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July 30, 2014
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O livia O livia /T he P ortland O bserver
Jayce Marcus, a transgendered student from Portland attending George Fox University in Newberg,
has won the right to be housed with other male students on campus. However written into the
school’s new policies are requirements that future transgender students, especially transgender
students of color, may struggle to meet.
George Fox Backs Down
Trans student gets housing; fight for better policies continue
O livia O livia
T he P ortland O bserver
by
Jayce Marcus, a Portland stu
dent at George Fox University who
has been battling school adminis
tration for the right to be housed
with other males has scored a vic
tory with school officials, but more
changes may be needed before
transgendered students on the
Newberg campus are fully protected
against discrimination.
His struggle dates back to Febru
ary, w hen M ark P o th o ff, the
college’s dean of community life,
ENTEOTAINMENI
pages 8-13
C alendar
C lassifieds
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wrote to Marcus announcing the
school’s decision to decline him
housing with his male classmates.
To the school’s credit, they first
offered him solitary housing on cam
pus, or the option of living off-cam
pus if he so chose, but Marcus
turned both of these options down
and persisted on shared on-campus
housing. He cited his need for com
munity and fears of depression and
isolation living alone or off-cam
pus.
George Fox, a Christian univer
sity of liberal arts and sciences, and
professional studies, then filed for a
federal Title IX exemption to pre
vent the school from having to offer
transgender students housing on
campus.
In his letter to the Department of
Education and Office for Civil Rights,
George Fox President Robin Baker
stated that “the University believes
that human beings, fashioned by
God in His own image, are created
male and female (Genesis 1:27)” in
defence o f the university’s stance.
continued
on page 5
Race Talks on Police Engagement
The Portland Police Bureau and munity policing in Portland and give roots organization which gives
its engagement with the community community members the opportu monthly presentations on ethnicity
and people of color inparticular will nity to meet the Citizens Review and race in Oregon in order to pro
be the subject o f two upcoming Committee, an 11-member volunteer vide intercultural learning experi
meetings in north and northeast group appointed by the Portland ences. Both meetings will begin at 7
Portland.
City Council to monitor and advise p.m. and are free and open to all
The forums on Tuesday, Aug. 5 the City A uditor’s Independent ages.
at Jefferson High School and Tues Police Review division.
For more information, call 503-
day, Aug. 12 at M cM enam ins
The review panel is facilitating 8 2 3 -0 1 4 6
or
em ail
Kennedy School will focus on com the sessions with Race Talks, a grass crc @ port 1 andoregon. gov.