The annual Celebration of Service is Thursday, April 28, beginning at 11:10 a.m. in Brougham Pavilion. Please 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 that everyone can attend.

A message from the 'Ohana 'O Hawai'i Club: We would like to invite staff and faculty to our third annual luau on Sunday, May 1, 6-8 p.m. in Brougham Pavilion. Our theme this year is “Hele Mei Ho'ohiwahiwa,” which means “Come celebrate.” There will be live entertainment, food, games, and a photo booth. We hope you and your loved ones can make it. If you have questions, contact Club President Elishia Chun at chune1@spu.edu.

More

The library’s next Creative Conversations series begins Thursday, April 28, with Image Milton Fellow Camellia Freeman, who will discuss a new personal essay that is “at once intimate and public, personal and political.” Her talk is titled "Writing the Body: Form, Politics, and Physicality in the Personal Essay.” The event is 3-3:50 p.m. in the Library Reading Room. 

More

The SPU Theatre Department presents “The Spitfire Grill: A Musical” on April 21-23 and 28-30 at 7:30 p.m. in the E.E. Bach Theatre inside McKinley Hall. An additional matinee is Saturday, April 23, and Saturday, April 30, at 2 p.m. This musical, set in a small Wisconsin town, tells the story of a recent parolee on a mission to follow her dreams. The production explores the grit of protagonist Hannah, who is determined to turn the town’s one eatery into a great new restaurant. Will she succeed? Tickets are $15 for general admission and $12 for students and seniors. Group rates are available for 10 or more. To purchase tickets, call 206-281-2959 or visit SPU’s McKinley Box office. 

More

A message from Housing Services: As you begin to hire students for summer employment, please 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 before Friday, May 13, 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 Housing Services at 206-281-2188 or housing@spu.edu.

The Jazz Ensemble will perform Tuesday, May 3, at 7:30 p.m. Nickerson Studios. The event is free.

The 2015-16 School of Business, Government, and Economics Dean’s Speaker Series wraps up with Doug Deardorf, CEO of NiSoft. on Wednesday, April 27, 11 a.m. in the Library Seminar Room. Come hear from this successful SPU alumnus who leads a multinational software company. Doug has served on SPU’s Alumni Board and is currently a member of SPU’s SBGE Executive Advisory Board.

More

Robert Wall, Paul T. Walls Professor of Scripture and Wesleyan Studies, and Cara Wall-Scheffler, associate professor of biology, are the speakers for this year’s Paul T. Walls Lecture in Wesleyan Theology on May 4 and 5. This lecture is “an experiment in looking at the biology of questions raised by the Bible, specifically what it means to be made ‘new’ and what the biology of New Creation might be.” 

More

Bloodworks Northwest (formerly the Puget Sound Blood Center) will host a blood drive on campus Thursday, May 5, and Friday, May 6, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. (closed 1:30-2:30 p.m.) near the entrance of Tiffany Loop. Schedule an appointment online.

More

The Alaska Way Viaduct will close for two weeks beginning Friday, April 29. Congestion is expected to impact travel all over the area. Now’s your chance to try out a vanpool to see what it’s like. An Eastside vanpool leaves the South Kirkland Park & Ride at 7:05 a.m., and then leaves campus at 4:30 p.m. to return to the park & ride. If interested, contact Lynn Anselmi in University Communications at lynnanselmi@spu.edu to learn more.

A message from Human Resources: The Open Enrollment period to change or update your benefits runs May 2-20. The Human Resources staff looks forward to having you join us on Tuesday, May 3, 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. in Upper Gwinn for the annual Benefits Fair. Please take a few moments to come by and say hello, stroll around the fair, and enjoy some snacks. This will be an excellent opportunity to meet our dedicated Cigna team as well as discuss any questions or concerns you may have. Representatives from other featured vendors will also be present: BAC (administrator for our health care and dependent care flexible spending accounts), Delta Dental, VSP (our vision plan), and many more. These representatives provide information, answer questions, and bring giveaways and prizes. We look forward to seeing you there! Reminder: Pay careful attention to all communications from Human Resources particularly during this Open Enrollment season.

A message from Nyaradzo Mvududu, professor of education and licensed Zumba instructor. “Zumba at 12:30 p.m. on Fridays in the main gym in Brougham Pavilion is open to all faculty, staff, alumni, of all fitness levels. The sessions are free. Let the beat carry you through this energetic dance workout set to international music tracks. Zumba is designed to feel like a party so that the hour flies by. If you have questions, email nyaradzo@spu.edu or Intramural Manager Adam Finch at acfinch@spu.edu.”

Because the vendor will be out of town on May 3, you have until 9:59 a.m. on Tuesday, April 26, to have stationery order(s) delivered on May 13. Stationery orders are delivered once a month. Orders received after April 26 will be delivered Friday, June 17. Additionally, you must order by June 7 to have stationery delivered in this fiscal year. The June 17 delivery date for stationery orders will be the final delivery of the current fiscal year, without placing a rush order. If you have questions, contact Hope McPherson in University Communications at hmcpherson@spu.edu.

Prospective and admitted high school and transfer students will dine in Gwinn Commons, attend informational sessions, and visit classes on Friday, April 29. Look for these students and their families and make them feel welcome.

More

Here are the Campus Retail Dining Services promotions for April 25 through 30.

Common Grounds/Academic Perks: Grande Cinnamon Roll Latte $3.39.  

Common Grounds: All baked items are 50 cents, Monday-Friday, 7-9 p.m. or Saturday-Sunday, 5-7 p.m.

Academic Perks: All baked items are 50 cents Monday-Friday, 4-6 p.m.

Medley: 5-Topping Salad $5, or a 3-Topping Salad $3.

Subway: 6-inch pastrami for $3.99. Visit Subway for daily selections of the 6-inch Sub of the Day.

Sandella’s: Gourmet Chicken Salad Wrap $5 for a limited time. Add a 21-ounce fountain drink for $1 more. Perfecto Pepperoni for $4.49.

Jamba Juice: 20 percent off Jamba Juice orders every Tuesday and Thursday for the month of April.

Einstein’s Bagels: Bagel with peanut butter and jelly for $2.49.

Grill: Latin Breakfast Veggie Melt $3.99.

C-store: Come taste the NEW Pepsi 1893 Cola outside the C-store on Friday, April 29, 12:30-2 p.m. Mrs. Freshley’s pack of doughnuts for .99 cents.

$5 Friday Retail Dining Promotion:

Medley: 5-Topping Salad, including beef topping

Grill: Chili cheese fries and a 21-ounce fountain drink

Einstein’s Bagels: BBQ Chicken Tostini

Sandellas: Any Sandella’s quesadilla

Subway: Footlong chicken breast

C-Store: Any Hubert Lemonade and regular Clif Bar

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, April 28. The next Bulletin will be published Monday, May 2, 2016.

A message from the Department of Philosophy: On the occasion of his retirement, and in honor of his exemplary service to SPU, the Department of Philosophy invites you a book symposium with Professor of Philosophy Steve Layman on Thursday, May 5, 4-6 p.m. in Demaray Hall 150. Steve will read from his book, Philosophical Approaches to Atonement, Incarnation, and the Trinity (Palgrave Macmillan, 2016). Following the reading, Terence Cuneo from the University of Vermont and Daniel Howard-Snyder from Western Washington University will offer comments.

Katya Drozdova, associate professor of political science, will be a visiting fellow at Stanford University during her sabbatical Autumn Quarter 2016. She will conduct research for her next book on counterterrorism strategies and American-Russian relations.

Response Managing Editor Hannah Faith Notess will read from her debut, award-winning poetry collection The Multitude on Thursday, April 28, 7 p.m. at the Queen Anne Book Company.

More

A chapter written by adjunct faculty member Eric Severson was published in This is My Body: Philosophical Reflections on Embodiment in a Wesleyan Spirit, edited by John Thomas Brittingham and Christina M. Smerick. His chapter, titled “The Body Obsessed: Reflections on Religious Enthusiasm,” explores the philosophical roots of religious experience through the works of Jan Patočka, Jacques Derrida, and Emmanuel Levinas.

More

Communications Specialist Jeffrey Overstreet recently participated in Calvin College's bi-annual Festival of Faith and Writing. He was interviewed about how his four fantasy novels were influenced by his evangelical childhood; spoke at a special focus group on film criticism hosted by Josh Larsen (host of the Filmspotting podcast); and led a post-screening Q&A with filmmaker Paul Harrill at a movie theater in Grand Rapids.  

The Office of Human Resources would like the SPU community to welcome the following new employees. Contact information can be found on the online SPU White page.

Leslie Robertson, senior director, University Communications
Amy Kennedy, international student services advisor, Student Academic Services

The Herald (Everett, Washington) featured local couple William Sacherek and Liselotte Lamerdin, who recently donated rare paintings in appreciation of the reconciliation work of the John Perkins Center. Perkins Center Director Tali Hairston and Director of Advancement Maribeth Martin Lopit were quoted in the story published on April 23.

More

John Perkins Center Director Tali Hairston was interviewed by Seattle's KCPQ-TV about the recently donated rare paintings in appreciation of the reconciliation work of the John Perkins Center. The story aired April 19.

From University Archivist Adrienne Meier: The cornerstone for McKinley Auditorium was laid on March 14, 1940, during the spring meeting of the Board of Trustees. Members of the Board pose around the stone in this photo. The stone read (and still reads): “A.D. 1939” on the east side, and “RIGHTEOUSNESS EXALTETH A NATION” on the north side. The north side’s scripture is from Proverbs 14:34 (KJV). Ground was broken for the building on March 8, 1939, hence the date on the east side. The building itself was completed in 1944. For more on McKinley Hall, see the SPU History Wiki page.

More

From Master Gardener Jeff Daley: A great low maintenance and versatile plant with many different uses in our garden is Erysimum, commonly known as wallflower. This member of the mustard family is native to southern Europe and grows really well in our Pacific Northwest climate. They look good in containers or planted directly in a garden bed, and you can choose from an array of colors: yellow, orange, apricot, rusty red, purple, white, cream, coral pink, and mauve. As an extra bonus, several varieties have a very light baby powder fragrance. They can be grown by planting seeds or small plants in the garden this time of year. Butterflies thoroughly enjoy them, too. We have Erysimum “Bowle's Mauve,” one of my favorites, blooming on the south side of Weter Hall. (Select the link to see photos around campus.) 

More