A message from the SPU Alumni Association: Alumni faculty and staff are invited to join a new loyalty program on behalf of the SPU bookstore and the SPU Alumni Association. Sign up today for the SPU Bookstore Alumni Benefits Program and get exclusive discounts and offers delivered to your inbox. The first offer is a 25 percent discount on spirit gear.

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Bloodworks Northwest (formerly the Puget Sound Blood Center) will host a blood drive on campus Monday, August 3, 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. (closed 1:30-2:30 p.m.) near the entrance of Tiffany Loop. There’s an extra need for donations during the summer, so encourage friends and family members to stop by and donate. Schedule an appointment online.

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From Conference Services: As a new academic year is about to begin and event requests are coming in, it’s a good time for a few reminders about requesting space on campus. All space requests for meetings and events can be made through SPU Room Finder. For general campus space (classrooms, meeting room, etc.) the typical response time for a request is two business days. Requests for Upper Gwinn may take a bit longer, as the space is in high demand and many times Conference Services needs to consult with other event requestors and service providers to confirm all event details before putting the space on hold. Once you receive a “Hold Email,” pay close attention to the deadline date of keeping or releasing the requested date as other clients may be waiting for the same date. Please remember to wait for an official confirmation before moving forward with the planning of any event. If you have questions, contact Conference Services at 206-281-2187 or conferenceservices@spu.edu.

If you are planning an event in Martin Square, Tiffany Loop, Fifth Avenue streetscape, SUB lawn, or other outdoor space on campus, reserve it through SPU Room Finder. Submitting an event through Room Finder allows you to book space and send the information to the SPU Master Calendar (if appropriate) at the same time. All events held on-campus can now be entered through Room Finder, and all SPU-sponsored events not on campus can be posted directly through the SPU Master Calendar by selecting “Submit an Event.”

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A message from Adam Finch, intramural and equipment manager: Monday and Wednesday soccer has been a huge success! We are continuing through summer and would love for you to join us. Summer is EXACTLY the time of year I want to be outside and enjoy these beautiful summer days, I hope you will consider joining us. Here are some of the details ― this is a very friendly game (all skill levels are TRULY welcome). We play a simple small-sided pickup game on Mondays and Wednesdays from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. with staff, faculty, alumni, and students on Wallace Field (as it’s available). If you would like to join us, contact me at acfinch@spu.edu and I will add you to the email list. I also help organize weekly basketball games, usually on Tuesdays and Thursdays and sometimes on Fridays. If you are interested in this form of exercise and community, email me as well and I’ll add you to the list. I look forward to including more of you in these activities.

Student Financial Services will be closed Wednesday, August 19, for their annual summer office retreat. The office will re-open on Thursday, August 20. If you have any questions, call 206-281-2061.

The Gwinn Commons dining hall summer hours are posted online. The hours will be updated daily for the upcoming week. Remember that dining hall hours are based on Conference Services clients and internal groups and are subject to change. Hours for the other campus dining retailers can also be found online. Contact conferenceservices@spu.edu if you have any questions.

The Office of Conference Services would like the SPU community to be aware of the many groups that visit campus during the summer for conferences, workshops, or annual meetings. The following groups will be on campus during the next several weeks. Please welcome these visitors when you see them. 

A.C.E. York Program
Baroque Northwest
Suzuki Education and Research Association
Northwest Boychoir
CPM Educational Program
Junior Ambassador Friendship Mission
Laurasian Institute
Sparks Consulting Rowing
Vivace Chamber Players
Hoseo University/School of Business
Sahmyook University

You have until 9:59 a.m. on Tuesday, August 4, to have stationery order(s) delivered on August 14. Stationery orders are now delivered once a month. Stationery orders made after 10 a.m. on August 4 will be delivered September 18. 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.

Prospective students and their families will be on campus Friday, July 31, for the next Undergraduate Admissions “Summer Visit Day.” Students and their families will take a campus tour, hear about the admissions process, learn about financial aid, and meet current students, staff, and professors. Please welcome them.

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During the summer, the Faculty/Staff Bulletin is published every other week. 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, August 6. The next Bulletin will be published Monday, August 10.

Professor of Biochemistry Ben McFarland recently presented a lecture summarizing his upcoming book A World From Dust: How the Periodic Table Shaped Life. He gave the presentation at the BioLogos Foundation’s Evolution and Christian Faith conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The book contains illustrations by Gala Bent, former SPU adjunct art faculty member, and will be published by Oxford University Press this winter.

An article by Clint Kelly, communications specialist in University Communications, was published in the summer 2015 issue of The Physicians Report. “A Valuable Teaching Tool to Enhance Skills and Improve Patient Experience” features Simulation-based Immersive Medical Training (SIM) as seen, in part, through the eyes of third-year medical student Kristi Trickett ’11. The SPU biology and chemistry major is in her third year of medical training at Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences in Yakima, Washington, where a SIM lab with robotic “patients” is an integral part of a student’s educational experience.

A new book by Daniel Castelo, professor of dogmatic and constructive theology, was recently published by Bloomsbury T&T Clark. Pneumatology: A Guide for the Perplexed aims to elaborate and constructively engage some of the ongoing dogmatic challenges within the field of Christian pneumatology. Read more online.

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Filmback, a podcast for filmmakers about the creative process, has published a two-part interview with SPU Communications Specialist Jeffrey Overstreet about his experiences as a film critic and writer. They discuss ways in which cinema can enrich our lives and encourage a courageous engagement with culture. Jeffrey also recently paid tribute to SPU’s University Scholars program in his weekly music-review column at Christ and Pop Culture in an article titled “Torres and the ‘New Skin’ of Faith.”

The Office of Human Resources would like the SPU community to join us in welcoming Sha’terika Perkins, campus program coordinator in Student Activities.

Professor Emerita of English Rose Reynoldson passed away July 22 in Wenatchee at the age of 87. Rose taught English, creative writing, and poetry for more than 15 years before retiring in 1993. She received her BA in English and MA in creative writing from the University of Washington.

“I've known her since 1972, when we met in graduate school at the University of Washington,” says Professor Emeritus of English and longtime friend Tom Trzyna. “A more encouraging and inspiring person you could not find.”

She was the author of I Know There's Something More, a collection of her poems and stories which is currently available in the SPU bookstore. She returned to campus many times after her retirement to meet with faculty, students, and alumni.

Former student and SPU Web Editor Hope McPherson took several writing classes from Rose. “She was wonderful to learn from, and I still use her editing note ‘nec?’ for ‘necessary’ when I edit (and write) copy.”

A memorial service will be held Saturday, August 1, 11 a.m. at Calvary Crossroads Church, 1301 Maple Street in Wenatchee, Washington.

A service of word and music in memory of Anna Marie Larson, wife of Professor Emeritus of Sociology Robert (Bob) Larson, was held Tuesday, July 28, 11 a.m. at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Everett, Washington. Anna passed away July 11. Read more about her life in her online obituary.

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From University Archivist Adrienne Meier: "This brightly colored postcard announced SPU’s Summer Session for 1980. The back of the card reads 'Classes start every week from June 2 to August 18. Don’t miss our summer catalog.' SPC summer sessions began in 1931, and a newly flexible schedule that had courses starting every week was implemented in 1974.” John Glancy, director of communications in 1980, explains the rocks. “'Watch for Rocks' was one of the marketing phrases we used to promote the 1980 Summer Session. It didn’t have to do with any particular offering — just a means of using the 'Rock People' to highlight all of the summer classes in brochures, summer catalog, etc.” Select the link to see the postcard.

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From Master Gardener Jeff Daley: Well, it would have been "bird nest soup" if I hadn't realized mama dark-eyed junco had made a nest for her family in an SPU flower pot. I came close to dousing them while watering the flowers. Two weeks later the eggs hatched. It's been a real hoot to watch them grow up; I feel like part of the family. All too soon, I watched the little birds fly off and the nest was empty.” Select the link to see the photos. 

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