New Page 2

Susan Saint Sing, Ph.D., will talk about her remarkable journey as an athlete and coach Wednesday, Nov. 14, at St. Bonaventure University.

In the prime of her career, Saint Sing overcame a life-threatening injury during a gymnastics exercise and transformed her life and career through an understanding of Franciscan spirituality and the journey of saints Francis and Clare.

As a talented athlete and inspirational coach, Saint Sing will share her thoughts on the important connection between mind, body and soul essential in all play. She will host lectures for the general public, students, athletes, coaches and team chaplains.

The lectures include, “Remember to Remember: The Baggage and the Essence of Sport,” open to athletic coaches and team chaplains in the Reilly Center Hall of Fame at 8:30 a.m.; “Arete and the Pursuit of Excellence: Balancing Body and Soul,” open to the general public in Dresser Auditorium of the John J. Murphy Professional Building at 11:30 a.m.; “Francis and Play: Balancing Mind, Body, and Spirit,” open to the general public in Dresser Auditorium at 4 p.m.; and, for student-athletes, “Athletes Not Jocks: Question and Answer,” in Dresser Auditorium at 8 p.m.

In her 2004 book, “Spirituality of Sport: Balancing Body and Soul,” Saint Sing shares stories of heroism and championship — her own, and those of other people. It provides readers with an understanding of arete.

“It is a very ancient concept of grace and beauty in strength,” Saint Sing said. “I think this quality is lost sometimes in sport in our headlong pursuit of winning or money. If one pursues excellence — arete — then you win more than just a medal.”

The book takes personal accounts of deeply spiritual moments in sports that contributed to the athlete’s insights, faith and Olympic experience. The insights are related to the reader in a non-religious manner.

Saint Sing is a hall of fame athlete having played basketball, gymnastics, track and field, field hockey and cross-country. She was a member of the 1993 U.S. World Rowing Team.

She has coached rowing crews to several national medals, most recently at the 2005 World Championships in Japan. She has sailed over 10,000 ocean miles in the North Atlantic, Atlantic and Bahamian waters.

Saint Sing received her doctorate in sport history and philosophy from Penn State in 2004. Her latest book is “The San Damiano Crucifix,” published in 2006 by St. Anthony Messenger Press.

Through Holy Name Province’s initiative to incorporate peacemaking in its ministries, a local group has been formed dedicated to practicing and promoting nonviolent peacemaking in a fragmented and increasingly violent society.

“(We wanted) to create a program that would be large enough to include more than the University community,” said Sr. Suzanne Kush, C.S.S.F., director of the Franciscan Center for Social Concern at St. Bonaventure University.

The group is called NAMASTE (nah-mah-STAY), a Hindi word meaning, “I honor the place in you in which the entire universe dwells. I honor the place in you, which is of Love, of Truth, of Light and of Peace. When you are in that place in you and I am in that place in me, We are One.”

The group includes representatives from the various ministries of the Franciscan friars in the area: Mt. Irenaeus, St. Bonaventure Church, the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany and the University, said Sr. Suzanne.

The name was chosen because it reaches out to communities beyond the Catholic community, said Barry Gan, Ph.D., professor of philosophy and director of the Center for Nonviolence at St. Bonaventure.

“We thought the name would represent our intentions to be inclusive of all people,” said Sr. Suzanne, who credits Fr. Richard Husted, O.F.M., at St. Bonaventure Church for suggesting the name.

NAMASTE’s vision is to draw inspiration, with open hearts and minds, from the lives and spirits of Francis of Assisi and Mohatma Gandhi, and to pursue personal transformation that leads to societal change.

“You can find injustice in your local community,” said Gan. “That’s what [Dr. Martin Luther] King did. It wasn’t a national movement, but it attracted national attention.”

NAMASTE will offer monthly programs on nonviolence open to the University and local communities over the course of 10 months. Audience members at the programs will have the opportunity to ask questions after the presentations.

NAMASTE’s first program will be held at 7 p.m. Nov. 14 in the University Chapel in Doyle Hall. The program will feature Jean François Godet-Calogeras, associate professor of Franciscan Studies, as the keynote speaker. Godet-Calogeras will speak on “Brother Francis, the Wolf and the People of Gubbio.”

“People need to be nonviolent within (themselves) and it can ripple outwards,” said Fr. Peter Schneible, O.F.M, Ph.D., assistant professor of biology.

Fr. Peter is a member of the Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Directorate of the Holy Name Province.

“The idea of the programs is to introduce people to the concept of nonviolent peacemaking,” said Gan.

For more information, contact Sr. Suzanne at skush@sbu.edu.

University of Pittsburgh at Bradford accounting students can now enroll in St. Bonaventure University’s five-year MBA program in Professional Accountancy, thanks to an agreement signed by administrators at both colleges.

Pitt-Bradford students who earn a bachelor’s degree in accounting and meet established admissions standards (GPA and GMAT) for St. Bonaventure University’s 150-hour accounting program are guaranteed acceptance into the program at the university.

“This really is a win-win for both institutions,” said Dr. Michael Fischer, provost and vice president for academic affairs at St. Bonaventure. “This is the first time in years we’ve partnered academically with Pitt-Bradford, and we hope it lays the groundwork for future initiatives together.”

Interested Pitt-Bradford students must apply by Feb. 1 of their junior year and will be informed of an admissions decision by March 15 of that year. Accepted students will be guaranteed enrollment in the St. Bonaventure 150-hour program, which has been offered for more than 10 years.

St. Bonaventure’s School of Business is accredited by AACSB, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Only 15 percent of business schools have earned that distinction.

To be eligible for the program, students must complete the courses indicated in the curriculum summary during their study in Pitt-Bradford’s bachelor of science accounting program.

Upon completion of the St. Bonaventure requirements, students will earn their MBA degree from St. Bonaventure University and will fully satisfy the New York State 150-hour educational requirements for CPA licensure.

“Pitt-Bradford students can now seamlessly flow into the St. Bonaventure five-year program. This is important because we draw students from New York high schools who want to return to New York when they graduate from college. It’s nice to be affiliated with a program that meets all New York state requirements.” said Lizbeth Matz, chair of Pitt-Bradford’s division of management and education.

Dr. Livingston Alexander, president of the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, said, “This is a way to facilitate the process for students sitting for the CPA examination. It is a great advantage for those students entering our accounting program.”

Most states, but currently not Pennsylvania, require 150 hours of education as a condition for receiving a CPA license. The 150-hour requirement may be mandated for Pennsylvania CPA certificate applicants after Jan. 1, 2012, according to the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

SBU Theater to open season Wednesday with 'Revenge of the Space Pandas'

SBU Theater will launch its 2007-08 season Wednesday, Nov. 14, in the Rigas Family Theater of The Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts with the opening of “The Revenge of the Space Pandas.”

“The Revenge of the Space Pandas” runs through Saturday, Nov. 17. Show times are 7:30 p.m. except for a special children’s matinee, which will be at 1 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15.

“The Revenge of the Space Pandas” promises fast, funny entertainment for the whole family from award-winning playwright and screenwriter David Mamet (“The Untouchables” and “American Buffalo”).

“Revenge of the Space Pandas works for both children and adults. It’s got that kind of quirky humor,” said Dr. Ed Simone, chair of the Department of Visual and Performing Arts and director of the theater program. “Most of our offerings at SBU Theater have strong social or political messages. This is an hour of pure goofy fun — because sometimes you just want dessert.”

In “Space Pandas,” kid scientist Binky Rudich invents a two-speed clock that sends him and his friends Vivian and Bob to the planet Crestview. Everything looks great until Crestview’s supreme ruler, the evil George Topax, and his army of space pandas refuse to return Binky and his friends to Earth.

SBU Theater is part of the growing theater program in the Department of Visual and Performing Arts and is produced by the department in cooperation with the Quick Center for the Arts.

The production is the first play offered with the University’s new theater major in place and is the first SBU show designed by new faculty member Rebecca R. Misenheimer, assistant professor of theater. The show is directed by Simone and the production stage manager is student Mary Schrader of Murphy, Texas.

To reserve tickets or for more information, call the Quick Center Box Office at (716) 375-2494.

Free rush tickets to SBU Theater performances may be obtained by all students (high school or college level). Free rush tickets are available at any performance for which there are unsold seats. Just come to the box office one hour before curtain, show your valid student ID, and you’ll receive one free ticket for that event’s performance. One ticket per valid ID in person only.

As part of All Bonaventure Reads, St. Bonaventure University welcomes Eric Schlosser, author of "Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal," to campus Thursday, Nov. 15.

Schlosser’s keynote speech will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Reilly Center Arena. He will speak on "Fast Food Nation" as well as his other books, all The New York Times Best Sellers and covering a range of social justice issues. The event is open to the public.

From an initial stack of some 60 books, "Fast Food Nation" was chosen as the All Bonaventure Reads selection for 2007-08 academic year. First-year students were required to read the book prior to arrival on campus in August and since have been involved in multiple conversations about the themes in the book in their University 101 classes, a one-credit course for all first-year students.

“One of the reasons why we chose this book was because it fits with the University’s mission and values,” said Dr. Nancy Casey, director of the First-Year Experience program and associate professor of education.

“It touches on many issues that resonate with our Franciscan heritage.”

Schlosser’s second book, "Reefer Madness: Sex, Drugs, and Cheap Labor in the American Black Market," explores the nation’s growing underground economy. Schlosser also co-wrote with Charles Wilson "Chew on This: Everything You Don’t Want to Know About Fast Food" in efforts to counter fast food marketing aimed at children. Schlosser is currently at work on a book about America’s prison system.

“These are the kinds of ideas that we think about at St. Bonaventure,” said Casey. “It gives (students) a chance to think about the big ideas that drive the University.”

Prior to the keynote, Schlosser will speak with University seniors as part of their Clare Senior Forum classes at 4 p.m. in Auditorium A/B of the John J. Murphy Professional Building.

Immediately before the keynote, there will be a dinner for a select group of freshmen at 5:30 p.m. in the Hall of Fame Room in the Reilly Center. One freshman from each University 101 class will be selected to attend.

Following the keynote, Schlosser will sign books at 8:30 p.m. in the University Bookstore. Both "Fast Food Nation" and "Reefer Madness" will be available for purchase and signing. An open discussion with Schlosser for faculty and staff will be held at 9 a.m. on Nov. 16 at the Thomas Merton Center. Refreshments will be served.

For more information, contact Casey at ncasey@sbu.edu or Nichole Gonzalez at ngonzale@sbu.edu.

Click here to return to the top of the page

_____________________

U.S. Representative John R. “Randy” Kuhl Jr. (R-Hammondsport) has secured $650,000 in federal funding for science and technology upgrades at St. Bonaventure University.

Coming in the form of two earmarks within the House’s Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations $675 billion spending bill, approved Wednesday night (Nov. 7), the funding provides $350,000 toward new science equipment for the new William F. Walsh Science Center, scheduled to open in 2008, and another $300,000 to upgrade and expand classroom technology for the University and local community use.

“St. Bonaventure is one of the finest institutions of higher education in the area and enhancements in science and technology are necessary to keep the University at the top of its game,” said Rep. Kuhl. "St. Bonaventure is a critical part of the local economy of the Southern Tier so I am glad that these funds have been included in the bill and particularly thank Rep. Jim Walsh, the ranking Republican member of the Labor/HHS Subcommittee, for his assistance.”

The Walsh Science Center is designed around research-based learning, the approach that is preferred by industry and post-baccalaureate institutions, and will not function as designed without the proper equipment for the chemistry, biology, environmental science, mathematics, physics, psychology, and computer science departments, Rep. Kuhl said.

The funding will help the University acquire new equipment and continue to expand and upgrade its technological infrastructure.

“As the president of St. Bonaventure University, I want to personally thank and recognize Congressman Kuhl for his help in securing this critical federal funding,” said Sr. Margaret Carney, O.S.F., S.T.D. “Rep. Kuhl’s support is enabling us to upgrade science equipment and learning technology, both of which will significantly enhance our students’ ability to contribute to the 21st century workforce. We are grateful for his support.”

Click here to return to the top of the page

_____________________

Friday Forum

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

Date: Friday, Nov. 9, 2007
Speaker: Br. F. Edward Coughlin, VP for Franciscan Mission
Time: 12:15 to 1:30 p.m.
Place: University Club
Topic: "Can Ethics Be Taught?: An Exploration of Harvard’s Question and Scotus’s Ethics"
Abstract: In the 1993 book "Can Ethics Be Taught?" faculty members of the Harvard Business School reflected on a “call to rebalance the educational trilogy of values, knowledge and skills.” It explored their conviction that “Each is important; each is insufficient in isolation.”
Drawing on the reflections of the Harvard group, the Friday Forum will explore one of the core value challenges embedded in the University’s recently articulated Statement of Distinction. Using a SBU based case study, the forum will attempt to demonstrate how three principles in the ethical method of John Duns Scotus might be used as conversation partners in determining some of the core principles that might be used in seeking to determining “the good” that might be chosen in the case study.
Cost: $3

An essay by Dr. Michael Chiariello, professor of philosophy, titled “Umberto Eco’s The Name of the Rose: Teaching the Franciscan Intellectual Tradition to Postmodern Undergraduates” will be included in an anthology, Postscript to the Middle Ages: Teaching Medieval Studies through Umberto Eco’s Name of the Rose, edited by Alison Ganze, to be published by University of Syracuse Press next year. The essay is based on Chiariello’s development of a course on the Franciscan Intellectual Tradition, which he taught at the Umbra Institute, in Perugia, Italy, as part of the University’s Franciscan Heritage Semester Study Abroad Program in spring 2007.

Dr. Chris Stanley, professor of theology, traveled recently to the UK to present papers to graduate students and faculty at two British educational institutions. His first stop was Trinity Theological College in Bristol, England, where he read a paper titled “Did Paul’s Audiences Understand His Biblical References?” From there he went to the University of Wales, where he gave two papers, one on “Literacy and Illiteracy in the Early Christianity” and the other on “Ethnic Rhetoric in the Letters of Paul.” Both visits were sponsored by the UK Fulbright Commission. Stanley is spending the fall semester in Ireland on a Fulbright Fellowship.

On Oct. 23-24, 2007, St. Bonaventure University physical education teaching majors Danielle Lada, Nick Goodell, Andria Cuello, Krista Carlson, and Meghan DePaul traveled with students from the Alternative Education School of Salamanca and two of their teachers to Carlisle, Pa., to learn about the first American Indian boarding school in the United States. Funded through the Journey Project and organized through the efforts of teachers from the Salamanca School District, Dr. Paula Scraba and Dr. Paul Brawdy, this experience offered students and faculty the opportunity to learn about the use of sport and education in the 19th and early 20th century colonization of American Indians. Of special interest to this group were the opportunities for Salamanca students to learn more about their own family histories as well to learn about the connections between local Seneca athletes and Carlisle's legendary football program.

Renowned inspirational author Joan Guntzelman, Ph.D., B.S.N., presented “Blessing Life’s Losses: The Role of Loss in Coming to New Life” at a seminar Saturday, Nov. 3, at the St. Bonaventure University Clubhouse. The event was hosted by the Bogoni Center. Some 50 area healthcare and aging providers and students of aging studies attended the day-long program. Providing the welcome and introduction was Beth Lenegan, Ph.D., director of pastoral care at Roswell Park Cancer Institute, which co-sponsored the event.

The Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts was recognized by the New York Council for the Humanities during State Humanities Month. Since 1975, the New York Council for the Humanities has actively nurtured the role of the humanities in the intellectual and cultural life of New York state. Each October, the Council produces an extensive calendar and statewide publicity campaign centered on all the public programs funded by the Council. The Quick Center’s African Odyssey, an exhibition of African art, was acknowledged in the State Humanities Month calendar mailing as one of only five month long events and on the Council’s Web site at www.nyhumanities.org.