Inauguration of President Robin Baker 4 | Bruin Brawl 16 | School song encore 20 G EOR G E F OX RETHINKING EVANGELISM Interview with Todd Hunter, national director of Alpha USA Page 10 SPRING 2008 VOLUME 4 NUMBER 1 … students are joined by people like you who support the Annual Fund The Annual Fund continues the tradition of accompanying students on their journey by providing • Nationally distinguished faculty • Up-to-date technologies and tools for the classroom • Scholarship opportunities for students Ready to Learn | Willing to Serve | Able to Lead giving.georgefox.edu Inauguration | 4 G EOR G E F OX Spring 2008 | Volume 4 | Number 1 Rethinking evangelism | 10 by Tamara Cissna | Todd Hunter (DMin ’05), national director of Alpha USA, emphasizes the connection between getting EDITOR Tamara Cissna the gospel right and getting the gospel out. EDITORIAL STAFF Rob Felton Sean Patterson Bruin Brawl | 16 CONTRIBUTING WRITERS by Rob Felton | A story about the mascot that got eaten and a Molly Meadows Barry Hubbell school’s long obsession with a leather pillow named Bruin Jr. Lynn Otto ART DIRECTOR Darryl Brown School song encore | 20 George Fox Journal is published by Abby Haight | Decades after the school song fell out of fashion, three times a year by George Fox University, 414 N. Meridian alumni perform the alma mater for a new generation of students. St., Newberg, OR, 97132-2697, USA. Postmaster: Send address changes to Journal, George Fox University, 414 N. Meridian St. #6069, Newberg, OR 97132-2697. WRITE US Please send letters to Journal, George Fox University, 414 N. Meridian St. #6069, Newberg, OR 97132—2697. You may also write to [email protected]. Letters for publication may be edited for length and 2 Readers Forum clarity. Writers should include an address and 3 Words from Wood-Mar daytime phone number. 4 Bruin Notes PRESIDENT 22 Alumni Connections Robin Baker 28 Point of View VICE PRESIDENT FOR ADVANCEMENT 29 What’s Bruin Dana L. Miller 30 Tell Us More At the bottom of this muddy pile is a century-old tradition .. PAGE 16 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Readers Forum We enjoyed your responses to our back-page >> During my senior year, when I was Survey results “Tell us more” contest so much, we decided dating the young lady who is now my wife, to share some of them. I kept Bruin under the seat in which she Thank you to the 396 people who respond- usually sat. She was a member of the sopho- ed to the George Fox Journal e-mail survey. >> The brawls for the Bruin bear were so more class. When she finally found out what Readers tell us they enjoy the maga- memorable that one quick glance was all I had been going on, it bothered her quite a zine – more than 80 percent of you read it needed to recognize the picture on the back bit to have been so close to Bruin Jr. and not regularly or always. You especially enjoy of the most recent Journal. In fact, my wife know it. She forgave me eventually, and now human-interest stories about George Fox recognized the picture and she didn’t even we have celebrated more than 48 years of students, alumni, professors, and employees. attend Fox, but she heard me talk about the life together. The highest-ranked (67 percent) subject legendary battles for the leather bear. Great Thanks for the memories. Somehow, of interest is “matters of faith.” Along these fun! Thanks for the picture and the memo- some of us would like to do it again. I don’t lines, your responses reflect the diversity of ries it brought with it. think we would come out so well, and the the readership we represent – some of you Jerrie Lyda (’93) bruises and bumps would last longer. But feel the magazine’s slant is too uncritically NEWBERG, ORE. the competitive spirit still lingers. conservative, while some feel it skews too Earl Tycksen (’57) liberal. We appreciate your feedback and >> I tried for four years to get that Bruin off NEWBERG, ORE. will do our best to incorporate your opin- campus and just couldn’t get it done. I had ions as we seek to produce a magazine that >> I remember several upperclassmen plenty of assists, and I think you’d be hard- connects you well with your alma mater, and absconded with a Plant Services “Gator” pressed to find someone who worked harder reflects the university’s commitment to keep vehicle and proceeded to don hoods and and was more dedicated. Finally, at the last Jesus at the center of what we do. shoes (nothing else). The “flash” was made by brawl of my senior year, I ran it off campus. I Valerie (Crooks) Jackson (’71) won the driving through the quad area and tossing think I remember that even more than grad- $100 Amazon gift certificate. Winners of the the Bruin into the waiting throng. Problems uation. So, of course, I took the Bruin across $25 Starbucks gift cards are Ben Longstroth occurred when the naked driver of the Gator the stage with me to receive my diploma. (MDiv99); Michael Bigley (’83); Nancy took a sharp turn and one of the unsuspect- I was announced as “Nathan Holmes, with (Banta) Morrison (’80), mother of junior ing passengers standing in the rear bed of Bruin Junior.” Jessica Morrison; and Rhonda Evenden, the vehicle tumbled out as the Gator contin- Nathan Holmes (’04) mother of freshman Travis Evenden. PORTSMOUTH, VA. ued on into the night. After scrambling to his feet, the hooded, dazed, and naked “flasher” didn’t know which route of escape was best. His ultimate departure route consisted of Tell us what you think running in the direction of the fewest num- We’d like to hear your opinion about the ber of spectators, across the quad, hurdling George Fox Journal or any articles printed in hedges and kicking up turf as his white der- riere faded into the darkness. the magazine. Please send letters to Journal, Ryan Evans (’03) George Fox University, 414 N. Meridian St. GRANTS PASS, ORE. #6069, Newberg, OR 97132, or e-mail us at [email protected]. Letters may be edited for length and clarity. Please include an address and daytime phone number. 2 GEORGE FOX JOURNAL | SPRING 2008 WORDS FROM WOOD-MAR Cloud of witnesses On March 6, I was inaugurated as the 12th president of George Fox University. I was honored “I am the product and humbled as an entire com- munity stopped to recognize of the investment and pray for my new role in leadership of the university. The occasion also provided of dozens of me with an opportunity to reflect. Left to my own dreams, caring people.” I would not be here. When I was in my late teens, I envi- sioned myself as a great basketball player or perhaps a championship coach like my father. It never entered my mind that I might become a professor or even a college president. When I look back on my upbringing, I believe there were four things that shaped my world: faith, family, education, and competition. My parents were teachers and dedicated their lives to shaping and educating young men and women, especially their three children. In rural Arizona towns that didn’t exceed 2,000 people, we experienced community in ways that we rarely know now. We had a television, but stations were few. Computers did not exist. After our studies were complete, we played in parks and on ball fields. We traveled with my father on his basketball coaching trips and learned early in life the importance and joy of competing. We ate well. My mother always fed us with chicken, roast beef, mashed potatoes, and vegetables galore. More than anything else, we learned nothing came before the Church and honoring our Lord. At any extended family gathering, we knew Scripture would be read and Jesus honored. When I left home, my mother wrote often of her great faith that if I let the Lord work in my life, he would use me in a special way to build the kingdom. At college I found professors with deep faith. It was because of their time and commitment that I came to believe that I could teach. They helped me understand God’s call on my life and that I needed to listen to his voice to recognize where he wanted to use me. I saw in them the kind of person I wanted to be. I am not self made. I am the product of the investment of dozens of caring people who took the time to mentor and shape me. For me, they are the “cloud of witnesses” in Hebrews 12:1–2. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Since 1891, George Fox University has helped young men and women find their own callings, empowering them to participate with God in bringing kingdom values into our world. There have been 11 presidents prior to me and hundreds of professors, administers and staff dedicated to that task. Together we have built a place where students encounter God and earn a first-class education.