November 2012 E-Newsletter

This year’s All Bonaventure Reads book, “In the Sanctuary of Outcasts," by Neil White, was the focus of an event for members of the class of 2016 on Nov. 14 in Doyle Dining Hall on campus.  

A total of 28 University 101 classes, representing most of the freshman class, attended.  Each class was responsible for creating their own interpretation of the book. Students used various methods to display their interpretations.  Movies, interviews, games and slideshow presentations were a few examples of techniques used by the students to demonstrate their themes.  

Many of the students who attended the event were impressed with the ideas classmates used to present the information.  

Morgan Statt, a freshman journalism and mass communications major, commented on how creative groups were.  

“It was interesting to see how different students in other majors interpreted the book,” Statt said. “It was great to see how creative other students in different majors are, and how they came together to create a project that was attractive for other students.”   

Like Statt, Kourtney McCorry, a freshman journalism and mass communications major, was impressed with the creativity.  

“It’s great to see students' takes on the major themes of the book and what certain individuals took away from the book. My group pulled away second chances, but another group pulled away isolation,” McCorry said. “It’s incredible to see the different outcomes of the projects when we all read the same book.”  

[Image courtesy of tlcbooktours.com]

Gregg Byrne, a freshman psychology major, was interested in the skills that students will take away from experiencing this event with their classmates. Byrne was also interested in the skills that students will take away from working together in the event.  

“I think it’s great to see that there are a wide variety of presentations like power points, posters and movies. It’s great to see how creative our class is with presenting information and what their ideas are about,” Byrne said. “I think students will take away experiencing working together as a group to create a project and how to be open minded to learning about the views of other people.”  

Sabine Wakim, a freshman international studies and philosophy major, said she felt each University 101 class had its own originality for its presentation.  

“The St. Bonaventure University student body is very creative in that we all took one book and we were capable of coming up with creative ideas that are displayed on the different tables," Wakim said. “There’s a group that put together a Mardi Gras theme and a float to interpret its theme. We have a talented group of classmates.”  

For many students, home is not too far away from St. Bonaventure University's campus and driving there is a snap. But others, like Merchant, have had to discover other available options.  

“My uncle lives in New Jersey and there’s a bus which Bonaventure offers that drives from Bonaventure to the New Jersey and New York (City) area,” said Merchant. “It’s cheaper than the regular bus fee.”  

For the 2012 winter break, students paid $90 for a round-trip ticket aboard the bus.  

“It goes for mid-term, Thanksgiving and Christmas (not to mention Spring semester breaks) and it goes both there and back,” Merchant said.   

With a central drop-off location (Pyramus, N.J. and Penn Station, N.Y.), students can take advantage of this system and save their parents’ vehicles – and their parents, for that matter – from the added mileage.   

“It usually fills up but if you buy tickets early you’re pretty sure to get a spot,” said Merchant. “Just don’t wait until the last minute.”   

Merchant is right – the bus is already full for this winter break. Still, keep it in the mind for future breaks. A bus will be offered for spring break and Easter break, signups beginning on Jan. 14. The ticket costs $90 for a round-trip, just like the winter break bus.  

The bus makes several stops along the way, including rest stops and restaurants.  

Probably the most useful tool for finding a ride home for school breaks is The Bona’s Carpool Network Facebook page. Since 2009, the Facebook page has made it easier for drivers to say where they’re heading and when, giving those needing a ride a place to look before seeking pricier options. With some stipulations (always offer gas money and respect the person offering the ride), it could be the right option for anyone looking to get home for school breaks and anyone looking for a little company for the drive home.     

The Bona's Carpool Network, a  Facebook page, provides opportunities  for students to seek   rides home for breaks.

Merchant is full of ways to get where you need to go.  

“To get to the airport either you can get a ride from somebody or there’s a bus that goes from the Olean area to the Buffalo Airport,” she said, speaking from experience. “You can call a taxi service and it takes you from Bonaventure to the bus stop and then the bus takes you and drops you off at the Buffalo Airport.” All of that has a price, of course.  

If catching a ride is simply not an option, the taxi service and public bus stop are your student’s best bet.  

“There’s also a public bus that goes to the New Jersey/New York area,” she said. “It’s more expensive than the Bonaventure bus, but it’s there if you have no other way of getting home.”  

The public bus is Primo Limousine, located at 301 S. Union St., Olean, N.Y. 14760. The daily bus leaves Olean daily at 9:45 a.m.  The one-way cost is $71.40 and drops passengers off at the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York City.  The bus makes several stops along the way with a transfer at the Binghamton Bus Station. Call (716) 372-4546 or visit www.coachusa.com to reserve a seat.  

Merchant advised this method as the absolute last resort, especially when things like the Carpool Network exist.  

And if none of these work to get your student where she needs to go, there’s one more option out there: ask a friend who lives near campus if your student can stay with her for the duration of the break. Your student may not be in her home, but she’ll be at a home. That’s almost always better than a shoebox of a dorm room.  

It is easy to forget news, especially three weeks after it breaks. But several Bonnies will never forget the devastation Hurricane Sandy brought when it broke into the headlines. They also will never forget the student peers who supported them.  

Support groups have formed on campus to aid Ryan Lazo, a senior journalism and mass communication major, and Lizzy Vivino, a former visual arts major. Both lost their homes in the damage caused by the storm.  

Makeda Loney, junior journalism and mass communication major, and Maria Tomassi, senior visual arts and history major, knew Vivino when she attended St. Bonaventure. Hearing that her home had burned down during the flooding caused by Sandy, they decided to use social media to make an event to support their friend.  

“I wanted her to know that we’re here for her,” Loney said. “And even though you’re not here on a daily basis, we’re still thinking of you.”
The two advertised their efforts on Facebook and through professors, mainly pushing for donations of clothing and non-perishable items. Though they weren’t focused on monetary donations, they did raise roughly $200 in cash.  

The group sent two personal deliveries to Rockaway in New York City, packed with essentials to keep warm while the family is without power.

  

“We tried to meet all the things that she needed,” Loney said. “We tried to include things for babies too because there are a lot in her neighborhood.”
  

Between a fundraiser in conjunction with a local bar and donations, the group raised more than $1,000. They also collected clothing for the family. Lee said they got help from Bonaventure students, and from alumni and other supporters as well.  

“As much money as we could raise, what we gave the Lazos by cleaning their house and by giving them immediate support of love and camaraderie was the biggest gift we could give,” Lee said.

  

“It just shows you that there are good people in the world, and there are people that get really bad luck, but it shows you how much positive attitude means,” Lee said.
More than 160 people contributed in various ways to the two students, and roughly 40 volunteers met to work on houses in New York City.  

“To me, imagining kids who just graduated and have so many student loans, and were willing to donate, that was touching,” Lee said. “And alumni who had never heard of the kid who wanted to help out, to me it reaffirmed why I came to St. Bonaventure University.”  

Want to share one of your student’s college experiences? Come enjoy the men’s and women’s basketball teams with your child in a cheering crowd. If home is a bit too far away, receive live feedback online or on your phone so you can swap game tales later.  

The ticket office at St. Bonaventure University, located on the first floor in the Reilly Center, offers deals on tickets and provides chances to cheer for both the men’s and women’s teams.  

Parents may purchase tickets in-person at the box office, by phone (716-375-2500) or online at www.gobonnies.com. Students can attend home games for free.  

Individual tickets for the men’s games range in price from $12 to $22. If you are interested in attending a women’s game, tickets range from $3 to $5.  

“We have three different ticket packages (for the men’s team): bronze, silver and gold,” said Melissa Curran, manager of the SBU ticket office.  

These tiers are broken up based on what teams will be playing against Bonaventure. Prices for the bronze tier are $12, $14 or $18 per game, depending on the seat you want. Bronze tier games are against Cleveland State (Saturday, Dec. 15), Citadel (Wednesday, Dec. 19), Iona (Monday, Dec. 31), La Salle (Wednesday, Feb. 13).  

The silver tier tickets are $14, $16 or $20 per game. Silver tier games include Duquesne (Saturday, Feb. 2), UMass (Wednesday, Feb. 20), and Charlotte (Saturday, March 2). The gold tier prices are $16, $18 or $22 per game. Opponents for gold tier games are VCU (Saturday, Jan. 12), Xavier (Wednesday, Jan. 16), Saint Louis (Saturday, Jan. 26), and Fordham (Saturday, March 9).  

“Our biggest sellers are VCU, Xavier and St. Louis,” said Curran. For those games, especially, she recommends fans buy the tickets during pre-sale.  

The ticket office is doing a ticket event called “Tweet for Tickets.” “Bonaventure is playing a game against Citadel. If we get 4,000 Twitter followers (under the Twitter account name “Bonnies Athletics, @Go_Bonnies”), we will sell tickets (for the Citadel game) for $10,” said Curran.  

If you are unable to attend any game, go to www.gobonnies.com and get live stats from Twitter or Facebook and video footage of the games.  

Games give the Bonaventure student body a chance to unite and cheer on the team.  

“It’s so nerve-racking when both teams are tied and you’re at the edge of your seat hoping the Bonnies break the tie,” said Lauren Loftin, a junior political science major.  

“I love cheering for the team with everyone,” said Siika Merrian, a junior psychology major. “My father is an alumnus and a huge fan so I love getting a call after the game and ranting about it with him.”  

“Parents should have the opportunity to enjoy the game with their kids because it’s a great way to become a part of the Bonaventure family,” said Loftin.