University leader, students express dismay at racist incident on campus

   NEWBERG — It wasn’t the kind of national attention any university seeks.
But by far the greater concern for the people of George Fox University was how a racist incident on the Newberg campus last month completely conflicted with the Christian faith that is the university’s foundation. President Robin Baker and staff and students responded with dismay, disgust and deep concern over what took place.
   As Baker made clear before TV cameras, whatever attitude was expressed in the hanging on campus of an effigy of Barack Obama was anything but Christian.
  “We absolutely cannot hate those around us and say we love God,” Baker addressed a packed chapel service of about 1,200 students in Bauman Auditorium on Sept. 24. “It is not possible.”
   Baker condemned the effigy in the strongest possible terms. Expressing similiar outrage were the university’s board of trustees and student government.
   Baker also sent a letter of apology from the university to Obama.
  “To say the least, our campus community was outraged and disheartened by this unfortunate incident and would like to extend our deepest apologies to you and your family for any harm this may have caused,” Baker wrote. “George Fox University is a Christian community rooted in the Quaker tradition that cares deeply about expressing the love of God in tangible ways in order to bring healing, renewal and hope to our world. Yesterday’s unfortunate incident does not reflect our commitments to Christ and our values of love, justice and peacemaking.”
   Although it is believed that only two students saw the effigy before it was removed, the incident drew enormous media attention as word spread via political blogs. Portland TV news crews came to campus to cover the issue and Baker’s remarks. The story eventually made the main page of the nationally popular Drudge Report news web site.
   At the chapel service, Baker said he had planned to address the matter with the student body even before the media learned about the incident.
On Sept. 25, the university held a student forum to discuss race and diversity issues. On Sept. 26, the university pastor called for a day of prayer and fasting in response to the incident. Other events are planned in the coming weeks.
   A campus custodial crew discovered the cardboard cutout of the Democratic presidential nominee early on Sept. 23. Katlyn Search, a George Fox senior from Battle Ground, Wash., said she and another student on the crew and their supervisor took down the cutout image, which was hung around the neck by fishing line from a tree near Minthorn Hall. Such cutouts of Obama and other political figures can be purchased at a Newberg grocery.
   The incident was reported to the university administration; Baker then determined to address the matter in chapel the following day.
   A sign on the cutout read “Act Six Reject.” Act Six is a scholarship program that aims to recuit more low-income and minority students to the university. Students are selected for their leadership potential, and all receive full scholarships.
   The students are recruited to George Fox through the Christian-based Portland Central Young Life program. The university has 17 students in the program this year, and all but one are members of minority groups.
Joel Perez, dean of transitions and inclusion, oversees the Act Six program at George Fox. He broke the news about the incident to minority students on the evening of Sept. 23.
   He told The Oregonian newspaper that they were visibly upset and hurt. He said none of them had experienced any negative comment from any students since classes started Sept. 1, which made the slur even more painful.
In an editorial later that week, The Oregonian praised the university’s handling of the situation.
  “What was impressive on Wednesday was the caliber of George Fox's collective response,” stated the editorial. “Students and faculty rose — literally — to the occasion. By prior arrangement, perhaps a hundred or more of them came forward and stood in solidarity around George Fox President Robin Baker as he addressed a chapel service.”
   The university is investigating the incident and is following all leads. Administrators request that any information about the display be shared with the university’s Office of Student Life.
   The university contacted the Newberg Police, who have contacted federal authorities. The FBI has opened a preliminary investigation to determine if a federal law has been violated. The Secret Service also has indicated it is looking into the incident.
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