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All Bonaventure Reads author visits campus
 Freshmen,
upperclassmen and scores of other Bonaventure community members
packed the Reilly Center Arena Sept. 29 for a speech given by author
Rebecca Skloot.
Skloot’s book, “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks,”
was the All Bonaventure Reads selection for the class of 2014 and
was required reading for all incoming freshmen. The students were
asked to write a brief reflection piece after completing the book.
The 13 essays considered the best were included in a hardcover keepsake
book presented to Skloot before the speech. The
13 winning essays can be found on the university Web site.
Skloot was overjoyed by the gift and made a point to acknowledge
the generosity.
“The essays are by far the greatest gift I’ve gotten
from any of the schools I’ve talked at,” Skloot said
before delving into her presentation.
Her book centers on the story of Henrietta Lacks, whose cells were
taken without her consent during medical treatment. Lacks’
cells became the first “immortal” human cells grown.
Skloot began her speech not by talking about her book, but by relating
her life experiences.
She told her audience about her time in school, admitting she was
far from the picture of the perfect student. Dr. Nancy Casey, First-Year
Experience coordinator, greatly appreciated the author’s sincerity.
“I loved how she talked about the fact that when she was in
school she was a delinquent, and not in a bad way,” Casey
said. “What I heard her say was, ‘I lived outside the
box, and you can too. And you can still follow your passions, and
you can still be a good student, and you can still be successful,
but don’t get trapped.’”
Skloot, who was determined to become a veterinarian, stressed to
the students the importance of avoiding narrow vision when thinking
about their future careers.
“We come to school with this very clear path in mind, and
it’s really great and wonderful to have goals and be focused…but
don’t have tunnel vision,” Skloot said. “Don’t
be so focused that you don’t allow yourself to notice other
things, things you can’t imagine as you’re sitting here
right now.”
Skloot’s decision to talk more about her experiences in relation
to the class of 2014 and less about the book left students with
varying impressions, said Casey.
“Some students wished she had talked more about the (Lacks)
family, and other students though she was amazing,” Casey
said.
Jonathan Pierce, a freshman biology and pre-pharmacy major, enjoyed
Skloot’s approach to the speech.
“The speech gave a lot of information I didn’t receive
from the book,” Pierce said. “It made the book more
interesting.”
Freshman journalism and mass communication major Daulton Sherwin
said Skloot’s enthusiasm shined throughout her talk.
“Her experience and her passion for wanting to write the book
stood out the most,” he said.
Sherwin also commented on his overall impressions of the book, and
its ethical theme.
“It was a really enjoyable book,” he said. “You
learned about Henrietta then you moved onto the scientific part.
It got a debate of ethics in your head.”
-Bryan Jackson
Class of 2011
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Get involved in intramurals
Your student is learning to balance the responsibilities
of college life – and that task can be stressful. Many students
find that intramural athletic programs are a great way to relieve
that stress and meet new people.
Intramural sports allow students to participate in a wide variety
of competitive sports. The program has been a major part of student
life at St. Bonaventure for several decades, growing stronger each
year. Students now have the option of participating in flag football,
three-on-three basketball, indoor soccer, indoor floor hockey, co-ed
softball, co-ed volleyball, badminton, racquetball, five-on-five
basketball, golf, dodge ball, bocce and Kan Jam.
For the first time this year, intramural participants can now register,
view schedules and check on game outcomes, all from their computers.
Rob DeFazio, director of the Center for Activities, Recreation and
Leadership, said intramural athletics are highly beneficial to all
students because they "give students a chance to do something
fun, that they enjoy, while meeting new people of all class years
and burning off stress.
“Intramurals are one of the reasons we are such a tight-knit
campus,” he added.
The intramural program is organized by a council of 12 students
who help DeFazio schedule, organize and oversee every aspect of
the program. These 12 students coordinate workers in each event.
Students can easily balance their academic time commitments with
intramurals and other responsibilities. Intramurals can take from
two to eight hours a week, depending on the number of sports in
which the student is involved.
Parents can encourage their student to find out more about or sign
up for intramurals by visiting the Richter Center.
-Danielle Hibler
Class of 2012
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DisABILITY Awareness
Month
October at St. Bonaventure: falling leaves, dropping temperatures,
scurrying squirrels and midterms. But many St. Bonaventure students
are also finding a rising awareness through events scheduled for
Disability Awareness Month.
Events on campus will focus on augmenting awareness and increasing
acceptance of the variety of ways a life can be led.
“The purpose (of these events) is to foster disability education
and awareness,” Dr. Barbara C. Trolley, professor of education
and chair of the Disability Committee, wrote in an e-mail. “(We)
recognize that persons with disabilities bring unique gifts and
talents to the life of St. Bonaventure University.” She
noted the University’s belief in an inclusive community
that values diversity as a strength.
On Tuesday, Oct. 12, the University will host “It takes
A Village… Come Meet the Village.” The conference
title makes a play on words stemming from the African proverb,
“It takes a village to raise a child.”
The conference will feature a variety of agencies whose purpose
is to empower those with ‘disABILTIES’ to lead successful
lives, according to Trolley. Ron Hager, a senior staff attorney
at the National Rights Network will be the keynote speaker.
On exhibition throughout the month at the Regina A. Quick Center
for the Arts is “Sticky Fingers: The Art of Alex Masket.”
The exhibit remains at the Quick Center through Nov. 28.
Evelyn Sabina, curator of education for the Quick Center, said
the artist, Alex Masket, 23, is severely autistic.
“Alex is an artist first, and that should be what is focused
on,” Sabina said. “His work has been compared to jazz
because of the bright colors that make up the composition; he
is truly improvisational.”
Although “Sticky Fingers” was not specifically brought
in for Disability Awareness month, it fits nicely with October’s
theme.
For freshmen, the exhibit counts as a passport event. Passport
events are activities occurring on campus meant to offer freshmen
opportunities to enhance their college experiences. Included are
offerings in academics, diversity, wellness, Franciscan values,
service and other areas of campus life.
“For this (passport event) they will be able to come see
the artwork, meet the artist and learn about autism -- it is a
very multidisciplinary event,” Sabina said.
“Disability awareness is a necessary movement,” Trolley
wrote. “The Disability Committee seeks to ensure wholeness
throughout the university by promoting the full inclusion, participation
and contribution of all persons.”
As Sabina put it, “This is a Franciscan university, and
acceptance and education is our main goal.”
-Jess Kumor
Class of 2011
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WHAT'S
GOING ON . . .
Upcoming events on campus include:
Ongoing - Math Lab available for drop-in
assistance in mathematics
Saturday, 10/2 - Cedar Point Amusement Park
Sunday, 10/3 - Men's
Soccer vs. Niagara
Tuesday, 10/5 - Campus Lockdown Drill
Tuesday, 10/5 - Tournament Tuesday: Billiards
Wednesday, 10/6 - Open Mic Night in the Skeller
Wednesday, 10/6 - Franciscan Themed Evening Away at Mt.
Irenaeus
Thursday, 10/7 - "How Henrietta Lacks is helping us
to find an HIV vaccine" by Dr. Adam Ritchie, Weatherall
Institute for Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, University
of Oxford
Thursday, 10/7 - Southern Tier Business and Entrepreneur
Conference
Friday, 10/8 - Men's
Soccer vs. Charlotte
Saturday, 10/9 - Autumn Work Day at Mt.
Irenaeus
Saturday-Tuesday, 10/9-12 - Midterm Break
10/12 - “Inclusive Education: Being Realistic isn’t
Realistic” by Norman Kunc
Thursday, 10/14 - Sticky Fingers: The Art of Alex Masket
in the QCA
Friday, 10/15 - Band Bears of the Blue River performs
Friday-Saturday, 10/15-16 - Jose Obando and Latin Musicians
performance at QCA
Tuesday, 10/19 - "Killing Me Softly: A Disability Rights
Perspective on Legalizing Euthanasia” by Norman Kunc
Saturday, 10/23 - Grove City Outlets
Tuesday, 10/28 - Comedian Chad Daniels
Saturday, 10/30 - Rafting Trip
Sunday, 10/31 - SBU Band and Choir Concert
Saturday, 11/6 - The Mountain Auction benefit in
support of Mt.
Irenaeus
Sunday, 11/14 - Buffalo Bills vs. Detroit Lions
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