(Editor's note: This story is from the August 2016 issue of GCU Magazine. To view the digital version of the magazine, click here.)
Story by GCU News Bureau
Photos by Darryl Webb
What's new this year? What are some fun facts about campus life? The GCU INsider will help you get INformed.
What should newcomers know about Chapel and The Gathering?
The main thing is to get there early. Chapel, for anyone on campus, starts at 11:15 a.m. Mondays in the Arena; The Gathering, for students, is at 8 p.m. Tuesdays in Antelope Gym. With more students than ever on campus, seats at both are at a premium. For the speaker schedule, click here.
INsider tip: “We have a great balance of local and out-of-town pastors, some who have been coming to speak at GCU for years and some who are coming for the first time. Every week, Chapel will be filled with energetic worship and powerful messages from God’s Word that will inspire all who attend.” — Jared Ulrich, Spiritual Life worship manager
What do you do if you can’t make it out to cheer on the Lopes?
Lucky for you, there will be more ways than ever to catch your favorite GCU athletic teams in action in 2016-17. Twentyfive home contests will be broadcast on local television, and more than 90 home events will be streamed live on GCULopes.com. KASW CW6 will be the home for 21 events, and four men’s basketball games will be featured on KTVK 3TV.
INsider tip: “In addition to the many great new athletic facilities on campus, the Lopes also will be featuring some sharp new Nike uniforms this year.” — Mike Vaught, Vice President for Athletics
What’s the Ethington Theatre series schedule?
Oct. 14-16, 21-23: “Of Thee I Sing”
Nov. 18-20, 25-27: “Our Town”
Feb. 10-12, 17-19: “Two Gentlemen of Verona”
March 31-April 2, April 7-9: “West Side Story”
INsider tip: “This year we will be producing two musicals — 'Of Thee I Sing,' a classic lampoon of presidential elections, and the extremely popular 'West Side Story.' These musicals join our usual lineup of classical plays and offer a great variety to our 2016-17 season. Ethington Theatre productions sell out fast, so please get your tickets early to ensure that you have a good seat.” — Claude Pensis, dean, College of Fine Arts and Production
The Arena hosts all sorts of games and concerts. What’s another cool event?
GCU’s first Thrive Conference, designed to help family business owners learn the tools of the trade, is scheduled for Oct. 26. Two of the speakers will be GCU President Brian Mueller and Phoenix sports and business icon Jerry Colangelo.
INsider tip: “This is going to be an amazing opportunity for our students to hear firsthand from business leaders regarding the delicate balance of work and family within a family-owned business. The message will be one from the perspective of both faith and business operations.” — Dr. Randy Gibb, dean, Colangelo College of Business
How do the residence halls get their names?
Residence Life and Housing come up with recommendations for Mueller and Dr. Tim Griffin, GCU's pastor and dean of students. The names follow an Arizona/ Southwest/desert theme — Saguaro, Chaparral, Sedona — and now a desert bird has joined the party with the new Roadrunner Apartments. Did you know that roadrunners have blue feet?
INsider tip: “The more names we use, the better the chances of using my personal favorite — Peppersauce, which is a cave complex just north of Tucson. But I think I am pretty singular in my support for that one.” – Matt Hopkins, director, Residence Life
What are the dates and locations of this year’s “Lopes on the Road” gatherings for alumni?
Men’s soccer: Oct. 16 at Seattle U.
Women’s basketball: Nov. 22 at Rice, Nov. 29 at UC Riverside
Men’s basketball: Jan. 12 at New Mexico State, Jan. 28 at Chicago State, Feb. 16 at Seattle U., March 4 at CSU Bakersfield
Baseball: Feb. 22 at Arizona Diamondbacks (Salt River Fields), March 14-15 at UNLV, March 17-18 at Pepperdine, March 21- 22 at New Mexico, April 7-8 at Sacramento State
INsider tip: “We had a great time. I actually attended both universities playing in the game, but I feel a deeper connection to GCU even though I only attended online. It is events like this that make me feel part of the community.” — Vicki and Larry Ramirez
How does the Dance Team come up with all those creative routines?
The GCU Dancers learn a great deal of their game-day routines at the college camps they attend during the summer, and choreography for themed timeouts usually is created by the dance members or coach. The team practices and trains for 13 hours per week.
INsider tip: “Our most crowd-pleasing tricks and choreography often have started as a team joke and developed into something really visual. Anytime the team hears me say ‘Wait, I really like that,’ they know it is going to end up in a timeout dance!” — Jacque Genung-Koch, coach, Dance Team
How many “alumni bricks” have been purchased on the pathway south of the intramural field?
Be honest now: How many times have you walked over those bricks and wondered how many there are? (We did.) The total is 310. . . and growing. For information on how to get one of your own, go to www.gcu.edu/bricks1949.
INsider tip: “Alumni can leave a permanent mark on campus by purchasing a brick, and the proceeds benefit the Spiritual Life Foundation.” — Kimberlee Marlow, director of Alumni Relations
What are the new food options?
Canyon 49 Grill: New restaurant at GCU Hotel is outstanding
World of Wings (WOW): Wings, burgers, fries, salads
Auntie Anne's Pretzels & Jamba Juice Express: Smoothies, soft pretzels and more
Fresh Fusion: Tossed-to-order salad bar with a large variety of seasonal vegetables, proteins and toppings, plus flatbread sandwiches
Lean Canteen: Breakfast bowls, parfaits and freshly squeezed juice drinks
Grand Canyon Beverage Company: New student-run coffee shop
Lopes Natural Mart at Chaparral: Variety of organic, natural and other healthy options
Taco Trueno: Tacos and other street fare
INsider tip: “Dining dollars will be accepted at all dining locations, including Canyon 49 Grill and the convenience stores. To add dining dollars, students should call 1-800-800-9776.” — Zachary Casavant, marketing and communications, Sodexo and GCU Dining
How much money has been raised by the GCU Foundation Run to Fight Children’s Cancer in its six years?
The race has attracted almost 20,000 people and stands as the largest event in Arizona dedicated solely to pediatric cancer. Proceeds have gone to directly support children’s cancer research and care, and with funds raised as part of the seventh annual race, scheduled for Saturday, March 11, the total donations will surpass $500,000.
INsider tip: “September is Children’s Cancer Awareness month, and we’ll be hosted by GCU men’s soccer on Friday, Sept. 30 to celebrate and honor the youngest cancer-fighting superheroes among us. Bring your capes, get your Lopes up and join the fun!” — Debbie Accomazzo, GCU community outreach manager and Run to Fight
