COVID-19 Community Update – March 18, 2020
Dear Northwest University community member,
I was reflecting in prayer today that Northwest University was born in crisis and does its best during a crisis. I once owned an old BMW, and the first time I put the pedal to the metal on it, I couldn't believe how smoothly it cruised at over 100 MPH. It was designed for the German autobahns. I never did that again, but I never forgot the potential my car had for some serious farfegnugen. In a similar way, Northwest University was born for times of trouble. Founded in the very trough of the Great Depression, our original students and professors knew what it felt like to defy scarcity with a flinty face of faith. World War II only made us stronger when Congress passed the GI Bill and our halls filled up with veterans. We met the disruptive revolution of the 1960s and 1970s with enthusiasm, as long-haired Jesus People flooded into our classrooms. When Y2K came along, we kept our cool and upped our technology game—in time for the DotCom Bust, out of which we bought our 6710 Building for a song (a commodity we have always, by the way, been adept at generating). The attacks of 9/11 and the wars that followed resulted in robust growth and development as diversity among our students and their career interests blossomed and a sleepy little Bible college learned to do and teach new things. Our God-given mission has always attracted the best people, and they have always let God lead them forth to promised victory.
All of us today at NU are the heirs of that Spirit. We don't fear crisis. We were born for crisis. we will press on in the months ahead to make sure that whatever comes, all of us will learn from it, roll into the changes, and come out better, stronger, more technologically empowered, and more confident of God's victory. We are like the Six Million Dollar Man in 1970s television—an incredible bargain in today's dollars—who was fitted with new arms and legs and even a new eye to "make him better than he was before, better, stronger, faster." Don't let anyone doubt you! You are powered by a Higher Power, and are always recalibrating to keep your engine humming and your steering sure. You're following the One who founded The Way. As the old song said, we don't know about tomorrow, but we know who holds our hand.
Now for today's updates:
- We have received word today that one of our graduate students tested positive for coronavirus. As you all know, testing has been delayed across the country, and even now it's hard to get tested, though it should get easier soon. The student seems to have turned the corner, but is still sick, so please do pray for a total and quick recovery. The university has already notified those who shared in the same activities together with the student. Deep cleaning is being applied to the student's regular stops on campus.
- As we get further and further from the departure of undergraduates for Spring Break and our transition to remote classes, it will become less and less necessary to notify everyone whenever a person connected with Northwest University gets infected with the new coronavirus. To guard people's privacy, we won't report on individual cases unless they require general notification.
- Students who live in campus housing and can go home, should go home. We will provide a refund to help. The less people we have living and dining on campus, the better hospitality we can provide for those who must remain.
- The Wellness Center is still providing counseling and its other customary health services via telehealth. We are grateful to federal and state governments that have waived regular standards to permit inter-state services. Contact the Wellness Center by email ({encode="wellnesscenter@northwestu.edu"}) or phone (425) 889-5282.
- Commencement will not take place on May 9. We will soon poll the graduating students, exploring a potential date in August when the world should have already returned to normal. We will let you know about the new arrangements as soon as we can. We don't want to miss our chance to honor everyone who has worked so hard to achieve their degrees.
President Trump is rolling out a new program on the theme "15 Days to Slow the Spread." I encourage everyone to make the most of this time of prevention. These days are incredibly costly, so let's lean into maximizing their effect.
Finally, I want you to know that we at Northwest will be in regular contact with you over the months to come until normalcy returns. It will move away from what may have felt like a constant stream of advice and updates toward a continuous reassertion of our identity together in Christ and of our values and memories and hopes and plans for tomorrow. We've come through worse times than these, and we look forward to seeing how they will make us better.
Sincerely,
Joseph Castleberry, Ed.D.
President, Northwest University