SU Today

Did you know that SU has its own coffee brand? MotMot Coffee, led and run by Albers students, is back with new stock, a new team, and new packaging. You can order your bags on MotMot's website.

Since 2015, MotMot has been partnering with Nicaraguan and Vietnamese coffee cooperatives that foster economic, product and community development. Named after the MotMot, Nicaragua's national bird, MotMot is proudly Direct Trade. It pays premiums higher than Fair Trade and ensures a close, personal connection with farmers and co-op management. The beans are roasted in Seattle, packaged and sold to consumers and coffee shops.

Why MotMot?

When you buy MotMot coffee, part of the profits generated by your purchase goes toward a farmer's fund run by their partner co-op, Gold Mountain Coffee Growers in Nicaragua. The fund supports projects such as the installation of running water in schools far from utility grids, healthcare costs and access to education for the farmers' families.

And the coffee is delicious! Take it from SU President Eduardo Peñalver, a coffee connoisseur who roasts his own beans. After sampling it, he said: "Well balanced with a lot of dark chocolate, but it didn't taste smoky. Very nicely done."

If you're still looking for gifts for the coffee lover in your life, you can order a bag at motmotcoffee.com.

SU Gives is simply the best time of year to amplify the funds and causes closest to our hearts at the university. 

Last year, the SU community came together to raise more than $900,000 to fuel all of the programs, scholarships and services that nurture students and equip them for success.

Join the party again on Leap Day, Feb. 29, to experience the teamwork that is so unique to SU Gives.

We can’t fly without you! Signing up as a SU-pporter is a fantastic way to help build momentum for the big day. Simply share your SU pride online to inspire others to give. SU-pporters are the wind beneath Redhawk wings, so please sign up today!

Interested in having your department table at the Winter Involvement Fair? The Center for Student Involvement is excited to announce that registration for the fair is now open. Register here by noon, Jan. 5.

• The Winter Involvement Fair will take place Jan. 11, 11 a.m.–2 p.m.
• Any questions? Please reach out to Director Marissa Robledo at mrobledo@seattleu.edu. 

Thursday, Dec. 14, 12:30–1:30 p.m.
Join via Zoom

Join the Office of Strategic Initiatives for a virtual presentation by Dr. Frank Shih on how classrooms are being used, what effect early morning classes have on student learning and what we can change to improve student outcomes.

A recording of the Provost Convocation is now available on the Office of the Provost website.

Dr. Deirdre Bowen, Moccasin Lake Foundation Endowed Chair and Professor of Law and Director of the Seattle Family Law Center, will collaborate with faculty from Seattle Children’s Hospital and the University of Washington on a new project sponsored by the Department of Health and Human Services’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Preventing Firearm-related Harm through Domestic Violence Protection Order Firearm Prohibitions and Relinquishment will evaluate the effectiveness of implementing domestic violence protection order (DVPO) firearm prohibitions in reducing subsequent firearm-related crime, injury and death of victim-survivors/petitioners, protected minors and respondents.

Visit the Family Law Center’s website to learn more about their work.

Staff and faculty are invited to help to find candidates for open staff positions. Please view the full list of postings or check out this week’s highlighted opportunities: 

Senior Director of Development, College of Science and Engineering

Administrative Assistant, Arts & Sciences, English

University Core and First Year Academic Engagement Program Coordinator  

Program Assistant, College of Science and Engineering, Biology

Senior Administrative Assistant, College of Science and Engineering, Mechanical Engineering

The Office of Sponsored Projects is excited to announce the launch of a new Faculty Scholarship Database intended to develop a comprehensive view of the landscape of scholarship at SU. This internal resource will be used within the SU community to connect potential collaborators, increase the visibility of research endeavors across campus and improve OSP’s ability to support faculty in identifying relevant external funding opportunities. Learn more and add your information to the database.

Please mark your calendars for the Faculty and Staff Christmas Breakfast on Friday, Dec. 15. Join colleagues in celebrating the season with a complimentary holiday buffet breakfast between 8 and 10 a.m. in the LeRoux Center area on the first floor of the Student Center.

Following a study of local parking rates, Seattle University will be increasing parking rates for faculty, staff and students and reducing the number of free parking days available to employees who use the Orca program from 15 to 12 days per quarter.

The university last increased employee monthly parking rates in 2019. Even with the increase, parking at SU remains well below the market median rate of $225 per month and $18 per day.

Here is a summary of the changes:

• Parking fees – Effective Jan. 1, 2024, the daily rate for employees and students will increase to $12 and the monthly parking rates for employees will increase to $145. Beginning July 1, 2024, rates for non-law students will increase to $360 per quarter, and to $480 per semester for law students. See Table 1 below for details on updated parking rates.

• Free parking days effective Jan. 1, 2024 – Employees in the Orca program will receive 12 days of free parking per quarter (currently 15 per quarter).

Going forward, the university will reevaluate on an annual basis parking fees and free parking days for employees in the Orca program and make any necessary adjustments.

Background

Recent surveys have shown an increasing percentage of students who are driving alone to and from campus (Figure 1), and while remote work options are helping somewhat to reduce single occupancy vehicle trips, the percentage of faculty and staff commuting alone remains significant (Figure 2). As the data below also shows, the use of public transportation by community members has significantly decreased while faculty and staff have increasingly used free parking days under the Orca program.

Table 1:  Updated Parking Rates

Figure 1: Student Commuting Modes

Figure 2: Faculty and Staff Commuting Modes

Tuesday, Dec. 5, 6-8 p.m.
Pigott Auditorium

You are invited to a panel discussion with Doug Baldwin Jr., Laura Clise, Chera Amlag and Maya Mendoza-Extrom. From major concerts to conferences and big-ticket games, this event will explore how our region can help big-scale events enrich our diverse communities and neighborhoods equitably.

Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. If cost is a barrier to attend, please e-mail eventregistration@uwkc.org.

As President Peñalver shared in an earlier campus communication, Dr. O. David Jackson, Assistant Dean, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Albers School of Business and Economics, passed away in early November. Next Monday, Dec. 4, the 12:30 p.m. weekday Mass at the Chapel of St. Ignatius will be offered for Dr. Jackson. Fr. Bob Grimm, S.J. will preside.

When Mass concludes around 1 p.m. there will be time for colleagues and friends to share stories and remembrances of David in the chapel. Afterward, everyone is invited to a brief reception in Oberto Commons (second floor of the Sinegal Center for Science and Innovation).

Wednesday, Dec. 6, 5:30–7:30 p.m.
Casey Building
Please RSVP here

Join Nonprofit Leadership for a book talk on Fundraising Without Burnout: Radically Reimagining Philanthropy to Transform Your Impact, a groundbreaking guide for nonprofit professionals seeking to make a lasting impact without sacrificing their well-being.

Author Radha Friedman, a seasoned philanthropic advisor, delves into the challenges and rewards of fundraising, offering practical strategies and inspiring insights to help you navigate the ever-changing landscape of philanthropy. The book is a must-read for anyone who dreams of creating a better world and who has dedicated their career to the nonprofit sector.

About the author

Radha Friedman is an international bestselling author and a philanthropic advisor specializing in gender justice. She uses her 25 years of experience in nonprofits and global grantmaking to help philanthropists, foundations, nonprofit leaders and corporate giving teams do their most radical (Radha-cal) good. She is on a mission to encourage more investments in women and girls of color and historically marginalized groups who receive less than 2 percent of philanthropic dollars.

Friedman has overseen 100 grants across 60 countries and has worked with some of the largest foundations in the world, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Clinton Global Initiative and MacKenzie Scott’s Yield Giving. Her work has engaged luminaries including the Dalai Lama, former president of Malawi Joyce Banda and actor Kristen Bell. She co-founded the Landesa Center for Women’s Land Rights (winner of the Hilton Humanitarian Prize and Skoll Award) and has been named a fellow by the United Nations, American Express Foundation, Independent Sector and Global Women’s Leadership Network. She is the host of the Radhacal Good Podcast and author of the bestselling book Fundraising Without Burnout: Radically Reimagining Philanthropy to Transform Your Impact. Most importantly, she once carried Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s bag. (True story.)

Staff and faculty are invited to help to find candidates for open staff positions. Please view the full list of postings or check out this week’s highlighted opportunities: 

Chemistry Lab Manager

Lead Maintenance Technician (Building & Grounds Services)

Assistant Director for Student Contact and Communications (Enrollment Services)

Monday, Nov. 27, 2-3:30 p.m.
Campion Ballroom

You are invited to a conversation about historical context with Dr. Liora Halperin (University of Washington) and Dr. Nova Robinson (Seattle University), moderated by Dr. Beatrice Lawrence. Dr. Robinson discussed the history on KING 5 News recently.

The series will continue in winter quarter with sessions on topics such as religion, daily life, political Islam, antisemitism, settler colonialism, indigeniety and visions for the future. Open to all members of the Seattle University community interested in hospitable listening and collaborative learning.

Faculty and staff: Do you know any students who are passionate about service, spirituality, solidarity and global citizenship? Encourage them to apply for SU's Spring Break Immersion Experience to Tijuana, Mexico.

This experience offers students the opportunity to engage with justice issues impacting specific communities at a hands-on level through formation, education, relationship-building and intentional reflection.

For more information and to sign up for the 2024 immersion, please apply here. Applications are due Dec. 10.

The campus-wide transition to Microsoft Teams Phones from the Cisco phone system is underway. If your line has not yet migrated to Microsoft Teams Phones (if you are using a Cisco phone or the Jabber application), please fill out this form by Thursday, Nov. 30.

Finding Your Inner Techie: a Radical-Democratic Perspective on AI
With Associate Professor of Political Science Onur Bakiner
Tuesday, Nov. 28, 12:30-1:30 p.m.
Pigott Auditorium

Registration is not required. However, complete the optional sign-up here to be entered in a drawing for an Alaska Airlines Gift Certificate (must be present to win).

This talk invites hard conversations between computer scientists and social scientists and humanists, tool makers and tool users, lawmakers and ordinary citizens, and tech workers and rights activists about the future of AI. Seemingly, technical problems are manifestations of underlying economic, political, cultural and social issues; how we hope to solve them reveals much about how we want to treat machines, nature and, ultimately, fellow humans. Defying common portrayals of AI as an expert field that outsiders cannot grasp let alone influence, Dr. Bakiner suggests a radical-democratic perspective, acknowledging that everyone has an interest in, and skills for, shaping the future of AI.

Monday, Nov. 27, 7 p.m. (PT)
Register here

Watch a panel of six leading law professors from Asia and the diaspora as they discuss Court on Trial, co-authored by SU School of Law Professor and RoundGlass India Center Director Sital Kalantry.

Bar and Bench magazine describes the book’s relevance:

As the 75th year of the Supreme Court of India approaches, three experts in the legal field are changing the way we take stock of the court by bringing in a rare data-driven approach. Court on Trial, written by Aparna Chandra, Sital Kalantry and William HJ Hubbard, is an innovative, timely and much-needed data-driven analysis of the performance of the Supreme Court of India. The book focuses on answering six relevant and current questions on India's apex court, or as they refer to it in the very first chapter, a court in crisis.

The book was recently accepted for the Jaipur Literature Festival in February 2024 and reviewed by the BBC.

View the event flyer at Court on Trial.

Seattle University is administering the ninth annual citywide Seattle Public Safety Survey, which is accessible at publicsafetysurvey.org through Nov. 30 and is available in Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, English, Korean, Oromo, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Tigrinya and Vietnamese.

The purpose of the survey is to solicit feedback on public safety and security concerns from those who live and/or work in Seattle. A report on the survey results will be provided to the Seattle Police Department to help them better understand your neighborhood’s safety and security concerns, and community-police dialogues will be held in May-August 2024 to provide an opportunity for police-community engagement about the results. More information on the Seattle Public Safety Survey which is part of the Seattle Police Department’s Micro-Community Policing Plans (SPD MCPP), can be found on the SPD MCPP website.

Please circulate this e-mail to your friends, family, co-workers and community members and feel free to post the information on your social media. Flyers advertising the survey are attached, which we encourage you to also share, print and post at your work, religious institution, community center, apartment or other communal location. Here is a link to access the 2023 Seattle Public Safety Survey flyers in all 11 languages. Thank you for your help spreading the word.

If you would like to work with a Seattle University researcher to set up outreach and assist in the facilitation of the survey to your communities or organizations or would like more information about the survey, please do not hesitate to contact the SPD MCPP research team (listed below).

Public safety and security are community concerns. Please make sure your voice is heard by completing the Seattle Public Safety Survey today.

SPD MCPP Research Team 

• Ana Carpenter, SPD MCPP Research Analyst for East/West Precincts | acarpenter@seattleu.edu  
• Eden Sedgewick, SPD MCPP Research Analyst for South Precinct | esedgwick@seattleu.edu  
• Elaria Zakhary, SPD MCPP Research Analyst for North Precinct | ezakhary@seattleu.edu  
• Quinn Priebe, SPD Research Analyst for Southwest Precinct | qpriebe@seattleu.edu  
• Zachary Dar, SPD MCPP Citywide Research Analyst | zdar@seattleu.edu  
• Jacqueline Helfgott, MCPP Principal Investigator | jhelfgot@seattleu.edu  

As we approach the end of the quarter and the holiday season, now is a great time to focus on your wellbeing. This issue of SU Today is all about caring for you. Learn about the various wellness resources available to you as a Seattle U student and give them a try! 

Redhawk Wellness Network

Did you know there is an entire network of wellness resources available to you as a Seattle U student?  The Redhawk Wellness Network offers resources for your mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing.  Learn how these different offices can support you and check out some of their upcoming programs below.

Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS)

CAPS, located in Pavilion 120, offers short-term psychotherapy, group therapy, and referrals to off-campus mental health providers. 

CAPS Pop-Up Group

Handling Holiday Stress for Students (3 sessions, 90 min/each, November 21, November 28, and December 5 from 1:00-2:30pm).

Handling Holiday Stress is an open, judgment-free group aiming to help students grow in their understanding of stress, themselves, and others, as well as to identify ways to cope with strong emotions. This group is open to all SU students! In the group, members will have the opportunity to process their experiences with holiday stress and how they are experiencing the 2023 holiday season, as well receive feedback from group facilitators and peers. The group will be facilitated by CAPS staff who are supervised by licensed therapists. Handling Holiday Stress will run for three weeks in November. Weekly attendance not required. Contact CAPS to sign up at CAPS@seattleu.edu or just come to any or all of the open sessions.

CAPS Urgent Care/Walk In Hours

CAPS Urgent Care/Walk In Hours Return on November 27!  Urgent Care will be available on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 2:00pm-4:00pm.  Students can visit CAPS without an appointment during these times for crisis support, client intakes, and referrals to campus and community resources.

Student Health Center

The Student Health Center in Bellarmine Hall 107 provides medical and mental health services for Seattle University students. You can schedule an appointment online in the Student Health Center Portal.  

COVID & Flu Vaccine Clinic

You can get your COVID and flu vaccines this Friday, November 17 from 11:00am-3:00 pm in the Campion Ballroom.  To schedule an appointment, visit: https://prepmod.doh.wa.gov/appointment/en/client/registration?clinic_id=23304.  Please bring your health insurance information.  If you don’t have health insurance, the cost of your COVID vaccine will be covered at the clinic, then you can visit the Student Health Center for a no-cost flu vaccine.

TimelyCare (Virtual/Online)

Seattle University offers access to 24/7 medical and mental telehealth for enrolled students from anywhere in the United States through our partner, TimelyCare. This service provides a great supplement to our existing on-campus health and wellness services with no out-of-pocket cost or insurance requirement. Download the TimelyCare app so it’s ready to launch whenever and wherever you need it.  Access TimelyCare using your Seattle University credentials at https://timelycare.com/seattleu

Wellness and Health Promotion (Instagram @wellnessatseattleu)

In addition to wellness coaching, the food security program, and resource information offered in-person in Student Center 380, Wellness and Health Promotion also offers several virtual resources available around the clock:

• Refresh – a 10-week sleep support program
• Time for a T-Break – a 28-day guided support program for taking a cannabis break
• Ready, Set, Recharge – a movement-based program designed to understand and improve mental health, including modules on stress, anxiety, depression, and loneliness.
• RoundGlass Living – An app for mindfulness, meditation, yoga, and other wellness tools. Sign-in with your @seattleu.edu email for free premium access.  

Join a Be REAL Group

REsilient Attitudes and Living (Be REAL) helps Seattle U students navigate life’s challenges. College can feel stressful and overwhelming, but we can learn to navigate these challenges with greater ease. In this six-week program, students will learn to reduce stress, manage and navigate emotions, cope with challenging situations, and build compassion for oneself and others. The Be REAL program has been delivered to over 1,100 students. Studies have shown that Be REAL participants have increased mindfulness, greater resilience, enhanced social connection and self-compassion, and decreased stress and anxiety. In Winter Quarter, we will be hosting an open Be REAL session on Thursdays from 12:30pm – 2:00pm starting on January 11. If you’re interested in joining the open group or if this time does not work for you and you’d like to inquire about other times, please email wellness@seattleu.edu

Be REAL is a collaboration between Wellness and Health Promotion, the MOSAIC Center, and University Recreation.

University Recreation (Instagram @su_rec)

University Recreation inspires, educates, and empowers the Seattle University community to live happier, healthier, more successful lives. Through community based, learning focused programs and opportunities UREC is here for you however you choose to move. Check out our latest UREC report for all our upcoming programs.

Campus Ministry

Campus Ministry in Student Center 120 offers individual emotional and spiritual support for students processing life experiences. Campus Ministry is available to all students of any non-religious, religious, and spiritual backgrounds. Check out some of Campus Ministry’s upcoming events on our ConnectSU page. Contact Megan Kush kushmegan@seattleu.edu for more information.

Disability Services

Disability Services (DS) in Loyola 100 partners with the University community to recognize disability as a valued aspect of diversity and to embrace access as a significant component of social justice. The DS office facilitates equal access to courses, programs, and activities through campus leadership on disability access and inclusion issues. Learn about getting started with Disability Services at https://www.seattleu.edu/disability-services/getting-started/.

**

Wellness & Campus Climate

In his November 7 message on campus discourse, President Peñalver wrote: “As a Jesuit university, we approach questions about campus discourse with the education and holistic well-being of our students as the center of our concern. Name calling and vitriol are permissible in the public square, and on much of social media. But we hold ourselves to a higher standard, even while we aim to preserve ample space for expressive freedom…we encourage you to speak with empathy and to listen to one another with charity and generosity. Even as we discuss divisive issues, the Jesuit principle of presupposition counsels us to honor the humanity—and presume the good faith—of those with whom we disagree.

As a campus community, we are committed to promoting an affirming and inclusive environment for all to learn, work, and live together.  In times of crisis, upheaval, and controversy, it is especially important that we lean into our value of cura personalis – care and concern for the development and thriving of the whole person.  We encourage you to engage in discussion and debate passionately but with care and concern for the wellbeing of others, whether in person, in the residence hall, or on social media. If you have seen, heard, or experienced a harmful incident on the basis of one or more of your or another individual’s actual or perceived identities, you may report that incident to the Campus Climate Incident Response Team using this reporting form.

**

Alcohol & Other Drug Use Prevention Program

Seattle University’s Alcohol and Other Drug Use Policies and Prevention Program (“AODPP”) reflects the University’s commitment to the health, safety, and wellbeing of each member of the Seattle University Community. In order to further student learning and development, and to promote the University’s academic mission, Seattle University fosters an environment of personal and collective responsibility. Learn more about Seattle U’s Alcohol & Other Drug Use Policies & Prevention Program here.

**

Refer Yourself or a Friend to the CARE Team

Concerned about a friend?  Refer them to Seattle U’s CARE Team. The CARE Team receives and responds to referrals by reaching out to students to share information about resources and offering to meet to check in.  Refer a student using this referral form.

**

Have questions about what resources might be right for you?  Reach out to the Office of the Dean of Students at deanofstudents@seattleu.edu.

In light of Seattle University’s Laudato Si commitment, Facilities Services and the Center for Environmental Justice and Sustainability are asking the SU community to do our part in an effort to reduce our water use.

After an unusually dry summer, Seattle Public Utilities activated the Voluntary Stage of its Water Shortage Contingency Plan. The 1.5 million people in the greater Seattle area who get water from the Seattle regional water system are being asked to reduce their water use voluntarily. Visit the Saving Water Partnership website for a full list of actions you can take to save water. Here are some top actions we are asking customers to take:

·         Reduce rinsing, scrape your plate and let the dishwasher do the rest.

·         Shorten your shower. Save 2 gallons for every minute you shave off your shower.

·         Don’t leave the tap running. Turn off the water while shaving and brushing your teeth.

·         Use a broom. Sweep to clean patios and sidewalks instead of using a hose or power washer.

·         Run full loads. Wait to run your washing machine or dishwasher until it’s full.

·         Turn off irrigation and decorative fountains. 

The water we drink comes from snow and rain that collects in two reservoirs in the Cascade Mountains. Although it has been raining lately in Seattle, Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is still concerned about having sufficient water for people and fish through the end of the year. Their goal is to reduce water use to 100 million gallons a day – as of last month, SPU was down to 104 million gallons a day! Visit Seattle Public Utilities’' Blog to keep up with the latest water supply information.

Women in Mission | Fall Quarter Solidarity & Storytelling Circle
"Rest in Gratitude"
Tuesday, Nov. 28, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Indigenous Peoples Institute Lounge
(entrance on the west side of Xavier Hall
Coffee, tea and light snacks provided

Treat yourself to a relaxed afternoon break for community, conversation, refreshments and reflection in the beautiful Indigenous Peoples Institute lounge. In this season of Thanksgiving, a brief reflection and a few light prompts on gratitude will launch this informal time to be and rest in gratitude with other women from across campus.

All faculty, staff and administrators new to or involved with Women in Mission (including Women of Color in Mission) are warmly welcome! 

Please register here by Friday, Nov. 24.  

An Outlook calendar invite will follow.

The Undergraduate Admissions Office is proud to introduce a brand-new virtual tour! Future Redhawks can explore the campus from the comfort of anywhere on our Virtual Tour site.

From Admissions:

"In crafting this virtual experience, the Admissions Office aimed to create a comprehensive and easy-to-navigate tour that mirrors our in-person route. We focused on showcasing spaces that align with our prospective students' most common questions and interests.

 

We would love your help to spread the word! Encourage any prospective students in your life to embark on this virtual journey. It's a fantastic way for them to discover what makes Seattle University unique. The Early Action deadline for Fall 2024 first-year students has been extended to Monday, November 20, so now is the perfect time to explore and apply.

 

Have questions or spot something in the tour that needs correcting? Reach out to Katie O'Brien in Undergraduate Admissions at obrienk@seattleu.edu. Thank you for your ongoing support in SU's recruitment efforts."

Thursdays, Jan. 11, 18, 25, and Feb. 1
9–10 a.m.
Indigenous Peoples Institute (Xavier 160)
Yancy Dominick and Kerry Soo Von Esch, facilitators
RSVP by Thursday, Jan. 4

Are you looking to deepen your racial equity commitments with the support of community and tools drawn from our Jesuit Catholic tradition?

If so, join a group of faculty and staff participating in the Ignatian Solidarity Network’s 21-Day Ignatian Racial Equity Challenge. Engage more deeply with the complex work of understanding the realities of racial injustice and anti-Blackness in the U.S. and consider how you’ll continue that work beyond the challenge.

How the challenge works:

• On your own time, participate in the challenge via a daily e-mail or via the ISN website. Each day within the 21-day period provides prompts that invite you to learn, pray and act on different themes of racial equity.
  
  
• Gather for a light breakfast with other colleagues to reflect and share experiences of the challenge on Thursdays, Jan. 11, 18, and 25, and Feb. 1 from 9–10 a.m. These gatherings will be thoughtfully facilitated to encourage self-examination and ownership for one’s own personal responsibility and to cultivate an atmosphere of curiosity, respectful encounter and care for all participants.

This Ignatian Racial Equity Challenge is designed for all participants, regardless of race, ethnicity, prior anti-racism work, age or background. There are resources for people newer to the work, and “Going Deeper” resources for those who have a foundation in anti-racism work. All are welcome!

Learn more here

RSVP by Thursday, Jan. 4

Details on how to start the challenge will be sent Thursday, Jan. 11. 

Read or listen here 

“It was the first time I felt paralysis. Trying to speak up for peace should not be the issue here, but somehow even mentioning the idea of peace was almost an erasure of suffering, which made me respond by going quiet.”

– Tahil Sharma on being ridiculed for advocating peace. 

The conflict between Israel and Hamas has sparked much backlash, especially for those publicly expressing an opinion on the matter. Spite has created a tension between religious groups, including but not limited to Jews and Muslims. From a Sikh and Hindu background, Tahil Sharma, The Interfaith Observer (TIO) editor, advocates for religious harmony and peace.

Engage more with CEIE and its programs at the CEIE’s website, the Religica Theolab website and The Interfaith Observer.

Wednesday, Nov. 29, 12:10-12:50 p.m.
Pigott 103

You asked and Human Resources listened! Please bring a lunch and join HR for a Lunch and Learn session to gain context for Seattle U’s compensation philosophy and build a fundamental understanding of our staff compensation processes, including the practice of aligning positions within the Market Reference Range (MRR) structure.

This foundational information session is intended to help provide the framework for the Job Descriptions Project which will start in early 2024. The project is the first step in confirming MRR placement, creating job titling conventions and introducing job families.

Dear Colleagues,

With great sadness, I write to share that Dr. O. David Jackson Assistant Dean, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Albers School of Business and Economics, passed away last week.

Having earned a Leadership Executive MBA from Seattle University in 2008, Dr. Jackson returned to Albers in 2016 to serve as an adjunct instructor in management and subsequently the Center for Leadership Formation. With a successful corporate career—including his time as a director of human resources at Microsoft—Dr. Jackson shared with students invaluable insight and extensive expertise in such areas as human resources management, organizational development and diversity, equity and inclusion. He became a double alumnus when he earned an EdD from SU in 2018.

Most recently, Dr. Jackson was overseeing the Summer Business Institute and the RAMP UP program, which assists Black-owned businesses in Seattle, while also playing a key role in the university’s Supplier Diversification Program. He provided outstanding leadership to the university at-large, serving since 2017 on the university’s Board of Regents.

Condolences can be sent to Dr. Jackson’s family at this address:

The Family of Dr. O. David Jackson
14203 Championship Lane
Houston, TX 77069

We plan to hold a memorial service on campus and will share the details when they are available. In the meantime, let us keep Dr. Jackson’s family in our prayers as we remember with gratitude his immense impact on our university and all that he meant to his students, colleagues and partners in the wider community.

Respectfully,

Eduardo M. Peñalver
President

Friday, Feb. 2–Sunday, Feb. 4*
Palisades Retreat Center, Federal Way 
Register here

Who I am? Whose am I? What is my purpose in life...at work....in society and in the world? 

Get away to a beautiful retreat center overlooking the shores of Puget Sound for a weekend that creates space for you to rest, reflect and remember why—to ask life questions, listen more deeply and renew your sense of meaning and purpose in the midst of change.

This silent retreat includes time for group presentations, personal reflection, spiritual direction and communal prayer. *See this year’s draft retreat schedule for details. The retreat is based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius from the Jesuit Catholic tradition; people from any faith tradition or spiritual background have found it accessible. All are welcome!

COST: The subsidized cost of $100 includes two nights of single occupancy lodging and all meals. Please contact Eddie Salazar for more information about scholarships. 

REGISTER HERE by Friday, Jan. 12. Space is limited and spots fill quickly! 

QUESTIONS: Please contact Eddie Salazar or Andrea Fontana.

The Mission Priority Examen Visiting Committee will be on campus later this month for scheduled meetings with various community members, including a virtual Open Forum on Thursday, Nov. 30 at 2:30 p.m. To register for the Zoom link, please visit MPE Open Forum.

Visiting Committee Chair and Fordham University President Tania Tetlow recently sent a letter to our community that provides more information about the upcoming visit. You can read it at MPE Visiting Committee Chair Letter.

Staff and faculty are invited to help to find candidates for open staff positions. Please view the full list of postings or check out this week’s highlighted opportunities: 

Custodian (Arrupe House)

Director of Marketing, Graduate School Marketing (Marketing Communications)

Senior Director of Strategic Communications (Marketing Communications)

Celebrate the start of the holiday season amongst family, friends and your Redhawk community on Thursday, Nov. 30. Gather for the annual Mass at the Chapel of St. Ignatius (6 p.m.), then join in the procession to the Quad for the annual Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony filled with fun and carols (7 p.m.).

Once the tree is lit, the festivities continue for the whole family. Enjoy the brand-new Christmas market featuring booths with local retailers, get your picture taken with Santa and his real reindeer, make holiday-themed crafts and enjoy food, cocoa and warm adult beverages for our 21+ guests. There's truly something for everyone!

RSVP here. Questions? Please contact Andrea Ross at aross@seattleu.edu.

Monday, Nov. 27, noon
Casey Commons, lunch included
Please RSVP to ICTC@seattleu.edu

Systemic resilience refers to life-giving interconnections, the ability to cope with and overcome adversity and finding meaning in the midst of suffering. Learning to be adaptable with self and others, sharing visions for growth, grappling with ultimate mysteries and communicating well are among the practices associated with cultivating systemic resilience. Current models of systemic resilience are illustrated and enhanced by stories from Catholic thought and culture, especially those of the Mothers of the Disappeared and Gregory Boyle.

In this ICTC Faculty Fellowship Presentation, Dr. Christie Eppler, program director and professor, Couples and Family Therapy, will synthesize the models of systemic resilience with these narratives and propose ways for participants to cultivate their own resilience.

Faculty Lightning Talks
Thursday, Nov. 16, 12:30-1:30 p.m.
Join via Zoom

The Office is Sponsored Projects is partnering with the Office of Strategic Initiatives to host a series of Lightning Talks centered on the three thematic curricular priorities under Our Reignited Strategic Directions, Goal 1: Reimagine and Revise our Curriculum over AY23-24. Our first installment will highlight faculty scholarship related to Sustainability & Climate Change. After an introduction from Charles Tung, special assistant to the provost for curriculum, you will hear from six faculty across our colleges whose scholarship embodies this theme.

• Robin Narruhn, College of Nursing, The State of Survivance in the Republic of the Marshall Islands
• Margit McGuire, College of Education, The Efficacy of the Storypath Approach in Teaching Elementary Students about Climate Change and Its Impact on the Mountain Gorillas of Rwanda
• Henry Louie, College of Science and Engineering, Electricity Use of Solar-Powered Homes on the Navajo Nation
• Madeline June Kass, School of Law, Climate Change, Biodiversity Loss, and the European Union: Legal Comparisons
• Tanya Hayes, College of Arts and Sciences, Participation and Inclusion in Community Resource Management: Lessons from Ecuador
• Bo Han, Albers School of Business and Economics, Performance of ESG-focused Special Purpose Acquisition Companies

Erika Cheung, a key whistleblower in the Theranos case that gripped the world, will be speaking at the Albers School of Business and Economics on April 4, 2024. Her visit is being organized by the Center for Business Ethics.

Cheung is executive director of Ethics in Entrepreneurship, a non-profit organization with the mission to embed ethical questioning, culture and systems in start-up ecosystems worldwide. She began her career as a medical researcher in the biotechnology industry and is most famously known for her role in reporting the medical diagnostic company Theranos to health regulators.

“We are delighted to have Erika Cheung join the Albers School and the Center for Business Ethics to discuss her experience at the now infamous Silicon Valley firm Theranos, its demise, and the lessons we can draw in leading ethical organizations," said Jeffery Smith, CBE head and the Frank Shrontz Chair in Professional Ethics.

"Her experience will bring to life many things that we, as business educators, strive to instill in our students and the Seattle business community.”

Cheung went on to help launch a technology accelerator in Hong Kong supporting early-stage technology investments across the Asia Pacific (APAC) region. She continues to advise and support the development of biotechnology and healthcare initiatives across APAC in addition to her work at Ethics in Entrepreneurship.

About Seattle University's Center for Business Ethics

Established in 2011, the Center for Business Ethics partners with business leaders, scholars, faculty, students and alumni to critically examine ethical issues in business and the role business can play in advancing the common good.

The center is the administrative home for the Northwest Ethics Network (NWEN), an independent group of ethics and compliance professionals representing more than 30 Pacific Northwest organizations. NWEN meets in a confidential setting to network, facilitate member-led discussions of best practices and examine current issues facing ethics and compliance professionals.

Staff Council will begin hosting Office Hours starting this month. The first session is next Tuesday, Nov. 14 from 10-11 a.m. on Zoom. This month will be hosted by the council's Professional Development Committee. Please join and feel free to bring in any questions or concerns to the committee. 

Join the SU Faculty and Staff Parents affinity group on MS Teams! This group was created for and by Seattle University faculty and staff who are parents. Their purpose is to build community and share knowledge and resources as parents who work at SU. Lately, members have been sharing first day of school pictures to celebrate their kiddos' academic years, posting about toy/clothing/Halloween costume-sharing, and sharing parenting book recommendations!

Join here: SU Parents Microsoft Team

SU Theatre Program Winter Quarter
AUDITION NOTICE
Glengarry Glen Ross
Written by David Mamet
Directed by Brennan Murphy

When: Monday, Nov. 27 from 6:30 to 10 p.m.
Callbacks: Tuesday, Nov. 28 from 6:30 to 10 p.m.
Where: Lee Center for the Arts (905 12^th Ave.)
Sign up here

Initial auditions will be general auditions. All actors will be sent a speech from the play to prepare. There will also be movement work at the top of the audition on Monday.

About the play

Glengarry Glen Ross, written in 1982 by David Mamet, tells the story of a group of cutthroat real estate salespeople who scheme and connive for a piece of the action, a brand-new Cadillac. The seven characters in the play are wheelers and dealers who stop at nothing for this piece of the action. The play takes place in Chicago over the course of a few days. The New York Times wrote the following when the play opened on Broadway: 

“Who needs caffeine when you’ve got Glengarry Glen Ross? …David Mamet’s play about a dog-eat-dog real estate office in Chicago feels like having espresso pumped directly into your bloodstream…. Mr. Mamet hears American scheming with an exactitude and delight still unsurpassed by any other dramatist.” 

Character List (all genders will be considered)

• Roma:Alpha salesperson in the office. Smart and charming. Roma can lure people into thinking that they want whatever Roma is selling. 
• Levene:A “senior in spirit,” meaning old in attitude, if not in age. Had success in sales years ago but “The Machine” no longer has what it takes. 
• Williamson:Runs the real estate office and hands out the “leads.” Not well-liked and salespeople sense that Williamson is not one of their group. 
• Moss:Had a large chip on their shoulder. Holds resentment toward the company. When pushed, lashes out. 
• Aaronow:  Well-behaved and dull. In danger of being fired. 
• Lingk:Has a great fear of their spouse. Powerless but pleasant.  
• Baylan:Police detective. Interrogates salespeople in Willamson’s office in the second act of the play. Tough, interesting.  

Note: This play contains harsh language. Racial slurs will be neutralized. 

There will be copies of the play available to read in the Fine Arts Building. 

For more information, contact faculty members Brennan Murphy at bmurphy3@seattleu.edu or Janet Hayatshahi at jhayatshahi@seattleu.edu.

Join The MOSAIC Center in commemorating Transgender Awareness Week, which takes place Nov. 13-20. Throughout the week, the center will host engaging discussions, informative workshops and community-building events that emphasize the experiences, challenges and victories of the Trans community. Come be part of this compassionate and welcoming atmosphere, where we encourage dialogue and engagement.

Monday, Nov. 20, 4:30–6:30 p.m.
Sullivan Hall, room 110

The law school is honored to welcome Hon. Benes Z. Aldana (Ret.), eleventh president and CEO of The National Judicial College, as a speaker in the Luminaries in Law series.

This lecture and conversation series brings to Seattle University Law School nationally and internationally preeminent leaders from law practice, the judiciary, government and the corporate world, to share their bold ideas about the future of law and the legal profession.

De-Stress with Dogs, the Health and Wellness Crew’s signature and most popular event, will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 28 from 1 to 2:15 p.m. in the LeRoux Conference Room (STCN 160).

The Health and Wellness Crew (HAWC) is seeking dogs and owners who would love to participate in the event and meet our students. If you have a dog and are interested and available to be a part of the event, please complete this form. The event runs from noon to 2:15 p.m., but faculty/staff dogs can only be hosted from 1 to 2:15 p.m., due to safety reasons. You do not have to commit for the full hour and 15 minutes, but it is asked that you stay with your dog the entire time.

Please feel free to forward this invitation to other faculty and staff members who might be interested! This event would not be possible without all of you, and HAWC is grateful for all of those who are able to participate and support.

For more information, contact Kimberly Graff at kgraff@seattleu.edu or Rachael Denzel at rdenzel@seattleu.edu.

Dear Colleagues,

On Monday, Nov. 13 we will launch Seattle University’s United Way of King County Charitable Campaign, and I invite your support in this important effort, which continues through Friday, Dec. 1.

While the region we call home is blessed in so many ways, we know there are far too many among us who are struggling. Inflation and rising interest rates have combined with our already high cost of living to put many households in our community under stress. So many are hurting, and as a Jesuit university we are especially called upon to do our part to help.

In this spirit, I ask you to consider contributing what you can to Seattle University’s United Way campaign. You can give online by visiting the United Way of King County Campaign - Seattle University website. If you have questions about donating online, please contact the United Way at 206-461-5005 or at onlinesupport@uwkc.org. If you have questions about donating through payroll deduction, please contact Rita Lin at rlin@seattleu.edu.

At the same time, I recognize and understand that many are not in a position to participate in the campaign, because you are dealing with some of the same challenges I mentioned at the opening of this letter. Financial support is just one of many ways to address the critical needs in our community, and I know that many of our faculty and staff (and, of course, students) are generous in giving of their time and talents. Whatever form your involvement takes, please know I am grateful for your commitment to bettering the lives of those around you.

Our United Way campaigns have historically enjoyed great success thanks to those who have helped lead the effort as co-chairs and ambassadors. This year, I am grateful Anne Moran from the President’s Office will lead our campaign with assistance from Rita Lin (Payroll). Over the next couple of weeks, we will be sharing information about the many United Way programs.

Thank you for considering this invitation to participate in Seattle University’s United Way of King County Campaign and for all that you do – everyday – for our students and university.

Respectfully,

Eduardo M. Peñalver
President

Tuesday, Nov. 14, 12:30-1:30 p.m.
Bannan 371

Please join the Department of Mechanical Engineering in welcoming Raed Bourisli, associate professor at Kuwait University, SU alumnus and visiting scholar, who will speak about increasing the efficiency of PV Modules.

Reduction of the operating temperature of photovoltaic cells can significantly increase their efficiency. An effective way of reducing this temperature is to redirect ambient air to carry some of the thermal energy away from the modules. In this ongoing work, guiding vanes placed under the modules are used to accomplish that. The shapes, sizes, and locations of the proposed vanes are optimized to give the greatest temperature reduction based on realistic conditions found in the Kabd Desert of Kuwait.

Wednesday, Nov. 8, 6–7 p.m.

Calling all Redhawks to attend! Public Safety and Facilities Services are evaluating campus safety at night and want to hear your voice. Walk with them and share your thoughts and feedback on lighting, landscaping and other factors that impact campus safety.

Meet at the HUB Desk in the Student Center at 6 p.m., and then walk through areas of campus such as malls, walkways, landscaping and parking areas. If you have any questions or wish to learn more, contact Dominique Maryanski at drm@seattleu.edu.

Nov. 8 is National First Generation College Celebration Day, a day to honor and celebrate the accomplishments of first generation students, faculty and staff at schools throughout the country. Campus community members are invited to participate in the First Gen Photo Booth (all day), attend the First Gen Open House and Pre-Party in the Outreach Link at 5:30 p.m. and join with othes at the SU men's basketball game at the Redhawk Center at 7 p.m.

All interested faculty and staff, who identify as first gen, which we define as all whose parents do not have a college degree, are invited to sign up for the First Generation Faculty and Staff Directory.

As a university community, we are in the process of figuring out what it might mean to be committed to an educational mission that is both progressive and Catholic at the same time. All faculty have wisdom and expertise to offer in response to this question, so it is vital that faculty have access to inclusive spaces for sharing intellectual conversation about our university’s mission from the perspectives offered by our diverse academic disciplines. In addition to the opportunity to learn from one another, such a space would help faculty across the different colleges of the university to meet one another and become more familiar with one another’s academic research and creative projects.

In service to these goals, the Division of Mission Integration is sponsoring a pilot program for faculty titled “Inter-Disciplinary Dialogues on Social Justice,” which I will facilitate. The first gathering will take place on Friday, Nov. 17 at 3:30 p.m. in Casey Commons. If you wish to attend this first gathering, I invite you to spend some time in reflection about this question:

• If you could recommend a 20-page text or a work of creative expression to a scholar in another academic field that would introduce them to how “social justice” is typically understood in your own academic field, what would you recommend?

After the more formal conversation focused on this question, we will have time to continue the conversation in a more informal way with light refreshments. You are warmly invited to attend, and I look forward to the opportunity for us to connect and build an inclusive intellectual community together. Please RSVP here. Learn more about this series by contacting Michael Jaycox.

Sincerely,

Michael Jaycox, PhD
Associate Professor, Theology and Religious Studies

Listen to the message on SoundCloud

“Over generations, each of these faiths and traditions have become different strands of thread that have woven a tapestry for humanity; a reminder that we are bound together through our interconnectedness and our common vision for protecting and preserving all humanity.”

– CEIE Advisory Council member Mahrukh Motafram 

As the CENTER-piece of CEIE’s November newsletter, Advisory Council member Mahrukh Motafram speaks about the continued global support and work at CEIE as well as her experience as a Zoroastrian.

Motafram’s recent certificate at Seattle University in Non-Profit Leadership, her commitment to Seattle University alumni engagement and her local to international service enables a specific position for enhancing the relationship of the alumni experience to CEIE’s programming and future certificate opportunities. She will work with CEIE in strategic enhancement of these alumni relations, also in her capacity as long-standing interfaith advisor and founding member of the Advisory Council member to CEIE. 

This month, CEIE has welcomed several guests to Seattle University, including Al Bertrand, editor-in-chief of Georgetown University Press, and Brother Emile from the Taizé Ecumenical Community in France. 

We hope you will find a place in our efforts that invites you to engage with us! 

Find more information in our CEIE’s November newsletter.

Engage more with CEIE and its programs at the CEIE’s website, the Religica Theolab website and The Interfaith Observer.

This is the last week to complete the NACADA Outcomes in Advising survey, which will inform an ongoing assessment and discernment process on the future of academic advising at Seattle University. The last day to complete the survey is Friday, Nov. 10.

If you are involved in advising at SU and haven't already, please consider completing this survey. Your input is essential.

Please also encourage your students to complete the survey. With the support of faculty and our campus partners, we hope to achieve a strong return rate to ensure meaningful data. Help us keep the student experience at the center of all we do!

Questions may be directed to Dr. Molly Cullen, Senior Director for University Advising, at mcullen@seattleu.edu.

Visit The Interfaith Observer

“As we have crossed the threshold into fall, we see in the natural world the reminder that what will be, is intimately connected to what has been.”
– Rev. Dr. Kara Markell, October CEIE message 

The Center for Ecumenical and Interreligious Engagement’s Interfaith Observer is a popular online journal for interreligious and intercultural engagement around the world, created by veteran reporter Rev. Paul Chaffee. 

“At the Intersections of Religious Pluralism” explores religious pluralism beyond religious coexistence and places all of us at the intersection of things that influence our lived experience, self-understanding and pursuit of meaning. The articles cover our experiences of pandemics, culture, politics and the shifting nature of belief and expanding views of personal and gender identity.   

Find more information in CEIE's October newsletter. 

Engage more with CEIE and its programs at the CEIE’s website, the Religica Theolab website and The Interfaith Observer.

Thursday, Nov. 9, 12:30-1:20 p.m.
Pigott Auditorium 

Please join Provost Shane P. Martin for an important and timely address about the challenges and opportunities we face this academic year and beyond.