At our 19^th annual Downtown Business Breakfast on April 10, I had the privilege of sharing a few thoughts prior to General Alexander’s remarks. I have received several requests from faculty and staff to make my address available to those who were not able to attend the breakfast. Please visit the Speeches and Media page to view the address.

In my address, I chose to highlight three components of our Strategic Plan.

First, the component of our Strategic Vision that states: “Seattle Pacific University will be… Known By … [our] vision and commitment to global and cultural engagement, reconciliation, and human flourishing.”

Second, Goal 3, Objective 3: “Embody the University’s Christian identity and historical commitment to human flourishing through a cross-unit, interdisciplinary, curricular and co-curricular engagement to address selected local, national, and global issues.”

Third, Strategy 2 of Goal 3, Objective 3: “Exploration and definition of post-Tent City 3’s focus and plans for both engagement and ownership in the University as a primary contributor to ending homelessness in the city of Seattle.”

You will be hearing more about SPU’s initiative to engage in the issue of homelessness in the ensuing months, and I am grateful for the leadership of Dr. Karen Snedker and Owen Sallee in this regard. They have defined a framework and action steps to guide us as we seek to determine the best way the University can engage in this effort. You are able to review the action steps on the Strategic Planning SharePoint site.

Additionally, during the upcoming Board of Trustees meeting in May, the Board will be visiting Tent City 3 at their current location – Shoreline Free Methodist Church. The Board will be further exposed to our work in this area and to the challenges related to homelessness in general. Additionally, the Board will be engaging in a service project designed to strengthen the ability of the Tent City 3 community to fulfill its mission of service and assistance to its residents.

I have also been discussing our role in the City of Seattle with our mayor, city councilmembers, fellow Seattle institutions of higher education, and various community service agencies. Our efforts and engagement in this area have been welcomed.

As we keep our work in this area at the forefront, I would welcome your input if you have ideas or thoughts as to how we might best engage and work toward lasting change for the good of our neighbors. Please send me an email and I will connect you with our colleagues who are leading us in our efforts to eliminate homelessness in the City of Seattle.

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Dr. John Perkins, one of the leading evangelical voices to come out of the American civil rights movement and co-partner in SPU’s John Perkins Center, returns to campus for his 10th annual lecture on Tuesday, April 21, 11:10 a.m. in First Free Methodist Church. The program features SPU Talent Show winners, Either/Or.

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The SPU Theatre Department presents “As It Is in Heaven,” April 23–25 and April 30–May 2, at 7:30 p.m. in E.E. Bach Theatre in McKinley Hall. There will be a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday, May 2. This dramatic musical set in a Shaker community in the 1830s revolves around a nonbeliever’s ecstatic experiences, which leave the believers questioning their faith. Soon, a spiritual revival sweeps through the community and everyone begins sharing their spiritual “gifts.”

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What does it mean to be an Asian American Christian? How can Asian American Christians engage the ministry of racial justice and reconciliation today? On Tuesday, May 5, SPU’s Asian American Ministry Program, in partnership with the Office of University Ministries, will join Asian Pacific American (APA) communities from across the nation to commemorate APA Heritage Month. It will be an inspiring time of worship, prayer, theological reflection, and discussion on these important questions and more. Faculty and staff are invited to attend.

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A message from Advancement Services: “Join us in celebrating what Seattle Pacific means to each of us and the people who make our dreams possible. Alumni, parents, faculty, staff, and others fund everything from scholarships and new residence halls to awesome student programs such as Welcome Week and University Ministries. Join us May 4-7 for "I Love SPU Week" as we come together to celebrate the legacy of this place, say "’thanks for giving,” and pay it forward!”

The Associated Students of Seattle Pacific (ASSP) is partnering with the Seattle Sounders FC to provide discount tickets to the SPU community for the May 23 game vs. Kansas City. Tickets are available through April 22. Purchase your tickets online.

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A message from staff member Lori Brown, co-chair, SPU 2015 United Way Campaign: “SPU’s annual United Way Campaign is gaining steam! Already 58 staff and faculty have donated $11,283 to support the most vulnerable in King County. Thank you! With 98 percent of every dollar being invested in the lives of children and families, United Way makes sure these resources reach those who need it most, like the folks in this short video.  Remember, you can choose to designate your gift to an organization that is meaningful to you. And you can even donate to Tent City by writing in “Share/Wheel – Tent City. The campaign ends April 30, 2015. Make your donation today!"

 

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In 2014, book designer Adam Lewis Greene launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund Bibliotheca, a project which gives the Bible fresh expression as a multivolume set of elegant, traditionally designed books conducive to enjoyable reading. He surpassed his goal 40 times over. Come hear his story at the annual Friends of the Library event on Thursday, April 23, 7:30–9 p.m. in Upper Gwinn Commons. The event is free and open to the public.

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The Celebration of Service event (formerly the President’s Spring Forum) is Thursday, April 30, at 11:10 a.m. in Royal Brougham Pavilion. Join us as we celebrate the years of service of our colleagues across campus and recognize the Faculty of the Year, Exempt Staff Member of the Year, and Non-Exempt Staff Member of the Year award winners. There will be a reception following the ceremony and offices will be closed so everyone can attend.

Have you thought about commuting by bicycle, but do not know where to start? Have you wondered how to fix a flat tire? If you answered “yes” to either of these, come to a Cascade Bicycle Club Bike Commuting workshop on Thursday, April 23, 12-1 p.m. in Weter 201. Light refreshments will be provided. This workshop will cover the basics of biking for commuting and utility trips as well as how to fix a flat tire. Other topics include:

• Selecting a bicycle and making basic fit adjustments
• Planning your bike route
• Clothing, helmets, and gear
• Removing the tire from the rim and reinstallation
• Tools to carry for a speedy repair

The workshop is sponsored by the Office of Safety and Security as part of the Commute Trip Reduction program. Please RSVP online by Monday, April 20.

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The Office of Safety and Security is offering a women’s self-defense class for staff and faculty on Wednesday, April 29, 12:30-1:30 p.m. in Demaray 353. The class will cover basic mental and physical techniques designed to apply to day-to-day lives and experiences. No RSVP is required. The class is part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, a national campaign to bring awareness and education to communities about the realities of gender-based violence. For more information, contact Jenna Fejervary, safety and special investigations officer, at fejerj@spu.edu.

On Friday, April 24, the Undergraduate Admissions Office will host prospective students and their families on campus for a visit day. We encourage all faculty and staff to welcome these visitors when they see them around campus. If you have questions, contact Amanda Stubbert, assistant director for campus experience and events, at amandas@spu.edu. Learn more about the SPU Friday campus visit events.

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A message from University Services: “As you begin to hire students for summer employment, remember that on-campus summer housing is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications, including location and price, are now available in the Office of University Services and must be received by Friday, May 8, at 4:30 p.m. Please advise your student employees to complete an application if they are hoping to live on campus during the summer. If you have any questions, contact University Services at 206-281-2188 or housing@spu.edu.”

Faculty, staff, and students are invited to a weekly prayer meeting on Wednesdays at noon in the Lower Weter large conference room. For more information, email Kathy Henning in University Communications at kathy@spu.edu.

Have you seen them? New SPU billboards are standing proud all over the Seattle area, and new bus advertisements are zooming up and down Seattle and Eastside streets. This campaign is intended to motivate a prospective student to decide to enroll at SPU and to enhance engagement and connection with our regional alumni. If you see one, take a picture and post it on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, and be sure to include #isawSPU. Each week for the next several weeks, one lucky photographer will win a free Seattle Pacific license plate frame or water bottle. At the end of the contest, one of those weekly winners will also win the grand prize: two tickets for a ride on the Seattle Great Wheel on the waterfront. Enter your photo with #isawspu today. The contest ends Friday, April 24.

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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, April 23. The next Bulletin will be published Monday, April 27.

An article by Professor of Geography Kathleen Braden titled “Illegal Recreational Hunting in Russia: The Role of Social Norms and Elite Violators” was published in the journal Eurasian Geography and Economics.

Poet Scott Cairns, who recently joined the faculty of SPU’s MFA in Creative Writing program, and Jeffrey Overstreet, a novelist and film reviewer who works in University Communications as a communications specialist, were guest speakers at Houston Baptist University’s third annual Writers Conference, April 10-11. Scott delivered the Friday night keynote address about the vocation of poetry. Jeffrey gave lectures on storytelling and film interpretation, and was interviewed in a film studies class about his experiences as a film journalist.

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Professor of Theology Priscilla Pope-Levison recently gave the Mannoia Lecture at Greenville College. She also was the Heritage Day speaker at Tennessee Wesleyan University.

Professor of English Kimberly Segall will give a presentation titled “Performing Changing Ideas of Race, Islam, and Democracy” at the University of Washington on Thursday, April 23, at 3:30 p.m. at Thomson Hall. Her case study focuses on Nadia Davids, a Cape Muslim playwright, who performs her own story and her community's hybrid identity in terms of racial, gender, and religious affiliations. The presentation will analyze black protest identities and focus on the gender dynamics of trans-nationalism, including the travelling images and local contestation around images of 9/11 and Iraq. The analysis suggests hybrid identifications of Cape Muslims in South Africa form various interpretations of feminism and black protest.