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Dec. 7, 2006

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Reilly Center gym floor to be replaced; lead gift given by Molinaro family

Thanks to the generosity of a group of alumni, St. Bonaventure University’s Reilly Center arena will soon receive a new basketball floor.

Lisa and Samuel Molinaro, St. Bonaventure alumni from the classes of 1981 and 1980, respectively, contributed a lead gift of $210,000 to kick off the project. The Molinaros hosted a reception at the Yale Club in New York City on Nov. 30, during which additional funds for the project were secured.

The existing Reilly Center arena floor will be replaced with a new, state-of-the-art wood floor.

The exact cost for installing the new floor is uncertain until bids are sought, but the money raised thus far is enough to ensure the project can proceed.

A timetable for the project has yet to be determined, but the new floor is expected to be in place by the start of the fall 2007 semester. The current floor, which is also made of wood, was installed in 1991.

In addition to the floor replacement, additional funds are being sought to upgrade many of the arena’s basketball operations equipment. That equipment could include timing, sound and statistics systems, as well as backboards and goals.

“We are extremely grateful for the generous gift from Lisa and Sam Molinaro,” said Dr. Ron Zwierlein, director of Intercollegiate Athletics.

“We have been looking at replacing the floor for some time now, and their gift, along with the donations of others, will allow us to make this a reality. The current floor is near the end of its lifespan, while the new floor will be among the best in the Atlantic 10 Conference.

“While it primarily will serve both our men’s and women’s basketball programs, it will benefit almost every one of our intercollegiate sports teams as well as St. Bonaventure’s physical education students. I would also expect it to have a positive effect on student recruitment and retention for the University as a whole,” Zwierlein said.

Donations for the project are welcome. Contact Bob Keenan in the office of University Relations at (716) 375-2318 or via e-mail at rkeenan@sbu.edu for details.

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Bass to address classmates at December Recognition Ceremony

Sgt. 1st Class Michael Bass will address his classmates as St. Bonaventure recognizes some 59 graduate and 20 undergraduate students during its December Recognition Ceremony Saturday, Dec. 16.

The ceremony begins at 6 p.m. in the University Chapel, Doyle Hall.

University president Sr. Margaret Carney, O.S.F., S.T.D., will offer a welcome to students and their families.

Bass, an Olean resident who is earning his MBA, will be the student speaker. He is the senior military operations instructor in the University’s Department of Military Science.In his address, Bass plans to focus on three themes: potential, reputation and confidence.

Bass said he realizes that potential is something everyone has but all may not use. “I had so much potential when I was young, but I never acted on it,” he said.

“St. Bonaventure has a national reputation for excellence that has been well earned for nearly 150 years. Reputation can open doors, it can get job interviews, it can do a lot of things for you,” Bass added. “The unique property of reputation is that you can’t use it for your own personal gain, and if you do then you lose it.”

Finally, he will address the importance of confidence. “If we want to be the leaders of tomorrow we need to be confident, and trust that what we have learned will give us the edge to make a difference. Confidence is inspiring and creates winning teams,” Bass said.

Bass will conclude with a quote from Jeremiah, where God promises to prosper and keep us. “I exhort my fellow graduates to take this promise, and live to our full potential,” Bass said.

Bass is a graduate of the Air Assault School and is serving on active duty in the United States Army. His previous assignments have placed him in Ft. Campbell, Ky., the Republic of South Korea, Ft. Benning, Ga., Schenectady, N.Y. and the Seneca Battalion, at St. Bonaventure.

During his career in the Army, Bass has deployed to Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm in Iraq, Operation Joint Guardian in Kosovo, Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq. Bass has served in every leadership position from Team Leader to First Sergeant and Battalion Intelligence Non Commissioned Officer In Charge.

Bass’ awards and decorations include The Bronze Star; Meritorious Service Medal; Army Commendation Medal; Army Achievement Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Good Conduct Medal; Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Service Ribbon with numeral 3; Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with numeral 3; Overseas Service Bar; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; the NATO Medal; Saudi Liberation Medal; Kuwaiti Liberation Medal; Southwest Asia Service Medal with 2 bronze stars; Kosovo Campaign Medal with 1 bronze star; the Air Assault Badge; the Drill Sergeant Badge; and the Combat Infantryman’s Badge with star.

Also during the ceremony, Dr. Paul Schafer, associate professor of education, was selected by the students to speak.

Dr. Michael J. Fischer, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, will serve as the master of ceremonies.

Dr. Peggy Burke, dean of the School of Education and dean of the School of Graduate Studies, will present the graduate students. Lee Coppola, dean of the School of Journalism, will present the undergraduate students.

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John Duns Scotus Scholarship funded by gift from Martins

The generosity of a 1947 alumnus will benefit the Franciscan Institute at St. Bonaventure University.

The John Duns Scotus Endowed Scholarship has been established by Dr. John P. Martin and his wife, Ann Marie, whosegift will help strengthen the Institute’s teaching program and financially aid students enrolled in the School of Franciscan Studies.

The scholarship was announced at the third annual Ignatius Brady, O.F.M., Memorial Endowment Lecture in November, and will be fully funded by 2007, the 70th anniversary of Dr. Martin’s graduation from St. Bonaventure. 2008 marks the 700th anniversary of the death of Duns Scotus, a renowned Franciscan scholar.

Dr. Martin received the John Duns Scotus Medal for Excellence in Philosophy at his graduation ceremony from St. Bonaventure in 1947. The former residents of Wilkes-Barre, Pa, had a lifelong interest in Catholic higher education.

Ann Marie Martin died on Aug. 28, 2006. Dr. Martin lives in Manchester, N.J., and Stuart, Fla.

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Festival of Trees event keeps on giving

St. Bonaventure University students, faculty and staff contributed to the Bona Buddies Program Christmas party again this year during the Festival of Trees event.

“Out of the five years I’ve been here, this is the best one yet,” said the Rev. Cheryl Parris, who oversees the Bona Buddies Program.

The Festival of Trees event closed the first half of the year for the children and mentors of the Bona Buddies program. Each year, University staff, faculty departments and student organizations donate and decorate artificial pre-lit trees to be raffled off to families of the program at the Bona Buddies Christmas party. This year, 13 trees were donated to the program.

In addition to the tree raffle, children participated in crafts, such as coloring and making snowmen and gingerbread men at the Christmas party. They enjoyed food and spent time with their families and mentors, said Parris.

Christmas gifts were also given to children who signed up for them. The University’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication alone brought 12 gifts for the children, said Parris. Other departments and organizations volunteered to help this year’s event become successful.

The Festival of Trees Committee, the Bona Education Association and the Women’s Rugby Team were driving forces behind this year’s Festival of Trees, said Parris. These volunteers helped oversee the program, making sure activities were planned and that crafts and food were provided for the children. They also raised funds to ensure that expenses were reasonable, said Parris.

Bona Buddies is a Social Ministries program where St. Bonaventure University students form a one-on-one relationship with local children, ages 5 to 12 years old. These children look to the students as positive role models that encourage and listen to them. The student mentors spend a minimum of two hours a week for at least one year interacting with their Bona Buddies.

There is a waiting list for children who wish to become Bona Buddies. Parris said her goal for the program’s future is for more St. Bonaventure University students to volunteer to spend their time making a difference through mentoring.

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Harlem Globetrotters to bring world tour to RC Arena

Celebrating their 81st consecutive season of barnstorming across North America, the world famous Harlem Globetrotters are bringing their 2007 “Nothing Like It” World Tour to St. Bonaventure University.

Sponsored by Campbell’s Soup Company, the Globetrotters will take the court on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2007, against the New York Nationals at the Reilly Center Arena. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $21 and are available at the Reilly Center Box Office, by phone at 888-223-6000 or online at www.tickets.com. To purchase group or Scout tickets, please visit www.harlemglobetrotters.com for more information.

“There is nothing like a Harlem Globetrotter basketball game and because of the players’ commitment and unique ability to balance great basketball with entertainment, innovation and community, there likely never will be,” said Globetrotters’ chairman Mannie Jackson. “The Globetrotters 2007 World Tour features the team’s strongest roster to date in terms of athleticism, skill and personality. There will be nothing like the Globetrotters’ game in Olean.”

“St. Bonaventure University is honored once again to host the true ambassadors of sport whose real mission is to connect the world through an entertaining brand of basketball that cannot be duplicated by any other organization on this planet save the original Harlem Globetrotters,” said Steve Plesac, director of Student Activities at St. Bonaventure.

Living up to their billing as “ambassadors of goodwill,” the Globetrotters will continue their tradition of:
- introducing amazing ball-handling and comedy routines, while keeping the timeless classics from throughout their history.
- featuring an autograph session at the end of every game, allowing fans a chance to get autographs and interact with their favorite Globetrotter.
- becoming involved in every community they play by visiting local schools, hospitals and other youth-based organizations. The Globetrotters donate money and merchandise to hundreds of local and national charities every year.
- entertaining crowds with the antics of their exciting mascot, Globie.

“There is no sports organization in history that has shown more goodwill toward its fans on a worldwide stage then this team of basketball magicians on the hardwood,” Plesac said.

Since their inception in 1926, the Harlem Globetrotters have traveled to 118 nations, played before 124 million fans, won championships and built bridges between people and communities around the world.

In 2002, the organization was only the fifth team to be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, followed by an induction into the Black Sports and Entertainment Hall of Fame and the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame. They have also been recognized as the most popular sports team by the 2002, 2000 and 1999 Q Ratings.

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Goo Goo Dolls to rock the RC

Western New Yorkers will have a chance to hear songs from the Goo Goo Dolls’ eighth album, “Let Love In,” in person when the band stops on the St. Bonaventure University campus this spring. The Tuesday, March 20, show in the Reilly Center Arena begins at 8 p.m. with special guest Augustana.

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 9.

In between gigs on their current tour, the Goo Goo Dolls will appear on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” Dec. 14, and on “Last Call with Carson Daly” Dec. 22.

“St. Bonaventure University is excited and honored to host the Goo Goo Dolls live and in concert at the University’s Reilly Center Arena. It was certainly very much like receiving an early Christmas present for the University and surrounding communities, when our concert date became confirmed by the concert promoter Live Nation,” said Steve Plesac, director of Student Activities at St. Bonaventure.

“The Goo Goo Dolls are national recording artists who have never forgotten their hometown roots and they continue to produce music both recorded and live that truly matters,” Plesac said. Sometimes you’ve got to go home to find yourself. That’s what the Goo Goo Dolls discovered when they began writing songs for Let Love In.

Since forming in 1986, the Goo Goo Dolls have evolved from a scrappy, punk-influenced trio into the platinum-selling, chart-topping act behind such radio staples as “Name,” “Iris,” “Slide,” and “Here is Gone.” Along the way, founding members John Rzeznik and Robby Takac left Buffalo for Los Angeles, but Rzeznik soon found that L.A. isn’t everything it’s cracked up to be.

“I wasn’t really feeling any kind of real inspiration in Los Angeles,” he admits. “I was sitting here just beating my head against the wall trying to write songs and I wasn’t feeling inspired at all.”

The quest to rekindle his muse led Rzeznik to pack his recording gear and guitars in a U-Haul truck and drive across country to his hometown. He met his band mates Robby Takac and drummer Mike Malinin and set up shop in a 100-year-old Masonic ballroom.

“It was a really beautiful old place,” he says. “It felt really good to be back where I grew up. It’s sort of that whole getting-back-to-your-roots thing only that sounds so cliché, but there’s definitely a different kind of dramatic tension there than in L.A.”

After the incredible success of “Iris,” the landmark power ballad recorded for the “City of Angels” soundtrack, and the Goo Goo Dolls’ 1998 blockbuster “Dizzy Up the Girl,” Rzeznik became a Los Angeles resident. But he soon found that the commercial success that the band strove for and obtained came with a price.

Those feelings of isolation and the search for inspiration led him back home to Buffalo where the Dolls spent a long cold winter working 12 hours a day, writing and recording material for “Let Love In.” Once in Buffalo, Rzeznik was able to tap into his roots. “It just reminded me — this is who you are. This is where you’re from. It’s never anything to be ashamed of, and it actually gave me strength to have a sense of my own history,” he says.

While the Goo Goo Dolls have certainly enjoyed their success, one thing is certain — the band hasn’t forgotten where they came from and is happy to give back to their loyal fans. That became perfectly clear on July 4, 2004, when the band returned to Buffalo to play a free gig for more than 60,000 fans.

When rain fell on the outdoor show, it could have turned into a logistical nightmare, but instead it became a hometown triumph that was captured for posterity’s sake on “The Goo Goo Dolls Live in Buffalo July 4th 2004” CD/DVD release.

“The whole thing turned around as soon as it started raining,” Rzeznik recalls. “It was awesome. I remember being up there playing and going, ‘Sometimes God just cuts you a break’ and that’s what it was.”

Tickets are $35 general admission and go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Reilly Center Ticket Office, all Tops Friendly Markets locations, and through www.tickets.com or by calling 888-223-6000.

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Olean students to join Kenny Rogers on stage

When Kenny Rogers’ acclaimed Christmas Tour stops at St. Bonaventure University’s Reilly Center Arena Wednesday, Dec. 13, there will be some familiar faces — and voices — on stage.

Eastview Elementary School students Jordan Creed, Mackenzie Both, Gabriel Pfeiffer, Christopher Hillyer and Brendan O’Connell will be featured with Rogers during a Christmas medley. Also joining the three-time Grammy Award-winning musician on stage for the medley will be 30 members of Olean High School’s Select Chorus.

“The students are very excited to have this opportunity,’’ said Olean High School choral director Jan Rhody.

Wednesday’s concert, which also features singer Linda Davis, begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Reilly Center Arena. Rogers will perform his classics, such as “The Gambler,” as well as new hits, “I Can’t Unlove You,” from “Water & Bridges,” and heartwarming Christmas songs, such as “Let it Snow.”

Tickets are priced at $45.50 and $39.50 and are available at the Reilly Center Box Office, www.tickets.com, Tops Friendly Markets locations or by calling 1-888-223-6000.

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ROTC program honored for commissioning success

The St. Bonaventure University Army ROTC program has been recognized for its success in commissioning future Army officers during the 2005-2006 academic year.

The program received a Louisville Slugger baseball glove and ball holder at an awards banquet Nov. 29 at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tenn.

The ceremony was part of the weeklong annual U.S. Army Cadet Command Eastern Region Commander’s Senior Professor of Military Science (PMS) Workshop. Lt. Col. Richard Trietley Jr., the professor of military science at St. Bonaventure, attended the event.

In all, 104 of Eastern Region’s 132 Army ROTC programs from colleges and universities across the eastern half of the country were honored for their success in commissioning cadets.

Because Eastern Region’s headquarters, based at Fort Knox, Ky., is close to Louisville, the awards ceremony takes on a baseball theme. Programs meeting or exceeding their commissioning mission receive a Louisville Slugger bat. Those achieving their mission for commissioning nursing cadets receive a baseball and holder. Those meeting an increased general mission receive a glove. Eastern Region is part of U.S. Army Cadet Command, based at Fort Monroe, Va. The command produces more Army officers than any other commissioning source. T

he St. Bonaventure University Army ROTC program, the Seneca Battalion, is comprised of cadets from St. Bonaventure University, Houghton College, Alfred University, Alfred State College, the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, SUNY-Fredonia and Jamestown Community College.

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Newsmakers ...

Dr. Zennia D. Hancock, assistant professor of modern languages, delivered a paper Nov. 16-19, 2006, at the annual meeting of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages in Nashville, Tenn. Hancock's presentation, "How to Design and Lead a Successful Study-Abroad Program," addressed how to create a language immersion program overseas while maintaining academic standards.

A joint effort between the Department of Modern Languages (led by Dr. Zennia Hancock) and the Damietta Center (led by Peter Ghiloni) arranged for 27 ninth-grade Latina girls from Dunkirk High School to visit SBU's campus Nov. 28. The adolescents listened to conversations on college life led by HEOP and Modern Languages students; took a campus tour with the Student Ambassadors; ate lunch in the Hickey Dining Hall; and toured the Damietta Center. The visit was the follow-up to a recent class activity for the Women's Studies course "Latina Feminisms," during which SBU students visited and interacted with the girls at their high school. Women's Studies and Modern Languages students were also among the six female SBU participants who made an overnight visit Nov. 8 to the headquarters of "Latina" magazine in New York City. The group, led by Hancock and Visiting Professor Breea Willingham (journalism), learned how the different editorial divisions of the organization work together to produce a minority publication.

Dr. Barbara Trolley, associate professor in counselor education, has been nominated for the American School Counselor Association's "Counselor Educator of the Year" award for the second year in a row.

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There is no FRIDAY FORUM on Dec. 8

Forums will resume Jan. 19, 2007, when the Department of Modern Languages launches the spring semester's forums.