University Communications needs help identifying outstanding students from this year’s graduating class. This request is for undergraduate and graduate students. These students and their achievements will be pitched to media outlets prior to Commencement, as well as used for promotional purposes. Please send the name(s) of the students and a short description about why you are recommending them. Examples would be students who overcame obstacles to graduate, were involved in community service projects, participated in innovative research, started a new venture, took a class that changed their career direction, or did something really interesting. Basically, anything that would make a good story! We will follow up with the student and get permission to use their profile. Send information by email to Director of Public Information Tracy Norlen at tcnorlen@spu.edu.

The 10th of each month is the last day to make changes to your upcoming payroll check. Do you need to add or remove your spouse and/or children from your health care plans? If so, contact Human Resources (HR) to complete the appropriate form. Changes might include events that are expected to impact your benefits and deductions, such as your spouse or children gaining or losing coverage due to employment, birth, marriage, etc. Additionally, any changes to your 403b account may take up to seven days to be provided to SPU for processing, so please contract Transamerica by the first of the month prior to your requested change. For changes to your 403(b) account, contact Transamerica Retirement Solutions at 1-888-676-5512 (5 a.m.–6 p.m. PST), or 1-800-755-5801. If you have any other benefits-related changes, call Cherylin Shdo in HR at 206-281-2816.

The Faculty/Staff Bulletin is published weekly during the academic year. The next deadline is Thursday, April 7, and the next issue will be published Monday, April 11. 

If you have information or event news, send it as soon as possible with an image or graphic to Bulletin editor Tracy Norlen at fsb-editor@spu.edu. Submissions may be edited for clarity.

Touching This Leviathan by Peter Moe, assistant professor of English, was recently reviewed in the online magazine Brevity.

During spring break, Alissa Walter, assistant professor of history, conducted two weeks of fieldwork in Baghdad, Iraq, and also in Kuwait. While in Baghdad, she was invited by the Office of the Mayoralty of Baghdad to give a lecture on her research as part of a monthly Baghdad Cultural Forum that they host. She gave her talk in Arabic; the English translation of the title of her talk was “The History of Baghdad's Modern Neighborhoods, 1950s–1970s.”

From University Archivist Adrienne Meier: April 4, 1893 — that’s 129 years ago! — was the first day of classes for Seattle Seminary. The photo shows the faculty and student body of Seattle Seminary in 1895, two years later, in front of the Red Brick Building (now Alexander and Adelaide Hall). At the time, the school was what we would today call a private K-12 school. First principal Alexander Beers and first head teacher Adelaide Beers can be seen on the far left of the photo. Behind Adelaide and next to Alexander is Clark Shay, who taught languages and later served as principal. Select the link to see the photo.

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