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St. Bonaventure University announced today that Timothy F. Fidgeon, Esq., a member of the Board of Trustees, and his wife, Pam, have issued a $25,000 challenge match and established an endowment dedicated to professional development for university faculty and staff.

The Fidgeons’ challenge grant will match, dollar for dollar, new and increased donations to the Bonaventure Fund or 150th Anniversary Campaign by university faculty and staff. Mr. and Mrs. Fidgeon will match the funds, up to $25,000, to an endowment to support faculty and staff development.

In creating the matching gift challenge, Mr. Fidgeon acknowledged the contributions of time and expertise by the university’s employees.

“It is St. Bonaventure’s outstanding faculty and staff who ultimately make the critical difference by daily dedicating their efforts to providing an extraordinary education,” he said. “Pam and I applaud their efforts and are happy to establish this endowment in support of those efforts.”

The endowment will provide funds to faculty and staff for professional development.

“We are extremely grateful to the Fidgeons for creating the Challenge Match and establishing the endowment,” said Mary Driscoll, associate vice president for advancement. “In this final year of the Anniversary Campaign, faculty and staff now have the unique opportunity to double the impact of their gift and continue the strong tradition of giving at St. Bonaventure.”

Ms. Driscoll said 53 percent of university employees have given more than $256,777 to the Anniversary Campaign, which launched its public phase in September 2005 and will culminate with the close of the university’s sesquicentennial celebration in May 2009. The university’s goal this fiscal year is to raise $75,000 from its faculty and staff, 5 percent more than last year’s total.

A partner with Hemenway & Barnes LLP in Boston, Mass., Mr. Fidgeon graduated from St. Bonaventure University in 1965 and Harvard Law School in 1968. He has served two terms on the Council of the Section of Taxation of the Massachusetts Bar Association and as a member of the Estate and Gift Tax Practitioner’s Liaison Committee, working with senior representatives of the Steering Committee of the Massachusetts Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights. The Fidgeons make their home near Boston.

The employee challenge match runs now through Dec. 31, 2008. To make a gift, or for questions about the challenge match, St. Bonaventure employees should contact Andrea Bidell in the Annual Giving Office (abidell@sbu.edu or 716-375-2301) or donate online at www.sbu.edu/donate.

St. Bonaventure’s women’s rugby team will face East-division champion Albany in the first round of the New York State Rugby Conference Division III playoffs.

The SBU Legends finished second in the West, losing only to unbeaten Le Moyne, 16-7, in their season opener. St. Bonaventure (3-1) then won its final three games and yielded just five points in wins over William Smith, 15-0, Niagara, 13-5, and St. John Fisher, 25-0.

Le Moyne (4-0) plays Clarkson in the other semifinal, with the winners to square off Nov. 1 for the state crown. The New York champion will advance to the Div. III National Championships in Philadelphia Nov. 15-16.

Albany is 4-0 and has beaten its opponents by an average score of 44-4. But SBU club president Andria Cuello isn’t conceding anything.

“They’re a tough team, but I think we can beat them,” said Cuello, a senior from the Bronx and one of four SBU captains.

Typical of college rugby clubs in Division III, the Legends don’t have a coach. Their four leaders — Cuello, Carrie Howland, Jessica Gunter and Gizzel “Zelly” Edmund — discuss before practices what the club needs to work on most.

“With so many changes in rugby rules in recent years, the biggest challenge has been learning the game as a team and, for us as captains, learning how to demonstrate different techniques and plays,” said Edmund, a senior from Brooklyn.

“We’ve worked on how we interact with each other during times of stress and anxiety in games, and as soon as we pull ourselves together we always succeed.”

The St. Bonaventure men, ranked No. 8 in the nation in Division II rugby, close out their regular season at 1 p.m. Saturday with a game against Buffalo State at McGraw-Jennings Field. SBU will play in the state title game Oct. 25 at a site to be determined.

The Extraordinary Classroom Experiences Series is a forum for the presentation and celebration of vitally engaging learning environments at St. Bonaventure University. Through this series, University faculty invite the campus community to attend a particular lecture, class exercise, or presentation that exemplifies a faculty member’s passion and expertise.

All events are free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served following each program to encourage continuing dialogue on the subjects. Click here for a printable .pdf listing of the Extraordinary Classroom Experience Series.

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September
Dr. Chris Stanley
School of Arts and Sciences; Department of Theology
What the Bible Has to Say About the Death Penalty Sept. 24, 7 p.m., Dresser Auditorium, Murphy Building

October
Dr. Russell Woodruff
School of Arts and Sciences; Department of Philosophy What Makes for a Good Life? Thursday, Oct. 30, 3 p.m., Walsh Auditorium

November
Dr. Paul Brawdy
School of Education; Department of Physical Education The Study of Sports Tuesday, Nov. 18, 3 p.m., Walsh Auditorium

January
Dr. Joel Horowitz
School of Arts and Sciences; Department of History Immigrants, Soccer Clubs and Assimilation in Early 20th Century Argentina Thursday, Jan. 29, 3 p.m., Walsh Auditorium

February
Dr. Carol Fischer
and Dr. Joe Coate
School of Business; Department of Accounting Earnings Management and Corporate Social Responsibility: An In-Class Exercise to Illustrate the Short Term and Long Term Consequences Wednesday, Feb. 11, 3 p.m., Robert R. Jones Board of Trustees Room, Doyle Hall

Dr. Ed. Simone
School of Arts and Sciences
Department of Visual and Performing Arts Reinventing Shakespeare’s Henry V: The Director’s Cut Date and Location TBA

Dr. Nancy Casey
School of Education; Department of Elementary Education Why We (Should) Teach the Way We (Should) Teach: How Learning Theory Should Impact the Design of Classroom Experiences Wednesday, Feb. 18, 3 p.m., Robert R. Jones Board of Trustees Room, Doyle Hall

April
Br. Basil Valente, O.F.M.
Russell J. Jandoli School of Journalism and Mass Communication The American Advertising Federation 2009 Competition: A Marketing Communications Campaign to Fight Drunk Driving and Underage Drinking Wednesday, April 29, 4:30 p.m., Walsh Auditorium

St. Bonaventure has tied a bow — maybe tightened the noose is more fitting — on maybe the most dominating regular season in New York State Rugby Conference history, so how well prepared can the Outlaws be as the competition stiffens when the Division II postseason begins on Saturday?

The Outlaws have outscored their opponents, 419-5, yielding only one score all season, a try (touchdown) in its season-opening win over Hobart.

Coach Clarence Picard foresaw the likely string of blowout wins and planned ahead.

“That’s why we went to Ireland (for three games) in the spring, and played some Division I teams before the season,” said Picard, SBU class of 2005 and the Outlaws’ third-year coach.

“I knew in the back of my head we would eventually have some tougher games to play when the playoffs started, so I was preemptive. Having faced that tougher competition will really help us now.”

St. Bonaventure, 6-0 and ranked No. 7 in the nation in Division II, finished its regular season Saturday with a 91-0 shellacking of Buffalo State, which came into the game with only one loss.Next up is unbeaten Hamilton, ranked No. 8 in the nation and champion of the East, in this Saturday’s state title game at McGraw-Jennings Field. Game time is 1 p.m.

Both teams automatically qualify for the Northeast Rugby Union tournament beginning Nov. 1, but the winner earns a home game and the No. 4 seed in the tournament. The loser will be the NRU seventh seed and have to travel.

“I don’t know a lot about Hamilton other than the little bit I have read, but they haven’t lost a game in the state in two years,” Picard said. “They just moved up this year to Division II from Division III, but that doesn’t mean they can’t win. We won the state Division II title my senior year, and that was just a year after we were in Division III.”

Hamilton is 6-0 and has outscored its opponents, 263-28. St. Bonaventure is seeking its second straight state title. The Outlaws beat Colgate, 37-18, last year.

Also on Saturday, St. Bonaventure’s women’s rugby team will face East champion Albany in the first round of the state Division III playoffs. The game is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Albany. The Legends are 3-1 and have won three in a row.

Andrea F. Barone, S.F.O., the educational coordinator for the School of Franciscan Studies and an associate fellow at the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics, presented a paper Oct. 19, 2008, to the Secular Franciscan Fraternity of St. Bonaventure Church in Allegany. The title of the paper was “Justice, Peace, and the Integrity of Creation: Including Animals in the Franciscan Circle of Compassion.” It will be followed up in the spring of 2009 with a presentation on “Living a Compassionate Lifestyle: A Guide for Franciscans.”

Mary Jo Brockel, the academic coordinator in the School of Business, was the recipient of the Sister Bernadine Hayes and Rusty Hopkins Service Award at the annual conference of the New York State Financial Aid Administrators Association (NYSFAAA) held in Buffalo. The award is presented annually to a member of NYSFAAA who has provided continuing and outstanding service to the financial aid community at the regional and statewide levels. Brockel was formerly the senior associate director of financial aid and has been a member of NYSFAAA for more than 20 years.

Dr. Barry L. Gan, professor of philosophy and director of the Center for Nonviolence, recently had an article on “Nonviolence and Peace Education” published in The Online Encyclopedia of Peace Education published by Columbia University. The link can be found at http://www.tc.edu/centers/epe/.

The online Encyclopedia of Peace Education provides a comprehensive overview of scholarly developments in the field to date as well as new insights from across the globe from various actors involved in advancing peace education. This online resource serves as a living reference guide that traces the history and emergence of the field, highlights foundational concepts, contextualizes peace education practice across international and disciplinary borders, and suggests new directions for peace educators. From core conceptual perspectives to the moral and spiritual foundations of the field to the role of the United Nations, the Encyclopedia grounds peace education in a solid theoretical and practical framework through the writings of some of the field's most renowned scholars and its emerging voices. This online resource targets undergraduate and graduate students as well as scholars and practitioners working in international and non-governmental organizations in the field of peace education.

Associate professor of visual arts Dr. David Haack, O.F.M., attended the installation and dedication of his four commissioned works in the newly built Carnavale Center at Pompton Lakes, N.J., Oct. 4, 2008. The paintings, each 10 feet tall by 2 1/2 feet wide, depict St. Francis, St. Clare, a Franciscan friar, and a Poor Clare sister. The compositions depict the dual nature of Franciscan life, featuring the active and contemplative aspects of Franciscan religious life. Some 350 people attended the installation that also included a solo exhibit of 34 other paintings, most of which find their inspiration in Franciscan 13th century documents of the Order. The exhibit remains open through October.

Darwin L. King, professor of accounting, Kathleen M. Premo, lecturer in management science, and Dr. Carl J. Case, professor of management science, had a paper titled "Historical Influences on Modern Cost Accounting Practices" accepted for the Academy of Accounting and Financial Studies Journal published by Allied Academies. The paper earned a "Distinguished Research Award" and was also presented at the Allied Academies Fall 2008 International Conference held in Reno, Nev., Oct. 15-18, 2008. The authors received an engraved award plaque at the honors banquet held Thursday, Oct. 16.

Rebecca Misenheimer, assistant professor of visual and performing arts, presented a workshop titled "Dying for the Art: Health and Safety in the Theater" at the New York State Theater Educators Association Conference in Syracuse. Misenheimer also attended the regional meeting of the United States Institute of Theater Technology in Fredonia, where she participated in seminars on video production for theater and stage safety.

Dr. Leigh Simone, assistant professor of modern languages, and Dr. Ed. Simone, professor of theater, were guests of the chief of training and development for UNICEF at a breakfast symposium and international teleconference of the International Commission on Education for Sustainable Development Practice at Columbia University. The event was hosted by Jonathan Fanton, president of the MacArthur Foundation, and the Earth Institute, and marked the release of the final commission report on a master's curriculum in Development Practice.

Dr. Daniel Tate, assistant professor of philosophy, moderated a session on "Interpreting Gadamer" last week at the annual meeting of the Society for Phenomenology and Existential Philosophy hosted by Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. Also, two of Tate's articles have recently been published. "Transforming Mimesis: Gadamer's Retrieve of Aristotle's Poetics" appeared in the fall issue of Epoche, a journal in the history of philosophy. This piece argues that Gadamer takes up the ancient Greek idea of art as mimesis in a new way by interpreting mimesis as transformation rather than imitation. This is used as the basis for a new reading of Aristotle's Poetics where mimesis functions as the central concept. "Transcending the Aesthetic: Gadamer on Tragedy and the Tragic" appeared over the summer in a collection of essays edited by Oleg Bychkov and Jim Fodor titled Theological Aesthetics After von Balthusar (Ashgate 2008). In this essay, Tate shows that Gadamer regards tragedy and the tragic as exemplary for an understanding of art that seeks to overcome the alienation of art from truth entailed by the aesthetic conception of art.

Dr. Robin Valeri, associate professor of psychology, co-edited a book, “Terrorism in America,” with Kevin Borgeson, Ph.D. “Terrorism in America” examines issues of both domestic and international terrorism in the United States. Using existing FBI data and ethnographic data, this book compares and contrasts domestic sources of terrorism in the United States to those in other countries, while also discussing efforts by domestic terrorists to form alliances with foreign groups. Based on data from interviews, readers will learn about the fundamental beliefs motivating terrorist groups. Readers are provided with a history of counterterrorism in the United States, as well as research regarding fear of terrorism and its impact on individuals and the nation as a whole. Grounded in research and theory, this comprehensive resource raises awareness and concern about domestic terrorism.

Visiting journalism professor Breea Willingham will give a presentation titled “Shadow of a Father: The Impact of Incarceration on Inmates’ Children and Families” at the Olean Public Library on Thursday, Oct. 30. The presentation is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.

Going green saved quite a bit of green during St. Bonaventure’s day-long effort to reduce its carbon footprint.

Nearly $4,000 in savings was realized as a result of Sustainable Bona’s Day, a campuswide energy rollback on Oct. 16 that was hampered slightly by dreary skies but helped more significantly by temperatures in the low 60s.

“We weren’t able to keep, for example, the classroom lights off in Plassmann and take advantage of all the windows they have for natural light,” said Phil Winger, associate vice president for facilities. “But it was mild enough that we essentially were able to shut the heat down.”

Electricity usage dropped by 24 percent compared to Oct. 15, thanks to reduced lighting and the idling of unused air conditioning and ventilation equipment, Winger said. The drop, he said, eliminated three tons of carbon dioxide emissions. The reduction saved about $800.

But the biggest savings — about $3,000 — came because of a 50 percent reduction in natural gas usage, Winger said. The drop, which prevented 23 tons of carbon dioxide emissions, was attributed to lower settings on heat, conservation of hot water, and shutting off the central boiler plant for part of the day.

“We proved that individuals can make a difference,” Winger said. “I think it was certainly a big success.”

Students and staff were also encouraged to carpool if possible, and to limit how much they drove on campus during the day. Based on a census of parking spaces, vehicle usage dropped by 20 cars for students and 25 cars for faculty and staff, while maintenance and housekeeping idled 12 vehicles that would normally have been used, Winger said.

Discussions have already begun about a sequel to Sustainable Bona’s Day, possibly in the spring, Winger said.

Sustainable Bona’s Day is just one component of the SBU Green Commission, which is studying ways the university should react to the challenge of global climate change associated with energy use and other activities of a modern society.

You may have noticed a familiar face in the university’s Career Center, but that face is not new to campus.

Angela Wolfe was recently welcomed to the Career Center staff as the new assistant director. Prior to taking this position, she worked in the university’s Counseling Center and before that with the university’s Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP).

As assistant director, she will provide services to graduate and undergraduate students as well as alumni. She will be responsible for recruiting-related activities, organizing workshops and presentations, planning events such as the annual campus career fair, and overseeing the Teacher Credential File office.

“I am excited to continue in a role that allows me to assist St. Bonaventure students in meeting their goals and being successful,” Wolfe said.

Wolfe received her bachelor’s degree in 1993 from Augustana College in Rock Island, Ill., as a double major in theater and German. During this time she also studied abroad for a year in Passau, Germany. In 2005, she earned her master’s degree in agency counseling from St. Bonaventure and in 2006 earned her Advanced Certificate, also from St. Bonaventure.

Connie Whitcomb, director of the Career Center, has high praises for Wolfe, saying, “We are thrilled to welcome Angie to our Career Center staff. Her solid counseling and program development experience, along with her ability to engage students in such positive ways, make her a wonderful addition to our team.”

Throughout the semester, freshmen have been immersed in "Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Genocide," the 2008 All Bonaventure Reads (ABR) selection for the freshman class. There have been class discussions, presentations and a film festival dealing with the serious and global themes of genocide, civil war and marginalization of individuals and groups.

On Nov. 20, “Left to Tell” author Immaculee Ilibagiza will be on campus for a keynote address and book signing. ABR is currently planning a fundraising activity in hopes to make a contribution to Ilibagiza’s foundation, which is an orphanage in Rwanda.

“But the learning does not stop there. ABR is encompassing of the whole campus community. More activities are in the works. We want to extend the conversation. We have worked to bring to the forefront the horrific situations in many African countries, but we don’t want to stop there. We want to raise awareness and appreciation of the African people, culture, contribution and landscape,” said Dr. Nancy Casey, director of the First-Year Experience (FYE) program.

The FYE is partnering with the Diversity Action Committee and the Honors Program to sponsor an Africa Teach-In Week starting Nov. 3. Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to participate in the events. Community members who have a suggestion for another activity can contact Casey at ncasey@sbu.edu.

The following Africa Teach-In Week activities are planned:

Monday, Nov. 3

10 AM – QCA Tours of Africa Exhibit
12:30-2:30 PM, Merton Center – Dr. Mary Adekson, “Growing up in Western Nigeria”
2 PM – QCA Tours of Africa Exhibit
Keynote address: 7 PM, Robert R. Jones Board of Trustees Room, Doyle Hall – Dr. Ndura-Ouedraogo, George Mason University, "Living and Schooling in Burundi: A Hutu Woman’s Journey and Hope for Peace"

Tuesday, Nov. 4

10 AM – QCA Tours of Africa Exhibit
2 PM – QCA Tours of Africa Exhibit
2-3:30PM – Dr. Mary Adekson and 10-15 students; Demonstration of Fou Fou – Location TBD
7 PM, Merton Center – Br. F. Edward Coughlin, O.M.F., “Crossing Boundaries: St. Francis, the Sultan and Us”

Wednesday, Nov. 5

2:30 PM, De la Roche Room 306 – Robin Valeri, “Psychological Roots of Hate and Prejudice”
4:30-7:30PM, Merton Center – Andrew Mancuso, “Interactive Presentation: Making a Moroccan Stew”
4:30 PM, Dinner at the Hickey Dining Hall – A Cultural Feast and Presentation

Thursday, Nov. 6

2:30 PM, Merton Center – Della Moore, “My Trip to Africa”
6-8 PM, Walsh Amphitheater – Pauline Hoffman and students from the service trip to Uganda, “Embrace It Africa: A cultural and entrepreneurial look at life in Southern Uganda”

Friday, Nov. 7

12:30 PM (Location TBA) – Dr. Leigh Simone, “South Africa: Travels from Capetown to the Karoo”

Friday, Nov. 14

12-1:30PM, Merton Center – Prof. Anne-Claire Fisher, “All Bonaventure Views Follow-up Discussion: Genocide in Rwanda and the Western Nation

*The Hickey Dining Hall will be featuring African cultural music from past and present times for the duration of the Africa Teach-in Week.

Dr. Patrick Dooley, Board of Trustees Professor of Philosophy at St. Bonaventure University, will occasionally send a note to an author whose writing inspires him.

Seldom does he expect a response.

So Dooley’s expectations were low when he e-mailed a student’s class journal entry to the agent of Khaled Hosseini, author of the national bestselling novel “The Kite Runner.” A response from the author came this week, and in it was a personal note from Hosseini to the student, SBU senior Adam Mutch.

To say that Dooley was surprised is putting it mildly. “Frankly, I was blown away,” he said.

Dooley read “The Kite Runner” in 2006 while he was a scholar in residence at San Jose State University’s John Steinbeck Center. Hosseini lives in the San Jose area.

Like millions of readers worldwide, Dooley was captivated by the emotionally gripping story of two young half-brothers, Amir and Hassan, caught up in the destruction of their native Afghanistan. The characters’ relationship is altered when Amir witnesses the attack and rape of Hassan and is forever haunted by feelings of cowardice and disloyalty.

Dooley introduced the novel in his “Literature and Art” classes this semester, asking students to submit journals on a number of topics. Mutch’s journal entry about the narrator’s observation that “the past is always with us” was, in a word, “extraordinary,” said Dooley.

“Adam perceptively notes that whereas Amir is obsessed with his past, Hassan has an ability to move on with his life, unencumbered by past events (even horrible ones) in his life,” Dooley wrote in his e-mail to Hosseini’s agent.

It’s an insight into the book that had “completely missed me,” Dooley said. “Adam’s one of those cases where the teacher learns from the student. This guy really has talent. It was very insightful observation.”

Dooley’s e-mail made it to Hosseini, who was impressed enough to send a response that included this note to Mutch: “I admire your insights and appreciate the essay you have written. It was great for me to read how my story resonated with you.” The author urged Mutch to face his future with courage. “With a generous heart and kind spirit, you can carve out your future and perhaps change that of the world as well.”

An excited Dooley went to class Monday prepared to celebrate the arrival of Hosseini’s note with Mutch and his classmates. A rare absence by Mutch, who was nursing a mild case of food poisoning, couldn’t quash Dooley’s enthusiasm. He read the note anyway.

Mutch found out later that day from another student in the class, who showed him a copy of the e-mail from Hosseini.

“It was pretty cool,” said Mutch, a journalism and mass communication major from Penfield, N.Y. “I didn’t know that Professor Dooley had sent it off. It’s one thing if he were kind of a minor author, but Hosseini is such a popular and important author. It’s amazing.”

Mutch said the note is particularly meaningful because he, too, “harbors thoughts of writing fiction one day.”

Dooley made sure that Mutch was properly recognized in his next class.

“Adam was flattered and the people in the class gave him a hand,” said Dooley. “We walked downstairs together after class and he thanked me. It’s pretty amazing, but it’s just the sort of classroom experience that goes on around here.”

True Buffalo Sabres fans don’t need to read about the history of the team because most of them have lived it. But there are many interesting and funny behind-the-scenes stories about some of the Sabres most beloved and infamous players and coaches that many fans may have never heard.

Paul Wieland’s new book, “Then Perreault Said to Rico … The Best Buffalo Sabres Stories Ever Told,” delves into some of the most memorable stories about favorite players, coaches and cherished games throughout the Sabres history. The book also comes with an exclusive audio CD that features rare play-by-play action and interviews with Sabres greats.

Wieland, who now teaches in the Jandoli School of Journalism at St. Bonaventure University, joined the Sabres in the first few months of the new franchise in 1970 and spent more than 25 years there as public relations director, communications director and executive producer of television sports for the Sabres cable network and for a TV station owned by the hockey team. He also served as a practice goalie for many years.

“Then Perreault Said to Rico … ” includes stories such as:

• The story behind Gilbert Perreault’s rookie goal-scoring record

• The transition from Memorial Auditorium to HSBC Arena

• The 1999 team that made it to the Stanley Cup finals

• The legend that was Taro Tsujimoto

• Behind the scenes with popular head coach and hockey legend Scotty Bowman

• The beer drinkers of professional hockey

Whether you’re a fan of the Bowman era or the Lindy Ruff era, or you just want to learn a few new tidbits about the Sabres, “Then Perreault Said to Rico” has something for everyone.

Wieland both heard and witnessed countless stories during his more than 25-year career with the Sabres organization. He waded through decades of heroics and hijinks to highlight some of the all-time greatest tales from the most memorable figures to take the ice in Buffalo.

Wieland signed books in the SBU Bookstore Thursday afternoon. He is now working on a satirical novel about the pro sports business.

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

Date: Friday, Oct. 24
Speaker: Patrick Dooley
Time: Lunch starts at noon, Forum goes from 12:35 to 1:30 p.m., including Q&A
Place: University Club - Above Hickey
Topic: Patrick Dooley’s Fulbright Fellowship in Singapore at Nanyang Technological University, plus side trips to Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Bali, Thailand, Indonesia and Australia.
Cost: $3 (pay upstairs)