1. SBU report details plans to combat campus alcohol abuse
2. Construction News
3. Trio of holiday exhibitions deck the halls at Quick Center
4. Holiday ornament drive for BonaResponds shows a lot of class
5. SBU Theater to present Christmas Cabaret for two days only
6. Survey: offer the library your thoughts on its services
7. Eighteen students from Buffalo Center inducted into Chi Sigma Iota
8. 'God Saw Them Through' author talks to cadets about the power of prayer
9. 'We Have a Dream' is theme of Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2007
10. Career Center News ...
11. Newsmakers ...
12. Friday Forum

____________________

SBU report unveils plans to combat campus alcohol abuse

Informed by a commission representing every sector of campus life, including students, St. Bonaventure University is launching a multi-faceted campaign to reduce alcohol abuse by “changing the campus culture.”

At a campus community briefing Wednesday, University officials revealed a report drafted by the Commission for the Responsible Use of Alcohol, a 12-person group assembled in fall 2005 that met often with University personnel, students and experts in the field of alcohol abuse.

The commission, made up of faculty, staff, students, trustees and alumni, spent months analyzing anecdotal and scientific data and confirmed what so many universities and colleges have realized: Alcohol abuse is a serious problem on campus that’s having an ever-increasing impact on student performance, lifestyle and health.

“Consistent with virtually all of the organizations that we have consulted, we believe that the best approach to addressing the alcohol problem is to work to change the campus culture. We do not wish to be known as a ‘party school,’ whether through the Princeton Review or word-of-mouth,” the report said. “Through a variety of initiatives, we will try to create a university culture that supports personal, academic, and spiritual growth in a healthy environment.”

The commission’s research, however, revealed some encouraging news.

“Even as the commission was doing its work, several of its concerns and suggestions were already being operationalized,” said Sr. Margaret Carney, O.S.F., S.T.D., University president. “For that reason, we offer the report with a great satisfaction that certain proposals are already being enacted.”

The president pointed to several initiatives already in place or being planned designed to change the campus culture, including:

• Increased collaboration between academics, Student Life and admissions evident in the First-Year Experience, a program implemented in fall 2006 to help freshmen make a smooth and responsible transition to college life.
• Room allocation procedures in Shay-Loughlen residence halls, which underwent a massive face lift this summer, with the basement of Shay Hall being transformed into a recreation area and kitchen, the upper floors being configured into suites, and Loughlen Hall receiving a total update with new paint, flooring and fixtures as well as a renovated lobby.
• The 2006 summer renovation of Hickey Dining Hall, now wireless and open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
  The upcoming coffeehouse that will flank Hickey, providing another first-class “space” and an important alcohol-free social venue. It’s scheduled to be completed in spring 2007.
• The creation of plans to upgrade the Rathskeller, a campus club located in the basement of Hickey.

The report doesn’t suggest banning alcohol as a possible solution to St. Bonaventure’s alcohol problems.

“We have discussed this issue at length and believe that a dry campus is not the answer. In addition to discouraging irresponsible and high-risk drinking, we believe that it is important to promote responsible drinking,” the report said. “Society is not ‘dry,’ and our students need to learn to socialize and deal with alcohol in a responsible way.

“It is the consensus of the commission members that we need to work to change the culture on campus by promoting responsible behavior, including allowing drinking in moderation and in an appropriate setting by students of legal age. The University cannot and should not allow underage drinking: It is illegal. Our focus is on education, enforcement, and offering attractive alternatives to encourage our underage students to behave responsibly.”

Recognizing that no single solution exists to address the problem, the report stresses the need for a multi-pronged approach.

“Virtually all of the research that we have reviewed suggests that a single-focused effort is unlikely to be successful at curbing problem drinking by college students. Thus, we have developed a series of recommendations aimed at addressing this issue in several different ways,” the report said.

“We need to educate all members of the University community, enhance enforcement efforts, and continue to work to build a strong, supportive community that values each individual.”

The report details a series of short-term and long-term recommendations to combat problem drinking, focusing on education, enforcement and community building. The primary target, for obvious reasons, is freshmen, “affording us the greatest opportunity to truly effect change,” the report said.

Engaging campus personnel who deal most closely with students – faculty and Student Life staff members – in collaborative programming efforts should create more opportunities for students to take part in alcohol-free activities, the report suggested.

“We also anticipate a joint ‘ownership’ of this process of transforming the campus culture, as no one group can accomplish this without the support of the others,” the report said.

The report also suggested the need for more “attractive, comfortable student spaces on campus.”

The 2004 opening of the Sandra A. and William L. Richter Recreation Center, the dining hall renovations and the soon-to-be-completed coffeehouse represent significant strides in this area, the report said, but the need for better community spaces in the library, residence halls and academic buildings surfaced frequently in the commission’s research.

Short-term goals and recommendations include:

• Establish a separate phone number for calls to MERT (Medical Emergency Response Team) and clarify the roles of Residence Life and Security when MERT is called. To call MERT now, students have to call security, perhaps inhibiting students from calling when it is needed because they fear they will get in trouble.
• Adopt a “Good Samaritan Policy” to encourage students to seek help for someone who is in need of medical attention. Many people believe students hesitate to seek help for another student who is in trouble as a result of alcohol misuse because they fear the punishment.
• Put emergency phone numbers and a summary of the “Good Samaritan Policy” on student ID cards.
  Develop and install in key locations permanent posters that list emergency phone numbers; explain the Good Samaritan Policy; and encourage students to seek assistance in dealing with alcohol-related medical emergencies.
• Establish residence halls and/or floors that are for freshmen only since this group of students is least likely to be invested in or inculcated by the existing campus culture.
• Develop programming related to alcohol to address the freshmen during orientation and continuing throughout the academic year.
• Establish a facility where alcohol is served on the east side of campus, and restrict the use of the Rathskeller to non-alcohol related social events, except for special occasions.
• Establish new campus traditions that will positively affect the campus culture, requiring participation and planning from all members of the campus community.

The University needs to be open to nontraditional social events that appeal to students, the report said.
Establish a separate student-run programming budget for non-alcoholic events sponsored and run by student groups.

A two-tiered structure will carry the work forward, the president said. An oversight committee will monitor the implementation of the report’s recommendations and a working committee will be created to flesh out the recommendations and provide programmatic proposals or policy developments to the president and Cabinet.

“I believe that the establishment of a presidential commission in 2005 was a singular step for this campus. The product of the commission’s work is now in our hands,” Sr. Margaret said.

“It represents dedication to the welfare of our students, the reputation of our institution, the good of neighboring communities, and the full range of developmental and sociological concerns that should be ours as educators. At the same time, it recognizes that our Franciscan inheritance is characterized by a capacity for joyous relationships, simple human celebration, and the desire to experience life in all of its dimensions,” she said.

“The critical balance required of us to maintain a campus environment that holds these sometimes contradictory desires in equilibrium cannot be achieved without thoughtful, sustained and researched dialogue.”

To read the CRUA report, go to http://www.sbu.edu/SBUCustom/InsideBonas/IB_Nov30/CRUA.pdf.

Click here to return to the top of the page

_____________________

Construction News

The exciting physical transformation of St. Bonaventure University continues to make progress. Click here for a summary and current status of each of the ongoing projects.

Click here to return to the top of the page

_____________________

Trio of holiday exhibitions deck the halls at Quick Center

Three special exhibitions will entertain holiday visitors at The Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts at St. Bonaventure University. Tidings of Great Joy: Crèches from Six Continents, The Twelve Days of Christmas: Watercolors by Fred Yehl and Better to Give: A Child’s Vision for Our World all opened Wednesday, Nov. 29, and will remain on view until Sunday, Jan. 14, 2007, at the Quick Center.

Tidings of Great Joy: Crèches from Six Continents, the QCA’s third annual display of crèches, has become one of the museums most popular events. The birth of Christ is possibly the most widely and diversely depicted event in history. Since it is recognized and celebrated by almost all cultures and peoples, depictions invariably blend local traditions, symbols and folklore in the telling of the holy story. Collecting examples of crèches allows the QCA to explore non-traditional objects and to interpret widely-held religious beliefs in a multicultural framework.

This year, the exhibition will include more than 200 crèches representing a broad range of styles, cultures, tastes and traditions. Special thanks go to Grace Washburn of Scio, N.Y., who has generously loaned 40 crèches from her personal collection to the exhibition.

Fred Yehl’s delightful series of watercolor illustrations of the popular Christmas carol, The Twelve Days of Christmas, were created between 1977 and 1982 as a wedding present to his nephew Joe and Jude Ann Yehl (formerly of Allegany, N.Y.). His watercolors are rendered in richly patterned detail, virtuosic and whimsical in their color, stylized movements and visual wit.

Better to Give: A Child’s Vision for Our World is the result of a contest in which local schoolchildren in grades K-5 were invited to create a work of art in response to the question, "If you could give the world a present, what would it be?" From 146 entries, a panel of jurors selected 60 works from seven schools in New York and Pennsylvania to be included in the exhibition.

For the Christmas holiday, the Quick Center will be closed Sunday, Dec. 24, through Tuesday, Dec. 26. The galleries will be open from noon to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 27, through Sunday, Dec. 31.

Regular hours are: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The galleries of the Quick Center are free and open to the public year round.

For general information or group tours, call (716) 375-2494, visit www.sbu.edu or e-mail Quick@sbu.edu.

Click here to return to the top of the page

_____________________

Holiday ornament drive for BonaResponds shows a lot of class

Here’s a switch: BonaResponds is on the receiving end of some help this holiday season.

To support St. Bonaventure University’s on-campus service organization, a marketing class is selling Christmas ornaments for $5 each. Once purchased, the ornament will be hung on a Christmas tree display from Nov. 27 to Dec. 8 in either the Hickey Dining Hall on campus or the Allegany Park ‘N’ Shop store.

The ornaments will bear a gift tag of the sponsor’s name to showcase community support. The ornaments will then be delivered back to the buyer before Christmas.

Students in Dr. Michael Russell’s Event and Sponsorship Marketing class (MKT 310) organized the ornament fundraiser, one of four community-oriented events that have exposed students to real-world event marketing opportunities.

“This is an excellent opportunity to show your support for BonaResponds, which works diligently to provide for those in need, including the victims of Hurricane Katrina and the devastating October winter storm in Buffalo,” said event coordinator Marissa Sciarrino, one of four five-year MBA students taking the marketing class for graduate credit and acting as group leaders.

Three other student groups in the class have already organized a youth hockey camp in October; a wine-and-food pairing event for graduate students at the Quick Center earlier this month; and a UNICEF drive that saw the familiar orange Halloween donation boxes spread across the area.

Ornaments will be available for purchase on campus in the Reilly Center lobby on Monday, Nov. 27, through Wednesday, Nov. 29, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. They can also be bought by contacting Abbey Naples at NaplesAS@sbu.edu; Sciarrino at SciarrMS@sbu.edu; or Matt Corasanti at Corasamg@sbu.edu.

Cash and checks payable to St. Bonaventure University will be accepted. More information about BonaResponds is available at www.Bonasresponds.org.

Click here to return to the top of the page

_____________________

SBU Theater to present Christmas Cabaret for two days only

St. Bonaventure University’s Department of Visual and Performing Arts is encouraging students to take a break from the academic stress to come enjoy a musical hour of SBU Theater’s Christmas Cabaret.

The concert will be in the Garret Theater for two days only at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 6, and Thursday, Dec. 7, with limited seating.

For information and reservations, call the box office at (716) 375-2494. Free student rush seating is available at the box office with valid ID beginning at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $8 for the public and $6 for subscribers, faculty and staff.

Dr. Ed. Simone, chair of the Department of Visual and Performing Arts and director of the theater program, stressed that the goal of the concert, proposed by students, is to give a humorous, lovely and relaxing little holiday break for students. The atmosphere of the concert will be like that of a nightclub or something right out of Vegas — all songs will be soothing, wistful, popular and American.

There will be a cast of eight St. Bonaventure University students: Ron Morgan, Adam Sorokes, Kevin Canty, Matt Orsini, Jennifer Albanese, Lizz Schumer, Brittany Henry and Malissa Bergner. Lecturer of music Laura Peterson is music director and pianist. Moses Howden, a published composer, instructor in music at the University, and leader of the SBU Percussion Ensemble, will direct the Percussion Ensemble. There will also be a flute solo by Schumer.

Some of the songs that will be performed by the student actors are “Snowfall,” a jazz arrangement composed by Ruth and Claude Thornhill, and “Silver Bells,” written by legendary composer Ray Evans, a Salamanca native.

Click here to return to the top of the page

_____________________

Survey: offer the library your thoughts on its services

Please take the LibQUAL+ survey by Dec. 8, 2006, and enter to win one of two $50 gift certificates!

To reach the survey, go to http://survey.libqual.org/index.cfm?ID=382178.

LibQUAL+ is a national survey that has been used by more than 500 libraries. It asks for information on three different service levels for each item on the survey: the minimum level of service you would find acceptable, your desired level of service, and your perception of the service that you receive at our library here at SBU. When the results come back, the library can easily see what is important to you, and then see how you believe our library meets your expectations.

Library staff can also compare SBU's ratings to those from peer institutions. The "comments" section of the survey always yields relevant information, so participants are encouraged to use this feature if they have more to say! Each comment is carefully noted, and library staff analyze all of the comments to find trends in what people are saying.

When the LibQUAL+ survey was administered in 2003, library staff made some immediate changes based on the comments they received. Because this is a complex survey, it will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. Library staff realize that 10 minutes can be a lot of time when you're busy, so to say "thank you," they're offering the drawing for two $50 gift certificates.

When finished with the survey, those who wish to enter the drawing should enter their e-mail address. E-mail addresses will be stored in a separate file, and will not be associated in any way with survey responses.

Click here to return to the top of the page

_____________________

Eighteen students from Buffalo Center inducted into Chi Sigma Iota

The counseling honor society Chi Sigma Iota has inducted 18 more members from St. Bonaventure University, this time from the University’s Buffalo Center in Hamburg.

Established in 1985 at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, the international honor society is directed toward students, professional counselors and counselor educators. To be eligible, students must have a grade point average of 3.5 or above and be in a graduate-level counseling program.

Dr. Mary O. Adekson, associate professor of counselor education, is the faculty adviser of the Phi Rho chapter at St. Bonaventure.

“The initiates will continue to present themselves in a professional manner. In all their endeavors as counselors in training,” said Adekson.

In October, 14 students from the University’s main campus were inducted into Chi Sigma Iota.

According to the Chi Sigma Iota Web site, the motive for forming an international honor society in counseling was to ensure recognition for superb academic achievement as well as outstanding service within the counseling profession. There are 281 Chi Sigma Iota chapters within the United States, Europe and Philippines. The chapters include more than 10,000 active members and more than 50,000 initiated members.

Adekson said the Phi Rho chapter this year will elect new officers and plan potential fundraisers.

The inductees include: Kristen R. Alguire; Andrea M. Bonito of Tonawanda, N.Y.; Charity A. Burlingame of Buffalo, N.Y.; Betty Sue Darling of East Concord, N.Y.; Courtney S. Ebling of Hamburg, N.Y.; Kelly A. Erler of Hamburg, N.Y.; Thomas J. Guenther of Dunkirk, N.Y.; Michael G. Herrmann of Buffalo, N.Y.; William M. Lachner of Jamestown, N.Y.; Kara L. Luce of Blasdell, N.Y.; Kristina L. Maines; Lynn M. Milligan of Buffalo, N.Y.; Maria R. Pfender of Alden, N.Y.; Kristen M. Plec of Hamburg, N.Y.; Janell C. Rosati of East Aurora, N.Y.; Tamara M. Schneegold of Orchard Park, N.Y.; Sarah Skelton of Buffalo, N.Y.; Renee L. Wieder of Derby, N.Y.

Click here to return to the top of the page

_____________________

'God Saw Them Through' author talks to cadets about the power of prayer

Glenn Thomas of Buffalo, author of “God Saw Them Through,” speaks to cadets in the Seneca Battalion Army ROTC program Friday, Nov. 17, at St. Bonaventure University.

In his book, Thomas writes about his son David’s service in the 2nd battalion, 8th Marine Regiment fighting in Iraq. Through his son's tour in Iraq, his battalion — though put into some of the most heated battles — suffered no deaths and was instrumental in the rescue of Jessica Lynch. Thomas talked to the cadets about the power of prayer and the miraculous happenings in the 2nd Battalion. Thomas is pictured signing a book for cadet Elizabeth Chugg of Senecaville, Ohio.

Click here to return to the top of the page

_____________________

'We Have a Dream' is theme of Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2007

The theme for St. Bonaventure’s 2007 Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration will be “We Have a Dream: Injustice Anywhere is a Threat to Justice Everywhere,” organizers announced. The theme is derived from Dr. King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” written in 1963.

Events for the day, which will be the first day of classes following Christmas break (Monday, Jan. 15, 2007) include signing a “We Have a Dream” banner from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at a table in the Reilly Center. Students are encouraged to leave their residence hall at 6:30 p.m. and join “The Movement,” a coordinated walk to the San Damiano Room, for the Student Showcase at 7 p.m. The evening event will include a performance by the SBU step team, an address by Trustee Ellen Grant, interfaith prayer, dramatic readings and more. A dessert reception will immediately follow the showcase.

For the third year, the University will host the annual St. Bonaventure University Martin Luther King Jr. essay contest for area middle school students.

Students in sixth, seventh or eighth grade are eligible to write an essay on this year’s theme, “We Have a Dream: Injustice Anywhere is a Threat to Justice Everywhere.” Essays should be no more than two pages double-spaced with font size 11. St. Bonaventure students, staff and faculty will judge the essays.

The first-, second- and third-place winners in each grade will be recognized during the Jan. 15 SBU student showcase. Each winner will receive a gift certificate to the SBU Bookstore. Essays may be submitted to: St. Bonaventure Army ROTC, attention of Lt. Col. Rick Trietley, P.O. Box 27, St. Bonaventure, NY 14778.

All essays are due no later than Monday, Jan. 8, 2007.

Click here to return to the top of the page

_____________________

Career Center News ...

For more information on Internships, Upcoming Career Fairs, and Tips on Holiday Networking, be sure to check out the latest issue of Directions here.

Click here to return to the top of the page

_____________________

Newsmakers ...

Dr. Adam Brown, an assistant professor in the School of Education, recently had a paper titled A Cognitive Approach to Dogmatism: An Investigation into the Relationship of Verbal Working Memory and Dogmatism published in the Journal of Research in Personality. The research shows a relationship between how much working memory one has available and degree to which an individual is close minded. He also recently presented a paper at the 18th Annual Association for Psychological Science Convention in New York titled Attractiveness Influences Indiscretion Decisions: Implications for Jealousy.

The St. Bonaventure Department of Physics hosted Olean-area Boy Scouts Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2006. About 100 Scouts, siblings and parents participated in an observatory viewing hosted by Dr. Jerry Kiefer and junior physics majors Jeremy Valentine and Kevin Miller. Partly cloudy skies allowed the Scouts to observe the moon. The group also listened to an astronomy presentation covering the solar system hosted by Dr. David DiMattio. Eager students demonstrated their appreciation and knowledge of the heavens, while realizing the importance of a solid science education.

_____________________

Click here to return to the top of the page

Join us for this week's FRIDAY FORUM!

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

Date: Friday, Dec. 1, 2006
Speakers: Mike Hoffman, Elizabeth Littell-lamb, Mike Jackson, Russell Woodruff
Time: Lunch starts at noon, Forum goes from 12:35 to 1:30 p.m., including Q&A
Place: University Club - Above Hickey
Title: "Online Course Initiative - Review of Summer 2006 Offerings"
Abstract: Following a brief introduction from Mike Hoffman, several faculty members will share their experiences teaching in an online environment.