Editing Linfield University (section)

==History==
{{Recentism|section|date=October 2024}}

=== The 1800s ===
Linfield traces its history back to the earliest days of [[Oregon Territory]], when pioneer Baptists in [[Oregon City, Oregon|Oregon City]] created the Oregon Baptist Educational Society in 1848.<ref name=Oregon>Corning, Howard M. (1989) ''Dictionary of Oregon History''. [[Binfords & Mort Publishing]]. p. 148.</ref> This society was organized to establish a Baptist school in the region, which began as [[Oregon City College]] in 1849.<ref name=Oregon/> In 1855, [[Sebastian C. Adams]] began to agitate for a school in McMinnville. Adams and his associates were members of the [[Christian churches and churches of Christ|Christian Church]], and so the school became a Christian school.<ref name=Church>{{cite web |url= http://ncbible.org/nwh/proadamswl.html |work= Pioneer History to About 1900, Churches of Christ & Christian Churches in the Pacific Northwest |title= William Lysander Adams/Sebastian C. Adams/Pioneer Oregon Gospel Preachers |publisher= Northwest College of the Bible |author= Dailey, Charles |date= November 2000 |access-date= April 10, 2025}}</ref> To begin, {{convert|6|acre}} of property were donated by W. T. Newby and a group was formed to establish the school. The group included William Dawson, James McBride,  Newby, and Adams, and they bore the major part of the expenses of starting the school. These men built a building and convinced Adams, who was a teacher, to operate the school.  After about a year and a half and because of the difficulty of running the school alone and funding problems, Adams suggested that the school be turned over to the Baptists who were attempting to start up the West Union Institute that had been chartered in 1858 by the Oregon Territorial Legislature. The Adams group imposed the condition that the Baptists keep at least one professor employed continuously in the college department.<ref>Bancroft, Hubert Howe, "The Works of Hubert Howe Bancroft", Volume XXX: "History of Oregon", Volume II, The History Company, San Francisco, California. 1888. pgs. 684 & 686</ref> Other accounts indicate that the Baptist group purchased the land in 1857 in order to start their school.<ref name=Oregon/>
The [[Oregon Territorial Legislature]] chartered the '''Baptist College at McMinnville''' in 1858.  The school later became '''McMinnville College''' in 1898.<ref name=Heritage>{{cite web|url=http://www.linfield.edu/explore/ |title=Pioneer Heritage |access-date=October 31, 2008 |publisher=Linfield College |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080801091946/http://www.linfield.edu/explore/ |archive-date=August 1, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Ross |first1=Frederic |title=Linfield University |url=https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/linfield_college/#.Y_t_WezMI-Q |website=oregonencyclopedia.org |publisher=Oregon Encyclopedia |access-date=26 February 2023}}</ref>

=== The 1900s ===
In 1922, the name was changed to '''Linfield College''' in memory of a Baptist minister, the Rev. [[George Fisher Linfield]] whose widow, [[Frances Linfield|Frances Eleanor Ross Linfield]], gave a substantial donation to the college to promote Christian education and as a memorial to her late husband.  Mrs. Linfield served as Dean of Women from 1921 to 1928, and sat on the Board of Directors from 1922 to her death in 1940.  Her gift included real estate in Spokane, Washington, valued at $250,000 (a sum worth nearly $4 million in 2020).<ref>According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistic's Consumer Price Index Inflation Calculator, $250,000 in 1922 would equate to nearly $3,800,000 in 2020. See: https://www.bls.gov/data/inflation_calculator.htm</ref>  Mrs. Linfield wanted to perpetuate memory of the name and influence of her late husband, George Fisher Linfield, as well as support Christian education.<ref>{{cite book
  | last = Jonasson | first = Jonas A.
  | title = Bricks Without Straw: The Story of Linfield College
  | publisher = Caxton Printers
  | year = 1938
  | id = ASIN B000881X28  }}
</ref>

In 1982, the Linfield-Good Samaritan School of Nursing was established when the college entered into an affiliation with [[Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital & Medical Center]] and began offering a bachelor's degree program in nursing. 

=== The 2000s ===
Linfield offered buyouts to 13 professors in liberal-arts programs with shrinking enrollment in 2019, shortly after President Miles K. Davis arrived. He also announced efforts to shift resources to the nursing and business programs, which account for the majority of students. Those shifts led to strained relationships with some faculty members in the traditional liberals arts disciplines.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Finley|first=Allysia|date=2021-05-21|title=Opinion {{!}} Rebellion in the Faculty Lounge|language=en-US|work=Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/rebellion-in-the-faculty-lounge-11621619432|access-date=2021-07-14|issn=0099-9660}}</ref>

Following sexual abuse charges against a former trustee that involved students in 2017 and 2019, faculty members voted 88 to 18 on a motion of no confidence in David C. Baca, the chair of the college's board of trustees, in May 2020.<ref>{{cite web |last=Bernstein |first=Maxine |date=May 27, 2020 |title=Linfield College faculty issue vote of no confidence in board chair over handling of sex abuse complaints |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/crime/2020/05/linfield-college-faculty-issue-vote-of-no-confidence-in-board-chair-over-handling-of-sex-abuse-complaints.html |access-date=March 30, 2021 |website=oregonlive}}</ref> The board continued to support Baca<ref name="bern1">{{cite web |last=Bernstein |first=Maxine |date=June 30, 2020 |title=Linfield College board stands by embattled chair David Baca; students call for his resignation over handling of sex abuse case |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/education/2020/06/linfield-college-board-stands-by-embattled-chair-david-baca-students-call-for-his-resignation-over-handling-of-sex-abuse-case.html |access-date=March 30, 2021 |website=oregonlive}}</ref> who offered to resign.<ref name="bern2">{{cite web |last=Bernstein |first=Maxine |date=August 3, 2020 |title=Linfield University's board chair says he regrets allowing trustee, now accused of sexual abuse, 'to be in the same setting with a student' |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/education/2020/08/linfield-universitys-board-chair-regrets-not-strictly-enforcing-order-that-trustee-david-jubb-not-fraternize-with-students.html |access-date=March 30, 2021 |website=oregonlive}}</ref> Students then circulated a petition calling for Baca to step down from his position.<ref name="bern1" />  An outside agency also investigated a claim made by a faculty member of "inappropriate touching" by two trustees.<ref name="bern2" />

The school officially changed its name to Linfield University in 2020. Along with the new name, Linfield unveiled a new logo and seal for the institution. The logo bears the letter "L" inside an acorn with oak leaves.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Feller |first=Alexandra |title=Shield or acorn, the new Linfield logo doesn't meet student expectations |url=https://thelinfieldreview.com/23721/news/shield-or-acorn-the-new-linfield-logo-doesnt-meet-student-expectations/ |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=The Linfield Review}}</ref> According to the university, "Linfield has used an image of an acorn as part of its logo design since 2010, and a representation of an oak leaf in years previous to that."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Linfield Symbols |url=https://www.linfield.edu/about/symbols.html |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=www.linfield.edu |language=en-US}}</ref>

In April 2021, President Miles K. Davis was accused by several faculty members of making anti-Semitic remarks. Davis denied the allegations in a letter to the [[Anti-Defamation League]], which has suggested an investigation into the claims as well as anti-Semitism and bias training for institutional leaders. An earlier investigation into alleged remarks by Davis substantiated one allegation but was unable to confirm the other claims. One of the faculty members filed a complaint with the [[Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries]], claiming religious retaliation and harassment by Davis and Baca.<ref>{{cite web |last=Bernstein |first=Maxine |date=April 12, 2021 |title=Linfield University President Miles K. Davis made anti-Semitic comments, professor says; Davis alleges 'smear campaign' |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/education/2021/04/professor-says-linfield-president-miles-k-davis-made-anti-semitic-comments-davis-alleges-smear-campaign.html |access-date=April 14, 2021 |website=The Oregonian}}</ref> On April 19, 2021, faculty members passed a resolution of no confidence in Davis and Baca, and called for their resignations.<ref>{{cite web |last=Powell |first=Meerah |date=April 20, 2021 |title=College faculty at Linfield express no confidence in university leadership |url=https://www.opb.org/article/2021/04/19/linfield-faculty-express-no-confidence-in-university-leadership/ |access-date=April 21, 2021 |website=opb}}</ref> The college fired one of the whistleblowers, a Jewish tenured professor, Daniel Pollack-Pelzner,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bernstein |first1=Maxine |date=28 April 2021 |title=Linfield University fires professor who spoke out against sexual misconduct, raised allegations against president |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/education/2021/04/linfield-university-fires-professor-who-spoke-out-against-sexual-misconduct-raised-allegations-against-president.html?outputType=amp&__twitter_impression=true |access-date=28 April 2021 |work=oregonlive |publisher=Oregon Live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Sales |first1=Ben |date=1 May 2021 |title=Criticism mounts after US university fires professor who alleged antisemitism |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/criticism-mounts-after-us-university-fires-professor-who-alleged-antisemitism |access-date=9 May 2021 |work=Jewish Telegraph Agency |publisher=The Times of Israel}}</ref> who filed a lawsuit against the school.<ref>{{cite web |last=Manning |first=Rob |date=July 12, 2021 |title=Fired Linfield University professor files lawsuit, alleging illegal retaliation |url=https://www.opb.org/article/2021/07/12/fired-linfield-university-professor-files-lawsuit-alleging-illegal-retaliation/ |access-date=July 13, 2021 |website=OPB}}</ref> Due in part to the termination of Pollack-Pelzner's employment, the [[American Association of University Professors]] (AAUP) [[List of colleges and universities censured by the American Association of University Professors|censured]] Linfield for, in the AAUP's opinion, not respecting Pollack-Pelzner's academic freedom and not following institutional policies.<ref>{{cite web |date=1 April 2022 |title=Academic Freedom and Tenure: Linfield University (Oregon) |url=https://www.aaup.org/report/academic-freedom-and-tenure-linfield-university-oregon}}</ref> In February, 2023, Linfield reached a $1 million settlement with the fired professor.<ref>{{cite web |last=Powell |first=Meerah |date=2023-02-06 |title=Linfield University agrees to pay fired professor more than $1 million in whistleblower settlement |url=https://www.opb.org/article/2023/02/06/linfield-university-agrees-pay-fired-professor-one-million-whistelblower-settlement/ |access-date=2023-02-08 |website=opb}}</ref>

In September 2021, Baca stepped down as chair of the board of trustees.<ref>{{cite web |last=Bernstein |first=Maxine |date=September 14, 2021 |title=Embattled chair of Linfield University's board of trustees steps down |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/education/2021/09/embattled-chair-of-linfield-universitys-board-of-trustees-steps-down.html |access-date=September 17, 2021 |website=The Oregonian}}</ref>

In November, 2023, Davis announced his intention to resign in early 2024.<ref>{{cite web | last=Camhi | first=Tiffany | title=Linfield University president Miles Davis to step down over family concerns | website=Oregon Public Broadcasting | date=November 3, 2023 | url=https://www.opb.org/article/2023/11/02/linfield-university-president-miles-davis-to-step-down-over-family-concerns/ | access-date=November 4, 2023}}</ref> [[Rebecca L. Johnson]] was appointed interim president on December 26, 2023.<ref>{{cite web | title=Becky Johnson named interim president of Linfield University in McMinnville | website=KTVZ | date=December 27, 2023 | url=https://ktvz.com/news/education/2023/12/27/becky-johnson-named-interim-president-of-linfield-university-in-mcminnville/ | access-date=December 28, 2023}}</ref> Mark Blegen will become president effective July 1, 2025.<ref>{{cite web | last=Brown | first=Kelly Williams | title=Dr. Mark Blegen named 21st president of Linfield University | website=LINFIELD NEWS | date=December 5, 2024 | url=https://news.linfield.edu/blegen-named-president/ | access-date=December 6, 2024}}</ref>