(NAME-MCE) George Fox University Response to Sept. 23 campus incident

[Anselmo Villanueva]

http://www.georgefox.edu/featured_stories/campus_incident.html


George Fox University Response to Sept. 23 campus incident

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  At 7 a.m. on Sept. 23, a university employee discovered a life-sized
cardboard cutout of Barack Obama attached by fishing line to a tree near
Minthorn Hall. A sign that read "Act Six reject" was taped to the
store-bought cardboard cutout. The employee immediately removed it. It is
believed that only two students saw the display before it was removed.
Campus Reaction

The display has been condemned by the university board of trustees, the
president and the student government. President Robin Baker addressed more
than 1,200 students and staff on Wednesday morning. "We will not tolerate
such displays and condemn it in the strongest terms," he said. "George Fox
University is committed to becoming a place that more broadly represents the
Kingdom of God – a place where students from diverse backgrounds come
together to live out the teachings of Jesus in our world. We are all created
in the image of God and placed in this world to reflect the character of
God."

Full text of President Baker's address to
students<http://www.georgefox.edu/featured_stories/campus_incident_students.html>

Board of Trustees statement condems act
 <http://www.georgefox.edu/featured_stories/campus_incident_board.html>

Student govenment statement condems
act<http://www.georgefox.edu/featured_stories/campus_incident_asc.html>

Apology letter to Senator
Obama<http://www.georgefox.edu/featured_stories/campus_incident_letter.html>
University Responds

George Fox administrators have contacted Newberg Police and are seeking any
leads as to the identity of the person or persons who put up the cutout. The
university requests that any information about the display be shared with
the university's Office of Student Life.

The university is planning a student forum to discuss race and diversity
issues on Thursday evening. (This meeting will be closed to the public and
media.) Other events are planned in the coming weeks.
Act Six

Act Six <http://portland.actsix.org/> is a George Fox scholarship and
leadership initiative that annually awards full-expense scholarships to as
many as 10 student leaders from urban Portland and the surrounding area. The
first cohort enrolled in fall 2007. Currently 17 Act Six students are
enrolled at George Fox. Most, but not all, are students of color.  The Act
Six students were informed of the incident at a special meeting held Tuesday
night and helped university administrators plan the initial campus response.
University Background

George Fox University is a Christian university with about 1,700 traditional
undergraduates in Newberg. Combined with graduate and adult-degree
completion programs, George Fox has an overall enrollment of nearly 3,400.
It is the third-largest private college in Oregon.

This fall's incoming class of first-year undergraduates is the most diverse
in university history. Nearly 25 percent identify themselves as
non-Caucasian.
------------------------------

For questions and comments please e-mail feedback at georgefox.edu

For journalists, please contact Rob Felton rfelton at georgefox.edu503-554-2129

For alumni and parents, please contact Sheri Philips
sphilips at georgefox.edu503-554-2114
Presidential Response

The following is university President Robin Baker's address to the
university community on Wednesday morning (Sept. 24):

"Many of you may know that an incident occurred on our campus yesterday
morning. And I want to take a little time this morning to address this
incident. But before I do, I want you to know that this is not a show for
the media. So, what I have to share today is meant for you, the George Fox
community.

George Fox University was founded in 1891 by Quaker pioneers who fought to
end slavery, promote equality and restore peace and justice in our world.
And for well over 100 years, this community has been committed to bringing
real and positive change to our culture in an effort to follow the teachings
of Jesus Christ. As a Christian university, we have a dream for an America
that is rooted in Christian love and compassion, for all people, regardless
of race, ethnicity or political affiliation.

In 1963, another well-known Christian expressed a dream. Most of you have
heard or read the famous speech given by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in
Washington D.C.  This morning I just want to remind you of some of his
dream. He said …

'Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends.
And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still
have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a
dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of
its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are
created equal.'

We affirm Dr. King's dream. We live in Oregon in the year 2008, and it has
been my dream to develop a university that more broadly represents the
Kingdom of God – a place where international students and students from
diverse backgrounds come together and work hand in hand to live out the
teachings of Jesus in our world. We are all created in the image of God and
placed in this world to reflect the character of God.  What we know is that
the character and language of God is simple but very difficult to reflect in
today's world. It requires that we are people who express love, grace and
mercy towards others.  We work together in a learning environment where we
claim to live by the teachings of Jesus.  It is our passion to prepare you
to go out and influence the world for Jesus.  That is what we pray for.

The apostle John records Jesus' words to the disciples this way, John 16:35
– 'Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my
disciples.'  We cannot hate those around us and say that we love God. It is
not possible.

At 7 a.m. on Tuesday morning, a university employee discovered a life-sized
cardboard cutout of Barack Obama attached by fishing line to a tree near
Minthorn Hall. A sign which read "Act Six reject" was taped to the cardboard
cutout. The employee immediately removed the display.

When I discovered this I was very outraged and disheartened.  I have spent
my professional life trying to teach people why it is essential to
understand others.  Further, I state boldly to our world that those of us
who love Jesus will lead the community in our efforts to serve and love
others.  This act causes some to question our commitment.  Whoever put that
cardboard piece up yesterday was wrong and I want you to know that I condemn
it in the strongest terms. Our Board met and affirmed our commitment to the
Act Six program and to making George Fox a place that more broadly
represents the Kingdom of God.  We want you to know that what happened
yesterday is not proper dialogue on our campus and we will not tolerate such
displays.

In the past, George Fox University has had problems recruiting people of
diverse backgrounds to our campus.   Like many suburban campuses we have
drawn primarily white students to live and study here.  We've tried many
things to increase our enrollment from individuals from diverse communities
but without much success.  Several years ago, following the model developed
by Northwest Leadership Foundation, we entered into a partnership to recruit
student leaders from the city to join our community. My vision was to bring
students here to help us see new perspectives – to create a richer dialogue
in our classrooms and in our student life programs to enrich the life of our
community.

The good news is that it has worked.  For the first time in the history of
George Fox 25 percent of our entering class this year came from diverse
backgrounds. We have 17 Act Six students who are fully engaged in our
community.  We are becoming the place I believe God has called us to be.
This change will not come without challenges, like yesterday's, but we will
work through them together.

Behind me today are the Act Six students and some of the people who support
the mission and calling of Jesus at George Fox University. I want you to
understand that I love all of you. You are my brothers and sisters in
Christ. What you see up here today is a reflection of what the Kingdom of
God will look like in heaven.  John in the Book of Revelations described
heaven this way: 'After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that
no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and
languages, standing before the throne and before the lamb . . . ' We want to
be a part of this Kingdom.

Brad Lau, Joel Perez and I met with all of the Act Six students last night
to get their input on how we should address this issue with the community.
'We have come here to lead and be involved in serious dialogue about issues
that affect our different communities. Let's talk about this.' And so,
together, we chose chapel as the venue to address the community concerning
this issue.

What I learned yesterday is that we still have work to do.  We will be
continuing our dialogue throughout this year on what it means to be "Simply
Christian."  Yesterday was not a good example of what it means to be
Christian.  We are going to have some talk-back sessions about this and I
want you to be there.  Brad Lau will let you know when and where these
discussions are going to take place.

I want you to do something for me today, tomorrow and for the rest of the
term.  Live to show everyone in our community that the person who displayed
the cardboard cutout was absolutely wrong in their thinking, and that we
find that display unacceptable.   We love people here. We care about justice
and quality and we seek after peace.  We value everyone created in the image
of God because we live by the words and model the actions of Jesus. Now, go
and do likewise."