Alumni Events!

We recently completed a calendar of events for the next year for all Biola Alumni.
Events will regularly be posted on the alumni web page for your interest and review! As you’ll see, we’ve tried to offer something to appeal to everyone!

As a department, we often hear how much fun alumni have in gathering together with fellow alumni to reminisce about experiences, faculty, and friends from Biola. We have taken those opportunities a step further and added to it some of the best entertainment we can find in Southern California. I know you will be excited to experience with us a great selection of events and activities, for every age group and interest. And best of all, you can do it in a great environment with other alumni and friends from Biola!

We look forward to spending time with you—and your family and friends—in the coming months, at one or all of these activities.

Experiencing together “Alumni for Life”!

Rick

Is a Student Send-Off Coming Your Way?

If you are a new student, current student or alumni from Dallas, Phoenix, Portland or Seattle I hope we will see you (or have seen you) at an upcoming alumni student send-off event!
President Corey will be joining the alumni staff in those four places in coming weeks to meet new students and alumni and share a little about what he sees in the future for Biola University. I hope you will join us. We have eleven more locations where we will be this Summer, so if you want to see where and when, check out the Alumni Website for more information.

Also, thanks for the post about the Jesus mural (our previous blog entry). Anyone else want to put in their comments? There is some discussion about putting some kind of a plaque on the wall next to the mural that would give the artists reflections on the piece. We'd love to hear your thoughts!

Hope your Summer is starting well and hope to see you at an upcoming Biola event!

Blessings,
Rick

What's happening with the Jesus mural?

The alumni board met last week and several of our members have voiced concerns over the Jesus mural on the side of the Science Building. If you have been in the discussion (through the years!), there is a concern on the part of a number of students and alumni, that Christ on the mural is very much an Anglo. As we understand it, the model used by Kent Twitchel for the painting was a European Jew. Some alumni and students of color and others have felt like this does not represent the true Jesus and the mural should be removed.

If you have viewed it recently, it is in need of restoration as the last 15 years of weather have affected the painting and areas are beginning to fade and crack. Now is the time to determine if changes need to be made to the mural. The alumni office would love to get your comments and feedback. What do you think?

Is it representative of Biola? Is it purely an artists rendering? Should it be painted over or removed as it offends some who attend here?

Why do we ask the question? Well, we want to get your opinion as alumni and students of Biola. And, we want to make a recommendation on what action to take.

Thanks for all your opinions and suggestions!

Welcome New Alumni for Life!

During a very busy week of finals, graduation celebrations, and commencement, I hope that each of us are taking the time to celebrate the friendships we have made while at Biola. If I have noticed one thing while serving in the alumni position, it is the amazing network and friendships that are built while students are on this campus. Many of those relationships are built for a lifetime, as those that you meet now may well be some of your best friends for life.

As you finish up this week, remember to get addresses, e-mails and photos of all the friends you have made while here. It won’t be long until your five, ten and fifteen year reunions… and you are going to want to say “remember when!”

Congratulations to all of our graduates and welcome to Alumni for Life!

Ron Hafer Rocks my Socks!

For any of you who went to the Ron Hafer Chapel Monday, you saw first hand what an amazing guy Ron was as he told the parable of the prodigal son! A meaningful Bible story, told in an amazing way, from a classic Biola guy... I hope you remember Ron like I do from my student years as a counselor, advisor, teacher, preacher and friend. Thanks Ron for all you do for Biola...

And I have great news, Ron is going to continue to work at Biola in the role of Alumni Chaplain. We are taking Ron on the road to chapter events and activities, and he will be available to provide counsel and speaking resources to alumni who are interested in his service and involvement. He starts with the alumni office in July and we are excited to have him work with us!

Have a great week and.... Ron Hafer Rocks my Socks!

Rick

Summer is almost here!

With three weeks to go in the semester, hope you are doing well!
The alumni office continues to work through with IT and Campus Communications what role and participation alumni will have on the new portal. We are looking for a strategy that works well for everyone. The alumni office is working on a number of events in the next few months that include Les Miserables at the Hollywood Bowl, Biola Day at Angel Stadium, Shakespeare Festival in Ashland Oregon (with the Guild of English Scholars and English Department), and Body Worlds and the Story of the Heart at the California Science Center (with the nursing department).
And that's just this Summer! Going to be a busy one!
Be sure to keep up with everything that is going on at the Alumni Website: www.biola.edu/alumni
Appreciate any thoughts you might have! Rick

Welcome to the Alumni Blog!

We thought it might be a good idea to provide a forum for discussion and comments, not only for what we have been hearing regarding the future of BUBBS, but also on other alumni and Student Alumni issues and concerns.

I hope you will feel free to address whatever is on your heart. My philosophy of administration and communication is that if you don't know when something's wrong, it's really hard to fix it! This blog should help give you a forum for us to address your concerns and also share when things are going well!

Thanks for joining in the conversation with us... Rick