1. SIFE team wins regionals, moves on to nationals in Dallas
2. Curtains up! SBU now offering major in theater
3. Student-athletes reach out to Olean elementary schools
4. Congratulations to recipiens of 2007 Fr. Joe Doino awards!
5. Professor, student present at women's studies conference
6. Department of Political Science to host presentation on Appalachian mountaintop removal
7. DREAM organization to host co-ed basketball tournament
8. 42 students from five school districts adds up to Challenge 24
9. Friday Forum
10. Career Center

____________________

SIFE team wins regionals, moves on to nationals in Dallas

St. Bonaventure University’s chapter of Students in Free Enterprise is heading to the nationals for the fourth consecutive year.

The team presented at the regional competition March 26 in Brooklyn, where teams from 21 colleges and universities, divided into five leagues, competed. The top two teams in each league qualified for the national competition May 6-8 in Dallas.

Thirty-five members of SBU’s chapter attended the competition with five of them presenting to a panel of judges: Claire Collins, senior education major of Corning, N.Y. and co-president of SIFE; Diana Keller, junior marketing major of Hilton, N.Y.; Sara McCue senior finance and accounting major of Newark, N.Y.; Brendan Keating, junior marketing and management major of Buffalo, N.Y.; and Andrew Mantilia, junior business information systems major of New Canaan, Conn.

The team did a 23-minute presentation that covered the various projects and activities the organization did during the school year, including the group’s Bahamas service and entrepreneurial trip in January; local area projects, such as teaching computer skills to children and adults; and working the St. Bonaventure Shootout (women’s basketball tournament) held in Corning.

“Winning regionals for the fourth year in a row was really an amazing experience,” Collins said. “I'm very proud of what our SIFE team has accomplished this year both on all our individual projects and at the competition. I feel very honored to be part of such a prestigious group and hope our luck continues at nationals.”

Dr. Todd Palmer, assistant professor of management Sciences and adviser to SIFE, said the win at regionals was very satisfying for him and the members and was a deserving award for all the group’s hard work this year.

“This was by far the best presentation I’ve seen since I started SIFE here and certainly some of the hardest working kids I’ve had,” he said. “There was so much we did this year both locally and internationally.

“But the work isn’t done yet. We are definitely a top-20 team in the country and hopefully we can prove that in Dallas.”

Click here to return to the top of the page

_____________________

Curtains up! SBU now offering major in theater

Curtains up! A new bachelor of arts degree in theater has been added to the curriculum at St. Bonaventure University, offering a balance of theater text and production history, and performance technique and technical theatrical application.

The bachelor’s degree in theater requires 48 hours of coursework and production in theater. Text-based courses in global production history and aesthetics, surveys in American and European theater history, the history of musical theater, and the combined research and performance-oriented senior capstone project, offer theater majors at SBU the opportunity to fully explore the foundations and applications of theater arts.

“Practical studies in acting, voice and movement, period styles, directing and technical theater and design provide students with a true ‘hands-on’ understanding of how theater is created and presented,” said Dr. Ed. Simone, chair of the Department of Visual and Performing Arts and director of the theater program.

“The establishment of the bachelor’s degree in theater is the realization of a dream of offering a degree to complement our century-long theater production history and the strong presence of the arts in our liberal arts curriculum,” said Sr. Margaret Carney, O.S.F., S.T.D., president of the University. “This new offering is also an excellent complement to our existing programs offering bachelor’s degrees in visual arts and music.”

“We are very pleased to be able to offer this high quality program for students interested in majoring in theater,” added Dr. Michael Fischer, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs. “This program should be very attractive to current and prospective St. Bonaventure students.”

The theater program currently offers 15 courses, two to three professionally directed production opportunities annually, as well as extensive scene and monologue work, and a cast of the national theater honor society Alpha Psi Omega.

Theater productions are rehearsed and staged in two fully equipped performance spaces: the intimate 114-seat Garret Theater and the larger Rigas Family Theater in The Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. Other facilities include a large rehearsal and classroom studio, a fully equipped scene shop, and a computerized sound cue editing and playback system.

“St. Bonaventure’s facilities for teaching and producing theater exceed many other institutions our size already offering the degree,” Simone said, “and we’re already planning for new spaces for workshops, offices and classes.”

Recent SBU Theater productions have included “A Christmas Carol,” “The Devil’s Disciple,” “The Cover of Life,” and “Reckless,” as well as original productions, including “The Inner Above,” a play based on Shakespeare’s works, and “What Are You Thinking?” by Mexican playwright Xavier Villarrutia. SBU Theater also performed the area premieres of Mary Zimmerman’s “Metamorphoses” and a production of “Dog Stories” by the award-winning Chicago playwright Keith Huff, who came to SBU to see the production and teach theater workshop classes.

Huff was amazed to learn the University didn’t offer a theater major at the time.

“To have encountered the level of commitment and skill from students actors who were concentrating in other academic disciplines was absolutely astounding,” he said.

Records of theater performance at SBU go back to 1875, when the first theatrical performances took place. Theater courses, first offered in the early 1970s, and the establishment of a theater minor in 1999 have already provided a solid foundation for students seeking a firm foundation for further study in theater and for students who wish to apply this knowledge to other areas, including studies in literature, education, pre-law, political science, philosophy and history.

“My connection with theater at SBU impacted my college experience in a very positive way, and enhanced my academic career greatly,” said Patricia Ryan Lampl, a member of St. Bonaventure’s Class of 1977 and an Emmy-nominated TV producer and author.

“Theater provides the same relationships people generally associate with sports — teamwork, friendship and discipline. My enthusiasm for a theater major at SBU is boundless.”

2005 graduate Phil Ortolani is confident the new theater major will “allow future generations at SBU to encounter an even better experience than the remarkable one I had.

“As I begin graduate studies to become an English teacher, I look forward to using the skills and experiences I learned as a theater minor at SBU. My only regret was there was no theater major at the time for me to pursue,” Ortolani said.

Approved by the University’s Faculty Senate last fall, the major has recently been approved by the New York State Department of Education.

“We have made a strategic decision to increase the presence of the arts on campus, and this program follows closely on the heels of the approval of the music major and in advance of the art history major, which will be submitted for state approval later this semester,” said Dr. Stephen D. Stahl, dean of the School of Arts and Sciences. “I am excited that we are developing programs to take full advantage of our spectacular facilities.”

Click here to return to the top of the page

_____________________

Student-athletes reach out to Olean elementary schools

ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y., April 4, 2007 — For a few hours last week, three dozen St. Bonaventure University student-athletes closed their textbooks and opened up children’s books.

The Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) sponsors an elementary school-based reading program called SMART, Students Mixing Athletics and Reading Together. This reading program was held the weeks of March 19 and March 26 at Boardmanville and Ivers J. Norton elementary schools in Olean. The college students read age-appropriate books to the children then engaged the class in a discussion of the moral or overall theme of the book and how it relates not only to athletics, but to life.

“SMART is an amazing program because it is a simple way for St. Bonaventure student-athletes to give back to the community,” said SAAC member Pam Stottele. “Being a positive role model and reaching children is one of the most rewarding feelings, and this program gives student-athletes the opportunity to do just that. The children will remember meeting the student-athletes and more importantly, will benefit from the lessons we teach.”

The University students share a little bit about themselves and their sport, and then read a pre-selected book. “Blue Ribbon Day” by Katie Couric is being read to kindergarten through third-graders, and “Inch and Miles” by John Wooden is being read to fourth- and fifth-graders.

“It’s a great opportunity for the student-athletes to give back to the community that supports us in many ways,” said council vice president Courtney Hastrich. “Taking just a couple of hours to read a book and sign autographs in a local school will leave a memorable impression with the local elementary students. … It is refreshing to see how enthusiastic the athletes are. I am proud to be part of something that will make such a strong impact.”

The SAAC is made up of representatives from the 14 Division I teams at St. Bonaventure. The group meets every other week to discuss ways to open communication with administrators, volunteer opportunities, various athletic events and fundraising for senior athlete gifts.

The officers are: Danielle Grobmyer, president; Courtney Hastrich, vice president; Andrew Shulha, treasurer; and Jessica Bartock, secretary. Pam Stottele and Chris Ekimoff are NCAA representatives.

Some of the organization’s other activities include fall and spring faculty-athlete socials, community cleanup days in downtown Allegany, YMCA Kids Day and canned food drives.

Click here to return to the top of the page

_____________________

Congratulations to recipients of 2007 Fr. Joe Doino awards!

Members of the St. Bonaventure University community who have demonstrated exceptional Franciscan values and contributed time and effort to helping others were recognized during the annual Fr. Joe Doino, O.F.M., Honors and Awards Ceremony held Thursday.

The annual event is sponsored by the Office of Student Life and the Student Government Association and is named for the late Fr. Joe Doino, a Franciscan friar known for his talent as a teacher, scholar, musician, preacher and priest.

The 2007 award categories and honorees follow.

University Ministries Volunteer of the Year honor is presented to the volunteer who gave the most time and dedication to University Ministries programs. This year’s honoree is Erin Farrell, a senior elementary education/special education major from Pittsford, N.Y.

Farrell is a student coordinator of Students for the Mountain. She has traveled with Mountain on the Road to share faith with our alums in several cities around the country. Farrell is a faithful member of the worshipping community, and serves as a Eucharistic minister at Mass. In addition, Farrell is a staff member of the Sandra A. and William L. Richter Center.

The Fr. Bob Stewart, O.F.M., Award is presented to a faculty or staff member who voluntarily gave the most time and dedication to the organization he/she serves as adviser, moderator or chaplain. This year’s award goes to WSBU-FM adviser, Dr. Roger Keener, who is also director of the Counseling Center.

Keener has been a crucial asset in assisting WSBU-FM in attaining live stream on the Internet and the St. Bonaventure Web site. In addition, he has also become the station’s budget officer.

“What makes Roger a great adviser and deserving of this award is his openness and open-door policy,” said student Bryan Collins, former station manager. “He has helped me through a lot, and I am grateful to him for his ability to help me through my journey here at St. Bonaventure.”

Program or Event of the Year honors the best program or event at St. Bonaventure. More than one organization may be awarded if the event was co-sponsored. This year’s recipient is the First-Year Experience. Special recognition was given to Chris Brown, Nancy Casey, Jean Ehman, Ann Lehman and Mary Piccioli.

New students who arrived on campus last August were greeted with the University’s inaugural First-Year Experience program. Living and learning communities help students meet the campus community and provide academic and social connections from the first day. Freshmen-only residence halls help meet the challenge of transitioning to living in a community, and Affinity Groups cluster students with similar interests. Other aspects of the program include Orientation, Welcome Days and the All Bonaventure Reads initiative.

The Donald L. Korben Community Service Award is presented to the student or organization that has gone “beyond the call of duty” and has contributed the most to the University and/or local community.

Honored this year for the organization award is the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program, which brings federal and state income tax benefits to people with low and moderate incomes by providing free income tax preparation and e-filing.

Members of the St. Bonaventure Accounting Association volunteer their skills that make the local program viable. The students have participated in the VITA program since 2004 and are approaching $1 million in cumulative tax refunds, surpassing original expectations. The students work in pairs to support and supervise each other. They meet and interview the client, prepare his or her tax return, review the tax return and explain it to the client.

The program runs in coordination with local service agencies.

An individual Community Service Award was presented to senior Chris Caldwell who has been active in service to the Warming House as a volunteer and student-leader.

“Chris is — by far — the student who is most comfortable, most assertive, most understanding and most himself when he sits at the tables and listens, laughs and shares himself with guests,” said Trevor Thompson, director of the Warming House.

Caldwell has worked with one Warming House guest in particular, and has taken the man to Salamanca for job interviews, into his own home for meals and helped him offer his story at the Health Care Access Coalition’s Citizens’ Hearing on Health Care last fall.

In addition to the Warming House, Caldwell has been an Assisi pilgrim, Mt. Irenaeus summer intern and Journey Project intern at Canticle Farm. He has also participated in the Move-Out program and Ecuador service trip. He is a sociology major from Bolton, Conn.

The Fr. Gervase White, O.F.M., Staff Person of the Year is presented to a St. Bonaventure employee who has gone out of his/her way in aiding students and enhancing student life. Being honored this year is Barbara O’Keefe, former secretary in the School of Business, who was nominated by several employees and students in the School of Business.

While typing tests, answering phones, supervising student workers and proctoring make-up exams, O’Keefe always had a smile on her face. She is known for her positive, respectful attitude and assisting students.

“One thing that distinguishes Barb is her sincere interest in the students,” said Dr. Carol Fischer, professor of accounting. “She consistently offered assistance and ensured that students’ needs were met.”

O’Keefe worked as secretary in the School of Business for more than five years and has recently taken a new position in the Athletics Office.

The Organization of the Year is an honor given to the organization that has demonstrated a commitment to St. Bonaventure University through its activities, and has added to student life. Being honored this year is Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE), which was nominated by Claire Collins, SIFE co-president, and Todd Palmer, SIFE co-adviser.

SIFE is the largest student club and service organization at the University, with 70 members who volunteer in local and international communities. Most national SIFE teams consist of business majors only, while the St. Bonaventure division includes members from 21 majors.

SIFE’s achievements this year include a Bahamas service trip, overnight student workshops, a business plan competition with nine local high schools, establishment of a partnership with the impoverished Bahamian village of Pinder’s Point to develop an economic development zone, local computer assistance and local entrepreneurial assistance.

Student Leader of the Year is presented to the top leader of a campus organization who has shown exemplary leadership abilities in guiding his/her organization to success. This year’s honoree is Lindsay Pohlman, a sophomore journalism/mass communication major from Orchard Park.

Pohlman is involved with The Journey Project, SIFE, the Counseling Center, Student Ambassadors and is a Prison Visit coordinator. She brings new ideas and an optimistic attitude with her involvement in these activities.

“Lindsay is always a person you can rely on, and know she will follow through with everything,” said resident assistant Amanda Lengauer. “She takes an active leadership role.”

The Terry Bickel Student Life Award is presented to the student who has made the most substantial contribution to the area of student life. The nominee demonstrates qualities of Bickel herself: patience, commitment, optimism and a sense of humor.

Natalia Cardona, a senior psychology major from Jackson Heights, N.Y., is this year’s recipient.

Cardona participates in many St. Bonaventure activities. She constantly reaches out to students and creates new methods to entice them to attend events.

“I have frequently attended or hosted events where Natalia corralled students to come or was the only student there,” said Angie Wolfe, who works in the Counseling Center.

The Heather Lohr Cabinet Member of the Year is an award for a Student Government cabinet member in honor of 1994 graduate Heather Lohr, a former management and academic delegate who died after an extended illness. Lohr brought renewed professionalism to her positions, in which she showed selflessness and a willingness to help.

This year’s recipient is Emily Tanski, a junior sociology major from Akron, N.Y., who serves as management secretary of the Student Government Association.

Tanski is in charge of managing what clubs are chartered — and which need to be chartered — as well as ensuring that all clubs and student organizations have completed appropriate paperwork.

The Leo E. Kennan Jr. Faculty Appreciation Award is given to the faculty member who most exemplifies a genuine commitment to human betterment through the acquisition of knowledge. This faculty member is guided in his/her daily life by a deep sensitivity and gentle understanding of differences, and who reflects in his/her relationships with students and enduring optimism.

This year’s award recipient is Constance Pierce, assistant professor of visual arts.

“Professor Pierce can routinely be found in the evening in her office, the door always open. She welcomes her art students from her classes … as well as the general student body,” said student Katherine Rogers.

The ACE (Admissions Commitment to Excellence) Award is given to an individual and/or organization that has helped serve and promote the University in various ways and helped recruit and retain students. The Office of Admissions presented ACE Awards to Aramark Dining Services (organization) and Tom Missel (individual).

“In their first year as the University’s food service provider, Anthony Criscone and his professional team not only operate a substantially renovated and improved Hickey Dining Hall, but they also revamped the way meals are delivered, led the way in eliminating trans-fats from their menu and spearheaded a grass roots effort to ensure the Princeton Review’s assessment of the University was as representative as possible,” said admissions director Jim DiRisio.

Aramark Services always found ways to integrate the Admissions Office’s requests for food service during numerous on-campus recruitment events, he said.

“Hickey Dining Hall has become one of the highlights of a prospective student’s campus visit, and we sincerely appreciate the Aramark team for its professional and personable complement to the admissions effort,” DiRisio said.

The recipient of the individual ACE Award was Tom Missel, director of publications and interim director of media relations.

In a year where there has been considerable interest in recruitment, Missel was instrumental in providing the Admissions Team with high quality printed publications that have been integral to their success thus far.

“He is not only a highly talented graphic artist, but more importantly, an effective communicator who has consistently provided sound advice and beautiful printed publications,” said DiRisio.

Click here to return to the top of the page

_____________________

Professor, student present at women's studies conference

Dr. Zennia Hancock, assistant professor of modern languages at St. Bonaventure University, and senior Emily Soule, a Spanish major from East Syracuse, N.Y., presented their work at the first Saint Rose Women’s Studies Regional Conference March 24.

The conference, titled “Feminism, Activism, and the Academy,” was held at The College of Saint Rose in Albany. Authors and activists Jennifer Baumgardner, Barbara Smith and Amy Richards headlined the conference.

Hancock and Soule became involved in the conference after Hancock taught Soule in her Latina Feminisms class last semester. During the class, Soule wrote the paper that she presented at the conference, titled Feminist Activism and Cultural Awareness in a Western New York Community.

Hancock’s paper was titled Practices of Solidarity at a Small Catholic University: How a Latina Feminisms Course Became an Activist Project. Hancock put together a panel of students to attend the conference, but they were unable to attend because of scheduling conflicts.

“We were interested in attending the conference from a women’s studies perspective,” Hancock said. “We were the only panel to address minority issues. The organizer said we were going to be an important panel and I think that’s why. Looking at the various papers there was nothing that mentioned Latinas, so I think that was an important contribution.”

The theme of activism and feminism connected with Hancock’s class. “It’s hard to teach a class on feminism when you don’t talk about how to fix the problems,” she said. “Anytime I teach a women’s studies class, I am going to incorporate activism.”

Last semester, Soule and other members of the Latina Feminisms class visited Dunkirk High School to meet with Latina girls at the school.

“I feel like I am still learning about our mentoring experience,” Soule said. “I don’t have all the answers to explain the behaviors of the Latina girls, but maybe I never will. It was frustrating at times, but for the most part it was challenging, rewarding and positive.”

“The conference consisted of students, so it was really nice to be around your peers who feel the same way as you do,” she said. “It was really interesting to hear what other women are doing on their campuses and made me think about our lack of activism on campus … both the women and the men on campus should be doing something more.”

The Journey Project funded the trip for Soule and Hancock.

Click here to return to the top of the page

_____________________

Department of Political Science to host program on Appalachian mountaintop removal

Appalachian Voices will present a multi-media presentation and discussion of mountaintop removal in Appalachia at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 11, in the Robert R. Jones Board of Trustees Room on the St. Bonaventure University campus.

The program is free and open to the public.

Officials with Appalachian Voices describe mountaintop removal as “one of the greatest environmental and human rights catastrophes in American history. Just southwest of our nation’s capital in the coalfields of Appalachia, individuals, families and entire communities are being driven off their land by flooding, landslides and blasting resulting from mountaintop removal coal mining.”

St. Bonaventure’s Department of Political Science is sponsoring the presentation.

Appalachian Voices brings people together to solve the environmental problems having the greatest impact on the central and southern Appalachian Mountains, including eliminating air pollution, ending mountaintop removal and restoring Appalachian forests. Its mission is to empower people to defend the region’s rich natural and cultural heritage by providing them with tools and strategies for successful grassroots campaigns.

Click here to return to the top of the page

_____________________

DREAM organization to host co-ed basketball tournament

The Damietta DREAM organization will sponsor a co-ed basketball tournament on Tuesday, April 10, and Wednesday, April 11, at the Sandra A. and William L. Richter Center Richter Center.

DREAM, which stands for Developing Relationships through the Educational Awareness of Multiculturalism, is a new multicultural club on campus. The tournament consists of student and faculty teams. The first two days will include all student teams playing each other.

The winner of the first round of games will advance to play in the championship game against faculty and staff at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 12. Interested students and faculty need to submit a team roster to Rob Defazio in the Richter Center by 2 p.m., on Wednesday, April 4, to participate.

Lamont Rhim, assistant director of admissions, is one of the directors for the tournament. Rhim said the purpose of the activity is for students and faculty to get to know each other outside of the educational atmosphere, to play ball and have some fun.

“This event gives faculty an opportunity to know more students,” said Rhim.

Students and faculty are invited to watch the games.

Click here to return to the top of the page

_____________________

42 students, five school districts add up to Challenge 24

Forty-two students from five area school districts participated in the 2006-2007 Challenge-24 Mathematics Contest March 24 at St. Bonaventure University.

The participating schools included: Cuba Elementary, Cuba-Rushford Middle School, Ellicottville Central School, Hinsdale Central School, three Olean elementary schools (Boardmanville, East View, and Washington West), Olean Middle School, and Salamanca Middle School.

Challenge-24 is a game in which contestants are presented with four numbers between 1 and 9. The object is to combine the numbers, using each number exactly once, to produce an answer of 24. Any of the standard arithmetic operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division) may be used as needed, perhaps more than once, to get the result.

Medals were awarded to the first-, second- and third-place students in each grade. They were:

4th grade — First Place: Monroe Morris (Cuba Elementary) Second Place: Ashley Law (Cuba Elementary) Third Place: Alexis Sova (Washington West Elementary)

5th grade — First Place: Michael Williamson (Cuba Elementary) Second Place: Betsy Weatherby (Boardmanville Elementary) Third Place: Adam Dowd (Cuba Elementary)

6th grade — First Place: Bradley Painter (Olean Middle School) Second Place: Matthew Bysiek (Hinsdale Central School) Third Place: Thomas Kirk (Olean Middle School)

7th grade — First Place: Rob Wight (Cuba-Rushford Middle School) Second Place: Kaleb Pierce (Cuba-Rushford Middle School) Third Place: Matthew Minner (Salamanca Middle School)

Click here to return to the top of the page

_____________________

Join us for next week's FRIDAY FORUM!

All SBU faculty, staff and administrators are welcome to all the Friday Forums.

Date: Friday,April 13, 2007
Speakers: John Mulryan and Jeff White
Time: Lunch starts at noon, Forum goes from 12:35 to 1:30 p.m., including Q&A
Place: University Club - Above Hickey; please sign in and pay $3 at the front desk before proceeding upstairs.
Title: “The Big Book: Thirty-Five Years in the Making.”

Click here to return to the top of the page

_____________________

Check out details concerning skill-building video workshops, on-campus recruiting and more. For more information visit our Web site.

Click here to return to the top of the page